Creative thinking. Clear direction.
The problem you can see isn’t always the one holding you back.
North of Linear helps independent and small business owners understand how their business is working, and what to focus on next.
When things feel hard, it’s easy to decide it’s you, or the market. Usually it’s something you can actually see and change, once you look at the whole picture.
Work in the way that suits you. In person, online, in writing or by recording your thoughts. You won’t need to hand over your accounts.
Based in Nottingham. I work in person in and around Nottingham, and online anywhere in the UK.
This might be for you if
Something in the business needs a clearer look.
- You’ve been going a while and doing OK, but lately it feels hard and bookings have slowed.
- Your income goes up and down, and you never quite know what next month looks like.
- It feels like the market’s changed, or everyone else is cheaper.
- Your pricing doesn’t feel right, and you’re not sure why.
- You know your prices need to go up, but you’re worried customers will go elsewhere.
- The business works on paper, but not for you.
- You’re working all hours, it never switches off, and you’ve wondered whether it’s worth it.
- You’re making every decision on your own, with no one to talk it through with.
- You want a change, but don’t know which direction to go or where to start.
- You’ve changed, and the business hasn’t caught up with who you are now.
- You’ve done the courses and know the theory, but it isn’t landing with customers.
- You’re comparing yourself with people online who seem to be doing much better.
What makes the approach different
Person. Value. Business.
A business should work for the person running it. So I look at three things together, because a change in one changes how you see the other two.
The way you think and work shapes what your customers are really buying.
What changes
The same map, at the start and the end.
We begin with a starting map built from what we know so far. It’s deliberately incomplete, with assumptions, gaps and open questions still in it. The work builds a clearer map of what we understand now.
“What do we understand now that we didn’t when we started?”
“I’m just not good with the money side.”
“I want a business that runs on four days a week and lets the winter months be quieter.”
“I design gardens.”
“Clients aren’t just buying a design. They’re buying the confidence to commit to a big decision about their home, and someone who sees what they can’t.”
“I need to take on more projects.”
“I need fewer, better-priced projects, plus a design-only option for people who want to do the build themselves.”
This is a fictional example, written to show how the map can change. It is not a client case study.
Once we’ve worked together
The External Brain
You don’t have to work through every business decision alone.
Ongoing support once we’ve worked together, giving you a trusted outside perspective as business questions and decisions come up. We shape the rhythm and format together, around what you actually need.
About
An outside brain for a business that needs a clearer view.
I’m Kat. I spent over a decade building, running and growing a business, leading a team through the decisions that come with it. That experience shapes how I work with other business owners: taking time to understand the business and the person behind it, then helping them decide what to do next.
Start with the question your business is asking now.
If you’re not sure which kind of support fits, tell me a little about what’s going on and we’ll work out where to begin.