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  • About
  • Coaching
    • Life coaching
    • Business Coaching
    • Leadership Coaching
    • Half-day coaching intensive
  • Workshops
    • Compassionate Conversations
    • Write Your Life Stories Workshops
    • The Confidence Course
    • Free Monday Talk & Meditation
  • Speaking
  • Retreat
  • Resources
    • Kate’s books
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • 0 items
business-coach-melbourne

Supporting you to grow a beautiful business

Kickstart Your Business is a coaching program for women who want to gain the confidence to start or grow a creative or wellness business.

CONTENT WE’LL COVER

  • Discover (or reconnect with) your business purpose
  • Identify your ideal business and your ideal client
  • Gain clarity about the best service or product offering
  • Marketing for non-marketers (and selling for non-sales people)
  • Getting social media right
  • Overcoming the fear and developing self-belief to make your business flourish
  • Develop the right money mindset
  • Setting up systems to streamline processes
  • Balancing business and life (as best you can).

CREATE AND GROW A BEAUTIFUL BUSINESS

With over 25 years of business management experience working for filmmakers, architects and designers, Kate offers business coaching for small business owners.

A BUSINESS COACH CAN HELP YOU TO:

  • Develop a vision for your business and create a plan for achieving your goals.
  • Establish a positive mindset around making money.
  • Overcome the sense of overwhelm that often occurs in the early days.
  • Identify your ideal client and learn how to get your message out there authentically.
  • Create systems that will free up your time so you’re not at your desk until midnight.
  • Develop a simple but workable marketing plan and the confidence to sell without being ‘salesy’.
  • Understand your unique strengths (and what you really should be delegating).
  • Network in a way that will make you comfortable.
  • Balance being creative with the boring parts of running a business (like managing cashflow).
  • Create a business that is profitable.
  • Balance business and life.

WHO ARE YOUR BUSINESS COACHING PROGRAMS FOR?

Our business coaching and small business mentoring programs are for clients who have started or would like to start their own creative or wellness business. You’ll get the most from this program if you’re:

  • interested in creating a small business that has some ‘soul’ in it.
  • the kind of person who values relationships as much as making a profit.
  • someone who is hoping to make a positive difference in the world.
  • willing to put in the work in order to make your business succeed.

THE BUSINESS COACHING 1:1 PROGRAM

Your coaching program runs over three-months and includes the following.

  • Pre-coaching strengths profiling and preparation questionnaires

    The profiling tools will provide insights into your innate strengths and give me insights into how we will work best together. We’ll both have a better understanding of the potential stumbling blocks you’re likely to encounter along the way. The prep questionnaires will help you gain clarity on the most important objectives for your career, your life and for the coaching program.

  • 1 x 75-minute strategy session

    We’ll review your profiling results and prep questionnaires and start creating a vision for your ideal career, business or life. You’ll leave this session with a greater understanding of yourself and at least a few clear goals and action steps.

  • 4 x 60-minute sessions

    We meet every couple of weeks to review your progress, to establish new objectives and to keep you moving beyond any of the limiting beliefs or behaviours that could hold you back. Your coaching program is valid for three months so you can take the time you need to get the most from the program.

  • 6 x workbooks – Creative Business Mentoring 

    You’ll receive free copies of our comprehensive business mentoring workbooks which include exercises and strategies to help you with your business planning, creating your social media and marketing plan, managing your finances as well as overcoming self-doubt and maintaining balance in your life as you grow your business.

  • 5 x workbooks – Believe in Yourself and Do What You Love

    You’ll receive free copies of our comprehensive workbooks to help you discover your values and purpose, overcome your limiting beliefs, define your vision, build resilience, discover your ideal career and if you’re changing roles, to approach the career search process with confidence.

  • Unlimited email and telephone support between sessions

    I’ll be here to touch base between sessions to keep you on track and to make sure you feel supported.

  • Option to continue with single-sessions

    I offer ongoing appointments for clients who have completed a coaching program. These can be scheduled at your convenience.

 

MORE QUESTIONS?

I’m not sure if I want to get straight into a program. Can I do a single session?
Kate is very happy to offer single sessions if you’re not sure about committing to a program. Please get in touch and we’ll send you a link to our online booking calendar.

What’s your previous experience?
Kate has 25 years of experience working with small business owners. Her clients include marketers, designers, small advertising agencies, artists, musicians, web designers, yoga teachers, web developers, bloggers, kinesiologists, publishers and psychologists.

Does Kate see clients on the weekends?
Not currently. Her client hours are Monday afternoons, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday mornings. Kate has a couple of 5pm timeslots but for the most part, she sees clients during business hours.

I’m not sure if I should do a half-day session or the coaching program. What would you recommend?
The content of the discovery session and the coaching program is much the same but the half-day session is a deep-dive intensive. It’s different in the sense that you’ll get to the heart of things in a single day. After that, you’re welcome to book a program or a series of single sessions if you need more support. The program is a better option for you if you prefer a bit more time between your sessions to reflect and if you need accountability to help you stay on track.

I’m not that interested in mindfulness. Does that mean you’re the wrong coach for me?
Not at all. Not everyone Kate sees is interested in mindfulness but it still influences her approach to working with you. Being mindful is really just another way of saying being present, curious, self-aware and non-judgmental. If those qualities appeal, you’ll enjoy working with Kate. She’s not at all dogmatic in her approach and she’s respectful that it might not be everyone’s thing.

Contact us for a copy of our brochure with more info, check out our frequently asked questions or find out more about Kate James.

ENQUIRE NOW »

 

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING?

Emma Murray <span>Photographer</span>
Emma Murray Photographer

‘The resources and advice I received during Kate James’ small business mentoring program gave me more clarity about the direction I’d like to take my business, and the tools and motivation to start making progress. The best part about the program was the lovely women I got to share it with — all from different backgrounds and able to share advice from their own experience. It was like having six extra coaches to provide support and hold me accountable. I would highly recommend the program to anyone starting their own business.’ Emma Murray, Elm Creative

Misty Johnson <span>The Gratitude Bike</span>
Misty Johnson The Gratitude Bike

‘Kate’s energy, flow and knowledge helps calm the overwhelm of starting a business. She acknowledges where you are, asks all the right questions, and provides resources to get your business off on the right foot. All this while enjoying and sharing the experience with a group of like-hearted supportive women. Completing the small business mentoring program has given me clarity around my business, where I want it to go, and how I intend to get it there. Kate really has created something super special.’ Misty Johnson, The Gratitude Bike

Lucy Mills<span>The Lighthaus</span>
Lucy MillsThe Lighthaus

‘I was fortunate to be involved in one of Kate’s group programs and I have also worked with Kate personally for the last 18 months. Kate works with like-minded people so the group was a great fit and very supportive of each other. The content we covered applied to each of us who work across a variety of industries and focused not only on how to improve our careers but also to gain confidence and balance in life which is often a challenge for so many of us. Kate’s advice, guidance and support has been invaluable to me.’ Lucy Mills

Lou Spargo<span>Melbourne</span>
Lou SpargoMelbourne

‘What a fabulous program! I definitely won’t regret joining the mentoring group and thank you for giving me the opportunity. It was lovely to join a committed group of similarly minded people and share our common experience of planning and launching a small business. We all started and finished at slightly different stages but it didn’t matter as everyone was encouraged to work through the modules at their own pace and find their own unique process. Without a doubt, the act of sharing each week provided a solid foundation for accountability, support and inspiration. It will be lovely to keep in touch with this talented group of women and see the world embrace their extraordinary talents.’ Lou Spargo

Catherine<span>The Wellbeing Corner</span>
CatherineThe Wellbeing Corner

“Working with Kate has literally been life changing. In addition to being extremely professional and having the highest integrity, Kate is wise, kind and generous. She is passionate about making a difference in people’s lives and does just that with her compassionate, grounded and creative approach. When I first met Kate, I was longing to find more meaning and purpose in my life but I lacked the confidence to start pursuing what inklings I did have. Working with Kate helped me gain clarity and, more importantly, develop the self-belief to pursue what is truly aligned and meaningful for me. What a gift! Thank you Kate.” Catherine Morey-Nase, The Wellbeing Corner

Leanne Clancey <span> Food & Travel Writer</span>
Leanne Clancey Food & Travel Writer

‘I first met with Kate when I was at a real career crossroads. Kate helped me to nut out my values and aspirations, recognise my natural talents and then identify opportunities and pathways for me to put that all together so that I could actually make stuff happen. I love the way that Kate was able to calmly and pragmatically break things down to the basics. Put simply, working with Kate helped me to get clear – which has been nothing short of life changing.’ Leanne Clancey, Food & Travel Writer

Clare Bowditch<span>Big Hearted Business</span>
Clare BowditchBig Hearted Business

‘I absolutely adore Kate. She is a highly skilled, generous and enormously gifted business coach, especially for those who don’t traditionally consider themselves “business people”. I discovered her through sheer luck (thanks Google), and I remain sincerely grateful for the counsel she offered me back in 2010 when I was first fleshing out the bones for what would become Big Hearted Business. Thanks Kate!’

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I read a beautiful article last week about the concept of fragility, and how it applies in just about every area of life. I know this is true, but it also reminded me that when we're willing to accept our vulnerability, we come to discover our true strength.The way we keep showing up through moments of uncertainty.The way we stay open to love when we've been deeply hurt.The way we adapt when life throws us a curve ball.The way we stay hopeful, even when we're afraid.The way we find meaning in the smallest of moments.Fragility isn’t weakness. It’s part of what it means to be fully alive.When we recognise it, we learn to handle ourselves and one another with more care.To cherish what matters and to stay open to the life that we're living.✨#vulnerability #fragility #innerstrength #tenderness #selfcompassion #mindfulliving #emotionalwellbeing #personalgrowth #slowliving #healingjourney #beinghuman
I've just finished listening to the audio version of Jacinda Ardern's book, A Different Kind of Power. What a beautiful book – and what a beautiful woman.For decades, I've looked for role models to show me how to be both a mother and a businesswoman, and I've struggled to find someone I can truly relate to. Until I heard Jacinda's story.As she writes in one of the final chapters, when asked about what it means to be a leader:“If you have impostor syndrome, or question yourself, channel that. It will help you. You will read more, seek out advice, and humble yourself to situations that require humility to be conquered. If you’re anxious, and overthink everything, if you can imagine the worst-case scenario always, channel that too. It will mean you are ready when the most challenging days arrive. And if you are thin-skinned and sensitive, if criticism cuts you in two, that is not weakness; it’s empathy. In fact, all of the traits that you believe are your flaws will come to be your strengths. The things you thought would cripple you will in fact make you stronger, make you better. They will give you a different kind of power, and make you a leader that this world, with all its turmoil, might just need.”This book is a brilliant read. I highly recommend it. Thank you @jacindaardern for sharing your story with such warmth, humility and kindness. ✨Image: @penguinbooksnz#jacindaardern #adifferentkindofpower #leadership #empathy #womeninleadership #kindness #audiobookrecommendation #personalgrowth #mindfulleadership #inspiringwomen
After writing the first article about overfunctioning, so many women have reached out to say, ‘this is me’ and ‘what can I do about it?’.Later this week, I’ll be sharing an article about breaking the cycle of overfunctioning, but first, I thought it might be helpful to remember why we do this and why it can be such a hard pattern to break.Scroll through the carousel for quick tips, or read the full article (the link’s in my bio). And keep an eye out for the new article later this week where I’ll share more about doing things differently.This is something I’m working on myself, and I have to say that even with awareness, I don't find it easy. Those long-held habits can be hard to shift but when I can catch myself and go a little more gently, it makes the world of difference to how I'm feeling. ✨#overfunctioning #personaldevelopment #mindfulcoaching #selfkindness #selfawareness #wellbeingjourney #womenwhothinkdeeply #innergrowth #mindfulnessmatters #doinglessfeelingmore #confidencecoachmelbourne
When I was taught to meditate, over thirty years ago now, the advice was very rigid. You had to practice twenty minutes, twice a day or you might as well forget it. For so many people who learned, this ended up being off-putting and often not realistic.These days, there are so many different approaches and it's much more flexible – which is exactly what we need.Almost everyone I work with is short of time, but they're still keen to be mindful. And the reality is, you can achieve this even in just a few minutes.In its simplest form, mindfulness is really about two things – paying attention and non-judgement. When you start there, you realise you can practice in so many small ways and the impact can still be incredible.You don't need to head off on retreat (although it is pretty amazing) or block out huge amounts of time to simply tune in and pay attention.Try one or more of these small pauses today:▫️ Drink your tea, coffee or water with your full attention. Slow it right down and notice what you taste, smell and feel – bringing a sense of appreciation.▫️ Take five long, slow breaths. Pay attention to extending your out-breath to engage your parasympathetic nervous system.▫️ Before you send an email or make a call, pause and think about your intention. What matters most in this interaction?▫️ When you're at your computer or using your phone, notice your breathing. It often becomes more shallow (or we hold our breath without realising).Small moments of mindfulness really do make a difference. A few simple pauses through your day can bring you back to calm, clarity and presence. 🙏#mindfulness #presence #selfawareness #mindfulliving #mindfulnessretreat
I’ve been thinking a lot about boundaries lately, mostly after chatting with my wise and insightful daughter, Meg and my wonderful colleague, Catherine. Both of these women know all about setting healthy boundaries. I still find it difficult at times, even though I'm aware how deeply this affects the way that I feel.Healthy boundaries aren’t walls that keep people out. They’re more like an inner framework that helps us stay true to ourselves while staying open to others.When our boundaries are clear and flexible, we can be giving and loving, and we can listen without feeling drained or resentful. When they’re blurred, we can feel overextended, irritable, and even anxious, not because others are asking too much of us, but because we’re not honouring our own limits and needs.If you’re wondering whether your boundaries are healthy, reflect on these questions this week. If you find yourself answering 'yes' to several, consider where you can be a little more true to yourself.✨ Do I say yes when I really mean no?✨ Do I feel guilty when I take time for myself?✨ Do I often feel responsible for other people’s feelings?✨ Do I worry about expressing my own needs and preferences?✨ After spending time with certain people, do I feel somewhat depleted?Healthy boundaries come from a place of self-respect. They’re not about shutting the world out, but about creating the conditions where connection feels safe, sustainable and uplifting.Like anything, our boundaries need care and attention. They can shift as we grow and change. They can strengthen as our self-respect deepens.Working on your boundaries isn’t about getting it perfect. It’s about noticing when you feel out of balance, pausing to listen, and making small, honest adjustments that bring you back into alignment. 💛#leadershipgrowth #healthyboundaries #womeninleadership #personaldevelopment #emotionalintelligence #mindfulleadership #selfawareness #confidentleaders
Yesterday I stumbled across some photos from the launch of my first book, Believe in Yourself & Do What You Love, held just over a decade ago. I’d forgotten how magical it was – the celebration of a lifelong dream to become a published author.It got me thinking about how so many of us, introverts in particular, rarely reflect on our best moments. The strength of humility is wonderful, but we can overuse it at times.As I flicked through the photos I remembered the joy of that night and how meaningful it was to share it with so many of my favourite people.So here’s an invitation for you this week. Scroll through old photos, glance back at your CV or spend some time reflecting and see if you can recall a moment you feel genuinely proud of (it doesn't need to be a big thing). And then, rather than keeping it private, share it with someone you trust. Let them know how it felt and allow yourself to re-celebrate. If it feels right, you might even share it more widely – perhaps in a post of your own.A big thank you to everyone who joined me on that fabulous night including my beautiful Meg, @ramaekerskaren, @enaproducts, @thewellbeingcorner, @lbeavan, @sarah.rudledge, @denu_australia, @lizzycphoto, @thegaleriefitzroy and many others I don't have photos of including @naids, @mindfulinmay, @ofkin, @christinaredlich, @louise_weigall, @linda.salo, @simbeever, @theholisticingredient, @corporatechillout, and anyone else I have missed. Special thanks to the gorgeous Sarah from @babylonflowers for making the tables look so stunning and to Emma Murray for the great photos. 🌸#reflection #celebrateyourself #introvertstrengths #joyfulmoments #selfkindness #confidencecoach #womenwhowrite #lifecoachmelbourne #believeinyourself
I’ve been exploring the theme of ‘not good enough’ for a while now, and the more I research, the more I see how deeply it touches every aspect of our lives. It doesn’t just shape the way we see ourselves – it influences our career, health, relationships, friendships, even the way we handle money.I’ll share more on my latest findings in next week’s article but for now, I want to leave you with this beautiful reminder from Hafiz.If you’re doubting yourself, comparing yourself to others, or feeling like you’re falling short in some way, keep these words close this week and remind yourself that you are valuable, loveable, and entirely unique – not because of what you have, how you look or what you achieve, but simply for being yourself. ✨#selfworth #selfkindness #innerlight #confidencecoach #healingjourney #mindsetmatters #notgoodenough #selfacceptance #gentlegrowth #personaldevelopment
I've had so many lovely responses to my recent articles about the four patterns of not feeling good enough and the signs of overfunctioning. It seems that this one is a common pattern for many of us.This week, I've written about why we overfunction and why it can be difficult to change –even when we know we're doing it. These behaviours often feel hard-wired into our being.If this sounds familiar, you might like to read my latest piece (links to all three articles are in my bio). I share the hidden pay-offs and the costs we often overlook, along with journal prompts to help you explore how and why overfunctioning might be showing up in your life.Over the coming weeks, I’ll write about how to transform overfunctioning, as well as exploring the other patterns of avoidance, procrastination and people-pleasing.#overfunctioning #selfdoubt #confidenceforwomen #notgoodenough #journalling #personaldevelopment #womenandwork
Just over a month ago, Chris and I had to move out of our house while it was being repaired from flood damage, so we decided to take a little road trip. We drove across to Mallacoota, up the south coast of NSW, across to Canberra, and back down through the mountains.Usually, in the middle of winter, if we were planning a trip we’d head somewhere warm. This time, we chose the opposite and it turned out to be one of the most beautiful holidays we’ve had.I think it helped that we stopped in so many places where we could immerse ourselves in nature, but I’m also aware that we expected very little. It was a simple trip with lots of home cooking, slow days, and finding delight in small things. When the days were sunny, we were grateful; when it turned cold, we were ready for it.It has me reflecting on how good it feels to do things differently, to challenge the ways we get set in our thinking. Because we loved this trip so much, I came home planning to repeat the same route next year. Then I realised I was missing the point – what made it special wasn’t the path we took, but all the things that were so unexpected.Sometimes real magic unfolds when we change our habits, let go of expectations, and allow ourselves to be a little more adventurous.An invitation for this week: where could you be more curious or open, or let go of one of your usual patterns? ✨📷 @chrisjamesphotos#innercalm #quietconfidence #mindfulleadership #wellbeingjourney #authenticliving #gentlewisdom #selfacceptance #findingpeace #womenempowerment #innerstrength #emotionalwellbeing
© Kate James 2025

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