Designed for the Creative Mind

Today, we are talking with Porsche Williams and Amy Robinson of The Prototype, a business concierge service specifically for interior designers. They are experts in streamlining and elevating Client Experience for interior design firms through personalized service, gifting, and a host of other services that have proven to move the needle forward in their client’s businesses. If you are ready to stop wearing all the hats in your business so you can focus on design and growth again, this episode is perfect for you!

The episode also covers strategies to identify suitable clients, the importance of relationship-building, and offers insights into maintaining effective business processes. Additionally, Portia and Amy share their reading recommendations and personal anecdotes about their journey in the concierge service industry.

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery  

Text UPDATES to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.

SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

A Podcast Launch Bestie production

Welcome back to Designed For The Creative Mind! In this episode of the 'Design for the Creative Mind' podcast, I reintroduce to you Danielle Hayden, a former corporate CFO turned CEO of Kickstart Accounting.

Danielle specializes in helping female entrepreneurs understand their financials to create sustainable profits. We chat about the importance of paying oneself, maintaining separate business and personal finances, and recognizing one's money personality type. Danielle shares practical advice on managing business finances, including building a rainy day fund and leveraging systems for accurate bookkeeping. 

Meet our guest: 

Danielle Hayden is a reformed corporate CFO (chief financial officer) who is on a mission to help rule-breaking female entrepreneurs understand their numbers so they can gain the confidence needed to create sustainable profits. After spending 10+ years in the boardroom as a corporate finance officer, Danielle is now in her sweet spot as the CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc. where she helps business owners with bookkeeping, financial analysis, and education and as the author of the Profit Planner book series. When Danielle isn’t crunching numbers on her clients’ behalf or crafting the next iteration of the Profit Planner, you can find her hanging with her two kids as she inspires them to lead their fullest lives or doing any, and almost every fitness-related activity ranging from Spartan races to pilates.

Podcast Website and Resources:

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery  

Text BESTIE to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.

SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

A Podcast Launch Bestie production

In this episode of the podcast, we welcome Audrey Faust, a business coach with over 25 years of experience as an accountant and a fractional CFO, specializing in empowering women small business owners.

 Audrey shares her approach of combining extensive financial expertise with Certified Neuro Coaching Techniques to help women entrepreneurs refine their mindset and introduce new strategies for sustainable, profitable growth. They discuss the importance of understanding and transforming money mindsets, revealing how our subconscious beliefs about money can influence our financial success.

We also dive into practical strategies for integrating mindset transformation with financial strategies, emphasizing the importance of mindset in driving growth and profitability. Audrey shares her process of identifying and reprogramming subconscious beliefs, highlighting the impact it can have on revenue and decision-making.

We also explore common struggles faced by small business owners, such as undercharging for services and avoiding looking at financial numbers and we stress the significance of regularly reviewing financial statements and understanding the story they tell about your business's performance.

Audrey discusses her two-fold business approach, offering both coaching services and fractional CFO services for multi-seven figure businesses. She explains her focus on teaching clients to read and understand their financials, regardless of their business's size or stage. The conversation concludes with insights into managing debt in business, highlighting the importance of leveraging debt strategically to fuel growth and avoid unnecessary financial stress. 

Audrey Faust is a financial coach who specializes in empowering women small business owners to take control of their finances. With over 25 years of experience as an accountant and fractional CFO, she helps women build their own wealth and achieve financial stability.

To learn more about her work and get free resources to help you on your financial journey go to https://www.audreyfaustconsulting.com/free-resources 

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery  

Text UPDATES to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.

SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

A Podcast Launch Bestie production

Welcome back to another episode of Design for the Creative Mind! I'm thrilled to introduce our guest for today, Jaime Brown, the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Studio Designer. Jaime has a wealth of experience working with design firms of all sizes, helping them tackle their business challenges and implement design-specific software into their workflows. She's here to share some invaluable insights with us today.

 Jaime breaks down the benefits of integrated systems, emphasizing the seamless combination of project management and accounting functionalities. By eliminating the need for manual data transfers between different software, integrated systems save time and reduce errors. One key feature Jaime discusses is item-level profitability tracking, allowing designers to analyze the profitability of each product or service. This granular insight enables designers to make informed pricing decisions and ensure they're adequately compensated for their work.

We talk about the importance of setting pricing boundaries and tracking project hours diligently and the value of data-driven decision-making, urging designers to leverage tools like time tracking reports to optimize their pricing strategies and project estimates. . While numbers may not be the most glamorous aspect of design, they're essential for maximizing profitability and ensuring long-term success. So, don't shy away from diving into the numbers and analyzing your business metrics—it's the key to unlocking your full potential as a creative entrepreneur.

Jaime is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Studio Designer. Over the last 5 years, Jaime has specialized in working with small to large-sized design firms to help solve and improve their business challenges. By helping to implement design-specific software into their daily processes, Jaime helps interior design business owners grow and scale their firm, improve their firm's productivity and gain stronger financial insights to succeed.

Podcast Website and Resources:

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery  

Text BESTIE to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.

SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

A Podcast Launch Bestie production

Welcome back to the Design for the Creative Mind podcast! Today, we've got an awesome guest, LoriAnn Coons from Profit Priority, a boutique accounting and fractional CFO firm. LoriAnn's mission is to help creatives feel confident about their finances and grow their profits.  She realized early on that traditional accounting practices didn't align with her values of helping businesses thrive year-round, not just during tax season.

Get ready to take notes because we dive into what numbers you should be paying attention in your business, and why tracking those numbers matter. We also chat about how staying on top of your finances is key to driving growth and being able to make crucial decisions in your business. LaurieAnn also talks about why you should hire a bookkeeper for your business and emphasizes why it's so crucial to finding someone who is familiar with your industry to support your business. 

I hope you enjoy this episode!

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery  

Text UPDATES to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.

SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

A Podcast Launch Bestie production

LoriAnn is the owner and CEO of Profit Priority, a boutique accounting and fractional CFO firm helping creatives go from unsure to unstoppable when thinking about their finances. Whether you are just starting out or you have been in business for years, our mission is to help creatives feel peace about their numbers while growing their profit and confidence. Business aside, LoriAnn is really just a midwest gal obsessed with traveling, reading, iced coffees and spending time on the farm with her two little kiddos.

Welcome back to Designed For The Creative Mind! In this podcast episode, I chat with Melissa Galt, an accomplished business coach with three decades of experience in leading a successful residential firm. Melissa, known as the "tough love coach," brings practical advice to help interior designers earn more with less stress and love their business.

It is so important to have a business coach, and we dive into why it's crucial for designers to find the right coach who aligns with their needs. Melissa shares her journey from running her own design firm for 30 years to transitioning into coaching, where she helps designers unleash their creativity and streamline their business operations.

Melissa's coaching style focuses on individualized approaches, with an arsenal of tools and strategies tailored to each designer's unique needs. She emphasizes the importance of resonance and flexibility in coaching, ensuring that designers find their one-of-a-kind fit and enjoy their business journey 

Melissa has an inherent understanding of business that most only dream of. Since launching her coaching business in 2009, Melissa has coached thousands of professionals (such as interior designers, architects, builders, and founders in the home furnishings industry) around the world, helping them to realize a level of success they had only dreamed of and to fall back in love with the business.

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery  

Text UPDATES to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.

SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

A Podcast Launch Bestie production

Welcome to another episode of "Design for the Creative Mind" with your host, Michelle Lynne,  Today, we've got a jam-packed episode with not one, not two, but three amazing guests joining us. Let's give a warm welcome to Monica and Fabian Rivas from Enliven Interiors, based out of vibrant Las Vegas, Nevada. These two have been making waves in the design world, being featured in top publications like AD, Apartment Therapy, and Homes and Gardens. And that's just scratching the surface of their incredible journey. We're also thrilled to have Fernando Duque, the co-founder and CEO of Duke Renders, with us today. Fernando is a marketing genius, and you might have seen him at various conferences and events spreading his knowledge.

Monica and Fabian's journey is a testament to passion and dedication. With Monica's background in interior design and Fabian's expertise in business and marketing, they make a dynamic duo. Their journey began in school, where they crossed paths while pursuing their respective passions. Fast forward to today, and they've built a thriving business together, combining their skills to create stunning spaces.

But how did they connect with Fernando? Well, it all started with a podcast. Fabian came across Fernando's work and was immediately drawn to his innovative marketing strategies. They hit it off and realized they shared a vision for their businesses. Soon enough, they joined forces, and the rest is history.

What makes Monica and Fabian's partnership unique is their ability to complement each other's strengths. While Monica thrives in the creative realm, Fabian brings his business acumen to the table. Together, they've created a winning formula that fuels their success.

And let's not forget about the importance of renderings in their projects. With Monica's background in architectural gaming and their focus on hospitality and commercial spaces, renderings are a crucial part of their process. That's where Fernando and his team come in. Their collaboration has elevated the quality of their projects, providing clients with stunning visuals that bring their visions to life.

But what about residential projects? While renderings are a staple for their hospitality and commercial work, they're gradually incorporating them into their residential projects as well. With Monica's talent for hand sketches, they've found a perfect balance between traditional and digital techniques.

One of the keys to Monica and Fabian's success is their commitment to excellence. They've built their reputation on delivering top-notch service, and their clients have taken notice. With a focus on word-of-mouth referrals, they've organically grown their business and established themselves as industry leaders.

At the heart of it all is their passion for creating meaningful experiences for their clients. Whether it's designing a luxury hotel or transforming a family home, Monica and Fabian pour their hearts into every project, ensuring that each space reflects the unique vision of their clients.

And let's not forget about the importance of teamwork. With Lillian rounding out their team, they've created a supportive environment where creativity thrives. Lillian brings her own expertise to the table, contributing to their collective success.

 Monica, Fabian, and Fernando are a force to be reckoned with in the design world. Their passion, talent, and dedication shine through in everything they do, and we can't wait to see what the future holds for them.

Fernando is the co-founder of Duke Renders, your go-to for stunning 3D visualizations.    Duke Renders specializes in 100% photorealistic 3D rendering services, offering "do it for you" solutions perfect for interior designers seeking realistic and efficient visualizations.    They handle the entire rendering process, from concept to completion, reducing back and forth with clients, ensuring faster turnarounds, and guaranteeing you, your client and your contractors are on the same page so you can focus on what you do best – creating beautiful spaces.  

Podcast Website and Resources:

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery  

Text UPDATES to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.

SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

A Podcast Launch Bestie production

Welcome back to the podcast,  I'd like to introduce you to Daniela Furtado today. She helms a digital marketing agency in Toronto. Her team uses search engines to help businesses quintuple their website traffic and triple their sales inquiries.

The agency specializes in the design and build industry. So, she's definitely on the right podcast. Outside of the agency, Daniela also teaches courses and she writes about marketing. Daniela takes the best of what she's learned over the years and passes on the most meaningful parts through her team, clients, and students.

So, whether it's in a meeting room, a classroom, or on a stage, Daniela is on a mission to make search engine marketing less boring, less technical, and mysterious, and instead, give it simplicity, creativity, and humor.

In this episode we dive into what exactly it means to have a search marketing strategy for your business. what things you can do now getting started creating a strategic marketing plan, and what it looks like to work with an agency to help you with your search engine marketing. We also touch on how to know which marketing platform is right for your business, and if social media is actually where your BUYERS are. 

Daniela Furtado is a consultant, speaker and writer on how to make businesses easy to find online. She runs the agency, Findable Digital Marketing. Connect with her here https://www.findabledigitalmarketing.com/

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery  

Text UPDATES to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.

SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

A Podcast Launch Bestie production

Welcome back to another episode of Designed For The Creative Mind, today we have special guest Allyson Conklin, founder and principal of ACPR, a boutique public relations agency catering to interior designers.

Allyson shares her journey from a corporate PR career to founding ACPR, highlighting the pivotal moment when an interior designer's offer sparked the idea. Despite initial doubts, she embraced entrepreneurship and built a successful agency serving interior designers nationwide.

We discuss the role of PR in building brand awareness for interior designers, debunking misconceptions about its ability to directly bring in new clients. Instead, PR focuses on attracting audiences through media exposure, providing social proof and credibility crucial for brand positioning.

We also talk about when its the right time time in your business to look for a PR agency, what you can expect to spend, and what to look for in finding the right fit for you.

More about Allyson: 

Allyson Conklin is the founder of Allyson Conklin Public Relations (ACPR), a boutique PR agency for beauty, home, and lifestyle brands. A 2005 graduate of Colorado State University, she started her career in New York City working in publishing for W magazine before transitioning to PR. Allyson held PR roles at Shiseido, Cle de Peau Beaute, Zirh, and Talisker, prior to opening the doors to her eponymous company in 2010. For the last 13 years, Allyson and her team have worked with founders across the U.S. to help them grow their brands by expanding their awareness through earned media. She resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, Michael, and their three dogs. https://allysonconklinpr.com

Podcast Website and Resources:

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery  

Text BESTIE to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.

SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

A Podcast Launch Bestie production

Today's guest is Josh Marten, the owner and head designer of Stahl Timber in the Dallas, Fort Worth area.  Josh shares his experiences, background, and insights on how designers can benefit from custom furniture in their designs.

Stahl Timber specializes in crafting custom furniture from substantial materials like hardwoods and metals. The company's name,  is Norwegian for steel and wood, reflecting Josh's heritage and his wife's Norwegian background.  Stahl Timber's furniture ranges from large tables to unique, custom pieces tailored to clients' needs and preferences. Collaboration with interior designers, builders, and architects is integral to their process, ensuring the realization of clients' visions.

Josh shares his journey, revealing his early passion for building and creating, despite initially struggling with traditional art forms. His interest in furniture design intensified in his late teens and twenties, leading him to experiment with welding and crafting furniture pieces. Following a career shift prompted by a corporate layoff, Josh and his wife founded Stahl Timber 12 years ago, embarking on their entrepreneurial journey.

Podcast Website and Resources:

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery  

Text BESTIE to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.

SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

A Podcast Launch Bestie production