We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kate Chipinski a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kate , so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.
When I first started to do what I do I wanted to stay true to who I am and what I stand for. I never looked to make money or make a career out of being an artist. I do what I do because I love it and if I start to get push back from people in a negative way or the social media world gets it’s negative hold on me, I step back and take a break. I know that not everyone will like what I do, people will be mean to just be mean, and rear their negativity my way for no reason at all. It’s important to understand that this does not define you. What they say is a reflection of them, not you. Converse with the positive people who are brought into your life from the platforms you have created and focus on them. They are one of the reasons I keep doing what I do. I love the community that has gathered around me. I hope that I bring them as much positive joy that they give to me.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am an eco friendly, DIY artist and home renovator. I like to walk into a space, see its potential, use what is there and rework what can be reworked. I have renovated my house room by room, continually focusing on how to improve it and rework it in an eco friendly way. I have shared my process on Instagram and people have really liked what I have been doing. I have been able to work with different brands and companies along the way. I have also been featured in different news outlets and media platforms which has been so cool! I was featured in the major Minneapolis/St. Paul newspaper with a 3 page spread in their home section. As well as an HGTV home tour that went through my house…you can check all of that out through my website katechipinski.com Other magazine and newspaper features have been so fun to be in and I can’t wait for what the future holds. There may be some things in the works, stay tuned!
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?
1. The most important one….stay true to you and what you want to do. If you feel yourself straying, stop and come back to you. Don’t feel like you have to fit a certain mold. For instance, people call me an influencer…I don’t like that term and would never use it to describe me. Influencers have a certain mold, they say the same things, perscribe to the same idea of what they should be focusing on and doing. Personally I find it annoying and don’t see how people can listen and watch people constantly talk and film themselves, but that’s me🤪 So I just keep doing what I do and what I want to do (mostly showing my feet in videos) If you like what I have to offer, great, if not, no worries:) 2. Learn how to say no. No isn’t a bad thing. Don’t feel the need to please everyone or think you are hurting someone’s feelings by saying no. I am told no a lot. When I first started I found it very difficult but it’s gotten much easier over time. If something isn’t right for you or doesn’t feel right to you, just say no!
3. Lastly, (this is specific to what I do) don’t be afraid to just jump in and make a change. I’ve learned that everything can be fixed or changed. If you make a mistake or something doesn’t work out as you had hoped, it can always be fixed. So don’t be afraid to just jump in and tackle a project you have been wanting to do but are scared to do it. More often than not I finish a project and am like; “I wish I would have done that sooner, it’s SO MUCH BETTER!”
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
I am a bit at a standstill in what I can create these days. I am running out of rooms to work with. So I am constantly thinking or trying to figure out what my next steps in life will be. I feel like everything has happened for a reason so far and I am continuing with that philosophy. The right thing is going to come along and it will be what is supposed to happen. Stay tuned, I can feel a good one coming!
Contact Info:
- Website: Katechipinski.com
- Instagram: @katechipinski
Image Credits
Kate Chipinski
