From event marketing to influencer strategies to simple tips that no designer should ignore, David Shepherd brings you 25 ways to market your services. Don't worry, he's not asking you to tackle all 25. In fact, he'll explain his philosophy that you only have the bandwidth to adopt 3 or fewer key strategies. But this episode is a great way to quickly rifle through 25 ideas from which you can decide which few to focus on and master!

Based on his examination and analysis of 100s of successful interior design practices (small and large) David Shepherd has identified a single "magic number" that can predict success...or trouble! This number will never be presented by your CPA or bookkeeper, nor can it be found in financial statements or reports. To calculate it, you'll need a P&L Statement...and a pencil and a Post-it-Note. Once this simple step is complete, you'll also be able to calculate your breakeven point which will enable you to not only "right-size" your firm, but plan for any level of profit your heart desires!

A floppy chicken? Plastic teeth on top of skinny legs? Call it cheesy if you want, but here's how one CEO motivates his employees and creates a winning culture that has led to his opening over 40,000 restaurants worldwide. What can you learn from him?

Interior designers committed to growing their firms will have to evolve through the 4 stages of growth. Each stage requires a very different skillset on the part of the principal. Only by understanding these stages—and when to move from one to another—can a designer maximize profitability with a firm that is also efficient and enjoyable to run.

With mortgage rates doubling, interest rates and inflation spiraling up, and the dreaded yield curve nearly inverted, we have to wonder if a recession is imminent. The good news is that my history of working with interior designers during prior recessions leaves me with some good news—your business can be almost recession proof. In this Episode, you'll learn about the "degrees of separation" between you and your client's wallet, and how that will determine how safe your business is. In this Episode, David mentions a course he has created to help you land high-value projects, or what he calls "whales." Information on that course can be found at www.idmba.org.

This brief introduction to the Interior Design MBA Podcast will help listeners understand who David Shepherd is, and where the tips, tactics and strategies he will offer come from.