Designing business systems that actually fit YOU...

Hey there and hi there, we made it to Friday! It’s your pal Kat, Founder of kat&co and Creative Operations Consultant.

It’s been a couple of weeks since I had the pleasure of attending the New Narratives Club retreat in beautiful Point Reyes, CA… and I think my brain is still on coastal time.

There is something deeply special about the California coast, especially in those little magical pockets where it feels like time hasn’t quite caught up to modern life (and you can’t get cell service). I was able to be really present, go deep with some incredible founders, and laugh harder than I have in a LONG time around a campfire.

It was a great reset.

While I was there, I also had the opportunity to lead a workshop (and yes… very on brand… it was systems focused).

The topic was Designing Systems That Actually Support the Way You Work.

If I had to boil the entire workshop down into one core idea, it would be this:

Most systems don’t work because they weren’t designed for the person using them.

We tend to jump straight into fixing the process… but skip over understanding how we actually work. We end up trying to follow structures that look good on paper, but don’t hold up in real life or in practice.

In the workshop, we walked through a simple way to approach this differently… the best systems start with awareness:

How you work when you feel most like yourself
Where things feel heavier than they should
And what’s actually needed to support that gap (hint: the simpler the better)

One of my favorite moments was seeing how two participants mapped out the exact same friction point in their businesses, but in wildly different ways… which just drives home how one-size-fits-all solutions do not work for creative business owners!

This is the work I keep coming back to in my business… Not building the “best” system for my clients, but building something that actually fits the way they want to show up in their business.

If you want to try a small version of this on your own, start here: What is one part of your business that feels heavier than it should, and what is the smallest actionable step you can take to simplify it?

That’s usually the place to begin! 🖤

Reflection: Where are you currently working against your natural tendencies? Are there areas of your business that live in the dusty and forgotten file cabinet of your brain that could use some love? What is the smallest and most realistic next step that you could take to move that process forward?

PS: If you’ve been seeking clarity, strategy, and grounded support in your business, let’s chat further about Creative Business Coaching!

Podcast Corner ✨

Here are some recent stellar episodes of Good Ideas + Bad Decisions, give them a listen and let me know what you think! 🍷

Ready to schedule a call to explore working together, partnership opportunities, or collaborations? Click the link below to snag some time!

Are you a designer, builder, or architect in need of a reliable and trustworthy custom furniture + millwork partner? Click the link below to learn more about kat&co’s sister company - Benchwork Fabrication!

I am truly excited to be building community around creative small businesses, entrepreneurship, and authenticity.

Until next time - We got this! 🖤 

Love from your friend,

Kat