Kara Ottinger shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Kara, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
My latest adventure has been renovating a 1912 farmhouse right outside of Ft. Worth. We set out on a quest to escape the neighborhood suburbs in order to feel more grounded, connect with nature, and let our children run wild and free. My husband and I both grew up in the country and never realized how great we had it until we didn’t. We began searching for the perfect home, something we could make our own, but also something we could revive from the past. We love creating unique pieces, upcycling, and crafting together. We discovered that if we could do that all the time, on a bigger scale, we would be more fulfilled and have a better sense of purpose outside of our regular jobs. After two years of searching, we landed on a 1912 Sears and Roebuck home just outside of the city limits, further in the rural area that was begging for a new family to bring it back to life. Although challenging to uproot our family and move further away from family and friends, it has been rewarding in so many ways.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
By day, I am a digital designer working as a Marketing & Communications Director for higher education. By night, I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and creative individual who loves finding the beauty in everything possible. I’ve recently discovered my why, which has led me to understand my purpose holistically. I am driven to support and advocate for others by fostering meaningful connections and uplifting voices that deserve to be heard. Through design, I craft visually compelling and functional solutions that solve problems and hope to inspire and engage. I strive to bring imagination to life through visual storytelling, innovative thinking, or hands-on creation. Communication serves as a bridge between communities. Learning remains at the heart of my journey, fueling my growth as an artist, designer, and creator, ensuring that I continue to evolve and make meaningful contributions to the world.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I love this question. I think one of my earliest memories of feeling powerful would be as a child, swimming. There is something so amazing about jumping into the abyss or pushing off from the land and knowing that your body and determination are the only things keeping you from sinking to the bottom. I remember feeling invincible, that I could swim for hours and get to wherever I wanted if I just took my time and stayed focused. Also, that incredible feeling of facing something so vast, and that I wasn’t scared, I was excited.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Enjoy life to the fullest and soak in every minute you can. You will miss your family and closest friends the most, so wrap them in your arms and take time to spend time with them. Life always has a way of working itself out, so don’t sweat the small stuff. Money will come and go, some friends and jobs too… but time is a thief and you can never get that back.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
Honesty is the best quality. Some say that honesty can be brutal, harsh and even unkind. I believe that the more honest you are the more real you are. I value people that speak their real truth. If someone isn’t being truthful, but just telling you something you want to hear, they aren’t being themselves so you never really know who they are. A true friend is invaluable, my best friends are the most honest people I know and aren’t afraid to be who they really are. I think the most successful people are too. They are honest with themselves and others around them and that takes them far. This is why communication is so important and finding creative ways to be honest while marketing is a skill.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would stop working towards retirement and move to the beach. This is something I’ve struggled with for a while, being a creative, having big dreams, but staying on a career path purely for a good paycheck, insurance and promise of retirement some day. I don’t think it is a bad path to take, I am proud of what I have done and continue to do and the stability is nice. Although, there is this nagging feeling that you need to live for today. I’ve had family members and friends that didn’t have retirement and regret it, and others that worked their whole life towards it, never to enjoy it. If I didn’t have many years left, I would change my path immediately and live out my life paycheck to paycheck next to the ocean with my loved ones, crossing off one bucket list item at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://karaottinger.weebly.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetexandream/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kara-ottinger/
