Kimberley Smith is a free-spirited (read: reckless) Sagittarius who decided to quit her corporate job at 25 to pursue a creative career. People are her true passion and she loves to show others what they’re capable of (often surprising the pants off them). Despite the fact that her business card says Singing Teacher at Inspired to Sing, she finds that it ventures further than that into the areas of confidence, self worth and joy. Kimberley writes over at Dream. Delight. Inspire. about life, wandering and beautiful confusion and feel so blessed to do so, connecting with an outstanding community of women.
Describe yourself…
I am a bubbly, positive blonde who gives 100% to everything she loves and everyone she cares about. I am passionate, protective and enthusiastic. I get excited about new creative projects and working with other like-minded people. Breakfast is my favourite meal and I am a crazy sweet tooth. I am a Sagittarius to the core and love to travel and explore new places.
I never sit still. I always have about a dozen projects/ideas floating around in my head. I love to dance (not that I’m that good). I long to connect with as many amazing, like-minded people as possible. The next countries on my hit list are Morocco and Portugal. I love yoga but also enjoy boxing. I admire photographers and other artists. I want to help the wanderers of the world believe that they can achieve anything they imagine.
If whoever holds your sense of propriety disappeared…
Actually I am very lucky to be supported authentically by everyone around me and think I would be exactly who I am now! It has been a long journey to get here, but I am doing exactly what I love and am surrounded by incredible people. There’s not much I would change (maybe an apartment near the beach with a courtyard and a pug, but really that’d be me being picky)!
Describe what you do to earn money….
I am primarily a singing teacher but also dabble in writing, social media management and performing. I love doing multiple things in terms of my work, it keeps life interesting and challenging!
What is the best business/life advice…
Be yourself. I know people say it to us all the time, but in truth, it usually goes in one ear and out the other. In the past couple of years I have learnt what authenticity really means and it is much deeper than I had previously thought. Do the tough inner work and find out what you want, deep within you. Then pursue it with everything you have and every breath you take.
What’s your biggest fear….
My biggest fear used to be failure (it is now rats and mice and I avoid them to overcome this, haha). The best way to overcome failure is to fail. A lot. And pick yourself up, dust off your clothes, let the crimson red leave your cheeks and start again. There is no shame in failing, only in not trying in the first place.
Relaxation is…
Walking along the beach with the sun beaming down on me, taking a hot bath with Epsom salts and a glass of red wine, reading for hours at a time, watching movies snuggled up in bed with my boyfriend, long chats with my closest friends and family, baking and meditating.
What are you freakishly good at…
Apart from whipping up ANZAC biscuits and a damn good apple crumble (my nanna’s recipe), apparently singing is right up there! I also think I am an incredible listener and great at finding positive solutions for my loved ones when they’re in a bind. My intuition is becoming pretty tuned in and handy too.
What do you geek out about…
Musical theatre, cult TV shows, dance routines (especially in movies), crystals, great coffee and food of almost any kind.
Creativity in your life is….
Writing songs, teaching, writing blog posts, coming up with new business ideas, manifesting, vision boarding, rearranging my studio, absorbing wonderful information, singing and cooking.
What do you want to be known for…
Inspiring people to live authentically and do so with more passion than they could have ever imagined. That and helping people practice self love and care more often.
What do you value in your partner….
Um, where do I begin? Everything! His constant support in everything I do (especially the big, crazy ideas), that he encourages me who be exactly who I am, that he is amazing when it comes to housework, his sense of humour, the way he makes me feel more special that anyone in the world… This is getting soppy, so I’ll leave it there!
Tell me something that will shock me….
I struggled with an eating disorder, perfectionism and self harm most of the way through my teenage years. Luckily my twenties have been full of self discovery and a whole lot of healing.
Describe your relationship with money…
Have you been talking to my kinesiologist? I have a bunch of blocks to do with money and abundance apparently! I now try to focus on what having enough truly means and thinking of it as a constant flow – in and out.
If you had a year to yourself…
Travel, travel and more travel. I would tour the world teaching and writing a book. I feel most at ease when I am soaking up new spaces and living at what I call “holiday pace”. I also travel with carry on only, which makes moving around a breeze. I love the minimalist feeling of it.
Describe the last time you remember feeling happy…
Yesterday, snuggling up in bed (trying to beat the Melbourne winter) with my boyfriend giggling over Parks and Recreation episodes.
What is your BIG DREAM….
To be an internationally recognised vocal teacher and self empowerment coach for creatives that travels the world running workshops and private sessions, helping people become even brighter versions of themselves (and help them truly believe that they’re destined for amazing things). I would live 3 months of the year overseas in Europe and use this time to brainstorm new ideas and soak up the culture.
What is your greatest regret…
Pushing my parents away as a teenager. Luckily we get along really well now but I will always feel guilty for the way I acted when I was that age, it was all out of self hate and not feeling understood but I definitely took it out on them. I’ve made a lot of other mistakes in my life, but they’ve all lead me to where I am today so I can’t regret them too much!
What’s the one thing you’d change about the world…
I would change the way people view each other. Nobody would be competitive, prejudice or hateful. Everyone would understand that we are stronger together and that we could solve the world’s problems if we eliminated selfishness and work together.
Tell me 10 things that no one else knows….
1. I was a very uncoordinated child (there is embarrassing video footage).
2. I took five years of Chinese (Mandarin) at high school.
3. I bit my fingernails until I was 26 years old. I then quit cold turkey after announcing it on my blog.
4. I watched Jurassic Park far too young and was traumatised by it. I would pay my little sister 5 cents to take my laundry down to the basket because the light didn’t work in the room and I thought velociraptors were hiding behind the clothes, waiting for me.
5. I sang in five different languages at university when studying opera.
6. I couldn’t drink vodka for seven years because of one fateful night when I was 17. Take note young readers!
7. A couple of years ago I tore up all 27 diaries I had written from age 11 – 22 by hand and cried all the way through the process. It was very therapeutic though.
8. I once sang The Power of Love by Celine Dion at a school talent quest with a friend of mine. I was 10. It was horribly inappropriate.
9. My favourite number is 39.
10. I grew up in NZ but changed my accent on purpose when I arrived in Australia because I had to answer the phone (as a personal assistant) and people would spend the first 3 minutes making fun of my accent. It didn’t hurt my feelings, just wasted my time. Five years on, I can’t do a Kiwi accent anymore!
What is your primary spiritual practice?
I attend group crystal meditation once a week (that I adore) and try to do my own guided meditation for a few minutes each morning. I like to do yoga at least once a week and constantly remind myself to stay grounded, grateful and patient.