I started to realize that the habits that had made me a great student were really holding me back

as an adult now that it was time to like set my own course and figure out what I truly wanted to do.

That desire to get the gold star achievement and sort of a assignment mentality where the task is

laid out for you by a coach or a teacher or a mentor. All of that had to change for me to lead a

happy and fulfilling life. Now the school was over. I had to figure out who I actually wanted to be

and not who other people wanted me to be. At one point, early on when I was starting to realize this,

I even opened up my closet and I looked at all my clothes and I suddenly realized like,

oh my god, all of this is for other people. I had this closet full of really cute,

uncomfortable dresses that I had subconsciously chosen because they fit with the person it seemed

like other people wanted me to be. I'm Sreeni Rao and this is the unmistakable creative

podcast where you get a window into the stories and insights of the most innovative and creative

minds who've started movements, built driving businesses, written best selling books and created

and insanely interesting art. For more, check out our 500 episode archive at unmistakablecreative.com.

Kate, welcome to the unmistakable creative. Thanks so much for taking the time to join us.

Of course. Thank you so much for having me. It is my pleasure to have you here. I found out about

your work my way of your publicist who sent me a copy of your journal around the world and back

again, which is a travel journal and as somebody who has spent my entire life moving from country

to country and city to city, I knew that, you know, whatever you had to say would resonate with me.

Before we get started and start talking about all of that, I want to start with a really relevant

question given your background and what we're talking about. That is where in the world did you

grow up and how did where you grew up end up influencing the choices that you've made

throughout your life in your career? That's a really good question. I was born in Washington,

...