Running a business is full of trial and error, but it’s what we do with those errors that shape our growth. In this episode, I’m opening up about some of the biggest mistakes I made in 2024—sharing more detail than I ever have before. It’s not always easy to admit where we went wrong, but my hope is that by getting real with you, these lessons can inspire you to reflect on your own journey and approach challenges in a fresh, empowered way.

From nitty-gritty miscalculations to bigger missteps, I’m walking you through what happened, how I dealt with it, and the tools and resources that helped me course-correct. I’ll also share the single biggest lesson I learned during what turned out to be a pivotal year of transition.

This is a deeply personal episode, and it’s all about embracing imperfection, learning from our stumbles, and turning them into stepping stones for an incredible 2025. So settle in, grab your favorite notebook, and let’s kick off Season 6 by facing our mistakes head-on—together. Here’s to learning, growing, and thriving in the year ahead!

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/H_1RZBMb7M8

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Designers, it’s time to toss out those preconceived notions about sales! This episode will completely transform how you approach selling your services, discussing money, and guiding potential clients to say “yes.” I’m joined by the incredible Kirsten Schmidtke, a certified coach and sales expert, who is here to ease the pressure of sales, shift your mindset, and arm you with the best questions to sign new clients confidently.

Grab your notepad and settle into your favorite spot because Kirsten is about to drop a wealth of wisdom and actionable advice you can implement today. Her unique perspective on sales starts with mindset—she explains how the right outlook can influence every corner of your business. You’ll also discover Kirsten’s secret to successful sales: leaning into curiosity, active listening, and genuine connection.

But that’s not all—Kirsten dives into the nitty-gritty with powerful tools and strategies, including her one-of-a-kind approach to job interviews, networking tips, and the importance of crafting a killer 30-second pitch. You won’t believe the fresh insights she shares about building connections and positioning yourself for success.

And don’t miss her final piece of wisdom—it's a game-changer! By the end of this episode, you’ll feel inspired and ready to elevate your mindset, your sales game, and your business.

This episode is extra special because it marks a major milestone: Kirsten is the *first* guest I’ve interviewed in person, right here in my studio! 🎉 Want to see the magic happen? Head over to YouTube to watch our conversation and catch all the behind-the-scenes vibes.

Learn more about Kirsten Schmidtke at her website and follow her on Instagram or on LinkedIn.

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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!

Like many creatives, I tend to avoid looking at my business numbers but that’s not going to be true after this conversation! Danielle Hendon of 4Corners CFO empowers and encourages entrepreneurs to get their heads out of the sand and confront their numbers - including me during our conversation.

Danielle shares her fascinating career origin story, the effect the pandemic had on its trajectory, and why she is dedicated to increasing livelihoods and legacies instead of shareholder value. We commiserate about not being able to outsource our brains, being avoidant of money talk but still needing to strategize. She talks about money and an end-of-year review not being a judgment tool but a way to understand the story of your business. 

You'll end this episode with advice, insights, and immediate actionable steps for this end-of-year season as she shares the exercise she takes her clients through, the true goal of a budget, and the types of clients she prioritizes. It's an episode you don’t want to miss!

Learn more about Danielle Hendon at her website and follow her on Instagram.

https://4cornerscfo.com/resilientbydesign 

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➡️ 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!

The best plans are made ahead of time! Even though 2024 is not over yet, it’s the perfect time to take a look back at the year, assess, and start planning for a successful 2025 now! 

In this episode, I list key questions that will help you review your year in business as a business owner and human. Your end-of-year review should not only look at your financials but also your livelihood, because what’s the point of running your own business if you aren’t growing and making positive changes in your life? 

You’ll determine what worked and what didn’t in 2024 and use those insights moving into 2025. I share some of my own answers, a few more vulnerable than others, and how I'm using that introspection to inform my business next year. 

Some of these questions will be easier than others, but each one is worth taking the time to answer because I believe digging into those can only benefit us in the long run as long as we concentrate on progress over perfection.

Before the end of the year, I encourage you to take time to reflect, question, and assess so you are better prepared for a successful year in business in 2025. 

Get your pen and paper ready because this episode has some notes and homework for you to do!

Episode Resources:

• Ep 40. Get your business ready for 2021 part 1

• Ep 41. Get your business ready for 2021 part 2

• Ep 89. Annual company planning part 1 

• Ep 90. Annual company planning part 2 

• Ep. 137. My 2022 year end review

• Ep. 183. 4 key steps to planning for the year ahead when you have no idea where to go

Download our Free Resources

➡️ Pre-qualify your clients with my Discovery Call Script

➡️ 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!

You’re in for a treat with this episode. It's Resilient by Design LIVE! 

This episode is the panel discussion I hosted with three talented and experienced designers at Fall 2024 High Point Market, Renee Biery, Dina Holland, and Jamie Merida, all about the complexity of our business and its profitability. 

We had an incredibly candid discussion about what works, and what doesn't, tipping points in their business journeys along with lessons and insights about pricing and profitability in different interior design businesses. Each guest shared what is fundamental to their brands, billing essentials, and structures, and how they identify clients from right and wrong for their businesses. 

Stay tuned as there are truly a few gasp-worthy moments before getting into some nitty-gritty thoughts about hiring.  This episode is one for the books, so I recommend you grab a paper and a pen to take notes because you’ll end the episode with lots to think about depending on how you want to run your interior design business.

Learn more about these designers here:

Renee Biery - Only Girl on the Jobsite Podcast

Dina Holland - Honey and Fitz

Jamie Merida - Jamie Merida Interiors

Download our Free Resources

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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!

I'm bringing all sorts of new things to the show today! While at High Point Market, I sat down with Jude Charles, who produces documentaries for entrepreneurs, including the phenomenal docuseries with LuAnn Nigara. We spoke in depth about the power of storytelling in your business - from marketing to client relations.

Through this episode, Jude shares many of his own personal stories as he walks us through his approach to infusing the personal with the professional through his films and in marketing. He encourages interior design business owners to focus on the 'why you' aspect, their core values, and the realization that you are more than just your portfolio.

Listening to his story, I was moved to share a few vulnerable stories myself, including how I felt about them then and now. Because of the intimacy of our design work, Jude inspired me and I hope you, to take note of your experiences and absorb these narratives into your business and life.

Stop playing small because your story is your strength!

LuAnn Nigara docuseries

Freebie: Storytelling for Interior Designers

Learn more about Jude Charles at his website, follow him on Instagram, and check out his book Dramatic Demonstration.

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!

As Design Business Owners, we're all doing the best we can with the tools we have, but due to the nature of our solo businesses we can sometimes feel alone, isolated, and adrift. I felt this way too for the first few years in my business! That is until I found my secret weapon and made it a core facet of my business over the last few years - and that is community.

I want to encourage us all to give ourselves grace, be less hard on ourselves, and share a few ideas on how we can build community and connect to shift the narrative. After all, comparison is the thief of joy so instead of isolating ourselves in our towers looking out into the world, let's foster connection, friendships, and community to build up, support, motivate, and encourage others and ourselves.

Amy Porterfield

Jessica Kelly Design

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➡️ Pre-qualify your clients with my Discovery Call Script

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➡️ 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!

This episode is all about knowing, and charging, the value of the service you provide.

Through the episode, I share the steps and my insights to help you address the fears and myths currently keeping you from charging the right value of your knowledge, expertise, and luxury services.

I dive into the questions you need to ask yourself ahead of time, how to calculate your new rate, and how to communicate it along with a recent real-life example so you can feel confident and prepared to make this next step for your business.

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!

If you ever wondered if the grass is greener in the product world instead of the service realm, this episode may set you straight. I'm beyond impressed with my guest, Whitney Atkinson, who is the owner and inventor of WUGS which are weighted rugs!

She shares the inspiration behind her new business venture, how she balances her design business while sewing 8 hours a day, and how she brilliantly set up her company to eliminate the sourcing legwork. She confesses a few hard truths about the allure vs reality of providing products and the lessons she's learned on her journey so far.

The hustle is real with this woman and her advice about focusing and following your strengths as well as getting out of your comfort zone to chase your goals left me encouraged and motivated and I know you'll feel the same.

WUGS

Learn more about Whitney Atkinson at her website and follow her and WUGS 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!

High Point Market is nearly here, are you ready? I'm re-releasing part 2 of my sit down with 3 designer friends who joined me at the 2022 Fall event. In this episode, we chat about trends, vendors, and our favorite showrooms to help you put together a High Point Survival Kit. 

If you are at High Point Market in the Fall of 2024, don’t forget to stop by my Event on October 28, 2024! DM me on Instagram for more information!

—

This episode is the second half of our talk where we dive into the trends we came across, the awesome vendors, and the showrooms we loved the most!

I am once again joined by 3 wonderful humans, Laura Thornton, Jennifer Muirhead, and Jocelyn Polce – because instead of taking on the market by myself like in the past, I met up with these lovely ladies and we did it 10x better, and together.

Listen in as we walk you through the trends and our most favorite parts and experiences at High Point.

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➡️ Pre-qualify your clients with my Discovery Call Script

➡️ Stay confident from beginning to end with my Consultation Checklist   

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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!