Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Designed for the Creative Mind™
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| S7 Ep.201 Myth: I Can Build a Thriving Design Business Through Trial and Error | 17 Nov 2025 | 00:23:23 | |
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." 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: 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.
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
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| Ep. 200: Lessons from the Edge | 05 Nov 2025 | 00:20:22 | |
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
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.
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
| |||
| S6 Ep 191 When Clients Say One Thing… But Mean Another | 01 Sep 2025 | 00:23:58 | |
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:
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 | |||
| 101. Structuring Your Business to Navigate in Any Economy (Re-Release) | 24 Apr 2023 | 00:39:29 | |
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!
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 | |||
| 100. A Walk Down Memory Lane with Debbie Pratt and Megan Fornes | 17 Apr 2023 | 00:48:43 | |
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!
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 | |||
| 99. Project Management: Giving you the Freedom to Create and Grow with Annie Aldridge | 10 Apr 2023 | 00:36:15 | |
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!
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 | |||
| 98. Should You Price Your Design Fee Hourly? (Re-Release) | 03 Apr 2023 | 00:24:22 | |
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!
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 | |||
| 97. Reimagining High Point with Jane Dagmi | 27 Mar 2023 | 00:40:26 | |
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!
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 | |||
| 96. Respond with Confidence with Nancy Ganzekaufer (Re-Release) | 20 Mar 2023 | 00:54:56 | |
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!
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 | |||
| 95. Social Media Strategy with Darla Powell | 13 Mar 2023 | 00:43:12 | |
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!
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 | |||
| 94. Breaking Through the Internal Barriers Blocking Your Leadership with Tonya Comer | 06 Mar 2023 | 00:39:18 | |
Tonya Comer has been named one of the Top 20 African American Interior Designers in the United States. She is the Principal of the boutique interior design firm, Tonya Comer Interiors, and an award-winning product designer with products that have sold around the globe.
In this episode, Tonya shares her story of hitting rock bottom and how it helped her learn the ultimate lessons for living an empowered life. In her upcoming self-help narrative book, she provides a model called the "Power Tools", which will help women on their healing journey. Her mission is to help women find wholeness through the discovery of their shame and self-doubt and encourage women to know they are not alone in feeling like a fraud or an imposter.
Visit www.tonyacomer.com and connect with Tonya on social media Facebook Personal Page: @tonyacomermba Facebook Business Page: @tonyacomerinteriors LinkedIn: @tonyacomer Twitter: @tonyacomermba Instagram: @tonyacomerinteriors
Mentioned in this episode: Tonya's book launching May 2023 - In High Heels on a Ladder: The 7 Power Tools for Designing Your Life As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
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!
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 | |||
| 93. How to Organize Your Design Business with ClickUp with Kaci Ackerman | 27 Feb 2023 | 00:35:19 | |
My next guest is Kaci Ackerman, a Certified Business Manager and ClickUp expert. Kaci has helped over 1000 business owners streamline their businesses with ClickUp. She saves CEOs 10 hours a week and increases their profit by 25% with a robust and automated ClickUp system.
In this episode, Kaci explains what ClickUp is and how it saves time, the platforms it can replace, and why having a project management tool like ClickUp is crucial to your business. Kaci believes that when you have systems in your business, you are able to scale and empower your team.
Visit www.kaciackerman.com for Kaci's ClickUp templates, her Confidence in ClickUp course, and to book your VIP day with her. Connect with Kaci on Instagram @kaciackerman and Facebook @theclickupqueen.
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!
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 | |||
| 92. Growing Your Visibility Using the Media with Molly Schoneveld | 20 Feb 2023 | 00:42:57 | |
My next badass guest is Molly Schoneveld. She is the founder and CEO of The Storied Group--a PR firm for interior designers and luxury lifestyle clients. Molly shares how her background in communications and her experience in the entertainment industry led her to the interior design business.
In this episode, Molly and I also chat about what magazines are currently looking for, how to use social media for publicity, and her top tips for having a project photographed.
The Storied Group is "Your PR Secret Weapon" to help you stand out in a noisy world. They offer PR services, including a project placement service for designers who aren't yet ready to make a full-time investment in PR. Learn more at www.thestoriedgroup.com and follow along on Instagram @thestoriedgroup and @molly.schoneveld.
Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program, The Interior Design Business Bakery.
Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| S6 Ep 190: How Turning Down the "Wrong" Work Accelerates Your Growth. | 25 Aug 2025 | 00:27:56 | |
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:
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| 91. The Intersection of Art and Interior Design with Liz Lidgett | 13 Feb 2023 | 00:36:48 | |
My next guest is Liz Lidgett, an art advisor and gallery owner based in Des Moines, Iowa. Her gallery operates differently than the traditional gallery. She wants to provide original art pieces at every price point and help people learn how to budget for, find their style, and incorporate art pieces into their homes.
Liz is here to share her insight with our listeners and help build confidence in finding the best art to incorporate into your client's homes. She shares her background and how she got into this type of work, how to find out what style of art your clients will like, and her take on if the art should match the design space.
We also discuss how much of a client's budget you should set aside for art and the significance of original artwork versus mass-produced or printed versions. Liz represents many unique artists, both local and abroad, and believes your art collection should represent your personal mission and values.
Mentioned in this episode: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Find Liz on Instagram @LizLidgett and @LizLidgettGallery. Visit www.lizlidgett.com to learn more about working with Liz and her team and see all of their art pieces available for purchase.
Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 90. Invest In Yourself, It Will Take You Places with Kristen Reyes | 06 Feb 2023 | 00:42:02 | |
My next guest is another graduate of our Interior Design Business Bakery. She is also a familiar voice in our Interior Designers Business Launchpad Facebook community, sharing her knowledge and experience with others in the group.
In this episode, Kristen Reyes shares how the Bakery has changed her business processes even though she already had years of interior design experience under her belt. She truly believes in community over competition and how investing in yourself may be scary at first, but intentionally spending money will help make you money in your business.
Kristen Reyes knew she would be an interior designer by age 11. Coming from a long line of contractors and artists, she pursued a prestigious degree in interior design at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Post-grad, she was recruited by top international design firms completing projects for Southwest Airlines HDQ to luxury high-rise developments that dot the Dallas skyline. Today, she brings this high-level expertise in construction, design, and project management to her busy, professional clients looking to design forever-family homes. Most recently, she has been featured in Forbes, Realtor.com, Homes & Gardens, and Apartment Therapy.
Learn more about Kristen at her website www.seyinteriors.com and connect with Kristen on Instagram @sey_interiors and Facebook @sey_interiors. You will also see her commenting in our Facebook group as Kristen Lynn Reyes.
Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 89. How to Forge Strong Relationships on LinkedIn That Blossom in the Real World with Donna Serdula | 30 Jan 2023 | 00:41:18 | |
Are you on LinkedIn? It's not just for stuffy resumes anymore! LinkedIn has evolved into a fantastic place for networking, connecting, and engaging with people, both personally and professionally. Not only can you find high-end clients that need your services, but you can also showcase your services, post images of your beautiful work, and educate and inspire people in the process.
My next guest is Donna Serdula. She is the founder and president of Vision Board Media, a professional branding company that helps individuals and companies tell their unique stories on LinkedIn and beyond. She shares her LinkedIn expertise at global conferences, presents at keynotes and workshops, and has been featured on many high-profile news outlets. She has also authored two editions of LinkedIn Profile Optimization FOR DUMMIES.
In this episode, Donna and I chat about: - How LinkedIn has changed over the years - What types of posts are most successful on LinkedIn, and which ones perform worst - The secret to getting active on LinkedIn and noticed - Why networking on LinkedIn now is more important than ever
Mentioned in this episode: Traction: Get A Grip On Your Business by Gino Wickman Click HERE to download 3 FREE chapters of Donna's book LinkedIn Profile Optimization For Dummies!
Connect with Donna: Website: http://www.linkedin-makeover.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todonna Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LinkedInMakeover/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/donnaserdula/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/donnaserdula
Go check out Donna's LinkedIn mini-course, www.linkedin-makeover.com/linkedin-training-guides and use the code DFCM for a special discount!
Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 88. Why Women Should Strive for $250k Years Instead of $10k Months with Tara Newman | 23 Jan 2023 | 00:49:33 | |
Tara Newman is the Founder and CEO of The Bold Profit Academy, where she teaches service-based business owners how to sell premium services and programs without the emotional stress of launching, worrying about ads, overwhelming social strategies, or complex funnels.
Tara is an expert in business strategy and industrial organizational psychology and a Profit First Certified Consultant. It's her goal to help her clients create significant income and leverage their businesses to generate real, tangible wealth.
In this episode, we chat about how you can be a millionaire without having a million-dollar business. Tara believes in paying yourself well, profiting wisely, and investing in your net worth, all without losing sight of your mental, emotional and energetic wealth.
Visit https://theboldleadershiprevolution.com/ to learn more and don't forget to get your free revenue goal calculator at: https://theboldleadershiprevolution.com/revenue-goal-calculator/. Follow Tara on Instagram @thetaranewman.
Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 87. Finding Your Passion in the Midst of a Storm with Desiree Washington | 16 Jan 2023 | 00:43:14 | |
My next guest started her business two months before the pandemic and during her first year of motherhood. Desiree Washington founded Designs By Des Interiors to help busy moms and professionals like herself create healthy spaces that would foster growth. By working through her own challenging experiences, she created healthy, comfortable environments for her growing family through a budget-friendly approach.
With a background in architecture, lighting, and psychology, she has helped to create her empire around what she loves. Desiree has also completed the Interior Design Business Bakery Program.
Despite her prior education and experience, Desiree still encounters imposter syndrome. In this episode, we chat about how becoming a mom changed her outlook as a designer, her favorite part of having an interior design business, and her next big business move.
To learn more about working with Desiree and her team, visit www.designsbydesinteriors.com. You can also find her @DesignsByDesInteriors on all the social media platforms.
Book mentioned in this episode: Brave, Not Perfect: Fear Less, Fail More, and Live Bolder by Reshma Saujani
Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 86. Master Your Smartphone for Stellar Design Photos with Linda Holt | 09 Jan 2023 | 00:43:09 | |
My next guest is a Boston interior designer/photographer who teaches designers and home stagers to take stellar photos of their work using their smartphones.
As a former professional photographer, Linda Holt is no stranger to merging her creative eye with aesthetic appeal, having worked with more than 5,000 celebrities, actors, and models as one of Boston's top commercial headshot photographers. Today she uses her skilled photographic eye to help homeowners create a stylish, fresh, and relaxed home that is reflective of their unique personality and lifestyle.
The majority of photos a designer needs can now be taken with a smartphone. In this episode, Linda tells us the biggest mistake designers make when photographing with their smartphones, when and why designers should photograph their own projects, and when it's best to leave it to the professionals. She also shares three quick tips we can start using today to get better photos with our smartphones.
Mentioned in this episode: Snapseed photo editor SaneBox email management software The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
Connect with Linda on all of the social platforms @lindaholtcreative. To learn more about her smartphone photography courses, visit www.lindaholtcreative.com. Don't forget to download Linda's freebie 5 Smartphone Photography Tips To Achieve Magazine Worthy Interior Photos.
Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 85. Are you a Business or a Brand? with Ericka Saurit | 02 Jan 2023 | 00:40:00 | |
My next badass guest is Ericka Saurit. She began her career as an interior designer, and now as a brand marketing strategist, focuses on helping interior designers transform their businesses into unforgettable brands through strategic storytelling.
In this episode, Ericka shares what a brand message is, why a clear and consistent brand message is one of the most valuable investments you can make in your marketing plan, and ways to conduct your own Brand Audit to make your message more clear and consistent.
Visit www.sauritcreative.com for more info about working with Ericka and follow her on Instagram
Click here to learn more about Brand Camp
For your own Brand Audit check out https://sauritcreative.com/brandaudit
Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 84. Systems Over Symptoms - Developing Effective Relationships with Your Team with Brittanie Elms | 12 Dec 2022 | 00:41:39 | |
My next guest is Brittanie Elms, the CEO and Lead Consultant for My Design Assistant, a virtual assistance agency for interior designers looking to reimagine their efficiency so that they can develop a life and business they love.
The My Design Assistant team helps designers develop actionable systems and tools so they can move their business forward efficiently and free up their time for creative thinking and professional development.
In this episode, Brittanie shares what people should know about the difference between hiring an employee and hiring a VA, identifying symptoms of a broken process and how to diagnose and resolve them, and the importance of establishing SOPs before working with a new team member.
Visit www.mydesignassistant.com to learn more about MDA's consulting and virtual design assistant services, and follow her on Instagram @my.design.assistant and Pinterest.
Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 83. Getting Started with VIP Days: Simplify Your Life with this Brilliant Business Model with Sarah Masci | 05 Dec 2022 | 00:29:41 | |
Sarah Masci is the CEO and Founder of Day Rate Mastery®, an online company that teaches expert service providers how to work less and make more with a streamlined "VIP Day" business model. If your days are filled with scope creep, inconsistent timelines, and overlapping client projects, this model may be a great fit for your business.
In this episode, Sarah explains what exactly VIP Days are and how they work, the benefits of switching from hour-by-hour client work to VIP Days, and what characteristics make for a great client of a VIP Day offer. You don't want to miss our fun, intriguing chat!
Visit www.sarahmasci.com for Sarah's free VIP Day checklist and to learn more about her different programs. Reach out and connect with Sarah on Instagram @sarahmasci.
Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 82. How to Outsource in Your Design Business & Wow Your Clients with Theresa Gresham | 28 Nov 2022 | 00:35:02 | |
My next guest is Theresa Gresham, a rendering artist and CAD drafter with formal interior design training and the owner of Theresa G Design. She provides show-stopping virtual design services for busy interior designers. Theresa has found that working with a virtual design assistant can increase profitability, add value to your design process, and relieve stress.
In this episode, Theresa and I chat about the process of outsourcing 3D renderings and CAD drawings, how she collaborates with other interior designers, and tips when working with a virtual design assistant for the first time.
To learn more about Theresa and her services, visit www.theresagdesign.com and find her @TheresaGDesign on both Instagram and Facebook.
Go to www.theresagdesign.com/gift for her FREE guide on How to Successfully Work with a Rendering Artist: 5 Invaluable Tips for a Seamless Experience & Highest Level Results for you and your Clients.
Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| S6 Ep 189: Stop Over-Delivering: Why Doing More Is Costing You Time, Money, and Sanity | 18 Aug 2025 | 00:20:59 | |
Season 6: Off the Record: The Hidden Curriculum of Design Business They didn't teach you this in design school. You won't hear it in a CEU course. And most business coaches wouldn't dare say it out loud. This season of Designed for the Creative Mind is your backstage pass to the unspoken skills, strategic instincts, and hard-won wisdom that separate hobbyists from high-earning design business owners. From reading between a client's words, to knowing exactly when to say no (and how to do it without burning bridges), to spotting profit leaks before they sink you — these are the lessons I wish I'd learned sooner. I'm sharing the real stories, the actual scripts, and the business-building shortcuts I teach inside The Interior Design Business Bakery and The Lead Lab — so you can skip the fluff and build a business that's profitable, sustainable, and still lights you up creatively. Because running a design business isn't just about talent. It's about knowing the rules no one talks about… and when to break them.
IN THIS EPISODE:
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| 81. Best of Show with Donna Moss | 21 Nov 2022 | 00:45:23 | |
Hey, y'all, today is a very special episode. We are recording live at the Interior Design Business Success Summit in Dallas, Texas, and my guest today is Donna Moss, the Queen of Bling. With an eye on high fashion and 30 years of luxury design experience, Donna continues to stay true to her brand and proves that you can bling it all - while being bold, gold, and glamorous.
Donna is known worldwide as a finalist on HGTV's show Design Star Season One and the host of her own HGTV series Donna Decorates Dallas, which celebrates over 30 episodes and several seasons as a leading television series. She also authored the book, Best of Show and is one of the most sought-after and successful designers in the great state of Texas.
In this episode, Donna shares her experience working on many show houses, why they are a great way to get the word out about your work, and how being on a reality TV show changed her life and her career.
To learn more, visit Donna Moss online at donnamossdesigns.com, and follow Donna socially on IG @donnamossdesigns and FB @donnamossdesigns.
Mentioned in this episode: Donna's book, "Best of Show" on Amazon Decovita porcelain tiles
Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 80. Price is Just a Number: Knowing What Your Worth is a Belief with Andrea Liebross | 14 Nov 2022 | 00:48:06 | |
As a certified business and life coach, Andrea Liebross is known for helping high-achieving women make the shift from overwhelm to freedom in both their personal and professional life. She helps women create their own secret sauce for success by combining two ingredients - the right mindset and solid systems. Andrea coaches women who are at all stages of their entrepreneurial journey through her signature programs, Committed to Growth and Runway to Freedom.
In this episode, Andrea shares the three most valuable resources everyone has (and which is the most important), the importance of knowing what you charge your clients is just a number, and the beliefs you need to help create the number you deserve.
Connect with Andrea on Instagram and LinkedIn and visit www.andreaslinks.com, where you can learn more about working with Andrea. There you will also find her Reveal the Root quiz. And don't forget to listen to the Time to Level Up podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 79. A Peek Behind the Curtain with Traci Connell | 07 Nov 2022 | 00:29:31 | |
My next badass guest is Traci Connell, an award-winning, nationally published interior designer and business coach. Over the years, the Traci Connell Interiors team has expertly perfected and streamlined a system of service that simplifies and organizes the design process, becoming one of the most trusted design firms in Dallas. Seeing a need in her industry, The Gloss, the Ultimate Glossary of Business Resources for Interior Designers, was established to provide mentorship and strategy for designers to elevate their firms and scale to millions.
In this episode, Traci gives us a peek behind the curtain of a successful interior designer and how she grew her business to what it is today. We also chat about why to invest in the right people to help you get where you want to be in your business.
To learn more about Traci and her team, visit www.traciconnellinteriors.com and follow her on Instagram and Facebook. On the business side, check out www.JoinTheGloss.com and TheGlossforInteriorDesigners on Facebook.
Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 78. How a Podcast Can Help Grow Your Interior Design Business with Haili Murch | 31 Oct 2022 | 00:34:54 | |
My next guest not only helped me launch this podcast, but she and her team also keeps it running week after week. Haili Murch is a podcast strategist specializing in launching and managing podcasts.
In this episode, Haili shares how to know when you're ready to start a podcast, some of the first steps you'll need to do, and ways you can stand out in the podcast world. Although interior design is a visual industry, having a podcast can help you with brand recognition, extending your reach, and growing your business.
Connect with Haili on Instagram @HailiMurch, and when you're ready to start your own podcast, grab a spot on Haili's calendar and schedule a time to chat with her https://calendly.com/hailimurch/podcast-discovery-call
Text UPDATES to 214-380-1969 for all our DFCM updates.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 77. Go from Obscure to Acclaimed Leveraging Other People's Audience with Tom Schwab | 24 Oct 2022 | 00:39:00 | |
Have you ever thought your digital marketing might actually be hurting your business? Our guest today has a refreshingly new view on marketing. Tom Schwab asks you to consider that you are just One Conversation Away, which also happens to be the title of his new book.
In this episode, we chat about using podcast guesting to tap into others' audiences and build expertise. Tom also shares what he feels is every business's biggest problem, why whales don't click and big fish don't swim through funnels, and the reason podcast interviews convert 25x better than blogs. If you want a rich life and a profitable business, Tom believes you are just One Conversation Away.
For a free copy of Tom's book, use this special link for DFCM listeners: www.interviewvalet.com/DFCM. There you will also find Tom's 10-question assessment to find out if podcast interview marketing will work for you.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 76. Diversifying Your Income by Design with Shayla Copas | 17 Oct 2022 | 00:44:47 | |
Shayla Copas with Shayla Copas Lifestyle is joining us today to talk about diversifying your income stream. Shayla is a national award-winning interior designer, travel entrepreneur, product designer, and the author of the book Four Seasons of Entertaining and the upcoming book Four Seasons of Celebration. In addition, she is also launching Shayla Copas Travel at the end of the year, where she will host design and culinary enthusiasts on trips around the globe.
In this episode, we chat about finding your passions and building your business around them. Shayla also shares her best marketing tips for creatives and ways she has been able to diversify her income as a designer.
To learn more about Shayla, connect with her on Instagram @shaylacopas, visit www.shaylacopas.com, or email her at hello@shaylacopas.com.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 75. 3 Common Struggles with Your Growing Design Team with Shelli Warren | 10 Oct 2022 | 00:42:21 | |
Shelli Warren is a team and leadership coach and the host of the BizChix sister podcast, Stacking Your Team. At BizChix Inc., she leverages her 26 years of experience leading technical teams to deliver multi-million dollar projects for billion-dollar brands to now helping small business owners hire, fire, and inspire an incredible team of high performers.
In this episode, Shelli and I chat about how business owners can step out of day-to-day operations, the importance of retention and team culture, and the value of letting go and giving team leaders the space to lead their teams.
Follow Shelli on Instagram @stackingyourteampodcast, on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/shelliwarren2, and don't forget to check out the Stacking Your Team Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
The 3rd Annual Interior Design Business Success Summit will be October 12-14, 2022. Visit www.designedforthecreativemind.com/summit for more details and to reserve your ticket.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 74. Think Like a Woman to Sell Better with Dr. Nadia Brown | 03 Oct 2022 | 00:39:50 | |
Dr. Nadia Brown is a sales strategist, consultant, trainer, and founder of The Doyenne Agency. She brings over fifteen years of leadership experience, powerful conversations, achieving goals, and respect for people, to develop a comprehensive sales process to increase closing rates and satisfied client retention.
Dr. Nadia believes that using what is inherent in us as women, helps us sell better and more authentically. In this episode, Dr. Nadia shares how she overcame the fear of selling, ways to supercharge our sales courage to get to where we want to be, and why courage may be THE most critical sales quality we need to succeed.
To learn more about working with Dr. Nadia and her team, visit www.thedoyenneagency.com and find her on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter.
The 3rd Annual Interior Design Business Success Summit will be October 12-14, 2022. Visit www.designedforthecreativemind.com/summit for more details and to reserve your ticket.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 73. The Juggling Act of Wife-ing, Mom-ing and Running Your Own Business with Justine LaFond | 26 Sep 2022 | 00:44:17 | |
My next guest is Justine Lafond. She is an Army wife, mom, and interior designer to homes on the beautiful beaches of the Emerald Coast of Florida. In this episode, Justine shares her unique challenges as a mom, wife, and business owner. Fun fact, she is also a graduate of The Interior Design Business Bakery. Listen in to hear Justine's advice for people who feel like their circumstances are preventing them from chasing their dreams.
Follow Justine on Instagram @jauntyjinteriors and visit her website www.jauntyjinteriors.com.
The 3rd Annual Interior Design Business Success Summit will be October 12-14, 2022. Visit www.designedforthecreativemind.com/summit for more details and to reserve your ticket.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 72. Structuring Your Business to Navigate in Any Economy | 19 Sep 2022 | 00:38:38 | |
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.
The 3rd Annual Interior Design Business Success Summit will be October 12-14, 2022. Visit www.designedforthecreativemind.com/summit for more details and to reserve your ticket.
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Email me!
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 | |||
| S5 Ep 188: No Portfolio? No Problem: The Secret Strategy to Attract High Paying Clients | 04 Aug 2025 | 00:49:16 | |
Hey hey hey! I'm so glad you're here with me today on Designed for the Creative Mind. Whether you're listening from your studio, your car, or curled up with a glass of wine (not in the car, please), you're in for a really insightful conversation. I brought on the fabulous Mina from Duke Renders to talk about all things renderings—especially how they can help you build a strong portfolio even if you don't have a single professionally photographed project. If you've been holding off on putting your work out there because you're waiting for the "perfect" photos, this episode is going to change everything. Mina shares how Duke Renders came to be after she had frustrating experiences outsourcing renderings as a designer herself. What started as her husband and his brother helping her out turned into a full-blown, high-touch rendering studio that truly understands the needs of interior designers. We also talk about the process (which I completely loved working with), why outsourcing your renderings isn't as scary as it seems, and how even the biggest names in design (yes, we mention Shea McGee) dealt with team resistance before seeing the light. If you're at the beginning stages of your business or pivoting into a new niche, Mina explains how renderings allow you to showcase the kind of work you want to be hired for—even if you haven't landed those ideal clients yet. We talk about creating a portfolio based on your dream aesthetic, using renderings to fill the gap when photography isn't possible, and why this investment often brings a bigger return than advertising or getting published. The biggest takeaway? Renderings aren't just pretty pictures—they're a powerful business tool. They can help you land higher-end clients, speed up your design process, and most importantly, give you the confidence to put your work out there. This episode is a must-listen if you've ever felt stuck because your portfolio isn't "there yet." Renderings might just be your new secret weapon. Thanks for tuning in. You've got this, and I'm so excited for what you're building.
Resources Mentioned:
Stay Connected:
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| 71. Declare Your Brand with Rachael Bozsik | 12 Sep 2022 | 00:36:39 | |
My next badass guest is Rachael Bozsik. She helps women create a legacy and market themselves in a way that feels powerful and in alignment with their brand. Rachael has been recognized as the "go-to" elite personal branding coach for luxury interior designers. She focuses on getting you fewer clients and more money. And don't we all want that?
In this episode, we chat about why you need to declare your brand to the world, partnership options for interior designers, and ideas on where to start with positioning yourself. Rachael shares a ton of great information with us. You don't want to miss this one!
Learn more about working with Rachael by visiting www.rachaelbozsik.com and following her on Instagram.
The 3rd Annual Interior Design Business Success Summit will be October 12-14, 2022. Visit www.designedforthecreativemind.com/summit for more details and to reserve your ticket.
Thank you to our sponsor for their support!
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 70. "Boundaries" is Not A Bad Word and Here Are Some You Need | 05 Sep 2022 | 00:15:34 | |
In this episode, I am talking about the boundaries you need to set in your business. Boundaries with your clients, with your kids, and even with yourself. Making sure you have solid boundaries will not only help keep your sanity but also being consistent in keeping these boundaries is super important. And believe me, your life will be more enjoyable when you enforce boundaries in your business.
The 3rd Annual Interior Design Business Success Summit will be October 12-14, 2022. Visit www.designedforthecreativemind.com/summit for more details and to reserve your ticket.
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.
Thank you to our sponsor for their support!
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Email me!
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 | |||
| 69. The ML Designers - The Client Journey | 22 Aug 2022 | 00:31:28 | |
Like all businesses, so much has changed since ML Interiors Group began. In this episode, Debbie, Megan, and I chat about how the journey has evolved for us over time, including calculating design times, managing client expectations, and handling procurement.
The client journey evolves as your business evolves. So be sure to give yourself grace. Don't think you have to have everything figured out when you start because it will change as you grow. Listen in as we share a few ways we used to run our design projects and how things have evolved for us at ML Interiors Group.
The 3rd Annual Interior Design Business Success Summit will be October 12-14, 2022. Visit www.designedforthecreativemind.com/summit for more details and to reserve your ticket.
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!
Thank you to our sponsor for their support!
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show?
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 | |||
| 68. If You Want Better Answers, Ask Better Questions | 08 Aug 2022 | 00:26:02 | |
Hey, y'all, welcome back to the podcast. This topic has been weighing on my heart lately, and I felt called to share it with you. To get better answers, we need to ask better questions. I am not only talking about asking your clients better questions but also some questions to ask yourself as a business owner. The quality of your life oftentimes depends on the number of difficult conversations you're willing to have. And that includes the ones with yourself, not just other people.
The 3rd Annual Interior Design Business Success Summit will be October 12-14, 2022. Visit www.designedforthecreativemind.com/summit for more details and to reserve your ticket.
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.
Thank you to our sponsor for their support!
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Email me!
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 | |||
| 67. Thinking Differently About Your Business with Cheminne Taylor-Smith | 25 Jul 2022 | 00:44:24 | |
Cheminne Taylor-Smith is a creative thinker and an idea generator. She helps brands, businesses, and entrepreneurs think differently about how they do business. She was the PR director for Elle Decor, the VP of Marketing for the High Point Market, and has consulted with well-known brands such as the Showtime cable network, Christie's auction house, Conde Nast, Mercanteinfiera Parma, Galerie Magazine, Bernhardt, International Market Centers, Dallas Market Center, and more!
In this episode, we chat about things designers should do NOW to prepare for any economic disruptions in the coming months. We also talk about the importance of looking at cash flow to ensure we have a cushion in the event of a recession.
Connect with Cheminne on Instagram and visit her website cheminne.com to learn more about working with her and her team.
Thank you to our sponsor for their support!
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? | |||
| 66. How "Just Enough" Can Sabotage Your Business with Connie Vanderzanden | 11 Jul 2022 | 00:47:59 | |
Today I'm speaking with Cash Flow & Business Mentor, Connie Vanderzanden. She is on a mission to help entrepreneurs live the lifestyles they desire by learning the simple steps, structure, and discipline to create and save money.
In this episode, we chat about nurturing our relationship with money and the importance of giving every dollar a job. Connie also shares common money stories she has heard over the years and how she helps people shift their mindset surrounding money to be able to generate more of it in their business.
We can heal our generational money wounds. There is no shame, we are not broken. We just need to lean in and get a little more education and support around our money stories.
For more info visit www.moneyactiontips.com and connect with Connie on Instagram @connie.vanderzanden and on LinkedIn at connievanderzanden1. Check out her YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ0XcjtRZgw41nBk6dxS90
Books mentioned in this episode: Financial Adulting by Ashley Feinstein Gerstley Women Talk Money by Rebecca Walker
Thank you to our sponsor for their support!
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? | |||
| 65. A Conversation with Gail M. Davis…About it ALL | 27 Jun 2022 | 00:46:14 | |
My next guest is the fabulous Gail M. Davis. She's my newest friend, and we had such a strong connection when I was a guest on her podcast I just had to bring her on here to chat about her incredible background and experience. Gail studied at the New York School of Interior Design and interned at Bunny Williams Inc. and David Kleinberg Design Associates. She also worked at Saks Fifth Avenue and has her own real-life Devil Wears Prada story she shares with us.
In this episode, we talk about all the things, including being authentic to ourselves and acknowledging the difference between masculine and feminine energy. As women, we feel like we need to do it all. Sometimes we need to take a break, stop doing, and just BE.
Learn more about Gail Davis Designs at https://www.gaildavisdesignsllc.com/ and follow Gail on Instagram @gaildavisdesigns. Don't forget to check out her podcast, Design Perspectives with Gail M. Davis wherever you listen to podcasts.
Thank you to our sponsor for their support!
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? | |||
| 64. The Art of Numbers: Making Business Decisions Based on Your Financials with Danielle Hayden | 13 Jun 2022 | 00:45:55 | |
As a business owner, do you understand your numbers? Do you even know what that means? You can't grow and scale your business unless you have a financial framework in place. My next guest is Danielle Hayden, host of the Entrepreneur Money Stories podcast and CEO of Kickstart Accounting. She helps female entrepreneurs understand their numbers so they can gain the confidence needed to create sustainable profits.
In this episode, Danielle shares her tips on how to evaluate business decisions, what numbers to look at to make those decisions, and what designers need to focus on financially as we surpass key revenue milestones in our business.
To learn more about Danielle and her team, visit kickstartaccountinginc.com or click the links below. And don't forget to follow Danielle on Instagram and Kickstart Accounting Inc. on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Thank you to our sponsors for their support!
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? | |||
| 63. A Family Affair with Lauren and Jonathan Ramirez | 30 May 2022 | 00:42:50 | |
Have you ever wondered what it's like working with your spouse or partner? My next guests are Lauren and Jonathan Ramirez. Lauren founded Lauren Ramirez Interiors in 2016, and after a decade of working in technology, Jonathan made the leap in 2021 to join Lauren and the team. They rebranded the company, which is now known as HouseMill Design.
In this episode, we chat about how they know to stay in their own lanes and the importance of shutting down work to make time for their family. Jonathan shares how they are able to attract and recruit top talent to join their design team, and Lauren talks about the Creative Ladies Night in Austin group she formed and the exciting thing it's turned into.
Check out their website www.housemilldesign.com and find them @housemilldesign on Instagram and Facebook.
Thank you to our sponsors for their support!
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? | |||
| 62. Simple Solutions for Adding Revenue to your Business with Chad Smith | 23 May 2022 | 00:47:17 | |
My next guest is Chad Smith, a seasoned entrepreneur and Director of SideDoor. If you are unfamiliar with SideDoor, it is a free online marketplace for interior designers, e-designers, and stagers. It allows you to shop and curate products into sharable collections that you can sell to your clients directly or add to your website and social media pages.
In this episode, Chad and I chat about the benefits of using a service like SideDoor to help procure products and handle the logistics so you can focus on designing. If setting up accounts with multiple vendors takes up too much of your time, SideDoor helps streamline the process and adds another revenue stream to your business.
Learn more about SideDoor by visiting www.onsidedoor.com and don't forget to follow them on Instagram @onsidedoor.
Thank you to our sponsors for their support!
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? | |||
| S5 Ep 187 From Italy to the UK: One Baker, Two Countries, Big Design Dreams | 28 Jul 2025 | 00:47:37 | |
Today, we're crossing the pond! I had such a fun and inspiring chat with one of our fabulous Bakery graduates, Marta Rosato, who built her thriving interior design business all the way from Bristol, UK. Her story is filled with courage, creativity, and a whole lot of clarity — and I know you're going to love hearing it. Marta didn't start out in interior design. She spent 20 years working across Europe in project management and event organizing, and later as a marketing strategist for sustainable tourism. But after moving to the UK and becoming a full-time mom, she had a moment — you'll hear all about it — that led her to totally change direction. With a background in design consulting, marketing, and project planning (and after blogging her own home renovation during the pandemic), Marta started getting requests from customers who wanted more than just help picking a sofa. So she leaned into her passion, launched Marta Rosato Interiors, and hasn't looked back. We talk about:
Marta's story is a beautiful reminder that it's never too late to pivot, build a business you love, and trust your gut (even across time zones). Thanks for tuning in, and I hope this conversation leaves you feeling just as energized and encouraged as it did me.
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| 61. Find Your Rhythm and Control Your Calendar with Kristen Van Horn | 16 May 2022 | 00:40:37 | |
Do you ever feel there's just not enough time in the day to get everything done? We all do. That is why time management is so important. Prioritizing your tasks and finding pockets of time to get them done is the key to success.
Today I am chatting with Kristen Van Horn, a time management coach for moms in business. Her mission is to help women prioritize their time and tasks so they can focus on the things that are most important to them in their life and business. In this episode, Kristen and I talk about the things that suck so much time from our day. She also shares some helpful tips you can implement today and get things crossed off our to-do lists.
Learn more about Kristen at kristenvanhorn.com and follow her on Instagram @kristenvanhorn_
Thank you to our sponsors for their support!
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? | |||
| 60. Called for More with Ryann Dowdy | 09 May 2022 | 00:39:20 | |
Ryann Dowdy thought she was doing everything right. Dream job, 6+ figure salary, family, nice home, but still felt unfulfilled. She finally realized it was because she was chasing a dream that wasn't hers, so she left corporate life and became an entrepreneur. As she found more success on her journey, she still felt alone and misunderstood by her peers. Ryann knew she was called for more.
As women, we crave community and connection. Ryann's mission is to create a safe space for every woman who has ever been told she's too much, too picky, too loud, too ANYTHING to come together and be fearlessly themselves.
In this episode, Ryann shares her story and why she created Be In The Room, a community of high-achieving, bad-ass women rebelling against the status quo. Because when women connect, work together, and harness our power into ONE common mission - we will be invincible.
Connect with Ryann: Website: www.beintheroom.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/beintheroom Instagram: @RyannDowdyOfficial TikTok: @RyannDowdyOfficial LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ryanndowdy/
Thank you to our sponsors for their support!
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? | |||
| 59. Drive Traffic & Sales with Pinterest (It's More Than Crafts and Recipes!) with Leah Reinert | 02 May 2022 | 00:40:05 | |
Did you know that Pinterest is more of a search engine than a social platform? It ranks right up there with YouTube and Google. People go to Pinterest when they're looking to solve a problem. They have an idea in their head but looking for that deeper definition or visual of it and want to be inspired.
My guest today is Leah Reinert, a Pinterest Marketing Specialist. She believes Pinterest is a great part of an omnipresent marketing strategy. She's like a Pinterest Ninja (or Pinja) that takes care of her clients' strategy behind the scenes so they don't have to worry about it.
If you've been thinking about having a presence on Pinterest, you'll want to tune in to this episode to hear how Leah presents her clients' content on Pinterest in a way that funnels people to their email list, website, or directly to their products. She also shares some mind-blowing stats about Pinterest users.
You can email Leah at leah@downleahslane.com and check out her website downleahslane.com. Don't forget to follow her on Instagram @downleahslane and @leah_reinert.
Thank you to our sponsors for their support!
To stay in touch with Michelle, please follow her on Instagram and join our Free Facebook Community!
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? | |||