Imagine a teenage male singer. He has sung from childhood and stars in the school musicals. Then his voice begins to change. He doesn’t recognise this voice, know how to use it or especially like it. His voice is a stranger and he must get to know it if his singing journey is it to continue…Read more
On the eve of International Women’s Day, the ABC launched a database for women experts. After ninety years of gender disparity, the ABC hope this initiative will encourage its staff to interview more women. I’m an expert in helping women find their voice. Women need support to achieve self-belief and feel permission to speak up. I wrote my response about the ABC, which The Sydney Morning Herald published on International Women’s Day. Why Women Experts Don’t Speak Up by Katie McMurray Read my article here.
Photo by Andrew Meares, The Sydney Morning Herald
#women #voices #gender #parity #abc #experts #iwd #iwd2019 #balanceforbetter
Gazing on the exquisite face of the late Margaret Olley I felt joyful. It’s not often I have a chance to linger on such an image after reading a news story. An elderly woman, her face is animated. Not just by her expression, but by her natural colourings, marks and lines. I don’t know about you, but my digital world doesn’t offer many images of women like this. My real world does though, and I am grateful. Additionally, the news story also had a photo showing a life drawing model. An older woman, naked, grey hear and soft spreading body. Margaret Olley’s Last Gift to the National Art School The Sydney Morning Herald. Photo of Margaret Olley by Quentin Jones, photo of life drawing class by Janie Barrett, story by Linda Morris
#authentic #women #naturalface #naturalbody #smh #margaretolley
“My early job as a TV host created unwelcome scrutiny about my appearance. Now I’m entering a new relationship with my appearance, by turning off the mirrors,” Katie McMurray, KatieMac Publicity
Today I dispatched all mirrors from my life. Well, the ones I have control over at least...Read on
February 28, 2019. I’m reading a feature story about Pink from Rolling Stone magazine. I loved this quote from her. "...to write the best songs I can write, I'm only as useful and good as I can be when I'm vulnerable and honest and that's where it is." Pink in Rolling Stone magazine (Dec 2017). Truth telling and authenticity require commitment and practice. They are part of what I share in my writing programs.
www.katiemac.com.au #internationalwomensday #iwd #iwd2019 #womenwhoinspire #authentic #voice
Full feature story is here at the author’s site.
“George Michael believed he subconsciously created his arrest. Yes, there comes a time when some of us can no longer hide.”
Last weekend I saw the Sydney Symphony Orchestra perform in the Concert Hall of Sydney Opera House. Any remnant these musicians and this venue were classical or establishment were blown right out the doors of our sailing icon.
It was a tribute to the late George Michael, on the thirtieth anniversary of his first solo album, Faith. I confess knowing little about the man and not a lot of his music. This show filled me in.
"I don't want my word choices determined by an algorithm or FOMO."
Now we're slaves to keywords.
Experts tell me if someone will type it into a search engine, it's a word I need to be using. Or else. But I'm a writer. I'm kinda creative. I might like to alert you to the nature of my services with unusual words, like dangerous. But you and nobody else will type that word to search for a writing mentor.
What happens to language and creativity when the search vacuum only picks up detritus? When we get excited just because there are keywords nobody is using yet. Woohoo.
My Facebook page is part class reunion, part family get-together. Some days it’s a therapy couch, others it’s a podium. I’ve found friends I thought would forget me and befriended strangers. My clients mix it with my mum and mum mixes it with everyone.”
Facebook just sent me a private post. You’ve made 900 friends on Facebook! Thank you for bringing the world closer together. We think that is something to celebrate.”
Recently Adam Goodes shared a story about finding his voice.
I was all ears last night at an event featuring eminent Australian, indigenous footballer Adam Goodes as the keynote speaker. It was an intimate setting on the sixth floor of Sydney’s MCA at Circular Quay. An empty white banquette sat a few feet from the low stage so I headed over with my glass of champagne, soon joined by three other women.
There is a problem with women living and speaking from outside the box.
Growing up in Brisbane in the 1970′s, very few roles were modeled for girls. Our river-bound suburb filled with brand new blonde brick homes, and the homes filled with babies. Apart from school teachers, check-out ladies and the woman next door who ran a ballet school, women didn’t work.
The Dangerous Blogger Workshop for Business Owners
Are you afraid of staying invisible forever?
You’ve poured your blood, sweat and tears into your business, but your competitors are better known than you are.
You can build the reputation you deserve. How? By discovering your “Dangerous Voice”.
What is your ‘Dangerous Voice’?
I often accompany clients through a terrifying moment. No, it’s not life or death, but I know it feels as serious in that moment. I know the symptoms, I get them too. I start rubbing my face and arms when I feel this fear. I perspire too much. Some clients report they are literally shaking.
I’d never considered myself to be a writer.
In primary school my teacher sent a note home to my mother, telling her I had obviously copied a poem. It really was my own work. I felt confused.
I was invited to a themed 40th birthday party. The theme was Hollywood Glamour.
That day, I visited the local op shop and found a fabulous dress. It was red velvet with a fur trim across the front. It was floor length, with shoe string straps. I bought a cheap blonde wig at the $2 shop and
went very high.
I looked over my shoulder at the mirror. Did I dare? I did.
When I started my business in 1998, I arranged to have myself listed in the local telephone books, Sydney White Pages and the Yellow Pages. Wherever you live, there will be a local version of the same. There was KatieMac Publicity, proudly in bold (purchased at an extra cost) on the greying ‘white’ page.
Fear is a powerful guidance system isn’t it?
When we feel it, we use it to guide ourselves away from danger.
In our business and personal lives, fear keeps us inside the lines. It keeps us on the paths we perceive as safe and we aim to not upset anyone along our way.
I find myself in conversation with highly qualified consultants and business owners. They have MBAs and other exciting qualifications.
Conversations can go along these lines: “I’m finding it hard to define myself and articulate who I am. I think I need a (insert name of degree) Degree so the industry recognises me better.”
One said “I’m looking for the me that shines.” Then she suggested solving this by getting a brand new qualification.
Will another qualification help these people evolve into ME.3?
I took four weeks holiday over Christmas and New Year. After four weeks of disallowing anything business-related, it took time to get out of first gear. And sometimes I felt like I was in reverse.
Whilst getting back into it, my mind frequently led me astray. I’m usually a disciplined at-home worker, but not in January. Instead of working I was clicking through on websites, checking Facebook, daydreaming or just picking a book up, opening any page and reading.
Coke’s Cute Cans Revive and Excite the Brand Without Changing the Essentials
I love the Coke mini-cans and I’m not even a Coke drinker. I love the colours. I love the size. I love how collectable they look. I love the cost is a small gold coin. I’m sure one of my kids will have a holiday project of collecting one of each colour.
I also love what they say about doing small business well.
