It is never fun to have a hard conversation with anyone, but it's especially difficult when it's your client. It doesn't matter if they're being difficult, if you've made a mistake on the project, or if you've got to tell them that their furniture order is delayed again. Those tough talks are one of...

You may think you have a professional business, but sometimes entrepreneurs will treat their business more like a hobby. That's usually due to FEAR! You just don't want to look too closely at what's happening in your company because deep down you really know you're not doing all that you should be. ...

One thing that's really important as business owners is to look ahead and project what you want to accomplish. Most corporations start this process in the fall, setting goals and budgets for the next year. It's actually a great time to do that because you aren't in the middle of the holidays and you...

As business owners, we are constantly under pressure to make money. That pressure is exhausting and can lead to massive burnout. I know! I've been there. We want to enjoy our business AND spend more time on other things other than making money. Am I right?! So, once you realize money isn't everythin...

When you have a to-do list that is pages long, business goals that you really want to hit, and about 75 distractions and issues that come up every day, it can be completely overwhelming to decide what takes priority. Often, the client who yells loudest is the one who gets attention first, right?! Bu...

What success means is SOOO subjective! It can be financial benchmarks for some people, having a full roster of clients for others, or even just hitting certain personal goals. What success is NOT is some sort of set path that everyone has to follow. In our industry, we seem to forget that! The smart...

Interior design budgets can be such a headache! They're tough to create (especially with today's price increases and constant product shortages) and they can be even tougher to explain to your client. UGH! And sometimes you want that particular project so much that you're willing to skip over a seri...

It's fantastic when you love what you do - it makes the work worthwhile! But - it's called "business" for a reason. You started your company to make MONEY. Sometimes we forget about that, or we put it to the side and assume it will take care of itself. But you have to pay close attention to your inc...

Why is it SO hard to talk about money?? It is actually more difficult for people than talking about death or politics. UGH. Interior designers are creatives - we love to talk about the pretty things and the stunning interiors we're going to create. But then we break out in a sweat when we have to ta...

There are pivotal points in any business, times when you need to review and reconsider how you're doing things. It can be scary, but honestly I think it can also be FUN! Changing things up is a great way to shake you and your business out of any ruts. And it can also bring in more cash and better cl...

There is such a sense of relief when you've completed an interior design project, especially one that has taken so many months (or years!). But really, you know the job isn't over, right?! You may have finished the punch list, but you still have some tasks to check off. And they're SO important that...

There can be a lot of reasons that keep you from photographing your finished interior design projects. But that's a BIG mistake!! Those photos are the ONE thing that will help you get more business. Seriously! You can't let a busy schedule or reluctant clients get in your way. And you need to be SUR...