We believe one of the most underrated parts of a client journey is the intake process. This isn’t about a boring list of preferences like if they prefer black over blue or which kitchen they like best. Instead, it's about asking the right questions to uncover how clients live, communicate, and make decisions. Our unique and customized client questionnaire goes FAR beyond aesthetics and dives deep into behavior, values, and lifestyle—ensuring a strong foundation for collaboration and killer design. This is how you can turn your 'welcome packet' into helping avoid client disconnects, set the tone for trust, and keep your projects on track.

Have a question--click here to ask us.

Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website

• The best business coaching for Interior designers—seriously. This is not some wham-bam glamathon; It is the real deal you have been looking for and what is missing from the business coaching marketplace today.

The Design Paradigm - The Interior Design Paradigm - Website

• A 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about running a profitable business and being the expert in the room.  It is the only coaching program to combine individual attention & accountability with live group workshops, honest video presentations and customized attention to your needs.

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Mentioned in this episode:

The Design Paradigm

There’s no one right way to run a design business—but there is often a better way.

This is not to say if something is working for you—great. Keep going.

But if you're stuck or wondering why the same problems keep popping up? It might be time to challenge the models you’re using. How can you challenge the traditional business models, such as cost plus pricing and hourly billing? These are not the most sustainable or scalable options for growth. Instead we discuss considering alternative models that prioritize communicating value to clients. Determine what is NOT working for you--and find the better way.

Have a question--click here to ask us.

Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website

• The best business coaching for Interior designers—seriously. This is not some wham-bam glamathon; It is the real deal you have been looking for and what is missing from the business coaching marketplace today.

The Design Paradigm - The Interior Design Paradigm - Website

• A 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about running a profitable business and being the expert in the room.  It is the only coaching program to combine individual attention & accountability with live group workshops, honest video presentations and customized attention to your needs.

Join our FREE Facebook Groups

• Small Business - Think Big - Facebook
• What They Didn't Teach You in Design School - Facebook Group

For designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.

• Subscribe to our Newsletter

***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.***

Mentioned in this episode:

The Design Paradigm

Social proof from your clients is important for building trust and credibility in a business. Reviews and testimonials from happy clients, while also being mindful of how and when, can be used to showcase the success and unique offerings of your business. This not only helps attract the right clients, but also addresses common pain points and frequently asked questions. Reviews can also serve as a helpful tool for evaluating and honing in on your strengths, showcasing your value, and even areas for improvement. We share our tips--and even what Liz wrote a client just this week--about how to lead your witness with authenticity!

Have a question--click here to ask us.

Want to be a part of our Designer Salary Survey? CLICK HERE to complete and once we compile the results we will send it directly to you!

Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website

• The best business coaching for Interior designers—seriously. This is not some wham-bam glamathon; It is the real deal you have been looking for and what is missing from the business coaching marketplace today.

The Design Paradigm - The Interior Design Paradigm - Website

• A 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about running a profitable business and being the expert in the room.  It is the only coaching program to combine individual attention & accountability with live group workshops, honest video presentations and customized attention to your needs.

Join our FREE Facebook Groups

• Small Business - Think Big - Facebook
• What They Didn't Teach You in Design School - Facebook Group

For designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.***

Mentioned in this episode:

The Design Paradigm

You can't lead clients from survival mode---well you can, but not well and not for extended periods of time. how How you feel directly impacts how you lead, sell, and scale. The mindset shift I have to use is to keep my business steady is the "attitude of gratitude."

This "Asked and Answered" topic this week is slightly more personal but a question I get asked often when I am balancing all the moving parts of running a business. By redirecting negative energy into gratitude and giving back to others in some way, rather than staying focused on your problems, can provide far more lasting effects than you may realize. So while we go a little woo-woo this week, it may be a good reset to think about when you may been thinking the world is falling apart.

Have a question--click here to ask us.

Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website

• The best business coaching for Interior designers—seriously. This is not some wham-bam glamathon; It is the real deal you have been looking for and what is missing from the business coaching marketplace today.

The Design Paradigm - The Interior Design Paradigm - Website

• A 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about running a profitable business and being the expert in the room.  It is the only coaching program to combine individual attention & accountability with live group workshops, honest video presentations and customized attention to your needs.

Join our FREE Facebook Groups

• Small Business - Think Big - Facebook
• What They Didn't Teach You in Design School - Facebook Group

For designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get our FREE download

• Hidden Keys for Growth for 2025 - DOWNLOAD NOW

***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.***

Mentioned in this episode:

The Design Paradigm

This week we are answering questions from our audience--first up is one of my FAVORITE hills to die on and what I consider one of the most damaging things you can do for your business.

It is not a smart business practice to sell blocks of time as a designer because this is not an effective way to market and value creative brilliance. Selling based on the end product or creative vision is a better approach for setting yourself apart from competition. By selling transformational spaces and having confidence in your pricing will show your clients you know what you are doing and you are a professional.

Have a question--click here to ask us.

Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website

• The best business coaching for Interior designers—seriously. This is not some wham-bam glamathon; It is the real deal you have been looking for and what is missing from the business coaching marketplace today.

NOW ENROLLING

The Paradigm Shift - Website - ENROLLING THROUGH APRIL 15!

• 4 months of business & marketing mindset & sales - Fast tracking the changes you need to make NOW to set your business apart from your competition. It is a lighter version of the annual program and will be a quick start in the business mindset realm for seasoned professionals and a more manageable amount of information for newer designers. It is a wonderful opportunity for designers who need help fast and are willing to put the time into it on their own with strategic assistance along the way.  

The Design Paradigm - The Interior Design Paradigm - Website - ENROLLING THROUGH APRIL 15!

• A 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about running a profitable business and being the expert in the room.  It is the only coaching program to combine individual attention & accountability with live group workshops, honest video presentations and customized attention to your needs.

Join our FREE Facebook Groups

• Small Business - Think Big - Facebook
• What They Didn't Teach You in Design School - Facebook Group

For designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get our FREE download

• Hidden Keys for Growth for 2025 - DOWNLOAD NOW

***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.***

Mentioned in this episode:

The Design Paradigm

Sometimes the simplest of truths is what is going to move the needle and this begins with understanding who you are and your own weaknesses.

We all have them right??

If you have a team, or even if you are a solopreneur, you are still consistently working with others and there are always going to be challenges of working together. However, being able to understand their strengths and weaknesses is going to make you a better business owner.

It is important for you and those that you work with to be honest and admit if they are not understanding something and try different approaches in their conversations. These tough conversations are necessary for growth and success in a company.

We are sharing our simple mindset mistakes that may be holding your or your team back from having a successful working relationship and being able to work effectively together.

Have a question--click here to ask us.

Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website

• The best business coaching for Interior designers—seriously. This is not some wham-bam glamathon; It is the real deal you have been looking for and what is missing from the business coaching marketplace today.

The Design Paradigm - The Interior Design Paradigm - Website

• A 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about running a profitable business and being the expert in the room.  It is the only coaching program to combine individual attention & accountability with live group workshops, honest video presentations and customized attention to your needs.

Join our FREE Facebook Groups

• Small Business - Think Big - Facebook
• What They Didn't Teach You in Design School - Facebook Group

For designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get our FREE download

• Hidden Keys for Growth for 2025 - DOWNLOAD NOW

***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.***

Mentioned in this episode:

The Design Paradigm

Your marketing dollars are important. There are many elements to successful marketing and it starts with becoming part of the DNA of your business. This week we met with Denise Grothouse, the founder and CEO of Perfect Six Marketing, a company specializing in marketing strategies for the kitchen and bath design industry. In this episode we discuss the importance of having a strong brand voice and understanding your target clientele when it comes to marketing while also optimizing your #1 marketing tool--your website. You cannot be putting all your eggs in one marketing basket--but instead diversifying and leveraging where your leads come from to ensure a stable and successful business.

Read more about Denise Grothouse below:

With over 20 years of experience, Denise has mastered the art of growing businesses through tailored marketing solutions. Her proprietary methods have helped clients achieve exceptional sales growth, leveraging her expertise in SEO, social media, website development, and public relations.

Before founding Perfect 6 Marketing in 2015, Denise co-founded and served as Vice President of Grothouse Inc., where she grew a multimillion-dollar custom wood countertop company. Her journey began after a devastating fire destroyed her fledgling business in 2005. Armed with resilience and a $5,000 credit limit, she rebuilt from scratch, turning setbacks into success. This experience sparked her passion for helping others achieve their entrepreneurial dreams.

Denise’s approach blends old-school hard work with constant innovation. She’s deeply committed to promoting Made in America brands and believes in giving every business, regardless of size, the visibility it deserves. As a columnist for Kitchen and Bath Design News since 2017, Denise shares her insights with industry professionals nationwide.

Beyond marketing, Denise serves on the leadership council of the National Small Business Association and actively supports ocean conservation through Perfect 6 Marketing’s partnership with the Oceanic Society. For every new client, the company adopts a whale, underscoring her commitment to meaningful, sustainable impact.

With a reputation for perseverance, creativity, and a compassionate approach, Denise continues to inspire businesses to thrive in competitive markets.

Have a question--click here to ask us.

Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website

• The best business coaching for Interior designers—seriously. This is not some wham-bam glamathon; It is the real deal you have been looking for and what is missing from the business coaching marketplace today.

The Design Paradigm - The Interior Design Paradigm - Website

• A 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about running a profitable business and being the expert in the room.  It is the only coaching program to combine individual attention & accountability with live group workshops, honest video presentations and customized attention to your needs.

Join our FREE Facebook Groups

• Small Business - Think Big - Facebook
• What They Didn't Teach You in Design School - Facebook Group

For designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get our FREE download

• Hidden Keys for Growth for 2025 - DOWNLOAD NOW

***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.***

Mentioned in this episode:

The Design Paradigm

Optics matter. Client's trusting you know how to manage money--matters. Understanding there is no free lunch--matters.

Here is the drum roll take away.

It takes money to make money. Ta da!

Professional designers understand that it costs money to travel to market to learn about the products they specify ( and usually sell for a profit) -- or how important it is to pay for a good attorney in your state to develop a contract to suit your needs--or to get a CPA help to know when to become an S corp. -- Yes Virgina! it costs money to do these things.

Who sold people the fairy tale this is a cheap business to get into?

It is not. There are money and time costs.

If it were a cake walk, everyone would do it. And by the grace of all intelligent creatures--- anyone who balks at pay to play, orders 9.99 contracts off Etsy, crowd sources tax advice---- and then has the huevos to complain about clients shopping them or not wanting to pay their 200 buck an hour fees??? Are ya kidding me with this?

Have a question--click here to ask us.

Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website

• The best business coaching for Interior designers—seriously. This is not some wham-bam glamathon; It is the real deal you have been looking for and what is missing from the business coaching marketplace today.

The Design Paradigm - The Interior Design Paradigm - Website

• A 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about running a profitable business and being the expert in the room.  It is the only coaching program to combine individual attention & accountability with live group workshops, honest video presentations and customized attention to your needs.

Join our FREE Facebook Groups

• Small Business - Think Big - Facebook
• What They Didn't Teach You in Design School - Facebook Group

For designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get our FREE download

• Hidden Keys for Growth for 2025 - DOWNLOAD NOW

***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.***

I am PASSIONATE--and if you have gotten my weekly newsletter the past two weeks then you would know all those years ago in college my young professor's advice stuck. So we are re-releasing one of our most popular episodes and trying to reignite the flame in those that may feel it dwindling!

Are you giving clients the yearning for more? Showing passion is one of the most important things you can do as a business to demonstrate to your clients what it is that you are bringing to the table.

Passion for my work is why I get up in the morning and being excited about what the day holds---and have an eagerness to jump into it. It’s not always roses and mai tais but still--I am passionate about what we do so it keeps me going.

Do not be afraid to be excited about what is happening in your business. Clients feel this energy and will gravitate to you if you embrace it authentically.

We discuss the need to bring your A-game every day because you want to cultivate that enthusiasm and excitement for your clients as you begin their project.

Have a question--click here to ask us.

Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website

• The best business coaching for Interior designers—seriously. This is not some wham-bam glamathon; It is the real deal you have been looking for and what is missing from the business coaching marketplace today.

The Design Paradigm - The Interior Design Paradigm - Website

• A 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about running a profitable business and being the expert in the room.  It is the only coaching program to combine individual attention & accountability with live group workshops, honest video presentations and customized attention to your needs.

Join our FREE Facebook Groups

• Small Business - Think Big - Facebook
• What They Didn't Teach You in Design School - Facebook Group

For designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get our FREE download

• Hidden Keys for Growth for 2025 - DOWNLOAD NOW

***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.***

Happy New Year! What better way to start off the year than with my top 5 marketing strategies for small business owners grow their businesses.

Marketing is a mindset and not just an activity, and it takes time and effort to see results. This is not simply a standalone entity, it is ingrained in the essence of any business. Every interaction, from the moment a potential lead first encounters your brand, contributes to your marketing efforts.

To build a brand that resonates and connects, you need to define who you are and who you aim to reach intentionally and this mindset should permeate all aspects of your business.

Have a question--click here to ask us.

Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website

• The best business coaching for Interior designers—seriously. This is not some wham-bam glamathon; It is the real deal you have been looking for and what is missing from the business coaching marketplace today.

The Design Paradigm - The Interior Design Paradigm - Website

• A 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about running a profitable business and being the expert in the room.  It is the only coaching program to combine individual attention & accountability with live group workshops, honest video presentations and customized attention to your needs.

Join our FREE Facebook Groups

• Small Business - Think Big - Facebook
• What They Didn't Teach You in Design School - Facebook Group

For designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get our FREE download

• Hidden Keys for Growth for 2025 - DOWNLOAD NOW

***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.***