Today I speak with POP Alumni and ambassador extraordinaire Betty Simtikidis who has decades of experience in the corporate arena and took the leap to launch her own design business during the pandemic. Through the episode, we talk about what pushed her towards this huge career pivot, the worries she had at first and the eventual help she found as a self-professed "life long learner". She shares her mindset of "you don't know what you don't know" and how that inspired her to invest into a cultivating community as a solopreneur. She speaks about her attitude towards conquering imposter syndrome, collaboration over competition and her perfect nugget of wisdom that will remind you that its all about how you make people feel. If you’re looking for your sign to take the leap into your business or taking POP this inspiring episode is for you!   Simply Designed by Bett   Download our Free Resources ➡️ Pre-qualify your clients with my Discovery Call Script ➡️ Stay confident from beginning to end with my Consultation Checklist    ➡️ Looking for a quick infusion of cash? Grab my 4 easy ways of increasing your revenue   Looking to elevate your business? Learn more about our courses ➡️ Want the complete blueprint to calculate your design fee with confidence and ease? Learn more about my Pricing with Confidence course ➡️ Want to be the first to know when Power of Process is returning? Click to learn more about the business blueprint for interior design firm owners. ➡️Want to be the first to know when the next episode drops? Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the Resilient by Design Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts!

197. How to overcome the fear of being a solopreneur

I’m Rebecca Hay and I have built a successful interior design business by trial and error, podcasts, online courses and books.  Over the last decade I have grown from an insecure student to having career false starts and now I’ve finally landed where I want to be.  Throughout my journey I’ve become deeply passionate about business and helping other entrepreneurs and career minded women. Each week I’ll share tangible takeaways from my own experience and the experiences of other badass women to help you build your confidence and change your business.

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In this treat of an episode, I sat down with the spectacular and talented Toronto Designer, Allison Willson to talk about all of the things - life, career changes, aesthetic, pricing and more! Allison shares why she finally decided to go out on her own and start her design firm after working 11 years at Sarah Richardson Design. She explores how she'd describe her distinctive style and how saying NO to some things can be the right move for your business, your livelihood and for your clients. She talks about balancing projects and staying within your capacity, her experience managing a team and her thought process behind her pricing model. She also dives into why she listens to her gut and the green flags she looks for when speaking with potential clients. We learn about her thoughts on magazine spreads, what they do and and don’t do for her business, and her love/hate relationship with Instagram! Finally, don’t miss her incredibly poignant nugget of wisdom that has truly stayed with me since our conversation!   Learn more about Allison Willson on her website and on Instagram   Download our Free Resources ➡️ Pre-qualify your clients with my Discovery Call Script ➡️ Stay confident from beginning to end with my Consultation Checklist    ➡️ Looking for a quick infusion of cash? Grab my 4 easy ways of increasing your revenue   Looking to elevate your business? Learn more about our courses ➡️ Want the complete blueprint to calculate your design fee with confidence and ease? Learn more about my Pricing with Confidence course ➡️ Want to be the first to know when Power of Process is returning? Click to learn more about the business blueprint for interior design firm owners. ➡️Want to be the first to know when the next episode drops? Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the Resilient by Design Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts!

214. Gut Instincts and Green Flags: Inside Allison Willson's Design Philosophy

In this episode I dive into an ordeal every designer deals with at some point in their business - the client pricing pushback!  My short and simple answer is: get ahead of it and communicate everything early and often! Through the episode I share exactly why I believe that early communication about pricing is the key to facing this objection head-on and lessons I’ve learned the hard way over the years. I dive into specific ways to keep your message clear and upfront, how to showcase your worth using your promotional materials and client facing documents, and of course why charging for your consultation is another way to pre-qualify your clients and set clear expectations about the level of service you’re offering. Because the pricing pushback is so common when we’re starting a business, I include a few ways of how to handle it; what to say and what not to say so that you can commit to clients to align with your value and understand your worth.   This episode is sponsored by Devix Kitchens & Abacus Furniture.   Download our Free Resources ➡️ Pre-qualify your clients with my Discovery Call Script ➡️ Stay confident from beginning to end with my Consultation Checklist    ➡️ Looking for a quick infusion of cash? Grab my 4 easy ways of increasing your revenue   Looking to elevate your business? Learn more about our courses ➡️ Want the complete blueprint to calculate your design fee with confidence and ease? Learn more about my Pricing with Confidence course ➡️ Want to be the first to know when Power of Process is returning? Click to learn more about the business blueprint for interior design firm owners. ➡️Want to be the first to know when the next episode drops? Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the Resilient by Design Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts!

213. Pricing pushback: managing client sticker shock

In this episode we welcome back an amazing guest Jami Sparling to talk about her big geographical shift from Ontario to Nova Scotia and the even bigger shift in her life of going from successful interior designer to authentic mindset coach, and all of the things that led her there! Jami is no stranger to change, in the previous episode on the podcast she shared her move from paramedic to interior designer and all that came with it! She is a testament of resilience as she takes us through her wild journey and the intense catalysts that brought on those transitions about. We speak in depth about the resources she utilized that helped her start trusting her intuition and embrace joy and play in work and life, which has now allowed her to give back and coach others. Jami shares how to know when you're ready for coaching, how to find the right one for you, and how avoiding comparison can be instrumental for your happiness and growth. Finally her nugget about being selective on who you take help and advice from is one for the books! If you’re looking to better understand how different coaches and resourcs can help you at various stages in your life, this is the episode for you!     Episode 107: Thriving past PTSD, Focusing on your mindset and Learning to say NO with Jami Sparling    The Grief Recovery Handbook   Clifton Strengths Test    The Artist's Way   Wheel of Life assessment   Blog post:  The Pitfalls of Unsolicited Advice: Understanding Its Impact and How to Navigate It   Learn more about Jami Sparling on her website Authentic Armour and on Instagram   Download our Free Resources ➡️ Pre-qualify your clients with my Discovery Call Script ➡️ Stay confident from beginning to end with my Consultation Checklist    ➡️ Looking for a quick infusion of cash? Grab my 4 easy ways of increasing your revenue   Looking to elevate your business? Learn more about our courses ➡️ Want the complete blueprint to calculate your design fee with confidence and ease? Learn more about my Pricing with Confidence course ➡️ Want to be the first to know when Power of Process is returning? Click to learn more about the business blueprint for interior design firm owners. ➡️Want to be the first to know when the next episode drops? Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the Resilient by Design Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts!

212. Unlocking Joy: Secrets to Embracing Change and Growth!

This shorty episode is for all of the mompreneurs who are looking for ways to lighten the load by hiring help without taking on a full-time employee or payroll - the answer is Virtual Assistants! Hiring a virtual assistant can be a game changer as you grow your business. If you are beginning to toy with the idea of hiring employees, this is a terrific way to test-drive that process. I walk you through a few ideas of how they can streamline your time, and potential tasks to outsource so more of your time is freed up to do what you do best, run your business! I also share a mistake I made when I first hired virtual assistants and the steps you should take before you start your own hiring search. These remote freelancers can take on tasks that maybe you haven't even considered before and this initial investment can make your life so much easier at work.   Download our Free Resources ➡️ Pre-qualify your clients with my Discovery Call Script ➡️ Stay confident from beginning to end with my Consultation Checklist    ➡️ Looking for a quick infusion of cash? Grab my 4 easy ways of increasing your revenue   Looking to elevate your business? Learn more about our courses ➡️ Want the complete blueprint to calculate your design fee with confidence and ease? Learn more about my Pricing with Confidence course ➡️ Want to be the first to know when Power of Process is returning? Click to learn more about the business blueprint for interior design firm owners. ➡️Want to be the first to know when the next episode drops? Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the Resilient by Design Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts!

211. You don't have to do it alone: How a VA can help

In this episode we welcome back the talented and wonderful Elizabeth Cinquini to talk all about restarting her interior design business after her big move from NYC to Naples, Florida, and dive into her experience getting featured in magazines and other publications without using a publicist!  During the episode, we go into detail as Elizabeth catches us up on her big move, how she had to re-grow her business from the ground up, and why she decided to move outside of her comfort zone to foster real personal connections. She shares the importance of hustling and patience, as well as being selective in where you spend your time and energy so that the seeds you plant have the space to grow. We also go deeper into her journey of getting published and featured in magazines. She talks about how the editorial process works and how she specifically participates and cultivates those connections by playing the long game and believing in her process. Her advice about being your own advocate inspired me so much and I know it'll light a fire under some of you too!   Episode 126 From the chaos of NYC to a peaceful new way of doing business with Elizabeth Cinquini Follow Elizabeth Cinquini on Instagram and her website   Download our Free Resources ➡️ Pre-qualify your clients with my Discovery Call Script ➡️ Stay confident from beginning to end with my Consultation Checklist    ➡️ Looking for a quick infusion of cash? Grab my 4 easy ways of increasing your revenue   Looking to elevate your business? Learn more about our courses ➡️ Want the complete blueprint to calculate your design fee with confidence and ease? Learn more about my Pricing with Confidence course ➡️ Want to be the first to know when Power of Process is returning? Click to learn more about the business blueprint for interior design firm owners. ➡️Want to be the first to know when the next episode drops? Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the Resilient by Design Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts!

197. How to overcome the fear of being a solopreneur

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