Grow small and incrementally. It’s not a race. It’s a marathon! Shaun and Rebecca sit down with Rona Graf, the founder of Grace Blu Interior Design. Rona shares her journey from being a teacher to starting her own design firm and discusses the importance of slow and steady growth in building a sustainable business. She explains why businesses should focus on sustainable, incremental growth instead of rapid expansion and how rushing into growth can lead to challenges.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Rona’s background and her transition from teaching to interior design
• Starting Grace Blu during the 2007 economic downturn and the challenges she faced
• The importance of having a business mindset, not just a creative mindset
• Growing your business incrementally instead of rushing into expanding too fast
• Hiring people with skills where you lack expertise and delegating tasks and responsibilities 
• The importance of collaboration and learning from others in the industry
• The importance of saying no and not taking on every project
• Balancing the creative and business aspects of running a design firm
• Rona’s approach to managing client expectations and the importance of not showing them the messy, unfinished parts of the work
• How hiring a CFO has helped her forecast revenue, manage overhead costs, and make informed business decisions

Mentioned:

Design Biz Survival Guide Retreat: https://designbizsurvivalguide.com/

Design Biz Survival Guide Podcast: https://designbizsurvivalguide.com/podcasts/

Follow Grace Blu on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graceblu/

Check out Grace Blu’s website: https://www.graceblu.com/

The E-Myth: https://amzn.to/47CoO8S

Rana experienced the luxury of the Palmilla to help understand her clients better: https://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/palmilla

Email Rona for help, or templates, or mentoring: https://www.graceblu.com/contact

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