Let's Talk About YOUR Energy

We’ve talked about confidence, we’ve talked about processes, now it’s time to talk about energy.

No, I’m not talking just about how amped — or not you feel — about a project ... or how much coffee you need in the morning to feel like you have any energy at all.

I’m talking about YOU — who you are, how you interact with others, whether you’re calm and cool or enthusiastic and bubbly, or perhaps a mixture of all the things.

It’s that space where you feel your best and work your best.

Everyone’s energy is different, and that’s FINE. You will be effective no matter what energy you possess once you understand it a little more and learn to harness it.

Because here’s the great thing about having processes and confidence in your business: It allows you to be more authentically YOU. And you’re pretty damn great, right?! (Yes, you are.)

Now let’s dive into some...

Confidence is Key

Confidence doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, practice and patience (with yourself). But you can start building on it right away, little by little, step by step.

Last week we talked about overcoming imposter syndrome and gaining the confidence you need to charge what your designs are worth. 

Now it’s time to turn to the processes that will help you get there.

Why Create Repeatable Processes

I’m a die-hard advocate of creating repeatable processes in your interior design business. 

Why? It builds confidence to charge what your designs are worth and it helps you better manage your projects. 

Doesn’t that sound like a great foundation where you can begin to feel less like an imposter? It sure does. 

Over time, you’ll find you’re more and more comfortable charging for not just the final design you provide your clients but the EXPERIENCE you are giving them. 

That’s because you’re...

Who here has ever felt like an imposter in their business? Raise your hand. C’mon, don’t be shy. 

Every single person should be raising their hand because we’ve all felt it — that feeling that my designs are not worth that price tag, that I can’t charge more because I don’t have enough experience or a degree I can frame on the wall and point to as evidence I spent years studying for this career.

Everyone has that tiny voice in the back of their head whispering these things, but that doesn’t mean you have to listen to it. And don’t forget that ultimately you are in control of your thoughts … sometimes they just need extra guidance or a heavy hand to steer away from the edge of that massive, looming cliff.

So when that little voice tries to speak up, tell it to bugger off and replace those mutterings with positive, powerful affirmations.

If that voice whispers, “You can’t charge $X price for your design because...

Repeat after me: I will not charge an hourly rate. 

Now say it out loud. C’mon, I know you didn’t the first time.

Great, now that that’s taken care of, let’s get down to brass tax. 

Charging a flat fee for your design services is far superior to an hourly rate. And there are a lot of different ways to calculate it. 

A flat — or value-based — fee is the total cost for a project that can be calculated based on square footage, a percentage of the project cost or an estimate of what you’d normally charge for an hourly rate (but remember, you’re not doing that anymore) to complete the job. 

Don’t believe me? Well, Forbes believes me, so you should, too. 

Why a flat fee works

Here’s the hard and fast truth if you set an hourly rate: clients will “shop” it, meaning they’ll search for the lowest they can find. You’re competing as a commodity - and we know that design is not a...

It’s 2020, and time to kick off the new year and decade with a bang — by making more money than you’ve ever made before!

There are several ways you can increase your interior design business revenue, some easy and others … well, not so easy. And it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there is math involved — we are talking about adding up all those $$$ after all. 

I promise it is all worth it in the end. The worst thing you can do is undervalue your services or — gasp! — give them away for free.

Let’s talk about how you can add more Benjamins to your books this year.

Value-Based Fees

First things first, I do not recommend charging your clients by the hour. There’s always time you’re not fully accounting for and you usually end up paying yourself less than what your gorgeous designs are really worth. 

That’s why I highly recommend using a value-based fee, which is a lump sum you charge for the entire...

The end of the year is fast upon us, and it’s only natural to both reflect back and look ahead on all you’ve done in the past year and your goals for the future. 

But if you don’t want to find yourself facing the ghosts of interior design past, present, and future, it’s time to add an annual business review to that list of resolutions. 

If you haven’t been doing one, now is the perfect time to start. January 1, 2020, marks not only a new year but also an entirely new decade. (P.S. How’d that happen so fast? Wasn’t it just 2011 a few years ago?!?!)

I’m sharing this amazing review and planning guide that will help you sleigh your way (see what I did there) into 2020 with a plan that will guide your business through all the fog — just like Rudolph’s red nose.

This document will help you work through not only your business fundamentals but how you’re feeling about what you’re doing,...

'Tis the season for giving — and that means buying gifts for your clients, too. 

As interior designers, we provide a very personalized service and your client gifts should reflect that as well as the size of the project. That means a client who spent a lot more money with me will get a much larger gift than one who spent half or a quarter of that amount. 

Here are my guidelines for client gifts:

Everyone gets a Christmas card

First off, don’t be a Grinch. 

Everyone one of your clients should get a Christmas card. I order mine in advance and you can use anything from Moo to Minted to Vistaprint — whichever you like best. 

Also, try to add your logo somewhere. It shouldn’t be prominent, and the back of the card is a great option. When you sign it, make sure they know who it’s from. The return label should be your business name, too. One thing not to do: Don’t include your business card. That’s just tacky. 

These...

Shhhhh … can you keep a secret? Wait, you can’t? Well, OK, I’m still going to share because I’m nice like that. 

A couple weeks ago we talked about that ‘gram life and how to create a gorgeous interior design Instagram grid. Now it’s time to discuss the less-curated side of the social media platform — Instagram stories.

When it comes to Instagram Stories, consistency is once again key — you should always have something up on your stories — but the most important thing is being raw. You can do away with most of the polished professional shots and highly edited video. Instagram stories should feel much more real.

And don’t try to sound like anything other than your badass natural self. People want to work with people they like, and what they see on your stories should be a reflection of YOU — because that’s who they’re going to call and who they’re going to expect to show up for their...

It’s also the best place to showcase your amazing interior design skills and help you connect with new clients. And Instagram grids are a great way to accomplish that. 

I’ll have to admit straight off the bat that I don’t use a grid — it’s on my long list of things to do. But I’m still here to share all the tricks of the trade I’ve learned about the ‘gram.

Grid or no grid

Look, if you don’t end up creating an Instagram grid, it is not the end of the world (clearly, since I don’t have one and my world — and business — has not ended). And for solo-preneurs, spending a lot of time focusing on the appearance of your feed may just be too overtaxing with all the other things you have going on.

But that doesn’t mean you can get away with putting no effort into this social media platform. Make sure you are posting every single day and use professional or well-curated photos whenever possible. You can use your...

Stand out with creative interior design business cards

You’re working in the field of interior design, which means you’re a creative person, right? So then explain to me why you’re still handing out dull, boring business cards?

It’s past time for an upgrade if you’re still using standard cards that lack a little something something. You’ve got to stand out, especially for those times when you’re at a networking event where everyone is handing out cards like candy on Halloween.

Thankfully, Pinterest is chock full of ideas, so let’s dive into some great business cards ideas I found hot off the presses.

Modern and elegant

You can have a classy look but still make it edgy. Just take these three business cards: They’re all eye-catching for different reasons.

Color blocking is often used in interior design, so why not spice up your business card with the same style. I love the colors this template uses: Black, gray, white and pink. The...