Meet Kate McLeod

 

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kate McLeod. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kate, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us today. We’re excited to dive into your story and your work, but first let’s start with a broader topic that might be stopping many of our readers from pursuing their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. How have you managed to persist despite haters and nay-sayers that inevitably follow folks who are doing something unique, special or off the beaten path?

Such a fun question—one that has come up for me a lot recently. I persist by sending my haters and nay-sayers a lot of gratitude. They serve a purpose. To me, that purpose is simple: they exist to have the hater and nay-saying energy I don’t have room to have in my own headspace as I continue to realize my dreams—and my dreams’ dreams. I don’t have the mental or emotional space to welcome outside negative thoughts about myself or be mean to myself, so I’ve essentially outsourced that system of perpetual negativity. That way, I don’t have to run it myself.
Do negative thoughts still pop into my brain on their own? Absolutely. But those are the only ones I have space for now. It happens less and less as I progress and grow, which means the space for negativity in my life is shrinking. It is shrinking because when it comes up, it’s my opportunity to believe what I believe again and again. It is an opportunity for me to arrive at a newly routed logic for the evidence I believe that supports my dreams and my stance on knowing who I am and what I am capable of.
My persistence comes from my belief in myself—belief that only I can sustain. That’s my day job: believing in myself, in who I know I am, and actively meeting who I am becoming. When persistence is internally validated and sustained, it’s much stronger. Relying on external validation only gives away power—power I need for myself. I know who I am, and that belief is what keeps me grounded.
On the flip side, I realize that negativity and doubt are often more a reflection of others than of me, and honestly, that can make me a little sad. Because believing in yourself feels so good—and good feelings beget more good feelings. What feels good is infectious. Negativity, on the other hand, breeds more negativity exclusively. The energy spent trying to diminish someone else’s light is ultimately wasted, because it’s energy given away to a cause that serves no one. More often than not, it’s rooted in their own shame, regret, grief, or feelings of abandonment—things they need to address but are only pushing further away from themselves.
I also understand that, sometimes, negativity comes from not understanding what I’m doing—and that’s fine too. No one is for everyone. I’m not meant to be understood by everyone. This mindset took decades to cultivate. I don’t like that I was bullied for so many years, but I also recognize I played a part in allowing that pattern to continue. Ironically, it was those very years that taught me how to actively decide to leave those patterns—and for that, I am deeply grateful.
Hatred and nay-saying toward others, especially when it’s intended to dim someone else’s light, is often your own fear trying to get your attention. So, I encourage people to refocus that energy inward—to build themselves up instead of hoping to tear others down.
And for the person being on the receiving end of negativity: find your version of my mindset that rationally and logically makes sense to you. Turn it into your mantra and commit to making it a habitual thought for yourself.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a creative entrepreneur and artist, focused on expanding my understanding of the most impactful expression of my creativity while encouraging others to do the same. As a multi-business owner and creator of spaces designed to expand creative thinking, my entrepreneurial work is an extension of my art; and my art is an act of lending my self and my thoughts. My wish is to inspire people to recognize their thinking as an inherently creative act, because thoughts are created and all tied to thinking, which means you’re the creative director of your own thinking. You are in control. By becoming aware of our thought patterns, we can disregard limitations and activate more authentic patterns of thinking.
Central to my work is the concept of the creative conscious™—a self defined system made from your best patterns of thinking. For example: Let’s say you wake up and start catastrophizing about all the things that you have to do today. When you go to sleep that night, your ending thought will be: wow that was a rough day. This is absolutely an option you have. Another option is to decide that you are going to enjoy the day no matter what. Your ending thought that night will likely be more positive than the alternative. Whatever evidence you expect is the evidence you will get.
My recent ventures, ME³ and Authenticated, are designed to support this process. ME³ is an online platform that blends curriculum, community, and workspace to help individual clients cultivate their creative conscious™ for themselves, to improve their user experience of their own patterns of thinking. Authenticated is a podcast that amplifies authenticity in creative thinking, showing how embracing your authenticity is your art that paves the way to better thoughts and actions.
Alongside these ventures, I’m an actor, writer, and producer. My production company 6’2 Productions is always seeking new ways to create, innovate, and collaborate. My art is rooted in empowering others to tap into their authentic creativity and apply it across all areas of life, from art to business. I believe thinking is inherently creative and creativity is not just a talent—it’s a mindset that can be cultivated and used to create meaningful change in the world from any person or any business.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The first thing that comes to mind is the importance of unlearning alongside learning. I have two degrees and several certifications, and I wouldn’t undo that training, but I’ve learned to approach education with an active lense. The business of systemic education often has a one size fits all narrative, so it’s crucial to constantly assess if what you’re learning aligns with your own way of thinking. This mindset sparked my habit of actively participating in the writing of my own creative evolution.
Second, I would emphasize the importance of constantly questioning what works best for you, day by day—not just what works for others or the system you’re in. It’s vital to ensure new patterns of thinking align with your personal process before making them a habit. In a world where we are consistently consuming information about other people all day long, having a more active approach to reflect on whether or not what we are consuming is actually what is best for us.
Lastly, trust yourself. The way you believe in and support yourself sets the tone for how others will perceive and support you. You write your own manual, and your example teaches others the framework of how to engage with you.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal ME³ client is anyone who feels stuck or is in the realized process of seeking to break free from rigid, black-and-white thinking. I want to help people who feel on auto pilot or in a repetitive cycle that feels stale. I would also be so excited to work with someone who is eager to explore a spectrum of creative possibilities already. I am interested in working with people who want to believe that thinking is its own form of creative expression. I love hearing why people think the way they do. It satiates my chronic curiosity.
I often encounter individuals who view systems as definitively black and white; my response is, “It takes a lot of colors to make black and a lot of colors to make white.” Delving into “thinking about thinking” is a practice I wholeheartedly believe in, as it enhances self-awareness and enriches every endeavor, because it starts from the most “you” point: your “whys” of thinking. This approach allows you to define and amplify your authenticity, leading to a more genuine and fulfilling creative journey from anywhere you are.
I am particularly drawn to working with professionals who sense there’s more of themselves to discover. This aligns with my belief that an artist thrives when their authenticity is at the forefront of their work. I see this work enriching professional spaces like finance, technology, the arts, and so many others areas of work. Anywhere that is human.

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