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?!...

"Where did the day go?!" I can't count the number of times I've said that at the end of a long work day! Sometimes it seems like I just started and the clock fast-forwarded to 5pm. If you know that feeling, you also know it can really create a real sense of overwhelm - like you are NEVER...

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 you...

Even the most experienced designers can get confused about two of the most important financial terms - markups and margins. It requires a much deeper dive into your business to get to the heart of each one, and why they are SO important. But having a strong understanding about how markups and...

How has your business performed so far this year? Are you ready to finish the year strong?? These are questions I always ask myself every single July. WHY? Because this is the perfect time to course correct if you need to. You still have time to put new plans in place and to find new clients....

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

One of the most important sales tools that you have is the one that is most often overlooked!! That's your website, of course! It's the first place many of your prospective clients will find you - so what does it SAY about you?? It's also the first place that press or potential partners will go...

I have said it so many times - confidence is THE key to your company's success! If you don't have confidence in your talent and in your business, it's going to be very difficult for you to convince people to hire you. You also tend to second guess yourself when you aren't confident. That can mean...

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,...

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...

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

Delegating is one of the HARDEST things for interior designers to do! We tell ourselves that if we just do a task then we'll save money. Or that it takes longer to tell someone else how to do it than to just do it ourselves. None of that is true!! You are the biggest money-maker in your company,...