Designed for the Creative Mind™ – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Hey y'all — welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind. I'm Michelle Lynn, and today we're kicking off a brand-new season called Myth Busting: What People Get Wrong About the Interior Design Industry. And even though I sound like an 80-year-old chain smoker mixed with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (thanks, Texas allergies), I wasn't about to miss this episode because we're starting with a big one.

There's a myth so many designers unknowingly build their entire business around: "I can figure this out through trial and error."
And I get it — because that's exactly how I built my business in the early years. But here's the truth: trial and error is the slowest, most expensive, most exhausting "strategy" you could possibly choose. If you've ever felt like every project is a guess, every client pushes a different boundary, and every new inquiry sends you into a scramble… you're not imagining it. That's what running a business on guesswork creates.

In this episode, I walk you through what trial and error really costs you — not just in money, but in confidence, clarity, and peace. I talk about how emotional pricing drains your profit, how weak or inconsistent boundaries drain your sanity, and why every project feels urgent when you don't have systems. I also share the moment everything shifted for me and how structure completely changed my business, my margins, my client relationships, and honestly, my life.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:
• Why trial and error keeps your business in survival mode instead of CEO mode
• How emotional pricing, inconsistent processes, and unclear boundaries erode profit and confidence
• What clients actually pay for (hint: leadership, not guesswork)
• Why systems create clarity, trust, calm communication, and predictable profit
• How structure protects your creativity and gives you back your time, energy, and peace
• What becomes possible when you finally stop guessing and start leading with intention
• Why I created the Interior Design Business Bakery and how it fills the gaps designers have been left to figure out alone

If you've been hustling, guessing, Googling, patching together templates, and hoping the next project finally "clicks," this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale. You don't need more trial and error — you need clarity, systems, structure, and support. And you absolutely deserve them.

I'm linking everything I mentioned — including the Interior Design Business Bakery — in the show notes. If this conversation hits you in the gut, if you're tired of feeling behind, or if you're craving a business that finally reflects your talent, this is your invitation. It's time to retire the trial-and-error era of your business and step fully into your CEO seat.

Until next week — stay creative, stay confident, and stay in your CEO seat.

 

 

RESOURCES:

 

INTERIOR DESIGN BUSINESS BAKERY - Our year-long mentorship and coaching program:

https://thedesignbakehouse.com/interior-design-business-bakery

 

SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. All-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location.

https://mysidemark.com/

 

MARKETING MEMBERSHIP - Join our hands on marketing & visibility program, no contract, only $59/month.

https://thedesignbakehouse.com/lead-lab

 

Stay in touch with Michelle on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thedesignbakehouse/

 

Join our Free Facebook Community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

 

Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

 

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

 

Hey friends, welcome to the 200th episode of Designed for the Creative Mind — I can hardly believe we're here. When I first started this podcast, I honestly didn't know if I'd have the time or stamina to keep it going, and yet it's become something I look forward to every single week. Thank you for being here, whether you've listened to every episode or this is your first. In this episode, I'm getting real and vulnerable about the edges I've faced in my business — the burnout, the betrayal, the mistakes, and the moments I thought about giving up. I share how I learned to step back, trust myself, and reclaim the power to choose how I respond when things feel overwhelming.

What You Will Learn in This Episode:

• How to recognize when burnout is signaling that something in your business needs to change.

• Why trust and vulnerability are necessary, even when others let you down.

• How to pivot and make strategic decisions instead of operating on hope or fear.

• The importance of separating emotion from information and using numbers to guide business decisions.

• Why every obstacle, even betrayal or setbacks, can be a blessing in disguise.

• How purpose, grit, and grace can carry you through the toughest moments and help you lead with heart.

This episode is a reminder that you don't have to have it all figured out to keep moving forward, and that even when you're exhausted, frustrated, or questioning your path, you are not alone. You can cry, cuss, pray, rest, and still rise. If you're standing at your own edge right now, know that it's possible to keep building, to pivot, and to find clarity and purpose in your business. Come sit with us at The Design Bakehouse — we tackle the hard stuff together, share real strategies, and create space for growth and connection. Thank you for being part of this milestone and for standing at the edge with me.

 

RESOURCES:

 

INTERIOR DESIGN BUSINESS BAKERY - Our year-long mentorship and coaching program:

https://thedesignbakehouse.com/interior-design-business-bakery

 

SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. All-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location.

https://mysidemark.com/

 

MARKETING MEMBERSHIP - Join our hands on marketing & visibility program, no contract, only $59/month.

https://thedesignbakehouse.com/lead-lab

 

Stay in touch with Michelle on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thedesignbakehouse/

 

Join our Free Facebook Community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

 

Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

 

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

 

Hey, hey, hey! In this episode we're talking about something that feels scary but will absolutely change your business: saying no before you feel ready. I know how hard it is to turn down a project—what if the right one doesn't come along? What if word gets around that you turned someone down? I've had all those same fears. But here's the truth: every time you say yes to the wrong project, you're blocking space for the right one.

I'll share the hidden costs of saying yes to everything, how to recognize the red flags early, and the exact scripts you can use to say no without burning bridges (because you don't need to feel like the bad guy)

 

 IN THIS EPISODE, I COVER:

• Why we wait too long to say no (hello, FOMO + people pleasing )

• The financial, creative, and emotional costs of taking on bad-fit clients

• A simple red-flag checklist to spot a "no" before you're in too deep

• My favorite word tracks that let you say no kindly and confidently

• A student story: how saying no freed her calendar and brought in higher-value clients

Saying no isn't risky—it's a growth strategy. When you protect your time and energy, you create space for projects that light you up, clients who respect your process, and a business that actually feels good to run.

 

RESOURCES:   INTERIOR DESIGN BUSINESS BAKERY - Our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://thedesignbakehouse.com/interior-design-business-bakery   SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. All-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. https://mysidemark.com/   MARKETING MEMBERSHIP - Join our hands on marketing & visibility program, no contract, only $59/month. https://thedesignbakehouse.com/lead-lab   Stay in touch with Michelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedesignbakehouse/   Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad    Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide   Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

Structuring your business the right way can help you navigate in any economy, no matter where you are in your interior design business. Whether you are just starting out or already a few years in, I am sharing ways for you to uplevel your business during these uncertain times. My intention today is to give you some inspiration and courage to keep going even through all the uncertainty. Because ultimately, the structure of your business to navigate in any economy all starts with you.

 

Michelle Lynne began her interior design career after spending more than two decades working in Corporate America. She began in the home staging arena and has since built a successful, award-winning, full-service interior design firm, employing talented designers and serving clients across the country.

 

In the summer of 2018, Michelle began focusing on a big gap she saw missing in the interior design industry: teaching interior designers how to run the business of an interior design business. She now engages in private coaching and leads an in-depth, 12-month group coaching program, both options focus on teaching designers profitable processes, systems, strategies, and mindset needed to run a streamlined, profitable interior design firm.

 

Her motto is simple: we rise by lifting others.

 

Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.

 

Thank you to our sponsor for their support!

 

• Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

 

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

 

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact 

 

Podcast edited and managed by Haili Murch LLC.

 

If you are interested in starting a podcast or you are currently a podcaster needing help managing or relaunching your podcast, you may email Haili Murch at hello@hailimurch.com or you can click here to book a call: https://calendly.com/hailimurch/podcast-discovery-call

Hey y'all, welcome to the 100th episode of the Designed for the Creative Mind podcast! For this special episode, we thought it would be fun to look back at how ML Interiors Group has changed and grown over the years.

 

Debbie, Megan, and I chat about how our processes have evolved, important things the team has learned working together over the past 10 years, and Debbie & Megan's new roles at ML Interiors Group.

 

Whether you've been doing this for a while or just starting out in your interior design business, know that it's a journey, and you are not alone. We hope this episode will encourage you to give yourself the grace to know it's ok to make mistakes as long as you grow from them.

 

We would love to support you! Come join us in our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery 

 

Debbie Pratt & Megan Fornes are the lead designers behind the brand of ML Interiors Group. Their award-winning designs, amazing client service, and ability to manage large projects allows Michelle Lynne the flexibility to take her business acumen to the public via her Designed For the Creative Mind® outlets.

 

Connect with Megan & Debbie on Instagram!

https://www.instagram.com/megan_fornes/ 

https://www.instagram.com/deb_does_design/ 

 

Michelle Lynne began her interior design career after spending more than two decades working in Corporate America. She began in the home staging arena and has since built a successful, award-winning, full-service interior design firm, employing talented designers and serving clients across the country.

 

In the summer of 2018, Michelle began focusing on a big gap she saw missing in the interior design industry: teaching interior designers how to run the business of an interior design business. She now engages in private coaching and leads an in-depth, 12-month group coaching program, both options focus on teaching designers profitable processes, systems, strategies, and mindset needed to run a streamlined, profitable interior design firm.

 

Her motto is simple: we rise by lifting others.

 

Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.

 

Thank you to our sponsor for their support!

 

• Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

 

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

 

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact 

 

Podcast edited and managed by Haili Murch LLC.

 

If you are interested in starting a podcast or you are currently a podcaster needing help managing or relaunching your podcast, you may email Haili Murch at hello@hailimurch.com or you can click here to book a call: https://calendly.com/hailimurch/podcast-discovery-call

Do you want to get out of the project management role and get back to designing? Wish you could have someone help you with tracking, backorders, re-selections, and scheduling. It is possible, and my next guest is here to explain how.

 

In this episode, she explains why outsourcing the non-creative parts of your business is the best option for continued growth. We also discuss the benefit of working with their team vs. hiring in-house and the importance of SOPs for work-life balance.

 

With 20+ years in many aspects of the interior design industry, Annie Aldrige and her team at The Designers Concierge are competent and ready to be of service. Annie believes in fostering a culture of collaboration, communication, and trust, to create an environment where everyone is free to create and grow. Think of TDC as your Design Companion.

 

Mentioned in this episode:

Profit First and Clockwork by Michael Michalowicz

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare

 

Visit www.thedesignersconcierge.co to learn more and download Annie's free guide to the best ordering platforms for your business. Connect with Annie and her team on Instagram @the_designers_concierge.

 

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery 

 

Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.

 

Thank you to our sponsor for their support!

 

• Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

 

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

 

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact 

 

Podcast edited and managed by Haili Murch LLC.

 

If you are interested in starting a podcast or you are currently a podcaster needing help managing or relaunching your podcast, you may email Haili Murch at hello@hailimurch.com or you can click here to book a call: https://calendly.com/hailimurch/podcast-discovery-call

Here is another audience favorite I thought would be a great episode to replay this week. How do you handle pricing your services? Send me a DM on Instagram, and let's chat about it!

 

In this episode, I am sharing my view of flat-rate pricing versus charging an hourly fee for your design services. Although I am a huge fan of value-based pricing, there are some times when you will need to charge clients by the hour. The bottom line is you need to price your services correctly so as you start to work faster you make more profit. Then continue to analyze and increase your pricing year over year. This topic is one I LOVE talking about, so let's jump in!

 

Michelle Lynne began her interior design career after spending more than two decades working in Corporate America. She began in the home staging arena and has since built a successful, award-winning, full-service interior design firm, employing talented designers and serving clients across the country.

 

In the summer of 2018, Michelle began focusing on a big gap she saw missing in the interior design industry: teaching interior designers how to run the business of an interior design business. She now engages in private coaching and leads an in-depth, 12-month group coaching program, both options focus on teaching designers profitable processes, systems, strategies, and mindset needed to run a streamlined, profitable interior design firm.

 

Her motto is simple: we rise by lifting others.

 

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery 

 

Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.

 

Thank you to our sponsor for their support!

 

• Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

 

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

 

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact 

 

Podcast edited and managed by Haili Murch LLC.

 

If you are interested in starting a podcast or you are currently a podcaster needing help managing or relaunching your podcast, you may email Haili Murch at hello@hailimurch.com or you can click here to book a call: https://calendly.com/hailimurch/podcast-discovery-call

Have you ever been to High Point Market? If you haven't, you may be surprised to hear that High Point, North Carolina, is a vibrant city year-round if you know where to go. My next guest is here to share why coming to High Point off-Market will be valuable to your business.

 

Jane Dagmi is the managing director of High Point x Design (the "x" stands for "by."), a non-profit organization that champions for High Point as a year-round destination for design, creativity, and innovation by uniting and promoting the city's resource-rich ecosystem.

 

In this episode, we chat about how HPxD got started and how it has evolved over the past year and the goals for High Point Market. Jane also explains what High Point is like during the other 50 weeks of the year.

 

To learn more about High Point x Design, visit www.hpxd.org and follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/highpointxdesign/ 

 

Be sure to check out the Vacation Rental Design Summit (VRD Summit) April 19-21 in High Point, NC at https://hpxd.org/events/vacation-rental-design-summit/ 

 

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery 

 

Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.

 

Thank you to our sponsor for their support!

 

• Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

 

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

 

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact 

 

Podcast edited and managed by Haili Murch LLC.

 

If you are interested in starting a podcast or you are currently a podcaster needing help managing or relaunching your podcast, you may email Haili Murch at hello@hailimurch.com or you can click here to book a call: https://calendly.com/hailimurch/podcast-discovery-call

Hey, y'all. Due to the popularity of this episode, we are re-releasing my chat with Nancy Ganzekaufer. Enjoy!

 

Welcome back to the Designed for the Creative Mind podcast. Y'all are in for a special treat today as my next guest is the amazing Nancy Ganzekaufer. She is a Business Coach, Speaker, Body Language Trainer, and Author. We had a fabulous discussion about how best to respond in different situations, whether personal or professional.

 

The words you choose can make or break a situation. And the way you use your words can either help or hurt your business relationships. Through her speaking, coaching, and in her book Respond with Confidence, Nancy shares her secrets to responding to any scenario effectively and with confidence.

 

To connect with Nancy, you check her out on YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram! You can also check out her Interior Design Business Forum and her website NancyGanzekaufer.com

 

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery 

 

Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.

 

Thank you to our sponsor for their support!

 

• Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

 

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

 

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact 

 

Podcast edited and managed by Haili Murch LLC.

 

If you are interested in starting a podcast or you are currently a podcaster needing help managing or relaunching your podcast, you may email Haili Murch at hello@hailimurch.com or you can click here to book a call: https://calendly.com/hailimurch/podcast-discovery-call

Are you using social media to market your interior design business? My next guest says you're doing something wrong if you're not getting ideal clients from social media. 

 

Darla Powell is a retired police sergeant, turned interior decorator, and turned CEO of her own marketing agency for interior designers, Wingnut Social. Darla helps professionals in the interior design space attract their ideal clients through the magic of digital marketing. She is also the host of Designed by Wingnut Social, a top-rated industry podcast since 2018.

 

In this episode, Darla and I chat about how to be most efficient when using social media and the best platform to be on if you don't have a lot of time to commit to social media. She also shares a few great ideas of what to post if you're a new interior designer and don't have many projects to spotlight.

 

Darla firmly believes that social media strategy and SEO are important to your bottom line, and Wingnut Social offers both of these services to their clients. To learn more visit https://wingnutsocial.com/ and follow @WingnutSocial on Instagram and Facebook.

 

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery 

 

Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.

 

Thank you to our sponsor for their support!

 

• Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

 

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

 

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact 

 

Podcast edited and managed by Haili Murch LLC.

 

If you are interested in starting a podcast or you are currently a podcaster needing help managing or relaunching your podcast, you may email Haili Murch at hello@hailimurch.com or you can click here to book a call: https://calendly.com/hailimurch/podcast-discovery-call