You can’t do it all.

That is just a fact of life — and business. That’s why we have teams and why it is so vital that part of your team includes outsourcing, particularly the peripheral aspects of your interior design business.

The trick is this: Look at your business from the top level down. Where is your time best spent? Check out last month's post because (surprise!) you will make more money doing what you’re best at doing and therefore being able to pay someone to do what they’re best at doing. 

If you’re sitting there going, “Wait, but I can technically build my interior design business website or handle my own accounting, so why pay someone else to do it?” then consider this: People hire us as interior designers because we are pros. Could they do a project themselves? Sure, but they’re not going to do it as well as us and it’s going to cost them a heck of a lot of time and headache. 

So it’s time...

Time. If it always feels like there’s never quite enough, you’re not alone. 

Here’s the thing, though: Time is manageable. There are only so many hours in a day and so many days in a year, and that doesn’t change, meaning you can plan ahead.

We don’t suddenly wake up one day and the Earth is spinning faster on its axis and oh look, there are now 10 hours in the day, not 24. It might feel that way sometimes, but with some simple time management tips, you can get back those hours that seem to magically disappear into thin air, and — bonus! — you’ll notice you’re suddenly calmer through the day, too. 

It will take some planning, organization, and willpower, but in the end, it all boils down to four simple tools.

Write that sh*t down in a planner 

Digital or hard copy — it doesn’t matter. Always keep a planner, ideally a daily one that also leaves room to write larger weekly and monthly targets.

And it...

Finding (and Hiring) Great Team Members

If you’re feeling stretched thin, overworked, and needing to be in more than one place at a time, it's very possible you're missing a person. 

As small business owners, when we are faced with business challenges, our mind automatically goes into problem-solving mode. And it usually includes "how can I do that?" when we should be asking "who do I need to do that?".

Successful business owners and leaders get things done by leveraging other people's skills. Whether this is via outsourcing whatever needs to be done or coaching & inspiring another person directly on your team.

But you already know this. Especially if you've been around me for any length of time on any platform. I have hired great people internally and I have outsourced to great people externally.

So. How do you do this?

How To Find and Hire Great Team Members

Building a trusted, self-motivated, and self-managed team is one of the best investments you can make in your...

Have you ever heard of Sir Roger Bannister?

He was the first runner to break the 4-minute mile. A feat that was previously perceived as "impossible" by fellow athletes and so-called experts in the field.

What does running fast have to do with your interior design business?

Everything. Because the mind is where success begins.

Let's review some lessons you can take from Roger's record-breaking pace:

You have to believe it's possible to even attempt something great.

Roger believed he actually had the chance to break the record and prove everyone wrong. You see, people who don't try, or make excuses WHY they can't, or just put in very little effort ... reflect their beliefs about themselves. If you don't believe in yourself, you won't even try. You have to have an unwavering belief in your ability to put yourself out there to try something great. And believe me, running your own business IS SOMETHING GREAT.

You actually fail or succeed before you even start. 

Experts do not...

#FOYERTALKS Interior Design 2020

A talk by Michelle Lynne Pant Creator, Designed for the Creative Mind

Stop trading your time for money! Create processes that allow your business to operate in your absence and work for you.

In this video, I will cover my seven steps:

1. Identifying your unique-ness
2. Attracting clients that align with your style & personality
3. Creating services that align with your zone of genius
4. Pricing your services transparently + repeatably
5. Creating repeatable revenue streams within your zone of genius 
6. Delivering an EXPERIENCE
7. Don't become a distant memory

I hope you enjoy!

Secrets of the Business Behind the Creative Mind Revealed

Recently, I was asked to join Karen Briscoe on her 5 Minute Sucess Podcast which interviews industry leaders and reveals their key to success. In each episode, you'll hear information and inspiration that will transform your success in business and life!

To listen to the full episode, click here.

Karen Briscoe is the creator of the 5 Minute Success concept. She regularly speaks on a national and local level on the best of  5 Minute Success. Furthermore, she is the host of the weekly 5 Minute Success podcast which has an amazing array of guests who achieve success at a high level in business and life. She has completed the John Maxwell Team Certification Program for Coaching, Speaking, and Training. You can say, she's a pretty impressive lady!

In this episode, Karen and I discuss:

• My Success Story 

• Commit to Get Leads

• You have to get out and network,...

Priority Setting: The Urgent vs. Important Scale 

In July, we talked about 6 tips to lessen your stress as an interior designer - if you missed it, click here. 

This month, we are going to talk about the "URGENT VS. IMPORTANT" model that I use with my design team.

As you can see, there are four "quadrants", so I broke them down as to when they happen, examples of what causes then, and our goal to get out of the ones who do not feed our joy. This is a great model to use in your interior design office when focusing on productivity and efficiency! (Ditto for teaching your kids how to cut through all of the noise and get productive.)

(1) Important, Not Urgent

This is the quadrant where you get the "juice" out of your job! These are the elements that matter the most in your work and in life. This is where you are fulfilled and what provides you with happiness. This is the ACTUAL interior design work and creating those details.

In an ideal world, we would...

7 Action Items To Add To Your To-Do List

Whaaaat??? ADD items to my already full to-do list? 

YEP. That's exactly what I'm saying.

Warren Buffett once said that it is wise for investors to be “fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful."

Michelle, why are you telling us what Warren Buffett said?

I know that this crazy pandemic has made a lot of us want to curl up in a ball since the future is so unknown - but now is NOT the time for interior designers to hide under the covers and wait for things to get better...

You need to focus, get busy, and start grabbing all of the business that is out there. I promise you, it IS OUT THERE!

It might seem like (1) there is SO MUCH TO DO that you don't know where to start, but it also might feel like (2) there is nothing to do.

Either way, I've put together a list of action items that will give you a place to start!

(1) Refresh your website.

Go through each one of your website pages and look at your SEO...

Many Imagine. Few Do.

Isn't that a crock of truth? If you're like me, you've listened to all of the podcasts, read the books, reposted the inspirational quotes, and dreamed up plans to conquer the world (or at least design it). Yes, having that mindset is EXTREMELY important - but that mindset alone isn't making you money. 

The reason you make sales is because you actually followed through and DID IT. You did the work. You sat for hours working on your processes. You followed through on what those mindset books have been preaching to you. You stressed over getting it done. You did the things you didn't want to do.

Don't get me wrong, mindset is HUGE - but it was the actions you took after reading that Tony Robbins book or attended that random free webinar. 

You Have The Mindset. Now What?

Okay, if you are at the point where you've heard it all and you are officially operating (at least most of the time) with the right mindset to drive your business, here are some...