092: Managing a Design and Social Media Company WITH DARLA POWELL AND NATALIE GRAFE

On the podcast, today are Darla Powell and Natalie Grafe of Darla Powell Interiors and Wingnut Social. Together Natalie and Darla manage multiple businesses (design, podcast, social media, fire-fighting, and a family business.) We are going to discuss how they started these businesses, how they don’t do it alone and have delegated with a team approach, and how they schedule time to pull away from the business. We are also going to talk a little about social media, some of the changes that have been happening and how to get started if you have more time than money. Hope you enjoy the podcast.  

Topics Mentioned:

• Managing resources 
• Social Media 
• Consistency 
• Personal time 

Key Thoughts:

• You know, the first business that I started I didn't start with a plan. I didn't start with any plan at all. - Michele (10:39)

• I think that's one of the biggest things that I've learned being in business for myself, is that you cannot be rigid. - Michele (12:51)

• I absolutely, totally see Tic Tock taking over Instagram and some of the other ones in the in a few years. - Darla (17:00)

• You want to keep your brand voice consistent and you want to post consistently. You don't really want to go absent for a long time. - Darla (20:04)

• Even if you're a brand new designer, go decorate a corner of your house, do a couple of pictures that are your own…but not every single picture should be of somebody else's pics on your feed. - Michele (24:34)

• Natalie and I, right now, are working on our systems and processes and getting them to such a place where if we are gone for two weeks, we don't have to look at emails. - Darla (34:01)

• It's not that we would assume that every single person that is an interior design would all of a sudden go start a podcast or start a coaching company or a social media company, but I will say that has been one of the beautiful things for me being in this industry for 20 years. - Michele (40:32)

• Think about how much more money you will make as a rainmaker than sitting in front of your computer trying to figure out the latest change in whatever it is. - Darla (47:05)

Contact Michele

• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting
• Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL

Contact Darla and Natalie

• Website: http://wingnutsocial.com/   
• Instagram: @wingnutsocial 
• Facebook: Wing Nut Social 

References and Resources:

• Clockwork by Mike Michalowicz
• The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today