There is nothing more awkward than finding yourself in the middle of an argument between a client couple! There are so many times when being a designer can feel like you're also a family therapist - and that's no fun. Emotions are often high around a design project, especially because you're dealing...

One thing that they never tell you in interior design school is that you need to have sales skills and the ability to effectively manage people! In fact, that last one is SUPER important to making your entire business run smoothly. If your team isn't clear on their tasks, or if they keep dropping th...

Communication is one of my favorite topics - because it can truly make or BREAK your business! This month we'll focus on communication, starting with your clients. How you navigate through a project and deliver on your promises is what will define your company and your reputation. You want to have h...

SOPs may sound like something that you would put in place in a government job or on a factory floor. But Standard Operating Procedures are critical for ANY company, especially a small business. SOPs are documented processes and they give your business structure and consistency. Yes, it is a commitme...

One of the hardest things to do as a business owner is to set goals and actually follow through on them! That isn't a judgment at all - we're busy, and we have a LOT on our plates just trying to keep our business running. But everyone needs to be held accountable for the goals they set, and we need ...

This month we've been focusing on goals, a CRITICAL part of running a successful business! Last week, we talked about the importance of reviewing your yearly goals. And some of those goals may be a PUSH goal for you! What are those? They are goals that push you out of your comfort zone, that really ...

Can you believe we're into the second quarter of this year already??! WOW! And if you've read my blog regularly, you know I'm ALLL about constantly reviewing and assessing your business so you stay on the top of your game! So at the end of every single quarter, I review my yearly goals to see where ...

We all have moments where we look at our goals and wonder if they're still relevant. Or WHY we even wanted to work towards a goal in the first place! Sometimes we set goals based on someone else's expectations - or because we think we're SUPPOSED to have that goal. That's an especially common trend ...

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...

Did you know that a company can be profitable and STILL go out of business? Your company can look profitable “on paper” but not have enough actual cash to pay operating expenses like your, payroll lease, and utilities. Nothing kills a business faster than a lack of cash flow. In fact, it's the #1 re...

Even the most experienced business owners can get confused about two of the most important financial terms - markups and margins. It requires a much deeper dive into your company to get to the heart of each one, and why they are SO important. But having a strong understanding about how markups and m...

For most creatives, any topic that has to do with finances is NOT one they really want to talk about. But the accounting side of your business is where the money gets made. It's as critical to your company's success as your creativity is!! So, make THIS the day that you really buckle down and get yo...