Profit Is A Choice

Ashley Uhl is the owner of Ashley Uhl Consulting which offers client service consulting for designers. Ashley has been cultivating a love of service her entire lifetime. Traveling extensively throughout the world early on in life, she developed an incredible respect, understanding, and interest in the five star service she encountered.

Eager to expand her knowledge of service, Ashley gained her degree in psychology and minor in business from the University of Missouri. She followed this up by formal training and work in human relations, sales, and presentations from top professional development company, Dale Carnegie. All of this allowing her to both expand her ability to create memorable client experiences, and prevent conflicts and frustrations between business and client.

• Expectation setting
• Process
• Benefit
• Power

• We automatically assume that everyone thinks about the client experience. 
• I help designers see not just what works for the clients, but also what works for them as well. 
• When you see things from your client’s perspective, it is so much easier to deal with them. 
• You want to take it step by step with clients.  
• You are to prepare your clients for what may come up, but you do not want to freak them out. 
• Try to find ways to prevent stress on behalf of your client.  
• The more you can remember about your client the more you will provide a luxurious experience for them. 
• Everything you do, you want to have a reason for it. 
• Clients want to know that you care about them and not just their money.  

• Website: www.ashleyuhlconsulting.com
• Facebook: Ashley Uhl Consulting
• Instagram: @ashleyuhlconsulting

• Promo Code - PROFIT (20% off of all products)
• Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
• Secret Service Book by John R Dijulius III
• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today

Wow, I cannot believe that we are a year into this podcast journey of Profit is a choice. I am not sure if you all heard my beginnings in podcasting – but I started investigating a podcast in 2016. At that time, I determined the amount of time it would take was time I did not have available – so I shelved it. Then in 2018, I was able to create sustainable time in my calendar to create and produce the podcast. And now – here we are. On this episode we are going to do a year of review and highlights – so much goodness has happened this year and I was reminded of the value this podcast has brought into the world as I looked back. 

• Celebration
• Business
• Dedication
• Gratitude

• When I first began the podcast – I wondered how I was going to find people to talk with.
• I do not ever take this lightly – because I have shared my story and know how tender the telling might sometimes be.
• In my coaching practice – asking questions to understand is foundational work.
• Before I started the podcast, I had a business plan for the podcast.
• What have I learned from my guests? Courage. Plain and simple.
• Life and business is hard – but it is also beautiful. Even in the mess.

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

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Joining me today is Courtney McLeod. She is the founder and principal of Right Meets Left Interior Design, an award-winning Manhattan-based full-service design studio.  An avid colorist at heart, Courtney draws from a kaleidoscopic toolbox of texture, pattern, and color to create rooms evocative of one emotion above all others - joy. Her work has been featured in print both in the US and abroad - including the cover of Aspire Design + Home Magazine and Luxe Magazine. She has been named a 2019 Style Spotter by the High Point Market Authority and included on the 2019 list of emerging designers by Luxe Magazine.  Courtney is an S. Harris brand ambassador. 

• Confidence
• Runway to Success
• Impact
• Vision

• From day one, I had to teach myself this business.
• I was intentional about changing my lifestyle to match my income level.
• People underestimate how the creative confidence go hand in hand with the business growth.
• Be careful what you tell yourself. 
• If I am not tracking something, it is because there is a fear behind it.
• I call marketing “New Business Development”.
• It’s important to keep a list of potential clients.
• You have to be very thoughtful on how you spend your money in business. 
• Value your own time before you ask someone else to value it.

• Website: http://www.rightmeetsleftdesign.com
• Facebook: Right Meets Left Interior Design
• Instagram: @rightmeetsleftinteriordesign

• EP. 46 with Kae Whitaker
• EP. 11 with Tracie Taylor
• EP. 52 with Michele Wiliams
• Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
• 12 Week Year by Brian P Moran
• Traction by Gino Wickman
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Cat French, founder of Catherine French Design, LLC. Cat runs a full-service interior design studio located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She is a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Master of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture and a Specialization in Historic Preservation. After teaching the Environmental Design Studio at UNCG and giving presentations on interior design and historic preservation at several State and National conventions, Cat decided to open her own business and launched Catherine French Design, LLC – just a few short years ago. Her clients include executive-level professionals, Physicians, Authors, and Professors, and are located all across the East Coast, ranging from luxury new construction homes to relaxing condos by the sea. Cat is known in the professional community as a trusted, reliable designer that will get the job done on time and within budget. 

Topics Mentioned:

• Community
• Psychology
• Scaling
• Introvert

• I am a people pleaser and a helper. I like to solve problems.
• There is no carbon copy on my staff.
• I am here to understand where your pain points are.
• If they are not able to “go” with us, then they are not the client for us.
• I want to keep the client happy, but I need to lookout for my team as well.
• Before responding to a client, I like to take time to think about what I need to say.
• It is the community that takes care of small businesses.
• I feel like we can do some amazing work in our own community.

• Website: https://catherinefrenchdesign.com
• Facebook: Catherine French Design
• Instagram: @catfrenchdesign

• Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
• EP. 44 with Mark McDonough - Listen Today
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• EP. 35 Darren Virassammy - Listen Today
• EP. 49 with Monique Becker - Listen Today
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On the podcast today is Emily Moore. She owns and operates the Bean Countery which is a Certified Profit First full-service accounting and advising firm.

What started as a side hustle to save her soul from Corporate Finance has grown over the past decade.  It is now a full-time passion of hers to meet entrepreneurs where they are and improve their business finances and overwhelm so they can live the life they crave. 

Emily lives near Cincinnati, loves to write and spend time with her hilarious family. She is an enthusiastic advocate for freedom and works hard so that her clients can experience as much of it as possible!

Topics Mentioned:

• Balance sheet
• Entrepreneurship
• Financials
• Advisory services

• I just ripped out a page from the Yellow Pages and I started to make cold calls.
• My whole purpose on doing this was not to make money. It was so my heart can be happy.
• Knowing the numbers and what they represent is key.
• You really need to look at your balance sheet and ask questions.
• Your chart of accounts (COA) is the bounds that make up the body of your finances.
• I want everyone to have an accountant or bookkeeper who will partner with them.
• When you are in a conversation with a potential accountant or bookkeeper, they should ask you questions as well.

• Website: https://www.beancountery.com
• Facebook: Emily Moore Consulting
• Instagram: @thebeancountery

• Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
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Today's podcast is another solo episode. In it, we're going to talk about confidence. It is really a big topic and one that I think we can all say is important as business owners. As well as, talk about how confidence relates to our profitability.

As we jump in, in just a few minutes, we're going to talk about what is confidence. We're going to look at how our confidence can be shaken and some of the things that we can do to restore that confidence or to build it up in the first place. Again, another not-to-be-missed episode.

Topics Mentioned:

• Belief
• Confidence
• Preparation
• Self-doubt

• All it takes is one client to push back and we can begin to doubt everything.
• Everything hinges on belief.
• Preparation is key to competence.
• Many of us struggle with imposter syndrome, which makes us feel less than.
• Educate yourself until you make it.
• Adversity can also build confidence.
• It does take a village.
• We are the author and not just the reader.
• It is ok to miss the mark.

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

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• Miracle Morning book by Hal Elrod
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On the podcast today is Emma Carole Paradis and Kim Carole, the owners and designers of Impeccable Nest, based in Bedford, New Hampshire. They are a mother-daughter team with a love of design. Originally from a beach town in California, now in New Hampshire, they bring a Southern California cool and a New England tradition to their design.

Emma and Kim are going to share with us the unique challenges of starting a business together and living together. We will hear some of the beautiful ways they each have stretched and grown to be able to work well and live well. A partnership like this takes work – and each of these women bring a lot to the table. I was hugely inspired by the way they support each other and allow each other to grow and change and I know you will be too. If you are in or anticipate any type of partnership – and especially a partnership with family involved – this is an honest conversation and one that might just prepare you to take the next step. Topics Mentioned:

• Relationship
• Partner
• Family
• Growth

• I never saw interior design as a career.
• We opened a shop thinking it would be “seen”.
• The struggles we had 7 years ago do not exist today due to social media.
• Making the choice to close the store was the easiest and best choice to make.
• Profitability can be focused on in different ways.
• There are so many ways to gain knowledge, even after leaving school.
• Stop comparing yourself with others.
• You have to sometimes snap back and ask “What is the purpose?”
• In interior design, you are always educating your client and reading your client.
• Stay the course. It pays off.

• Website: https://impeccablenestdesign.com
• Facebook: Impeccable Nest, LLC
• Instagram: @impeccable_nest

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• The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today!

With us today is Eileen Hahn. She is a principal in the San Diego based management consulting firm, Organization Effectiveness Consultants (OEC). She partners with leaders of organizations to establish new levels of performance, financial results, teamwork, and employee work passion. Eileen is a delightful and engaging professional speaker and university instructor. She combines practical knowledge, tools and techniques with warmth and real world examples and experiences.

We met at LuAnn Live where we were both co-authors in the book A Well Designed Business Power Talk Friday Experts and speakers at the event. Eileen exudes joy and life. She is like a magnet for all things positive and I know that even if you cannot see her in this episode you will hear her passion and excitement as we discuss how to hire and maintain employees and teams that are exceptional.

• Professional development
• Joy
• Passion
• On-boarding

• It starts mentally. You have to decide what you want.
• Many small business owners are not writing job descriptions.
• I’m all about living and working in joy.
• The difference between hiring someone who is exceptional and someone who isn’t will impact your business.
• You just need someone to educate you sometimes.
• Give people samples to see what they are about.
• People stay when they feel cared about and when they feel they are growing.
• People want to make a difference.

• Website: https://eileenbhahn.com
• LinkedIn: Eileen Hahn
• Instagram: @eileen_hahn

• Text JOYFUL to 66866
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• A Well Designed Business by LuAnn Nigara
• The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today!

Joining us today is Monique Becker of The Enlightened Nest (and Becker Home). Monique lives with her husband and sons in rural southeastern Pennsylvania in an imperfectly-perfect Victorian farmhouse. She offers design and custom window treatments to her customers. Monique has studied the psychology of design and shares that with us today. She believes houses are living, breathing entities, and are a direct reflection of who we are as people, and who we can become. 

You will hear us share that we have been friends and colleagues for many years. We both worked in the custom window treatment space – and then have morphed our businesses over the years. Monique shares a bit of her journey to add in more and how the psychology of design has made a difference in her life – and the life of her clients. I had some a-ha moments in our conversation – and I know you will too.

• Psychology
• Connection
• Warmth
• Past

• I literally Googled “How to make a living sewing curtains?”
• As I was getting more questions, I realized I really loved design work. 
• I feel like I go through this every 5 year shift. 
•  The emotional connection is absolutely necessary.
• It is an emotional process.
• It is not therapy.
• You have to be open to uncovering some of the layers.
• It is so engrained in us that things do not bring happiness to us. 
• You go through the process to pinpoint certain responses to not get blindsided.

• Website: www.theenlightenednest.com
• Facebook: The Enlightened Nest
• Instagram: @the_enlightened_nest

• PIAC EP. 45 Angie Avard Turner, ESQ. - Listen Now
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Today, on the podcast is me. This is going to be a solo podcast and we're going to be talking about a topic that I keep seeing online and discussing with my one to one clients in private. We will talk about the summer slow down. So we're going to dig into some options on how to handle the summer chaos with maybe kids at home. Also, how not to give up on your business during that time. As well as not missing out on an entire summer of fun with the kiddos. It doesn't really have to be an either or if we can get creative.

• Summer  
• Planning 
• Kids 
• Guilt 

• Our industry is heavily saturated with women.  
• We cannot do it all at the same time.  Something has to give. 
• You have to be upfront with your clients with what your summer plans are. 
• We have to have realistic expectations.  
• We do not want to make a decision in a vacuum.  
• There are always trade-offs with whatever decision you make.  
• Try to be as creative as you can.  
• You do not have to do it the way I did it.  Do what works for you. 
• Anytime you stop marketing your business, it can take us 3 to 6 months to gain back your footing.  
• Make a plan based on choices and decisions.  
• Commit to the plan.  Work the plan.  

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

• PIAC EP. 05 - Shame - Listen Today
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