Life in the last decade: 10 game-changing women share their stories
During the lead up to International Women’s Day 2020, I dedicated an entire week to recognising the power and strength of women throughout the decades. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I interviewed 10 remarkable game-changers, trailblazers and women who are totally owning it and shared their different perspectives on life and self-growth through our decades. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I’ve collated all their stories here, so if ever you’re in need of some kick-up-the-a$$-women-rule-inspo, look no further.
Firecracker, AI-accelerator and chat-bot builder extraordinaire Aoife O'Connell on her last decade.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
💫 What have you discovered about yourself? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Accepting you’ll literally never have it all figured out and it's ok. Where you are right now is where you need to be. Life is one hell of a ride. To get what you want, you need to consciously formulate a plan to make it happen. It takes action every day to get the big picture wins. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
💫 What's the biggest thing you've learnt about life?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So many! I’ve learned the most important thing in life, business and motherhood above all else, is to not compromise on your integrity, your actions define you.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It is important to LOVE yourself and forgive yourself first to be able to figure out what you need. Do more for it, listen deeply and do not suppress the answer! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Every rejection is a redirection. Find your passion, don't let money drive your life when taking a leap of faith, it’s ok to build the wings on the way down. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
People remember how you make them feel above anything else. Use your words wisely. Embrace your quirks. Don’t become obsessed with your external body; do become obsessed with your internal body. ⠀
Above all else do not listen to the mind chatter that is your insecurities, no good comes from it. People's opinions are their own and don’t be afraid to make yourself seen. If you’re uncomfortable, you're exactly where you need to be. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
💫 Most excited about for the next decade?
I feel like I am only getting started to be honest. The last decade had multiple twists, turns and a lot of firsts. I’m ready to settle in with purpose, see what I can make happen and who comes into my world.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
💫 Describe your last decade in 3 words:Terrifying, magical and full of gratitude.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
More about Aoife: She is the founder and director of Yarnly.ai a full-size chatbot and voice agency. They help brands that have an appetite for innovation use artificial intelligence to evolve their marketing, sales and service strategy to drive customer connection. Find her: Yarnly.ai
Kati is feisty, fabulous and a passionate circular fashion advocate that brightens any room (or feed) she enters.
💫 What's the biggest thing you've learnt about life in the last decade?
That I can do anything that I put my mind into. From learning how to swim in my 20’s, completing a marathon and plenty of triathlons in my 30’s to a few 90 days of hot yoga challenges in my 40’s to not buy anything new in 2019. Last week I walked down a fashion runway as a real-size model! But the biggest achievement of all? Raising my boy on my own. I think believing in yourself is so important; you have to be your number one fan!
💫 Share one thing you've discovered about yourself in the last decade.
There’s way more interesting things to talk about other than one's weight, job, and what car to drive. Like books, music, art, hobbies and so much more. I have become super curious about where things come from and the impact of consumerism in our environment and people. My passion for this drives my daily micro blog post. I am hoping to influence people to stop and think before buying but also about mindful practices like making, mending, thrifting and still look fabulous.
💫 3 words to describe your last decade?
Mindful, grateful, joyful
💫 What are you most excited about for the next 10 years?
I am excited about circular fashion and how rapidly is becoming the norm to choose well when thinking about fashion. In the last 12 months, I have met so many people who are my teachers and inspiration in all things sustainable. I know the next decade will be full of extra knowledge and visible change. On a personal note, I am excited about what adventures Roger (my partner) and I will go on and what delicious foods we'll be eating, all the books I’ll be reading and the memories we’ll be making with my beautiful family and friends.
More about Kati: 100% into making, mending, thrifting, swapping & recycling. Her effervescent nature naturally brings people along on the journey. She has a love of all things bright and a soft spot for all things odd, and brought nothing new in 2019!
Find her: Loopistyle
This fabulous human is an online course mentor, and it was her straight-talking and captivating accent that caught my ear, and she never fails to make me smile. She also has one of the warmest hearts of anyone I know and lives in one of the coldest places on the planet.
💫 What's the biggest thing you've learnt in the last decade?
You cannot care for everything, so choose your care-for things, and care deeply.
💫 Can you share one thing you've learnt about yourself in the last decade?
I am inhumanly resilient, and I'm proud of it.
💫 3 words that describe your last decade:
Challenging, exciting, and full of surprises
💫 What are you most excited about for the next decade?
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The next decade is about growth in all areas of life and business, and I am excited to see how it will all play out as it's never in a way we plan.
Find her at: Katarina Hadden
Performing arts veteran, ocean swimmer, globetrotter and lover of life.
💫 What’s the biggest thing you’ve learnt about life in the last decade?
Now well into my 7th decade, I look back on my life and realise I don’t measure it by decades at all but by formative moments. Decades can fly by and become a blur. Treasured moments remain forever and are the most vital measure of one’s passage through life. The greatest lesson I have learned? Embrace each perfect moment. Hold no expectation. All is a gift.
💫 Can you share one thing you’ve discovered about yourself in the last decade.
That not mentally passing beyond your 50th birthday is a great contributor to continuing to live a vital life. This attitude has kept me in full time employment, allowed me to explore skillsets I never realised I had; life drawing; building and decorating, becoming a mentor and a board member. I learned to be confident in voicing my opinion – not always the case.
💫3 words to describe your last decade?
Privileged, liberating, embracing
💫 What are you most excited about for the next decade?
The promise offered by our younger generations. I admire them enormously. Our world is undeniably in an awful mess. We need intelligent, sensitive, free-thinking and brave direction and action from the young people who have been left with it. I see them as free-thinking, deeply concerned, and willing to act. May the force be with them. The next decade should be about them.
More about Trish: Trish was born into post-World War II Australia. The third of four children she started work at sixteen. She headed to London on an ocean liner at the age of twenty-one. The journey continued for many decades, including ten years employed in the Australian diplomatic service living in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tanzania, Poland, UK and Iraq. During her travels she met her partner, Australian musician Roger Woodward and two sons, now adults. She has been privileged to work for many years as a manager in the Australian performing arts industry. She has documented these aspects of her life in a memoire, ‘Butterflies of a Brief Summer’ (Moshpit, 2016; available on Amazon).
Copywriter, marketing coach, speaker, teacher, and in my experience, one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met.
💫 What's the biggest thing you've learnt about life in the last decade?
That there is never a "right time" to do anything. You will never feel ready or have all the information you want. You need to trust that you've got this and can face anything life throws at you.
💫 Can you share one thing you've discovered about yourself in the last decade?
That I'm a strong, independent, and successful leader, business owner and woman. And asking for support, love and guidance doesn't detract from who I am and what I have achieved.
💫 3 words to describe your last decade?
Self-discovery, perseverance and determination.
💫 What are you most excited about for the next decade?
Welcoming a period of self-acceptance, abundance and creation. I spent the last decade pushing ahead, and now I want to sit back and live in the moment.
More about Rachel: She has taught over 3,000 people to use their business, unique talents and creative pursuits to be seen and heard through her workshops and programs. Everything Rachel does is focused on helping people embrace their multi-passionate lifestyle and carve their own path.
Find her: Rachel Kurzyp
Charlotte is a Dubasdo aficionado, lover of travel and fur-mum to a puppy that, quite frankly, should have her own IG account. She is kind-hearted, funny and I'm thrilled to include her in this IWD series.
💫 What's the biggest thing you've learnt about life in the last decade?
A year goes by incredibly quickly.
If you want to make something happen - whether it’s related to business or travelling, or anything really, you just need to sit down and figure out how to get it done. It’s often more possible than we tell ourselves.
💫 Can you share one thing you've discovered about yourself in the last decade?
I’m a lot braver than I give myself credit for. Yes, I can do big scary things — who would have thought? Certainly not me a decade ago.
💫 3 words to describe your last decade?
Adventure. Self-discovery. Learning.
💫 What are you most excited about for the next decade?
Settling into the business and life I’m building. The last decade has held lots of travel and change, and I’m feeling like it’s time to slow down a bit and enjoy the flexibility I feel so lucky to have. Even if it’s only to do my grocery shopping at 11am on a Tuesday…but let’s hope it’s a bit more exciting than that!
More about Charlotte: Charlotte is on a mission to help small business owners ditch the hustle, and grow businesses that let them live life unchained from their desks.
Using tools like Dubsado, she helps people automate and elevate their client processes (like onboarding and offboarding) so they can focus on growing their business, not just maintaining it.
Find her: Charlotte Isaac
Small business wingwoman Kristy generously shares her experience and knowledge every day on the gram and YouTube. She radiates positivity and a desire to help.
💫What's the biggest thing you've learnt about life in the last decade?
Life is finite. I think before I turned 35 I “felt” I would live forever, but the past 7 years I’ve become hyper aware of my mortality and it’s because of this I want to be the best person I can be (wife, mum, friend and business women).
💫Can you share one thing you've discovered about yourself in the last decade?
No matter our age we all have the capacity to learn, to be better humans and make an impact with our mission.
💫3 words would you use to describe your last decade?
Family, business & personal growth.
💫What are you most excited about for the next decade?
I’m excited about my business “growing up” & helping even more people to grow their business. I have a deep desire to help as many small business owners to thrive in their business, because it’s through the success of their business they can design their best life.
On a personal note I’m excited for how my relationship with my kids will evolve as they enter the teen years.
Find her: Kristy Robinson
Graphic designer, 3x business owner, lover of pink & champagne. And especially pink champagne!
💫 What's the biggest thing you've learnt about life in the last decade?
Ohmigosh! So many things!! Probably the biggest is "you're never too old and it's never too late." It's so easy to think "I'm too old for that" when in reality you're only as old as you feel!
When you're in your 30's (and 40's) you have an idea of what life will look like in your 50's... truthfully my life as it is now was not what I pictured at all... starting a business at 50? Who does that?? lol
But I wouldn't change it for the world! Life is good :)
💫 Share one thing you've discovered about yourself in the last decade.
That I'm strong... that I'm soooo strong! Way stronger than I ever thought I was! I have totally surprised myself!!
Honestly after my divorce I really didn't think I would be able to keep our home and many times I came close to losing but each time, somehow, I'd find another way to manage.
I look back at those times now and think "how on earth did I even do that?" But I'm pretty persistent and if anyone tells me I can't do it I do rather like to prove them wrong ;)
💫 3 words to describe your last decade?
Courage, growth, joyful
💫 What are you most excited about for the next decade?
Grandchildren!! lol No seriously... I'm really excited to continue growing my businesses... I'm very blessed that I absolutely love what I do and that it's really never work when you love what you do!
In the future I want to help other women realise their dreams and that they can achieve whatever they set their minds to!
More about Jen: I'm knew I wanted to be a Graphic Designer from the age of ten and NEVER swayed from that decision.
More than 30yrs later, I love it just as much as I did when I started.
Find her: Pink Pom Pom Social
Director of Moolah Digital web design agency, sports fan, hodophile (yep, google it) and all-round gorgeous soul - Korii.
💫What's the biggest thing you've learnt about life in the last decade?
Sometimes when you make major life changes, like changing cities or starting a family, you may find that your support system such as your friends, may not stick around. That's OK. That's just because you're now on a different life path and they feel they may not be able to relate anymore.
Just hang in there - you'll find your people who'll have your back when you need it (and in turn you'll have theirs).
💫Can you share one thing you've discovered about yourself in the last decade?
As I approach my 30s, I've realised how capable I am of achieving anything I put my mind to.
It takes a lot of hindsight to realise this though. When I'm in the thick of doing, I've realised how I've let imposter syndrome and lack of self-belief trick me into thinking I'm not doing all that well (which is a lie!). But when I stop to reflect and look back, it's amazing seeing how much I've managed to achieve despite all the obstacles life has thrown at me.
💫3 words to describe your last decade?
Learning, resilience, growth.
💫What are you most excited about for the next decade?
Having an adventurous life with my family, one full of travel and incredible memories and building and growing my own business into something that supports my lifestyle and helps other businesses!
Find her: Moolah Digital
Make-up artist extraordinaire, confidence booster and survivor, Sandra has a gift for empowering the women in her care to feel the best version of themselves.
💫What's the biggest thing you've learnt about life in the last decade?
Life is for living.
💫Can you share one thing you've discovered about yourself in the last decade?
Diagnosed with Breast Cancer 8 years ago, I never knew I had the strength of character to get through something like this.
You never know how STRONG you are until being STRONG is the only choice you have.
💫3 words to describe your last decade?
Testing, empowering, happy.
💫What are you most excited about for the next decade?
The possibilities.
More about Sandra: A make-up artist for over 20yrs, Sandra is passionate about helping women feel fabulous. She has her own cosmetic range and runs workshops for women and teens.
With 5 seasons of The Bachelor under her make-up belt, she is the favourite artist for Turia Pitt and the Australian Women's Cricket Team, and has also represented brands such as Estee Lauder, MAC and Laura Mercier.
Find her: Sandra Glynn
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