SPOTLIGHT: Katie Smetherman Holmes Of Brand Studio Creative: Five Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Launched My Business or Startup
Hello friends! Welcome back to the Brand Studio Creative blog! In this week’s spotlight, we’re celebrating a deeply personal and inspiring feature on Authority Magazine by Katie Smetherman Holmes, Founder and CEO of Brand Studio Creative. In her latest interview, Katie pulls back the curtain on five hard-earned lessons she wishes she had known when she first launched her business. From boundaries to burnout, Katie shares the wisdom that so many entrepreneurs need but rarely hear in the early days.
These aren’t just talking points, they’re the kind of truths that reshape your business and your mindset.
Clarity is Crucial
“The first step to starting your business journey should always be creating a strategic foundation”.
Katie emphasizes that before anything else, before the branding, the website, the launch plan, you need clarity. Get crystal clear on your mission, core values, brand voice, and who you want to serve. Conducting in-depth market research and identifying your competitors’ gaps isn’t just smart, it’s necessary. This foundational clarity is what allows everything else to fall into place and keeps you grounded when things feel chaotic later on.
Embrace Flexibility
Business plans are important, but adaptability is essential. Katie shares that your strategies will evolve as your business grows, and that’s a good thing. Listening to your audience, learning from real-time data, and being open to new approaches helps you stay relevant and innovative. The key is to make intentional changes based on research, not reaction. Flexibility is a strength, not a setback.
Value Your Time
It’s easy to pour your heart into every project and forget that your time is one of your most valuable assets. Katie opens up about how easy it is, especially for creatives, to get swept up in client goals and overextend yourself. The solution? Boundaries. Having strong contracts and clear expectations from the start protects your energy, your workflow, and your ability to continue doing the work you love without burning out.
Seek Feedback
Constructive feedback can sting, but it’s also where the most growth happens. Katie encourages business owners to seek out and embrace critique, even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s through feedback that your business sharpens, refines, and becomes more aligned with your audience. She reminds us that not all feedback will be glowing, but the best kind will make you better.
Celebrate Small Wins
Success isn’t just in the big moments; it’s in the quiet victories, too. Katie recommends making time to reflect on your progress each week, no matter how small. Did you finish a project you were nervous about? Did you get a positive review? Send the newsletter you’ve been putting off? Celebrate it! Acknowledging these wins builds momentum, strengthens your mindset, and keeps burnout at bay.
Katie’s insights are a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship is a journey filled with purpose, growth, and possibility. With clarity, adaptability, boundaries, humility, and joy, you can build a business that not only thrives but feels very deeply aligned with who you are. These five lessons are more than just advice; they’re an encouraging blueprint for creating impact with heart and purpose.
Read the full interview with Katie on Authority Magazine here, and come back to these insights whenever you need a little reminder: you’re growing something meaningful, and you’re right on time.
XOXO, Katie
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