What if life-work balance isn’t a tightrope, but rather it’s a scenic drive in your dream car? Systems are the road maps that keep you on course. Delegation is your pit crew making sure the wheels stay on. Slowing down is how you take it all in and enjoy your own success. When you implement smart systems you’ll learn that success is not about perfection—it’s about enjoying the journey.

In this episode we learn:

- map your success route with systems

- create a weekly schedule that prioritizes essential tasks for work and life

- delegate to your team by allowing them to follow your systems

- block time on your calendar for non-negotiables like family, rest, and self-care

- complete a task audit monthly and look for ways to eliminate busy work or outdated habits that don’t align with your current priorities.

- regularly review your systems and goals

Business of Design® is your blueprint for running streamline projects and building a highly profitable interior design business.

Get your business blueprint at

https://businessofdesign.com/membership

My magic is helping design leaders transform their teams and businesses by embracing an 'improv mindset.' I’m passionate about showing how practices of adaptability, bold humility, and "Yes, and..." can unlock possibility and creative partnership in every team. Through my Connective Influence Model, I share skills like creating "brave spaces" and "listening to learn", as a way to build trust, spark cohesion, and create thriving, people-first cultures.

In this episode we learn:

- the power of holding brave space to create psychological safety

- how to foster curiosity by listening to learn

- self-awareness allows you to be in the moment and present

- the power of bold humility

- why it’s a good idea to know and challenge your patterns

- how to use ‘yes, and…’ to build on others’ ideas instead of dismissing them

Business of Design® is your blueprint for running streamline projects and building a highly profitable interior design business.

Get your business blueprint at

https://businessofdesign.com/membership

We all understand the value of tracking overall profitability, but sophisticated business owners will also want to track profitability by project. Why? Individual projects may vary greatly when it comes to the amount of revenue and profit they generate. Understanding project profitability allows you to focus marketing efforts and tweak offerings to increase overall financial health.

In this episode we learn:

- tracking project profitability allows you to be smarter in terms of marketing

- analyze which types of projects bring you the greatest profit margin

- don’t be afraid of your P&L

- hire a bookkeeper who will differentiate by project

- even when you hire an accounting team, you’ll need to stay involved

Success is not an accident. It's a strategy.

Business of Design® is that strategy. Join today.

https://businessofdesign.com/membership

Key to success for many interior design professionals is hiring someone who excels in areas where they struggle. Amanda Giles shares her experience of hiring a Director of Operations after many unsuccessful attempts to hire an administrator. This detail oriented, office over-seer can significantly improve the quality of work and overall efficiency and allow you to do more work and better work. What’s not to love?

In this episode we learn:

- be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses; nobody is good or bad at everything

- structure your business by radically simplifying for your skills or hiring those with complementary strengths

- work on understanding all the parts of the business, but empower and trust your team to take authority in their area

- teach clients and vendors to trust your team, and back them up 100%

You’re not imagining it. Interior design is a complex, complicated, and challenging career choice. That’s ok, you’re not afraid of hard work, but despite your best efforts, you’re nowhere near where you thought you’d be by now. Some of you graduated from design school and even with the best education available, you were not taught the fundamentals of running a successful interior design firm. Others have worked for years, even decades and still don’t have the essential systems, procedures, protocols, and strategies required to run a successful business. Until now, that is.

In this episode, you will learn:

- enjoy all the perks of business ownership, including profitability

- satisfy all your clients and generate repeat and referral business

- attract ideal clients with juicy projects grow staggering profits that lead to independent wealth

- implement policies and procedures that guarantee you get paid

- create a standardized contract that works for every project

- hire the right people and learn to delegate effectively

- confidently manage clients, trades and a team

- finally become the expert you were meant to be

Success is not an accident. It's a strategy.

Business of Design® is that strategy. Join today.

https://businessofdesign.com/membership

After a decade of designing private jet interiors, designer Lisa Morton had an ugly meltdown. Her health and well-being were hanging on by a thread. She discovered a holistic approach to design and began her studies into Feng Shui. Now a master teacher, she believes this is an excellent area of study for design professionals to consider, as younger generations are becoming increasingly concerned with the aspects of wellness.

In this episode we learn:

-being intentional with selections for your clients means less "fast furniture" and more pieces of value and worth

- the front door is key to a home’s energy, so light the entrance well, add comforting elements such as a carpet, and include live greens

- the water element improves fluidity so bring it into workspaces by introducing blues or blacks, wavy patterns, water features or water images

- add earth elements like brick, stone or clay to ground spaces for clients (or designers) who are stressed out such as brick, stone, or clay

- warm up winter with fire elements such as animal prints, triangular shapes and pops of red or fuchsia

Success is not an accident. It's a strategy.

Business of Design® is that strategy. Join today.

https://businessofdesign.com/membership

How do you know when the s%*&’s about to hit the fan? Are there warning signs, and if so, what are they? Kimberley shares her recent experience of being evacuated in the LA fires and relates it to preparedness when it comes to knowing your business is in trouble.

In this episode we learn:

- by the time your business is in trouble, the chances are you missed multiple warning signs

- your P&L can act as an early warning protection system

- analyzing incoming inquiries is your number one assessment tool

- before it gets dire, get busy with client retention, client growth and client sourcing

In this candid conversation between two long time Business of Design® Members, Dane Austin interviews Kristen Apicerno on all topics from the importance of finding a mentor to developing your processes, and committing to regular marketing to collaboration over competition. Dane and Kristen share how they navigate business challenges and the lessons they've learned on the job.

In this episode we learn:

- find and learn from experienced professions who can guide you

- develop a successful design process to streamline and elevate your work

- commit to scheduling time for marketing and finances

- set clear expectations in your contract

- identify and leverage your superpowers

- embrace practicality in your space, don't stress over imperfections

- put yourself out there

Success is not an accident. It's a strategy.

Business of Design® is that strategy. Join today.

https://businessofdesign.com/membership

Maybe it’s time to make your approach to marketing stand out. How can we do that? Well, first of all, says our guest Heather Peterson, have fun. A playful and novel approach will get your client’s attention. Just make sure you know exactly which type of client you’d like to work with first.

In this episode we learn:

- speak to few, not many

- be specific about the work you showcase and speak directly to the exact type of client you want

- stay top of mind by frequent connection points

- a book is a great opportunity to share recent work with past clients

- sow seeds, rather than opting for a single blanket mailing

- package any gifts thoughtfully, so they’ll stand out

- make it easy for the client to say yes to your offer by supplying them with things they can easily share

Success is not an accident. It's a strategy.

Business of Design® is that strategy. Join today.

https://businessofdesign.com/membership

Just because you’ve been doing it that way for years doesn’t make it the best way. Don’t surrender to so-so, when amazing is just around the corner.

In this episode we learn:

- top assumptions that need replacing

- when it’s time to abandon a method of working

- why new systems can fast track you to new success

Success is not an accident. It's a strategy.

Business of Design® is that strategy. Become a member, today.

https://businessofdesign.com/membership