Katie Stidolph, Founder and Creative, The Savvy Stoic
Katie Stidolph, aka The Savvy Stoic, is a creative based in the North East of England who loves to write and share content on the ancient philosophy of Stoicism. In her final year at Newcastle University, she is studying a Combined Honours degree in business, classics, and philosophy. Katie has done talks for events like Newcastle Startup Week on Stoicism and how it can help us live well. And how it can help us overcome obstacles in life and allow us to become the best version of ourselves by applying Stoic principles to our lives. Katie puts Stoicism to practice through her brand, The Savvy Stoic and encourages others to do the same to help them live well and find order amongst the chaos.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
I do prefer the aesthetics of Instagram, but LinkedIn is my favourite social platform. It is professional, and your posts can stand out as it has a good algorithm. It is a great platform for building a powerful brand in the Digital Age and connecting with engaging thought leaders, creatives, and entrepreneurs.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I'm a creative based in the North East of England, deeply passionate about Stoicism and personal development. I love to write and share content on how this beautiful philosophy can help us live our best lives. The more I write and speak about Stoicism to spread the word, the more people I can help live well. I'm also studying a combined honours degree in business, classics, and philosophy. And I am the founder of The Savvy Stoic, a brand that shares content on Stoicism and its benefits. My purpose is to continue the Stoic tradition and share Stoic philosophy with individuals to help them live well and find order amongst the chaos.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
I like that The Savvy Stoic pushes me to be the best version of myself. It forces me to rise above limitations. While improving my character, I get to share my journey, my trials and tribulations, and in the process, inspire others to become the best version of themselves. It is so lovely to receive feedback or kind words that you have made someone's day a little better. I love helping people live well through my brand, and I am very grateful that I get to do it!
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Start around what you've already got, follow people of relevance, and put out content that is relevant, authentic, sincere, and rooted in truth. Document your journey, your own learning, and how you are figuring things out. That's more interesting than a perfectly worded post.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
I think we should all strive to live our best life and make the most of our time on this earth. Stoicism inspires me to be the best version of myself and appreciate each day. It helps me move forward no matter what life throws my way. People also encourage me to show up, stay positive, and strive to make the world a better place, not only for myself but also for the rest of society.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
I'm proud of getting where I am and never having given up despite many of the barriers I have faced in my life. I'm proud of the great relationships and the network I have built, and the courage that I have had in the face of adversity. I'm proud of saying yes to opportunities and choosing to believe in myself in the face of fear.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
I prefer to meet new people and network in real life. Until the pandemic, I hadn't spent much time on Zoom, and I found the lack of in-person communication to be one of the hardest parts of the lockdown. Zoom fatigue is real, and I'm so glad we can network and attend events in person now.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
Self-discipline has helped me to get where I am today and to show up even when I don't feel like it has been a massive help. I'm creative and hard-working, and these skills have helped me a lot, especially with building my brand. I'm committed to the task at hand, driven to do my best, and I like to plan, so being organised and having clear goals has helped me a lot. Lastly, I love connecting with people, so networking has helped me build a strong tribe.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
I wish I had known to trust the process more and that things don't always go to plan, which is perfectly fine. It is best to be flexible and adapt to opportunities that come your way. Sometimes you have to pivot or give up on a project and move on to another. It can be tough to move on when you have worked so hard, but sometimes it's the right thing to do.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
I admire many people, but most of all, I admire anyone willing to put themselves out there and be true to who they are. I firmly believe that you can be your own worst enemy when creating something, following a dream or getting out of your comfort zone. I think anyone able to push past obstacles and follow their dream, whether conventional or not, is a person to be admired.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
Besides my studies and working on my brand, The Savvy Stoic, I enjoy reading, reflecting and focusing on personal development. I like to go on long walks with my dogs Nia and Lily. Spending time in nature is extremely important to me. I also enjoy yoga and going on bike rides, and I love meeting up with friends. Maintaining solid relationships and spending time with people who lift me up and make me feel great is important.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
The pandemic had a vast effect on areas of my life. One example is my studies, as my whole second year was online. But I wouldn't say it harmed me or my creative work, as Stoicism helped me see the benefits of the situation, and it allowed me more time to read and focus on creating content. The hardest part was the lack of in-person communication.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
Yes, mentors are great! I wouldn't be here without having had great mentors. I've never mentored anyone, but if the opportunity came about, I'd be honoured.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
Trust the process, be true to who you are and make your own decisions along the way. Don't be afraid to follow your dreams or create something you love. When doing creative work, it is so easy to experience imposter syndrome, but the truth is that you are good enough to do the things you want to do. All you have to do is take action; even the smallest step will get the ball moving. So get out of your head and be of service to others!
Also, don't be afraid to reach out to other creatives, leaders and entrepreneurs to ask for help or advice. I've found that people are happy to help you if you're sincere. And think about it, what's the worst that can happen? They'll say no, and you get to move on with your life and creative endeavours.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
Fear and resistance. Resistance is far easier to give into than doing the hard work. Fear can hold us back, and there is a quote by a Stoic philosopher called Seneca, "We suffer more in imagination than in reality", which is so true! I believe most people give up or never try because they are too scared to make that first move. They are afraid of looking silly or failing. But I do not see failure negatively.
You can and should learn from failure, and it is a teacher. Fear can be a tool also to show you how much something means to you. It can be a path to self-mastery if you rise above it. Accepting that failure is a part of growth and learning from it will help you take that first step. You can't expect to win without experiencing some losses along the way.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
"Well-being is realised by small steps but is truly no small thing." - Zeno of Citium.
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
I admire SpaceX for its visionary dream of making humans a multi-planetary species by colonising Mars. I like Tesla for creating beautiful electric cars. The Daily Stoic, Modern Stoicism and the Aurelius Foundation create great content and put on fantastic events. I love The School of Life, whose goal is to teach people how to live a more fulfilled life by creating courses, products and content. Lastly, BetterHelp is an online therapy service, and I think they are great for helping individuals get started with therapy at an affordable price.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
Success for me isn't about status, wealth or material possessions. It's about self-mastery and living up to my full potential. It's living a good, happy life with solid values. I define success as living true to myself, living my life to the fullest and never letting fear or negative emotions get in the way of doing something new, fun or outside my comfort zone.
Success is building a strong character, so I can handle whatever life throws my way. It is about knowing my priorities and when to say yes or no and making meaningful connections with people. Lastly, it is getting to know my inner self and living a true, authentic life filled with lots of love and joy. You get one life, so live it as best as you can. For me, living my best life and fulfilling my potential equates to success. I've learned so far to give it your all no matter what you do, and don't be afraid to try something new or ask for help along the way from others.
Trust the process, believe in yourself, appreciate the highs and lows and learn from every step along the way. Life is a beautiful thing, and if you focus on gratitude, the little things and the big, like the fact that you are reading this right now or that you woke up this morning, you will be a lot happier. Love your life, the people in it and leave the world a better place than when you entered it. Don't die with your gifts still inside you; go and make a positive difference while you can!