Published on 26 November 2025 • 4 min read
Systems with Soul
When people hear the word “systems”, the mind often jumps to structure, rules, or yet another tool we’re meant to adopt. But here’s something I’ve discovered while growing Kurī Studio: the best systems aren’t stiff or cold. They’re the ones that give you space to breathe. The ones that feel like they belong to you. A sound system doesn’t box you in. It supports you quietly in the background so you can focus on meaningful work. That’s what I call systems with soul. And arriving at that idea didn’t happen overnight.
Tools Aren’t Enough
When I first started the studio, I was excited about tech. Automations, integrations, AI, dashboards… all of it. But after the initial rush, I realised something uncomfortable: even with all the tools, I didn’t feel clearer or calmer. If anything, the noise got louder. It took a while to understand why. Then it clicked. Tools only amplify the systems underneath them. Once I started focusing on the underlying structure, everything changed:
- how I made decisions
- how I plan my time
- how I protect my energy
That shift in thinking naturally led me to a bigger question: What kind of business do I actually want to run? The answer surprised me.
A Business Built Around a Life, Not the Other Way Around
I realised I wasn’t trying to create a traditional agency with big teams and constant hustle. I wanted a business that supported the life I wanted to live. Freedom, relationships, nature, travel, creativity, balance. That was the picture forming in my mind. So instead of forcing my life into a business container, I shaped the business around my life. When you do that, something interesting happens. Your systems stop being about productivity and start being about alignment. About self-respect. About designing a rhythm you can actually sustain. That clarity eventually distilled into the five principles that guide me today.
The 5 F’s: My Compass for Decisions
As Kurī Studio grew, I needed a way to stay grounded. I didn’t want to lose myself in the noise. The 5 F’s became a simple compass to help me make decisions that feel aligned, not reactive.
- Freedom reminds me of why this journey started
- Flexibility acknowledges that life changes, and that’s okay
- Fun keeps the spark alive
- Finance protects sustainability and fair value
- Fulfilment makes sure the work has meaning
These five ideas aren’t abstract. They’re practical anchors. And once I started shaping my operations around them, my work naturally became steadier and more intentional. Of course, intentions alone don’t create change. Systems do. So the next step was figuring out how to work in a way that felt sustainable.
What Sustainable Productivity Looks Like for Me
I stopped forcing myself into someone else’s productivity method and began paying attention to my own rhythms. I realised that my energy isn’t linear. My focus comes in waves. And trying to operate at the same intensity all year only led to burnout. So I built three principles that match the way I naturally work:
- Do fewer things
- Work at a natural pace
- Obsess over quality
These guide everything from my weekly planning to how I take on projects. They help me avoid overwhelm and create space for deeper, more thoughtful work. But principles still need structure. I needed a container that would hold my energy in a way that felt balanced. That’s where the following framework came in.
The 12-Week Year: Planning That Matches Real Life
Traditional annual planning never quite worked for me. It felt too big, too distant, and too disconnected from daily life. Switching to the 12-week year changed everything. It gave me a rhythm that matched my natural pace:
- A few priorities instead of a long list
- Enough time to make real progress
- Frequent check-ins to reflect, adjust, and reset
- Built-in moments of rest
Each cycle becomes its own little chapter. I can focus, deliver, reset, and begin again without carrying the emotional weight of a whole year on my shoulders. This approach ties everything together: my values, my energy, my goals, and the systems that keep things flowing. And that brings me back to the heart of it all.
Why “Systems with Soul” Matters
At the end of the day, none of this is about being more efficient for the sake of it. It’s about creating a business that feels like a natural extension of who you are. One that gives you clarity instead of chaos, space instead of pressure, and a sense of direction that lines up with your values. When your systems have soul, everything becomes softer and more intentional. Clients feel the difference. You feel the difference. And your work naturally becomes more impactful. This is what I aim to build at Kurī Studio every day. Not perfect systems, but meaningful ones. Systems that support the lifestyle I’m creating, the people I serve, and the person I’m becoming. And if you’re shaping your own business, maybe this is a good place to start: Design the system that fits the life you want. Not the life that fits the system.
