Things don't always go our way. A project can go sideways, one mistake can seriously impact cash flow, or we can get hit with something crazy, like a pandemic or economic crisis. Some things we can plan for, and some we definitely cannot. But the old saying is true: It isn't about how we fall,...

I started my entire consulting company for one reason - to help interior designers run more efficient and effective businesses! It's my PASSION! Because I've learned over many years that having an organized business means that you're going to be more profitable. It's just a fact! Having...

I love interior design - and I know you do, too! We are thrilled when we're being creative, we love making our clients happy, and we are so excited to finish a lovely project. But... there are those moments that make us wonder why we're in this business at all! Things go wrong, clients...

As interior designers, it's important for us to have contractors we trust and love to work with. If we all operate as a team on our projects, we'll be less likely to have costly problems crop up, and MUCH more likely to have a great experience. And we all know there are contractors who...

Every interior designer has had at least one not-great client (or more than one!). It is just a miserable experience and can REALLY drag you down! It can even impact your work with other clients and projects. So if at all possible, it's best to avoid those frustrating clients. There are...

Setting a budget - and sticking to it - can be one of the hardest and most stressful parts of an interior design project. Especially today because costs are rising every day on both supplies and furnishings. It's so important to lock in pricing when you can. But once you FINALLY have set a...

It is never fun to have a hard conversation with anyone, but it's especially difficult when it's your client. It doesn't matter if they're being difficult, if you've made a mistake on the project, or if you've got to tell them that their furniture order is delayed again. Those tough talks are one...

You may think you have a professional business, but sometimes entrepreneurs will treat their business more like a hobby. That's usually due to FEAR! You just don't want to look too closely at what's happening in your company because deep down you really know you're not doing all that...

One thing that's really important as business owners is to look ahead and project what you want to accomplish. Most corporations start this process in the fall, setting goals and budgets for the next year. It's actually a great time to do that because you aren't in the middle of the holidays and...

As business owners, we are constantly under pressure to make money. That pressure is exhausting and can lead to massive burnout. I know! I've been there. We want to enjoy our business AND spend more time on other things other than making money. Am I right?! So, once...

When you have a to-do list that is pages long, business goals that you really want to hit, and about 75 distractions and issues that come up every day, it can be completely overwhelming to decide what takes priority. Often, the client who yells loudest is the one who gets attention first, right?!...

What success means is SOOO subjective! It can be financial benchmarks for some people, having a full roster of clients for others, or even just hitting certain personal goals. What success is NOT is some sort of set path that everyone has to follow. In our industry, we seem to forget that! The...