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For years, Kate Nixon sat on the other side of the beautiful rooms: the one with the notepad, the editorial eye, the ability to see what made a space sing and translate it into words for a magazine audience. She was good at it. She understood design at a level most designers would envy. And then she left, to build a studio of her own, and discovered there's a version of this work that no editorial eye prepares you for.

Kate Nixon is the founder of Kate Nixon Studio and a former Interiors Editor at Australian House & Garden — one of the most respected positions in Australian design media.

This is a conversation about the gap between knowing what good looks like and knowing how to run a business. About EOS, systems, structure, and the beautiful, counterintuitive truth that discipline sets creativity free. For anyone building a creative practice and wondering why the work they love keeps getting buried under the work they dread.

Key Takeaways:

• The EOS Framework: Learn how the EOS model has provided Kate Nixon with an efficient, systematic approach to managing and scaling her interior design business, amidst the challenges of entrepreneurship.
• Vision and Values in Business: Nixon emphasises the importance of clearly defining and integrating core values into business processes and team culture, ensuring alignment and fostering a positive work environment.
• Balance of Creativity and Structure: Discover how systems and structure can enhance rather than limit creative freedom, allowing for more intuitive and impactful design work.
• Client and Team Dynamics: Effective client relationships and teamwork are built upon transparent communication, mutual respect, and a shared vision, all of which are vital for successful project execution.
• Continuous Learning: Embrace the pivotal role of lifelong learning and adaptability in personal and professional growth, through identified blind spots and constructed feedback systems.

Notable Quotes:

• "Businesses are business regardless of the industry you're in; the same principles of discipline and accountability apply."
• "Systems will set you free. It's about repeating success and filtering out what doesn't work to liberate time for creativity."
• "We are all on the same team, working together to make it better, which requires no ego."
• "Transparency around fees is crucial in ensuring clients understand the value exchange in service-based industries."
• "If you look for the good, you'll find it; if you look for the bad, you'll find it. It's about gratitude and finding everyday joy."

Resources:

• Kate Nixon Studio
• EOS (Entrepreneurs Operating System): Learn more about this business model by reading "Traction" by Gino Wickman.

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If you'd like to be on the podcast, or want to collaborate with Build Beautiful feel free to contact us on buildbeautifulpodcast@gmail.com.