A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

Today is the third show in the series which has been sponsored by Certified Cruelty Free Design, which is the heart project and brainchild of Deborah Rosenberg, of DiMare Design in Miami, Florida. If this is the first time that you're listening to this show, you can go back and listen to #82, where we met Deborah Rosenberg, to find out more about her and how she runs her business. Then, in episode #117, she explains in detail about the CEU Course that she created, in Certified Cruelty Free Design. Then there is the sponsored show, with this being the third show of that series. In episode #212, Deborah spoke about her Course and about why it's so important for you to consider, as a Designer. In episode #218, Deborah explained the resources and marketing of Certified Cruelty Free Design. Go back and listen in, because all these shows are really well worth listening to. Today, we get to meet Rachelle DiCecco, an Interior Design Student in Australia. Rachelle is in her final semester and when she heard about Certified Cruelty Free Design, she decided to take the course. On the show today, Rachelle shares her impressions of the course and her opinions about its content and also, how she expects to make use of it in her career as an Interior Designer. Listen in now, to find out more about the ins and outs of Deborah's Certified Cruelty Free Design Course. Show highlights: Rachelle explains what compelled her to take the course. She found no other course like it when doing her research. Rachelle explains, in practical terms, how one goes about taking the course, the time it takes and what it consists of. The course is extremely flexible and you can jump in and out of it whenever you want to, so it's very easy to work with. Rochelle talks about the content of the course. There was way more content there than she expected to find. Rochelle explains about the fantastic support system which has been set up for everyone taking the course, all around the world. Rochelle found that she was completely satisfied with the whole course. Rachelle talks about the impact that the course has had on her and what she's come to realize, since taking it. The kind of responsibility that follows the Cruelty Free awareness. How Rachelle intends to incorporate what she's learned in the course, into her future career. The great response from Rachelle's lecturers, towards her taking the course. How Rachelle intends to deal with clients who want to use leather or other non-sustainable products. Becoming part of this worldwide socially conscious, ethical network was a really huge thing for Rachelle. It's way bigger than she previously thought. Rachelle will never look furniture in quite the same way again. The vast amount of ethical alternatives that Rachelle intends to bring to the attention of her future clients. Links: Rachelle's Website: Certified Cruelty Free Her Twiter: Cert Cruelty-Free Dimare Design

The guest on today's show is Allison Fannin, the Texan Principal of Two Thirty-Five Designs. LuAnn invited her on the show for a very specific reason- and then, while researching her, she discovered that Allison actually had twenty-seven thousand followers on Pinterest! Allison graciously agreed to make the focus of today's discussion about the figuring out of the whole Pinterest thing. So, listen in, as LuAnn and Allison pick this topic apart. In episode #209, LuAnn interviewed Leslie Carothers and Sam Henderson, of the Savour Partnership. During that interview, Leslie pointed out that if you're not using Pinterest to drive traffic to your website, you're actually missing the boat. LuAnn didn't even know how to do that, so she took some steps to find out. Then, shortly afterward, she received a message from Darla Powell, asking if she was going to get a Pinterest expert on the show. LuAnn decided that if she and Darla were both wanting to find out about it, most likely you were too. So listen in now, to find out more about how to use Pinterest and also Instagram and Facebook, to drive traffic to your website. Show highlights: LuAnn explains how she and Allison came to be connected, through a crazy picture and caption on Magazine Living, on Instagram. Allison's huge number of followers on Pinterest and Instagram, where she herself, only follows a fraction of that number of people. Allison talks about how Pinterest, which has really become a massive search engine, has evolved, over the years. Allison explains how Pinterest works and how you can use it best, to get more traffic. Group Boards on Pinterest. Allison explains why she has so many more followers on Pinterest than the number of people that she follows, herself. The amount of time that Allison actually spends on Pinterest. Allison explains how Pinterest works, as a technical driver of traffic to your website. Using Rich Pins and Keywords for SEO, when using Pinterest. Why it's a good idea to have a Business Account on Pinterest. How Rich Pins work in conjunction with your website. Why you should put your blog name in the title of your pictures. Pinterest has become a lot like Instagram- it's really about the pretty stuff. The method of using re-pins effectively, for a constant flow, on Pinterest. Titling your pictures properly on Pinterest, for optimum SEO. You can follow selectively, on Pinterest. Using basic words to name your Boards on Pinterest. There are several services that you can use, (like Boardbooster) to schedule out your pins on Pinterest. You can go back to old posts and edit them- don't forget to re-pin when you do! Coming up with the right titles for Pinterest posts. Using subtitles on Pinterest. How Allison's following on Pinterest and Instagram has translated into money for her. Links: Allison's website: www.twothirtyfivedesigns.com Allison on Facebook and Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/magazineliving/

On today's episode of Power Talk Friday, LuAnn has an absolutely ridiculous treat for you! She has Lee Cockerell with her, who's name may or may not be familiar to you... He has spent his career leading operations all over the world, for Hilton Hotels, Mariott Hotels, and Walt Disney Company. He spent more than twenty years with the Walt Disney Company, where he ultimately became Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World Operations. Since then, he has gone on to form his own company, where he shares what he has learned and he makes available his breakthrough methods for becoming a better manager and a great leader. LuAnn is really busting at the seams because this is truly her kind of topic! Lee is also has a podcast called Creating Disney Magic, where he shares his Disney experiences in an effort to help people like you become better leaders and managers. (Episode no.1 of that podcast is a really interesting one, where Lee literally goes through his entire career.) At Disney, they created an environment where every employee matters and they know they matter. In addition to that, he has written four books, called Creating Magic- Ten Common Sense Leadership Strategies From A Life At Disney, The Customer Rules-Thirty Nine Essential Rules For Delivering Sensational Customer Service, Time Management Magic- How To Get More Done Every Day And More From Surviving To Thriving and his latest book, Creating Career Magic- How To Stay On Track And Create A Stellar Career. There are three things that Lee and his team do better than everybody else, which really makes all the difference, they hire better, they train better and they treat them (their employees) better. That is the key that either creates success for most organizations or not, according to Lee. Listen in now, as LuAnn (who is literally beyond herself right now) talks to Lee about his thoughts and processes, on the show today. There are three things that Lee and his team do better than everybody else, which really makes all the difference, they hire better, they train better and they treat them (their employees) better. That is the key that either creates success for most organizations or not, according to Lee. Listen in now, as LuAnn (who is literally beyond herself right now) talks to Lee about his thoughts and processes, on the show today. Show highlights: Lee talks about his philosophy around ways to really set your organization apart, in the eyes of your customers and your employees. It's really important to be very clear about your level of expectations. According to Lee, there are three things that you have to have, to be successful- You have to have a skill, you have to have the right positive attitude and you have to have passion. Hire slow and fire fast. Disney has a hundred and thirty questions that potential employees have to answer, before even being granted an interview. Lee relates some of these to a Designer, or a small firm, considering making their first hire. (His book, The Customer Rules, has a chapter on how to hire the right people.) In Lee's opinion, most people don't know how to conduct a proper interview. Lee recommends reading Don't Hire Anyone Without Me, by Carol Quinn, to help you to hire the right people. Obstacles are the name of the game. The way people have handled obstacles in the past will be a good indicator of how they deal with them in the future. Lee talks about training people the Disney way. Everything matters! A bad employee will kill your business. The key to great training is remembering that the customer is more important than anything else! Everyone needs to understand where they fit in and how they matter. All Disney contractors go through the same training as their employees. Lee explains his concept of firing fast. Be careful who you hire! When you're clear with people, you get better performance. People only change for two reasons- education, or crisis. It's important for your employees to understand that when you pull them up about something, you're only coming to them to help them to be better. Role modeling is very important for employees (and children!) Lee's advice for great time management. Discipline and a good system for planning are really most important here. Fix yesterday, every day, before it gets out of control because regrets are really tough to handle. (This is reflection.) Excellence is a state of mind. Provide Free Fuel for your employees every day: Appreciation, Recognition, and Encouragement. You can hand these three out all day, to increase your employee's levels of commitment. Fix one thing you've been putting off for years-next week! Do things on purpose. Life will get a whole lot better, real quick! People really notice a good attitude and discipline. Link: Lee's website: www.leecockerell.com His podcast: Creating Disney Magic https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-disney-magic-lessons-in-leadership-management/id954054965?mt=2

Today we have the second show in our Facebook Coaching series. If you missed the first show, it was episode #215, where LuAnn spoke with Kate O'Hara, the Marketing and Business Development Director at Martha O'Hara Interiors. There she spoke about how to build your following on your Facebook Business Page. Martha O'Hara Interiors has over two hundred thousand followers, so she really has some pretty good advice for you there, so be sure to go and check that show out. Today's show is with Sherri-Lee Woycik, a Facebook Marketing and Ads expert and she's also the founder of Social Media Minder. She really loves helping heart centered entrepreneurs get more customers and clients from Facebook. She provides Social Media Services to business owners through a range of services, which include boot camps, one on one, group and self-study training and she also offers 'done for you' strategies and implementation. Sherri-Lee is an authorized local expert for constant contact and she uses this Facebook platform herself and she encourages her clients to use it too because this really is a platform for growing your email list. One of her strategies for Facebook is helping you to grow your email list. Sherri-Lee explains that Facebook does walk you through the basics of the foundational setup, however, they don't tell you exactly why you're doing what you need to be doing, so she will be covering some of that with you, today. Listen in now, to find out what you really need to know, about how to set up your Business Facebook Page, as a foundation for your business. Show highlights: Sherri-Lee explains how to set up a Facebook Page for a business. If you have already done yours, Sherri-Lee recommends that you check it every six months, to ensure that your information is both current and relevant, as things do change. Setting a custom domain name, or a custom URL. Remember though, that once you've set it you can't change it. When you should consider setting your domain name as your personal name, rather than your business name and vice versa. Thinking towards the future, about how you're going to build your best relationships and connections with people. If you're a smaller business and you want to build your business relationships, you can use Facebook to help you to deepen those connections. How to best deal with your profile image. Ask yourself if people are going to feel more connected to your business if they can see your face in the profile picture, as opposed to a logo, or if they can see your name, as opposed to a company name. If you're a smaller business, people are going to want to see your face, as it personalizes your business. The cover image is a great opportunity to share what you do and who you serve, with your prospective audience. An emotionally responsive image for your audience can work really well here- before and after images could work well for Designers. Sherri-Lee suggests using tools like Picmonkey or Canva to help you to size your photos for your profile and cover images. How to add information via the comments of your cover image. You want to make sure that you fill out the sections on your page, like the 'about' section and then check them every six months. What to post that will work best for you. If you used your Facebook Page in the same way that you use your profile, your engagement would change. Stop being so professional that you only market on your page. Be personal and post a variety of content and share some of your personality. People want to know who you are and what you stand for. Post more often than you think you should- like three to five times a day. Facebook grades your likes, comments, and shares. Sharing has the highest score and so gets the most reach. To know the best time to post on your Facebook page- Within the settings tab, on your Facebook page, you can click on posts and see a graph, which represents the time of day that people who like your posts, are on Facebook. Use your posts to get to know what people want from you, on your page. Get people to answer questions on your page, to get them to remember you. A Gift For You: If you want to learn more about how to use your Facebook Page for business, Sherri-Lee has a free five-day program, Facebook For Business Made Easy Program, which is available at www.socialmediaminder.com/fbmadeeasy Links: Sherri's Website: http://www.socialmediaminder.com Sherri's Twitter: https://twitter.com/socialmediamndr Sherri's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SocialMediaMinder/

Today we have a particularly inspiring episode! If you're the type of businessperson who takes action and can appreciate it when others do too, you're really going to learn a lot from today's guest, Darci Hether. She's on the show today to let you know that if and when you come across new ideas or business strategies, if you not only hear them, but you also implement them, you can change your business for the better. Listen in to find out more. You're going to love this show! Darci began her Design career in 1998, in Southern California, before moving to New York City in 2002. Once there, she worked as a Lead Designer and Project Manager for notable and award winning firms, like Workshop APD and Vicente Wolf Associates. Then, in 2008 Darci founded Darci Hether New York. She was named 'Rising Star' by New York Cottages and Gardens. Listen in today, as Darci shares how she turned up both the productivity and profitability on her Interior Design Firm, this year. Show highlights: Darci explains how she went from inspiration to action. Darci found it very difficult to rewrite her bio, so she contacted Fred Berns (#48) for a consultation. Darci explains her new approach to being compensated for the work she does and how she feels about it. She really understands her value now. Darci explains how she managed to implement the new advice she received, after already having been in business for ten years. She was both excited and terrified! How Darci arrived at the fee that she charges for a consultation. There are many hidden things to also be taken into consideration. Darci now brings a contract along with her to an initial consultation, for the client to review. Sometimes a client only needs a consultation with Darci for an hour or two and nothing more. Darci finds that this can work for her, now that she's set a specific fee for her consultations. Darci explains how she's utilized 'time chunking'. Darci explains her thought processes that went into the way that she created her Employee handbook. Darci suggests that you find a trusted colleague that you can reach out to regularly, for support. Some great advice: Go and think of all the things that you've been inspired to do differently, in your business (that you've not yet done), pick one of them, set a time frame and just do it! LuAnn wants you to know that she's been asked to moderate a panel, on Designing Tech, at America's Mart in Atlanta, on the 26th or the 27th of September. The dates have not yet been finalized. She will also be hosting another Facebook Live Event, at the opening celebration of the brand new Kravet Showroom in Philadelphia. This will happen around the first week in October. Final dates still to be announced.

The guest for today's Power Talk Friday is A.J.Wilcox and he brings a brand new topic to the show. In the more than two hundred episodes that have aired over the past year and a half, we have never before discussed Linkedin and so A.J. has just become our Linkedin Guru. LuAnn has never considered Linkedin to be a particularly hot platform for the Interior Design Industry, because Interior Design is a very visual industry, which makes use of platforms like Instagram and Facebook, and Linkedin seems a little serious by comparison. LuAnn does have a Linkedin profile, however she does literally nothing at all with it. In fact, she recently told a story on one of the podcasts about a Designer who reached out to her with a private message on Linkedin, complimenting her about the show and LuAnn knew nothing about it for almost three months! She knows, however, that every bit of social media and marketing is really valuable and if you're going to do something, you need to do it right, so she's really glad to have A.J. on the show with her today. Listen in to find out what you really need to know about Linkedin. A.J.'s a tri-athlete and he lives in Utah with his wife and four kids. He fell in love with Linkedin back in 2011 and he liked it so much that he started an agency which focuses on Linkedin ads only. When LuAnn found out that his company car is a go-cart, she knew that this was going to be a really fun interview! Listen in to find out how Linkedin can really work for you, as Designers. It's a very good platform for being professional. Show highlights: A.J. explains some of the basics of Linkedin and where it's value really lies. Some really nice short cuts that you can take, when setting up with Linkedin, to get what you do out there and in everybody's minds. You can ignore the rules and work out of the box! About three or four months ago, Linkedin underwent a re-design and changed a whole bunch of stuff around. Now they've added a free form field, for your profile. Use that to explain what you're all about and why people should care about you and want to hire you. There are portfolio editions of Linkedin, where you can add video clips. This is very powerful to help you prove your worth. A.J. would not necessarily treat the resume section of the Linkedin profile as such. He would rather talk about the results you've had and why you're worth paying attention to. Linkedin seems a bit stiff and professional, so it's worth injecting your unique personality into it, to make you really stand out. Talk simply on Linkedin and assume that nobody has any idea of what it is that you do, so you'll be educating them. Try to be fun, because then you really will stand out. A.J. has a really cool hack, for getting yourself out there on Linkedin. Linkedin bought a company called Pulse, which is a news app, with the goal to bring people to their platform more regularly and to get them to spend more time there. They've made it socially interactive, so you can comment and like- and even go viral. If you post your status on a project on Linkedin, all your contacts will see it. This is a really great opportunity to connect with some powerful business people with a great deal of disposable income. A post on Linkedin can even stay up on your feed for a day and a half. This can really save you time. You want to generate a reaction. Ask for feedback. You want people to comment so that your post spreads. Run a quiz or ask a question, to get people to react. You can now tag people on Linkedin. Endorsing for skill sets- This is to provide social proof of your most proficient skill sets. Be very targeted about who you want to have relationships with and who you want introductions to, on Linkedin. Once you're connected to someone on Linkedin, you have unlimited free messages between the two of you. You also then have access to their email address. The benefits of upgrading to the paid version of Linkedin- their Premium Profile. The Influencers on Linkedin. If you write an article that gets a lot of response, it could be kicked up and get to reach a huge number of people. How to write an article on Linkedin. It's just like writing a full blog post, with features and all. Use Linkedin to drive traffic to your website. You can also find specific groups on Linkedin and interact with people there. It's a great way to grow your network. Connect with AJ: His website http://b2linked.com His twitter @B2Linked His LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/B2Linked

Today, we have the second show in our sponsored content series by Cruelty Free Design. Deborah Rosenberg, of DiMare Design and the founder and creator of Cruelty Free Design, has sponsored three shows. The first show was episode #212, where we spoke in depth about Cruelty Free Design and the program that she has developed. Today's show is going to feature the marketing and the resources that you get, when going through the Cruelty Free Course. The third show will be airing in a few weeks and that will be an interview with a Designer who has completed the course. If all this is new information for you, if you haven't heard any of these shows before, LuAnn suggests that you start off by listening to episode #82, where we first met Deborah Rosenberg, a really smart lady who runs a great business, and there she discussed her Design Firm, DiMare Design in Miami. Then, in episode #117, we discussed her certified Cruelty Free Course in more depth and about how it was getting ready to launch. LuAnn really hopes that you're enjoying this series and that it's something that's making you think. If animal rights, veganism and Cruelty Free is a passion of yours, all the better, because it certainly is a very profitable avenue to consider, from a marketing standpoint. Listen in now, to find out more. In today's show, we are going to talk about the second set of information, which is important for you, as Interior Designers in this emerging field. Here's the thing about Deborah- if you go back and listen to the other episodes with her, you'll see and hear her commitment for yourself. She's the creator of a fully accredited, online educational course, geared for students, designers, retailers, manufacturers and companies, in the Design and Textile Industry. The course, Certified Cruelty Free, educates businesses and consumers about Cruelty Free alternatives and provides them with vegan resources. Deborah donates a portion of all the proceeds from both companies, towards saving the lives of animals, killed for their skins, in the industry. This is really a mission of love, for Deborah. Listen in as we talk about the resources that are available to you, as Interior Designers and also about how you, as a Designer, would approach the marketing of these products. (Remember, that if you actually take the course, you will get access to the full 'bible' of resources.) Show highlights: Deborah gives a quick description of what Vegan Design is all about. Deborah discusses some of the fabulous alternatives that can be used, instead of wool, silk or animal skins. The faux alternatives are durable and well priced. Even Bentley, (the car) who were known for their leather interiors, are coming up with a vegan car as an alternative, because their consumers are now demanding vegan interiors. Banana silk looks and feels exactly like silk. It even has that sheen. Kravet have a huge amount of faux leathers as well as tons of other resources and fabrics which are vegan. Deborah's company is reaching out to many manufacturers, to have their badge put on the fabrics which are acceptable as vegan alternatives. According to research, one in three Australians are willing to pay more for socially responsible products. Deborah's company now has it's own line, called Arthur Avenue, which has completely vegan custom upholstery pieces. There are also vegan alternatives available for the less expensive lines. There is a company in New York, called Aurora Lampshades, who do vegan lighting alternatives. A lot of paint contains a mineral which comes from cows. Vegan paints are available, however they are a little difficult to apply. How a Designer can go about approaching clients about this subject. Faux leather actually performs better than real leather, when they are placed side by side. Vegan alternatives are most conducive to someone who has allergies, or even to children with autism. There is a huge network of support available for Designers doing the Cruelty Free Course. Deborah offers some great tips for marketing vegan options. The key is really to surround yourself with like minded people. Vegan Design is not only about the animals. About ninety percent of the people working in tanneries in India die before the age of fifty, due to the disgraceful environments that they work in. The world is changing really fast. Over half of all Americans won't buy a product that they believe to be unethical. Creating a peaceful space that has no blood, or tragedy in it. Deborah explains all about her Cruelty Free Course. Go to www.certifiedcrueltyfree.net to get the details, or to sign up. The course is usually $350, however if you put in the promo code LuAnn, you will get 20% off, so you will only pay $280. After doing the course, you will be added to Deborah's database.

Have you heard of the Morpholio Project yet? Well, today LuAnn has something pretty cool to share with you. Morpholio is an IOS app and LuAnn has the co-creator, Anna Kenoff, with her, on the show. This app was designed as a tool for your presentations, for working with and collaborating and critiquing presentations, with your clients. The news about this app has been featured in Wired, Fast Company, USA Today, ABC News, Arch Daily, Dwell and also a dozen other outlets. LuAnn really thinks that you're going to like this awesome and groundbreaking app for your design business, so listen in to find out more about how it can really save you time and energy! Anna, is an Architect who found a need, while doing her work. Like many other brilliant people that have been featured on the show this past year, she gathered some of her smart friends and together and they built an answer to her problems. And so, Morpholio was born! Anna has had some really significant projects, as an Architect, including the Queen's library, in collaboration with New York City's Design Excellence Program, New York's first edible school yard, in Brooklyn and Public Farm One, commissioned by Moma PS One. She has a Master's in Architecture, from Columbia University and a Bachelor's of Science in Architecture, from the University of Virginia. Listen in now, to find out more about this really innovative new app and it's really awesome features for Designers. Show highlights: Anna explains what Morpholio is all about, what it comprises of and how she came up with it. Anna walks you through how a Morpholio Board will work for you, in real time, during a presentation. Anna explains some of the technicalities of working with the Morpholio Mood Board. Morpholio has a curated library of thousands of amazing pieces of furniture, fixtures, fittings and finishes. Anna explains how this works for you, when you're designing a Mood Board with Morpholio- and you can create and add your own library too. The really sophisticated and smart tools that Anna and her team create for iPads. Morpholio can really hold tons of information, in a much smaller format. Pinterest is such an important way that Designers and their clients communicate, so Morpholio has a portal directly to Pinterest. Morpholio has recently partnered with Pinterest, so it's the only app on the planet that they are allowing to portal into your Secret Boards. You can adjust the colors on the images, with Morpholio. The research mindset that Anna and her team started out with. How you, as a Designer, could use Pinterest in conjunction with Morpholio. You can actually manipulate the images when you import them into Morpholio. Morpholio is a really efficient tool for smaller businesses- and its almost revived the iPad! How to become a member of Morpholio. Go to #morpholioboard on Instagram and have a look! It really doesn't cost much, to use Morpholio. It's only $3,99 for the Entry Level App and $11,99 for the Pro Version. Links: The Morpholio website: www.morpholioapps.com You can also find Morpholio on Facebook and Instagram

The guest for today's Power Talk Friday is Natalie Eckdahl and LuAnn is absolutely delighted to welcome her to the show! Natalie has really helped LuAnn in her journey and even after thirty years of being in business, there are things that she's learned from Natalie and taken back to Window Works! Listen in to find out what Natalie has to share with you today. Natalie is the founder of the Biz Chix Community and she's the host of the Biz Chix Podcast. She's a Business Strategist and a High-Performance Coach, helping high achieving women entrepreneurs to build, grow and scale their businesses and she does this across all industries and time zones. Natalie, who holds an MBA, has been recognized as one of the top women in business to listen to and she's been featured in Inc, Fast Company, Huffington Post, and Entrepreneur. She has twenty years of experience and she's done over two hundred podcast interviews and is famous for doing her really valuable on-air coaching calls. Natalie is a very intuitive lady, who recognizes the little nuggets in people and really helps and moves them. In addition to all of this, she has a husband, Mark, and three kids, aged two to fifteen. Natalie really is one busy lady! Listen in, as Natalie shares her expertise with you, on the show today. Show highlights: Some of the common things that ring true with people who are struggling with their businesses. Dealing with confidence issues and your mindset, when starting out in business. Let people know what you do, in your business- you never know who is going to have a contact for you. Using the art of balance, with your postings on social media. You really do need a separate business bank account, when starting out in your business. You will really feel like the boss when you eventually transfer your profits to your personal account, for your family to spend, or save. Knowing your numbers in business- this is very important! Also, get some advice from a Tax Professional. It's really worth hiring a book keeper, to get your business set up. Then you can check in with them on a quarterly basis. It will save you time and money, going forward. Focus and work on your strengths. Outsource the things that you really find hard to do. Why, as a Designer, you shouldn't charge too little. Have the confidence to charge what you really are worth. Most women really struggle with issues of confidence. Having an accountability partner really helps. How Natalie mixes her Masterminds. Giving yourself permission to take some time off from work. Remember that Parkinson's Law states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. Being accountable for your time. You can even hire people to set deadlines for you and help you to get creative things done on time. Developing boundaries with your clients. They often don't realize that they're asking more of you than necessary. If you're married and money's not coming in from your business, your husband is not going to take your business seriously- he's going to think you have a hobby. Creating a regular amount that you can commit to the family will smooth this out and make you feel confident about yourself and your business. Natalie discusses the Live Event that she's planning for Women Entrepreneurs in Orange County, in between San Diego and Los Angeles, from the 18th to the 20th of October this year. Links: Natalie's Podcast: Biz Chix Podcast - Female Entrepreneurs Women in Business You can go to Natalie's website. www.bizchix.com and click on the yellow 'community' button, to get an invitation to join her free, open Facebook Group for women. Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/bizchixpodcast/

Today, we have Kate O'Hara back on the show. Kate handles the marketing for Martha O'Hara Interiors and she has managed to grow their Facebook Page to two hundred thousand followers- enough to almost make LuAnn's brain explode! A lot of Designers have Facebook Pages, so Kate has graciously agreed to come back on the show, to help you to figure out and understand how you can try to duplicate what she has managed to do for her Design Firm. Listen in as Kate gives you some really actionable ways to do this. Show highlights: It really makes sense to go back and look at how you have things set up on your Facebook Page because every few months, something on Facebook is changing and you don't always know what that is and what you can do that's new. It's important to often check how you're set up and to update your page and your profile, as time passes. Firstly, you need to think about the Facebook platform itself and what you want it to do for you. It can really be so many different things to different businesses. You need to be creating consistent posts that you know your viewers can rely on, that they will The posts need to be relevant to the people who are following you. There is a lot of success to be found in the more subtle nuances of social media- Facebook in particular. For example, are you trying to attract new clients, or are you wanting to build and interact with your community? Putting thought to who you want to reach out to, may change the type of post that you're going to put together. Kate explains how you're going to set up your Facebook Page: 1) Go back and look at how you've set up your business page (this must be separate from your personal page). 2) You may want to adjust your custom URL. 3) Fill in your 'about' page. All that info really is important. 4) Make your page really visually appealing- the cover photo is a huge opportunity for businesses. A Call To Action can even be a contact button. Take the time to fix things that look unprofessional- otherwise, you will appear The posts that you're creating are really important! You need to share your work in ways that are meaningful to the people that you're talking to. They need to be fun and engaging. Ways that you can add that extra layer of fun, or usefulness of the images that you're posting. You will serve yourself best by being as mutually promotional with other firms, as you can be. A little Facebook secret- when you're looking at your news feed, you see both what is recent and what is popular. Likes, shares, and comments are really important! Think quality over quantity. Facebook really gives you great and direct feedback. Go and look at your analytics and adjust your course, if necessary. Pay attention to what people are saying in their comments. Respond, or even edit things, if necessary. You are ultimately in control of the tone that you're willing to accept on your page. Schedule out your posts in batches, to remain consistent and save yourself time. Consistency really is key with your posting. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/oharainteriors/ Website: http://oharainteriors.com

Welcome to a solo show with a big purpose! I’m dedicating this episode as a bona fide, unsolicited shout-out to Rachel Moriarty of Design + Style. I mention her often on the show because she is always impressive, but she just now hit the one-year anniversary of going Facebook Live to her consumer community EVERY DAY FOR ONE YEAR. To show my significant high five to Rachel for her accomplishment, let’s talk about some of the inspiration she has spread around in the design community. What you’ll hear in this episode: Why Facebook Live? Use it to make connections, grow your business, and help people How Rachel’s interior design tips and advice have helped her fellow designers Since her “challenge” began, she and Dixie Willard have started the Design + Style podcast, using audio AND video to stay on the cutting edge of delivering content How Rachel’s success is impacting me to take advantage of Facebook Live and why I’ve been so hesitant to do it because of the work, commitment, and consistency required to DO IT RIGHT Why Rachel and Dixie are soon launching another podcast Other Facebook groups that are valuable to designers: What They Don’t Teach You in Design School, with Veronica Solomon Interior Design Business Strategies, with Claire Jefford The myth (and the fear) is that you shouldn’t share “your secrets” with your competitors, but here are the facts: Your brand is WHO YOU ARE Don’t be afraid to share your systems No one will connect with your consumers like you do In honour of Rachel’s accomplishment and what she’s created, it’s the perfect time to launch my Facebook Coaching podcasts, so stay tuned for more inspiration in design! Resources: Rachel's podcast: Design+Style Rachel's website: Rachel M Interiors Her episode on our Show #55: Rachel Moriarty – Message to solopreneurs – Act As If the World is Watching Rachel's Email: [email protected] Her Face Book Page for Designers: Design And Style Podcast Claire Jefford’s group: Interior Design Business Strategies And Veronica Solomon’s group: What They Don’t Teach You In Design School

Welcome to another episode of Power talk Friday! Today LuAnn has Stephanie Chung with her on the show. Stephanie has a company called Stephanie Chung and Associates, where she offers Sales Training, Executive Coaching and also Small Business Mentorship, to companies nationwide. Stephanie also has a course, called High Ticket Selling Made Simple which has been designed to help business owners sell more and make more. Listen in to find out more about Stephanie and her company. Stephanie used to work as a Sales Executive in the Aviation and Private Jet Industry, where she mastered the art of high ticket selling. She has mentored and coached numerous people, including some of the highest paid, most elite Sales Professionals in the country. She serves Business leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Sales Professionals, using her proven Executive Coaching and Sales Training. Stephanie is a contributor on ABC, CBS, and NBC and she's authored Profit Like A Girl- A Woman's Guide To Kicking Butt In Sales And Leadership and also Embrace The Suck- How To Grow And Succeed In Business. LuAnn is really beyond tickled with all of this, so listen in now, as she and Stephanie discuss the mindset moves that are necessary to really scale your sales. Show highlights: What it all really comes down to is your own version of your own self-worth. Your financial beliefs play a role in the whole equation and sometimes people tend to struggle with that when selling their intellectual property. Stephanie digs into all the factors that contribute to that struggle. Financial self-worth and your mindset- why you should be very careful to never let your own financial beliefs creep into any sales conversation. It's never about you- it's always about the buyer in front of you. Stephanie explains how you can break out of a limited mindset. Remember that it's not your concern how much your customer can afford. You need to ensure that your presentation of your product (your digital footprint), or service actually aligns with your product or service. Run your business with excellence. If someone agrees to meet with you, it means that they've already done some research about you and they have already decided that you are going to be worth their time. Always approach a conversation with a buyer by looking at what it is that they want or need. Ask the buyer questions that go a little deeper, because sometimes the buyer can't really articulate what it is that they need. Use the power of silence. Really knowing your stuff and getting results will help build your confidence. Stephanie shares a technique that she uses with her VIP clients, called Pre-emptive Strike. Know the objections that are going to come your way and bring them up in advance, so that you can control the message. Remember to never bring your price down, if the buyer can't afford it. Rather take something away. This way you keep your price integrity. Only ask the buyer questions that you don't know the answers to. This will help you better understand how to solve their problem. After setting your agenda with a client, mention that you're not necessarily the Designer for everyone.... Great for getting the right If you really want to become a better salesperson, there is ample information out there, for you. Stephanie has done courses before, specifically for Interior Designers. (For example, High Ticket Selling Made Simple) Links: Stephanie's website: www.stephaniechung.com You can find loads of free resources there. To get a free download of Stephanie's book, go to: www.profitlikeagirl.com

Today's show is a special one. It's a sponsored show- sponsored by Cruelty Free Designs, which is the brain child and love project of Deborah Rosenberg, of DiMare Designs in Miami, Florida. Deborah has been on the show before, on episodes #82 and #117 and now she's sponsoring three shows, to tell you- her colleagues, all about Cruelty Free Design. Listen in to find out more. These three shows will cover firstly what it really means to be Cruelty Free Design, then the resources which are available for Cruelty Free Design and then there will also be a special episode with a Designer who has taken Deborah's course. LuAnn really hopes that you will enjoy this little series! Listen in now, to the first episode, with Deborah Rosenberg, where we're going to take a little time to give the back story of why this is so personal to Deborah- why she has transitioned to making her whole business cruelty free and why this really is such an important thing for you to think about. Show highlights: Deborah has developed a Certification Course in Cruelty Free Design and she explains how this came to be an undertaking for herself and her Firm to develop and also why it's so important to her. The really cruel and inhumane ways that animals are treated, within the corporate industry, being viewed as commodities, rather than sentient creatures. It's really hard to believe what human beings are actually capable of doing to animals! There really is no such thing as responsible wool, or responsible fur. Does it really cost too much to be compassionate? This cruelty mostly happens in countries where there are no regulations. The really awful conditions for humans in tanneries. 56% of Americans stop buying from sources that they view as unethical. The importance of getting educated about all this, as a Designer. Going vegan and the environment- these things are all connected. Sixteen million people in the US are now vegan- many of these people have become aware of the cruelty in these industries through watching videos. The different ways that you could approach this, as a Designer. Animal fur, or leather can cause problems for children with autism, or for people with allergies. Deborah's Certification Course In Cruelty Free Design has now become accredited. websites: http://www.certifiedcrueltyfree.net http://www.dimaredesign.com

Today's guest on the show is Carly Waters, the Principal of Carly Waters Style. Carly has really loved design ever since she was a little girl. As the daughter of an attorney, however, she followed in her Dad's footsteps and became an attorney too. Listen in to find out how she ultimately managed to change that and follow her heart and her dreams. Carly graduated from UC Hastings in 2010 and started out in what would be a career in Family Law, at an esteemed Law Firm in San Francisco. Her heart really wasn't in it though, so when she went on maternity leave while pregnant with her son, she rediscovered her love for interiors. She designed their apartment in San Francisco and got it featured on Apartment Therapy. This was when she started taking on some Design clients, on the side. After going back to practicing Family Law, however, she realized pretty quickly that it was time for her to leave the law behind. So, when they moved to LA for a job opportunity for her husband, Carly decided that this was the right time for her to strike out on her own, so she started Carly Waters Style in 2014. Here's the thing- in these three short years, Carly has been featured in My Domain, People, Rue, Simply Spaced, Apartment Therapy and Martha Stewart. Listen in now, to find out how Carly managed to achieve all of this, in such a short period of time. Show highlights: Carly explains how she managed to achieve all that she has, only three years after opening her firm. She really went about it in an intentional way and hired a Coach, Annie Little, who specifically helps attorneys to leave the law. She also spent a full six months making preparations and getting her ducks in a row. Carly really made use of her friends and connections to get ahead in her business. Carly started out initially with organizing clients. After about six months, she decided to take things further and started working with a Realtor and found a house to renovate. This was the house that she used for her portfolio and it was also shot for her My Domain feature. Carly realized that she can't do everything, so she hires people who are experts and she oversees them. She helped a friend with her office, in exchange for putting all her drawings onto CAD. What really stood out for Carly, from her first big project was that you should not try to 'band aid' the problems in the house, because it will eventually end up costing you a whole lot more. It's really important to have your plans and drawings ready, before bringing the contractors in. You will always have problems to solve, however it really does help to be prepared. Carly has really learned to see her worth and understand her value, over time. Carly has really made full use mentors and her network of friends and connections, to help her to learn out about the aspects of the business that she needed to understand. How Carly managed to be published in so many publications in such a short period of time. She used her contacts and knew that she really had to have professional photographs, amongst other things. Carly explains about her hourly rate and about her minimum fee of $5000, both of which she's stated on her website. You really need to surround yourself with people that really support you and elevate you. Links: Carly's website: www.carlywatersstyle.com

The guest for today's Power Talk Friday is Yian Quach. Yian, who is originally from Seattle, Washington, has been designing websites since 2015 and he helps professionals in the Design Industry to cure their web site pain so that they can grow their businesses. There is a particular mention, on his website, that LuAnn found quite interesting- in addition to his role as Website Doctor, Yian really loves educating and his original career was as an English Teacher! Listen in as Yian explains all about his real genius ways with websites. Yian's clients have been published in a number of top shelf magazines, including Architectural Digest, Lux, Hudson Mod and Editor At Large. The thing about Yian is that he has a rare combination of skills in the areas of Website Design, Copywriting and Coding and he's also familiar with all the nuances of the Interior Design Industry. He regularly attends Industry Trade Shows, so you may even know him. In the past year, he's been at High Point Spring Market, Brooklyn Designs, ICFF (where he and LuAnn did a Facebook Live for Curated Kravet), The D and D Building Spring Market and later this month, he'll be at Las Vegas Furniture Market. Listen in now, to learn about the really actionable ways that Yian works to help people to cure their website pains. Show highlights: The kinds of website pains that Yian cures. Yian explains the details of his Criteria List of twelve items, which he uses to evaluate websites. Does the website feel clean and easy to use? Does the website feel complete and up to date? Does the website feel thoughtfully written and succinct? Does the website feel fresh? Does the website feel guided? Does the website feel beautiful? Does the website feel personal enough? Does the website feel cohesive? Does the website/designer feel endorsed? Does the website/designer feel credible and authoritative? Does the website feel actionable? Does the website feel polished? Yian tests his very simple Grading System (A+ to E) that he uses to evaluate websites, on his own website. Consider hiring a wedding photographer to get a really great video for your website. Yian helps LuAnn to evaluate her website, using his Criteria List. Yian points out some missed opportunities on LuAnn's website. The impact of having website photos that fill the whole screen. The cohesiveness of the voice on websites is something that is often overlooked. Yian points out where LuAnn's website could be more actionable. Yian assists LuAnn with ways to tweak the logo and header on her website. Yian encourages you to take advantage of his Website Review. Yian's Free Giveaway- Yian will be giving away five free Website Reviews to the first five professionals in the Design Industry, to contact him at housedigitaldesign.com/a-well-designed-business and articulate their particular web site pain, within one week of this podcast being aired. Yian will be covering the Las Vegas Furniture Market, later this month, on the Tastefully Inspired Facebook Page, with lots of live videos. Like the page and ensure that you get the notifications when it goes live. website: https://housedigitaldesign.com

Today's guests, Leslie Carothers and Sam Henderson, are the two industry pros and the brains behind Savour Partnership. They create magazine quality, custom branded e-publications for your website, or blog. This really means that they create opt-ins and lead magnets, for you to attract and grow an email list. LuAnn urges you to hang on and really listen, specially if you find your eyes are glazing over at the mention of growing your email list, because these two really are experts at this and today, they're going to explain precisely why it's so important, for the health of your business, to grow your email list. Listen in to find out more. Sam Henderson is the owner and Creative Director of Savour Imagery, which is a Food and Lifestyle Creative Studio, located in Dallas, Texas. Sam and his team create photography, video, and graphics for numerous national brands and media outlets. He uses his knowledge of food, lifestyle, and travel together with his experience as a Designer, to create content for HDTV and DIY Network. Sam also writes a weekly article on Design trends. Leslie is the CEO of Kaleidoscope Partnership, which has more than thirty-seven years of experience in the Luxury Home Furnishings and Interior Design Industry. This year, her company celebrates it's the fifteenth year. Leslie pioneered the use of Social Media Marketing and Influencer Marketing nationwide and she has helped to build the brands of major manufacturers, retailers, software providers, individual Interior Designers and Trade Shows through her website, her Blog Management work, Social Media and Content Marketing. These are brands like Havly Court, Wilson Kelsey Design, Four Point Design Build, The New Traditionalist, Meredith Corporation, World Market Centre, Las Vegas, ICFF and more than thirty-five others! Leslie speaks frequently at Industry Events and she is often quoted as an Expert Resource in National Publications. She wrote the Retail Ideas Column for Furniture Today Magazine for nine years and her micro-blog, @TKP Leslie, has more than thirty-six thousand followers and was named, by Decorex, as one of the top one hundred most influential Interior Design blogs in the world! Together, Leslie and Sam are the co-founders of the recently started Savour Partnership. Listen in to find out how they can really help you to position yourself for success, elevate your brand and grow your business. Show highlights: Leslie gives you the basics of what she and Sam do with their Savour Partnership (in layman's terms) and why you, as a Designer should care about it. Why it would be worth it to you, as a Designer, to sit down and write an ebook, to offer to your prospective clients. Sam explains their system, which offers templates, yet remains true to each Designer having a unique look. Leslie explains about how to drive traffic to your blog, or website, through their Savour Partnership Group on Facebook, in order to grow your email list and create a means of passive income for yourself. Rich Pins On Pinterest- a number one way to drive traffic towards your blog or website. (Click on the Note on Leslie's Facebook Page, The Kaleidoscope Partnership, to get the details of how to set up a Rich Pin.) Sam shares some other really great tips for how to drive consumer traffic to your website, or your blog, using Pinterest. Affiliate Marketing- what it is and how it can work for you. How Affiliate Marketing could generate a passive income for you, as an Interior Designer. How you can make an Affiliate Commission, which is really another kind of passive income, through selling products via your website, to the consumer. Why you really need to have something to trade with the consumer, for their email address. Leslie will hold your hand throughout the entire process of assisting you with the development your e-publication and she really has the utmost respect for the artistic quality of whatever you produce. Their work is so professional and of such a high quality, that it really seems so easy! Why you really do need to be putting out a call to action, to the consumer. Sam and Leslie can even help you with Copywriting, if necessary, to help you elevate your business. Leslie will be speaking at the Bold Summit, in Chicago in September. Sam will be there also. Although Leslie does not have a personal blog, she has written between seventy-five and eighty percent of all the content for the really successful Havly Court Blog, so she invites you to join her new Facebook Group so that you can learn how to drive consumer traffic to your blog. You can sell a blog as a separate business asset. There are Design Bloggers right now, who have only been focused on blogging for five years and they are making, on their blog, over $200 000 per year! This is a very real income opportunity for you! This is how you really can create more freedom for yourself, over time. You can put a three page PDF together for yourself on one Sunday. Creating affiliate links on your p

The guest on today's show is Susan Yeley, of Susan Yeley Interiors, in Bloomington, Indiana. A few weeks ago, Susan contacted LuAnn, because she listens to the show a lot and she thought that the particular challenges that she faces in her Design Firm could make an interesting topic. After learning a little more about it, LuAnn agreed and she really hopes that you will too. Listen in to find out about the challenges that Susan faces in her business, which is really defined by the area she lives in. Susan started out as a struggling graduate student in Religion and Philosophy at Indiana University. She later took an unpaid internship at Thomas Jobb, a furniture and fabric showroom in the Merchandise Mart in Chicago and became hooked on Design. She then enrolled at the Harrington College of Design and eventually landed a job at a high-end Residential Design Firm in River North. Susan and her husband finally returned to their roots, a few weeks prior to the birth of their first daughter, in 2005. Listen in now to find out more about Susan and the specific challenges that she faces, when it comes to her business location and the fees that she charges. Show highlights: Susan explains what the demographic is like where she does her business and also what the factors are, that contribute to making it a little different to LuAnn's usual conversations. Susan's really intentional, yet flexible approach to her business. Many of Susan's clients have never worked with a Designer before. Trust is a really important factor in business, in Susan's close knit community. The packages that Susan used to offer, to sell to her value and services to her small town community. Why she eventually discontinued the packages. The conversation that Susan had with a friend, that caused her to examine the perceived value of her services. Now she makes no mention of figures on her website. Susan's Gut Check On A Potential Home. The really interesting blend of personalities in Susan's wonderful team of really skilled staff. The rationale behind Susan's website. Susan loves the small town life, even though it really makes it harder for her as a Designer. Most of her money is made from once-off, hourly consultations, so Susan is really forced her to think creatively about how to make money, every day. It's not been a feasible option, so far, for Susan to make any money from product mark ups, so she and her team have to think really creatively about what Interior Design looks like in their particular culture. Some of the ways that Susan is trying to generate an income, in her tricky community. Susan's online initiative, to sell things through her website. It's almost like a Town Gallery. The mid range price point items that have been identified, that Susan and her team are working hard to make 'trade only available', in order to generate some more income, via her website. Making money from property flips. Incorporating Enoch Sears's (#202) idea, to collaborate with local Architects. The three P's that Susan relies on- Planning, Priorities, and Patience. They really work for her! Susan's take on Design Therapy. Susan's website: www.susanyeleyinteriors.com

The guest for today's Power Talk Friday is a really special force to be reckoned with! She's is also the very first guest to be talking about Twitter on the show! Madalyn Sklar is a Business Coach, Consultant, and Twitter Marketing Expert. Other than being an expert on Twitter, she's the host of #Twitter Smarter Twitter Chat and Podcast. She has the weekly #Social ROI Chat, she blogs and she creates courses and also speaks and teaches courses at Madalyn Sklar.com. Listen to getting some awesome advice about marketing with Twitter from Madalyn. Madalyn, who really has some visionary skills, is known for being the Number One Social Media Influencer in Houston, a city which has a population of two million people. She has been blogging since 2000 and she's been founding online communities since 1996 when the internet was new and she saw it as a really great way to connect people. Listen in now, as LuAnn interviews Madalyn, someone who really has the knack of being an early adopter of all things tech! Show highlights: Why you really should care about Twitter. Engaging is really where the magic is, with Social Media. Get on Twitter and listen to where the conversation is. Madalyn's Twitter Secret Sauce- to help you to start meeting people and enjoying Twitter. Create a Twitter List, either public or private- it's really a great way to organize. Twitter Chats- #an awesome way to make connections with people. Using Twitter Chats to get your business seen and heard. Creating a really effective and clear Twitter profile. You can boost your bio with a bit.ly link. A great tip to check the traffic to your Twitter profile- you may be in for a big surprise! Why a Pen Tweet really is such a great idea to build your hash tag following. Go to Madalyn's Twitter Smarter Twitter Chat and podcast, to learn more about Twitter. Link: Madalyn's website: www.madalynsklar.com Go to www.madalynsklar.com/chatlist to get to a page with a variety of charts that you can look through. The best place to meet Madalyn- on Twitter! #madalynsklar

Today, LuAnn is shaking it up a bit and introducing a new monthly feature, called Design Biz Live. On the third Wednesday of every month, she will be talking with Judith Neary of Roadside Attraction Design Studio and Corey Klassen of Corey Klassen Interiors and they will be discussing the specific problems and challenges that you are facing in your design firm. Somewhat similar to what LuAnn's been doing for the last eighteen months, however, with Design Biz Live, she will be dealing with the questions that you have by asking them of these two talented designers. So, it's the same, but different... Listen in to find out what it's all about! If you'd like to know more about who Corey and Judith are, you can listen to episode #170, where LuAnn first met them and there you can hear all about their firms and their backgrounds. What really makes this new feature so actionable and worthy, is that Corey and Judith run two entirely different kinds of firms, with Judith's being a solo operation, on a small island and Corey's in a big city, with staff. This will be really fun and interesting and it will also give you two very different, yet valid perspectives. What makes it live, is that in addition to this podcast version, there is also a video available, of the three of them, which will be posted on LuAnn's Youtube channel, A Well Designed Business, as well as on the LuAnn Nigara Facebook Page. LuAnn wants you to know that this format is a bit more laid back- more like a coffee jam session- and she also warns you about having these three crazies all in one place! Make no mistake about it, however, they're still going to be covering the business principals that you need to know, in order to be successful. At the end of the day, the goal is still to help you to be more productive and profitable. They've decided to start off with an introduction of the philosophy of both Corey and Judith, so they have each made a list of the top things that they think you should do, or you should know, in order to be successful in the Design Industry. You don't need to take notes, because if you go to www.windowworks-nj.com/designbizlive1, you can get your free PDF download of 'The things I learned from Judith and Corey Design Biz Live Episode #1'. Listen in now and enjoy the new show! Show highlights: The first thing on Corey's list- To be really completely obsessive about drafting and graphic communication. And also...please spell correctly! Corey explains why your construction drawing really needs to be a work of art. The number one thing on Judith's list- Install a toilet, upholster a couch, hang wallpaper, mud and prep dry wall. In other words, get dirty. You really need to have an understanding of not only your trades and what's involved with the different aspects of the product that you're specifying or selling, but there is a respect aspect to this too, which you can only gain through getting a real understanding of the various skill sets involved with doing all of this- and doing it really well. Without this you're not going to be able to really connect with those trades. Number two on Corey's list- You need to take accounting classes. You really do need to know the difference between a mark up and a margin, gross profit and net profit and how much you cost- not how much you earn. The latter includes overheads, facilities, equipment, your hourly rate and your costs for getting back and forth. Number two on Judith's list- Work on a finish line at a Cabinet Manufacturers for at least two weeks. Not going to happen easily, but you should try! This is because you really have to have an understanding of the human element involved here. There are going to be imperfections- this is in the nature of the business, so this understanding helps lessen the shock or surprise value when something does go wrong. Number three on Corey's list- Visualise the details. Stand in the room for five minutes and design it in your mind. If you really can't do that, you're going to have trouble getting through the whole process. Number three on Judith's list- Run the plumbing for your bath design and then do the tile installation. Think this through from the beginning. This is a fundamental, as it's about the reality of what happens on a job site, vs your drawings, vs life, vs product, vs the variation in the installation process. This is, again, about having an understanding of and a compassion for the trades. You can only get that through hands-on experience. Number four on Corey's list- Don't think for a second that going out on your own is going to be easy. It isn't! It's going to be the hardest stuff you've ever done in your whole entire life, but, it's really so rewarding and so fun! Number four on Judith's list- Date a Lawyer and learn how to argue effectively. One of the huge challenges in the industry is that there's always conflict and conflict often comes up in communication. This isn't about arguing, it's really about problem solving. About

Today's guest is Lane McNab, of Lane McNab Interiors. Lane, just like Darla Powell, who appeared on last week's show, has also come to Interior Design as a second career. Listen in to find out all about Lane and how she's developed her really successful Interior Design Business. Lane grew up in Florida and attended school in both Tennessee and San Francisco. She continued her education at Oxford University and at Il Globo Institute, in Italy. Lane's Interior design career is backed with her vast experience and her work and her expertise have been featured in many places, including The Today Show, the East Bay AIA Tour Of Homes, Dwell, Modern Sanctuary, Lux Pad, 24 East, My Domain and also in her home town publication, Berkeleyside, as the go-to Interior Designer, for approachable ways to modernise an historical home. Listen in today, to find out how Lane's career path and the lessons that she's learned along the way have contributed to her success, both as a Designer and as a Business Person. Show highlights: Lane talks about her first career, as a solo opera singer, in the San Francisco Bay area- prior to her becoming a mom. How Lane first started out in 2004, working with a contractor on her own projects and how this eventually developed into Lane McNab Interiors. The Today Show wanted to include one of Lane's Design Projects in an article they were running, at a time when she still didn't even know if she really wanted to have a business. The point at which Lane realized that she could really take advantage of the fantastic opportunities that were coming her way, and start her business. Lane eventually shut down her blog and took a year to stay focused and she worked very closely with Julia Malloy as well as with a number of other consultants, prior to starting her business, as she realized that she really needed a jump start. The huge amount of confidence that Lane gained, from working with Julia Malloy. Lane always writes down anything that she doesn't understand, so that she can research it later because different projects always require different amounts of knowledge. Lane explains how she found the necessary help when making her transition to a much larger project. The really sage advice from Julia Malloy, that Lane still holds on to- 90% of successful entrepreneurs have the consistent quality of a high E.Q. Explaining to clients not only what the best design is, but why! The typical things that tend to trip Designers up, when working with construction. A memorable challenge that Lane faced with the cabinet guy, which became a valuable learning experience. Using a mistake as an opportunity to develop a really great relationship with the client. Lane's way of working with her vendors, or trade sources. Dealing with clients who aren't happy about having their project photographed. Not taking the first 'no' for an answer... The importance of being collaborative, as a Designer. Lane's outsourcing of her expediting- how and why it works for her. The importance of keeping really detailed notes as a reference, for Lane. Links: Labe's Website: lanemcnab.com

The guest for today's Power Talk Friday is Kathy Knowles, a former HR Director who has become an entrepreneur. Her company is called Intuitive Strategies and Consultants and Kathy has become known as The Soulful Business Mentor. She really understands the challenges one faces, when leaving behind a successful, yet unfulfilling six figure career, to build a more satisfying business and life. Kathy has more than twenty years of experience of maximizing people and potential, as an HR Director, which has given her a real advantage in helping you to create your own Heart and Soul Business. She and her team share proven strategies and formulas, to help you to establish a growth strategy that makes you more money and frees up more of your time. Magic words, right? Kathy's mission is to help more business owners and entrepreneurs to create a life of a business that they love, without sacrificing integrity, income, or sanity! There are really so many things that Kathy, as a talented Business Coach, could have discussed today, however, LuAnn decided to zero in on 'Help Business Owners Hire Right The First Time'. Even though LuAnn has owned a business for more than thirty years, she's really looking forward to this discussion, because for her, hiring really is one of the most troublesome parts of being in business. So, listen in, to get some great insights from Kathy's more than twenty years of experience. This is going to be a really jam-packed episode, as Kathy has a ton of information for you. She has prepared a list of questions that are very helpful in assisting you to make the right hire. Several of the questions will be discussed in the interview today, however, her list is really much more in-depth, so if you are about to hire, or if you struggle with how to do that, you will enjoy this interview. To get Kathy's really valuable list of questions, go to www.windowworks-nj.com/kathyk and click on The things I learned from Kathy Knowles. Listen in now, to find out more. Show highlights: Kathy explains that the process of hiring starts with you and being crystal clear about where you want to go with your business. Hiring around the things that you're not good at. Getting intuitively in touch with your business, in order to really grow your email list and to know which team member to hire. Knowing how to choose the right person, when hiring someone for the very first time- using the List Of Four and then breaking it down a little further. How to know when it's time to hire someone. Asking the right questions when interviewing a potential employee. Talking about money during an interview. Understanding that the way that someone interacts with you during an interview, will be the way that they will interact with your clients, should you hire them. The importance of asking specific questions during an interview, even if you really hit it off with them. Why you really shouldn't talk too much, when interviewing someone. The kinds of questions that are more likely to elicit a true response from an interviewee. The importance of employees being accountable. Some suggestions for great questions to ask a potential employee, during an interview. Creating interview questions around a personality profile- like Disc or Kolbe. Links: Kathy's website: www.kathyknowles.com – This is where you will find her free Gaining More Loyal Customers resource. For Kathy's free Find and Fill resource, go to: www.kathyknowles.com\find-and-fill\ Kathy's email: [email protected]

The guest for today's show is the truly remarkable Darla Powell, of Darla Powell Interiors, in Florida. Darla and LuAnn initially became friends through the social media of the podcast and then continued their friendship with conversations on the Designer Facebook Groups that they were both in and also through Instagram. It's not unusual for LuAnn to become friends with the people that she interviews for the podcast, and she and Darla also have a few friends in common (Mark McDonough from Tastefully Inspired and Karina from Superior K Interiors), so she really thought she knew all about her, until she went out and did her research for the interview. Then she was truly surprised to learn a few things about Darla that she didn't know before! Listen in to find out all about these surprising details. Mark McDonough was actually the person who suggested to LuAnn that she should consider having Darla on the show. He pointed out that this was a second career for her and that she was going to be a truly amazing Interior Designer, as she was really putting her all into it, after having retired from her first career. Listen in now, to find out more about Darla and how she came to be doing what she does now. Show highlights: Darla talks to LuAnn about her first career- in Law Enforcement, for eighteen and a half years, as a Detective Sargent with the Miami-Dade Police Department, where she thought about quitting her job and becoming an Interior Designer almost every day! Darla talks about her long journey from Law Enforcement to Interior Design. How Darla really became really motivated to become an Interior Designer, after listening to one of LuAnn's podcasts, with Mark McDonough. Darla's Instagram is only seven or eight months old and it already has way over seven thousand followers! The biggest tip that Mark McDonough gave to Darla, about finding brands that align with her work and commenting on their posts straight away. The great value in taking the time to be genuine and really engaging with people on social media. This makes you human and really helps your brand- and gets people to stay with you. As long as you're putting out great content, your fans will still love you, even if you don't follow them back. LuAnn and Darla discuss the portfolio which is up on Darla's website, which is actually her entire own home, done on a limited budget. Darla talks about the fabulous blog, which is called Wing-nuts and Wallpaper and really reflects her brand voice. How Darla boosts her following with her blog and with her Facebook posts. How Nicole Heimer, (Episode #125) a really rockstar brander, has really helped Darla. Some areas where Darla has felt a bit overwhelmed with her new career and what she's found helpful at these times. How Susan Winterstein really helped Darla with her process, with an organized chart to inform the client about the whole design process. Why Darla quit her first career way sooner than she originally intended to do so. Links: Darla's website: www.darlapowell.com, where you will also find Darla's blog, Wing-nuts and Wallpaper. Resource: Business of Design, Volume 3- Win The Flat Fee Game by Kimberley Seldon

The guest on today's show is Enoch Bartlett Sears, a licensed California Architect and the founder and publisher of Business of Architecture. He's the creator and host of The Business of Architecture, the number one podcast for Architects and he is also the co-founder of The Architect Marketing Institute. LuAnn had to wait quite a while to get to interview Enoch, as he really is busy, so she's grateful and very glad that he found an hour for her today and she thinks that you're going to be glad too! Listen in, to find out how you can increase both the income and the efficiency of your business, with the fantastic resources that Enoch has for you. LuAnn came across Enoch because of his podcast. She's a regular listener and really enjoys his show and thinks that what he does is really terrific! She finds that he actually does a lot of the same things that she does on her podcast, except that his target is Architects, so she just switches the word 'Architect' in her mind, for Interior Designer. Enoch interviews Architects on how they run their firms and what they do to increase their income and efficiency. He also talks with outside Industry Experts, as does LuAnn on her Power Talk Fridays, to help Architects to increase the profitability of their firms. This is why LuAnn thought that this would be such a great fit for this show. Enoch is also a Business Coach and he's become famous for helping Architects to grow their firms and their income and increase their freedom, through the use of effective Client Strategies. Enoch went through one of his very actionable strategies, a Twelve Step Questionnaire process, called Twelve Questions To Ask Before Your Meeting- So You Know What Hot Buttons To Push, which he recommends to Architects, with LuAnn. This was developed by Enoch's partner, Richard Petrie, who's known as The World's Leading Architect Marketing Coach. LuAnn was really impressed with it and as she went through it with him, she found that it could be translated right to Interior Designers. So listen in now, to find out more about this questionnaire which you could apply to yourself, to help you to attract your ideal Interior Design projects and clients. Show highlights: How to deal with the fears and insecurities that often exist between Design Professionals. A tip for Interior Designers, to deliver more value when wanting to do work with Architects. Enoch goes through his Twelve Questions To Ask Before Your Meeting- So You Know What Hot Buttons To Push. Number one- Asking if are all the decision makers are present. Number two- Setting the format and the ground rules for the meeting, in order to maintain an alpha position. Number three- Framing the meeting's purpose and it's time frame with the client. Number four- Asking the client some background questions, to discover their current situation or the 'now'. You really need to be quiet and listen carefully here! Number five- Understand the client's goals and objectives and their vision for the future and also, how they want to feel in the space. Try to get the emotional impact of what they're going for. Number six- Ask your success criteria questions, about how the client would know if they've achieved a successful project with you. This would involve helping them to imagine the future and to talk to you about what they are imaging. Number seven- Ask your client what it would mean to them, to have achieved their objectives. This will be an emotional question, bringing out emotional answers, to discover their emotional drivers. Number eight- Ask their current plans to achieve their objectives and find out the degree to which they are already on track. This is where you find out about any obstacles or challenges they may be worried about and also, how much time they have for the process. Number nine- Ask them about the consequences, if they don't meet their objectives. This is about discovering their degree of motivation, to do the project and follow through on it and helping them to connect their current decisions with the consequences of those decisions. Number ten- Ask the timing questions, about when they want to get their new results completed. Number eleven- Map out the road to success with your client, with their options. This is where you really need to bring all your professional training to bear and look at the gap between where they are now and where they want to get to. Number twelve- Book the next few meetings, if you feel that this client is a good fit. The really great value in Designers creating contacts with Architects. How you as a Designer, can best reach out to an Architect, to arrange a meeting about the possibility of working together. What Architects really want to work on. Ways that you can bring value to architects, as a Designer and get them to work together with you. What Enoch does on his podcast and how you can find him, at The Business Of Architecture, on iTunes. Links: https://archmarketing.org/ https://www.businessofarchitect

The guest on today's Power Talk Friday is Dorien Morin-van Dam, the Owner and Social-Media Consultant with More In Media, which is located in sunny Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Dorien helps Small Businesses Owners with their strategies, planning, and execution, around Social Media. Listen in to find out more about Dorien and what she has to share, to help Small Business Owners with their Video Marketing on Social Media. Dorien is a Coach and Trainer, who concentrates on Video Marketing and Social Media Management. She particularly enjoys working with Video Coaching and helping people to overcome their fear of the camera. This is something that she runs into all the time, with local clients and Small Business owners who really need to be on camera, yet have real fear around doing that. Dorien has found that here is such a great need for this right now, with Video Marketing being so popular, that she is also busy writing a book about it. Dorien, who's a Mom with four teens and three dogs, loves to run marathons and cook and eat vegan food. She also really enjoys teaching, blogging and speaking about Social Media. Listen in now, to find out more about how Dorien helps people to overcome their fears about appearing in front of a camera. Today, Dorien talks to LuAnn about: The fear that so many people experience, of appearing on camera. That there really is an easy way to overcome that fear. That although she has no fear of the camera, she did have another extreme fear, through which she developed the necessary empathy to help others to overcome their fears around cameras. The story about her epiphany- which enabled her to overcome her own fear and help others to do the same. How she helps people to get ready to appear in front of the camera. A new acronym for FEAR- that, instead of Fearing Everything And Running, you can learn to Face Everything And R The Rise of Video in Social Media and the tremendous opportunities that it can bring for you, with this year being The Year Of The Live Video in Social Media. The fantastic new developments coming up on Facebook, for Virtual Reality Meetings. That the reach of a video is so much greater than either using pictures, or text. Facebook Live- how it's pushing Video and where it's going. Why Dorien thinks that you can't fail with Video- if you go through her process. Low-cost ways of creating Videos. Replacing your fear of how you look with a love for your brand. The more you watch yourself on video, the more you get over your fear of it. Really awesome tips for creating really great, confident videos of yourself, before going live on Facebook. Being authentic, to better connect with people on video. How to catch people's eye in the first few seconds, with your video. Some ideas for you to use, to market yourself with video. Using what's going on around you currently, as a topic for your video. Creating great content for your videos. How to straddle the fine line between oversharing and too little content on your video. Re-purposing your content, for great results. Dorien's book, No Fear Video, which will be coming out later this year. Links: Dorien's website: www.moreinmedia.com

Today's show is taken from LuAnn's presentation that she gave at the I.W.C.E. LuAnn starts her presentation by explaining the mix that goes into creating a really successful business. She points out that you are actually your own magic pill and that you really do have the ability when it comes down to making decisions. All that you need is to have confidence in yourself and to know that you have a good business and that you're a good business leader. Then, you have to identify the obstacles and make a plan, rather than running away from them. The really important part though, is to make the decision, as confidence and a plan are nothing without a decision. So, every day, as a business person, you have to choose to go out and do what is necessary. Listen in now, to LuAnn's really valuable presentation. LuAnn explains that Window Works was initially a franchise which started in the early 70's and went until the early 90's and that she and her two partners owned three of them. From year one and for the next ten years, two of their three franchises were number one and number two in highest gross sales, every year! Today, LuAnn talks about the things that she has found when looking back, that have really contributed to their great success. Number one being Leadership, number two- Systems and number three- Excellence. Listen in, to find out how to use these three ingredients to really attain the kind of success that you would love for your business. Today, LuAnn talks about: Her A Well Designed Business Podcast and what it's all about. What goes into creating and being a terrific leader- 1) Establishing your company's mission. 2) Establishing your company's core values and 3) Establishing accountability. What you will gain from having a really well thought out Company Mission. Why you need to make your Company's Core Values, which are non-negotiable, really clear to both yourself and to your employees. Why it's really so important to establish accountability in your business. The book, The E-Myth by Michael Gerber and why the three business roles that it refers to are so important to understand. Working on your business as well as working in your business. That System is the number one thing that contributes to the success of your business. The reason for the Red Pen System that they use at the Window Works office. Why systems really do make your life (and your business) so much easier. The real importance of impeccable customer service- and that often means that you have to let go of being right! That it's sometimes hard to keep to your business systems and decisions, but it's really worth it! Resources: Book: The E-Myth by Michael E. Gerber – An amazing book for small business owners.

Today's guest is Manuella Moreira, one of LuAnn's long time early listeners to the show. In May, there was a big event at the insanely gorgeous Ethan Allen Showroom in New York City, where Manuella works with Barbara Viteri, the Designerlebrity. You can go back and listen to the audio of that show (#185 ), or you can see the video of it on A Well Designed Business Youtube channel- something really well worth seeing! Listen in to find out more about Manuella and her fabulous career. Today, we're talking about Manuella's fascinating career, working for Ethan Allen. What LuAnn finds interesting is that it's really so completely different from what she would have expected an Ethan Allen Designer's career to look like and she points out that the opportunities that this brings for Manuella are truly remarkable. Listen in now, to find out more. Today, Manuella talks to LuAnn about: The research that she did and the decision-making process that she went through in 2013 when she had the opportunity to go to Ethan Allen. That the CEO personally approves each Designer employed by the company- and there are fifteen hundred of them! Why she chose to work for Ethan Allen rather than any other company. That at Ethan Allen, they really value the Interior Design portion of their company. The different levels of Designers at Ethan Allen and their ongoing training processes for their Designers. Their really different approach to working with their clients. That there really are opportunities for new Designers at Ethan Allen. How Manuella and Robert Nelson, the other Lead Designer, assist the other Designers in the company to execute their projects successfully- they're really not competitive. How they, as a company, manage the huge number of walk-in customers, who come into the showroom. That the Designers at Ethan Allen don't really work specific hours. That Manuella created her website for herself and feels as if she's running her own business but under the Ethan Allen umbrella. That each Designer within the company really has their own approach to marketing themselves. That Ethan Allen has really given Manuella the freedom to be creative. That they only do their sourcing from Ethan Allen's product. How they're evolving at Ethan Allen, as a brand. That Ethan Allen's in-house Designers design 70% of the products that they have on offer. Designing in such a way as to stay relevant. Their two different Trade Programs at Ethan Allen and the credit and also the commissions that you could earn from purchasing from them, as a Designer. That they're trying to work more and more with Designers, at their new Flat Iron location and the 25% discount they offer to the clients. The whole online scenario for Ethan Allen and the new features on their website. Go to ethanallen.com to find out. That one design project really seems to lead to the next- and it all starts with a conversation. How much Manuella really loves building relationships with her clients. The really awesome video on Manuella's website. (manuellaMoreira.com) All the recognition and awards that Manuella has earned. What's coming up on the horizon with Ethan Allen and Amazon and Manuella's role in that. Links: Manuella's email: [email protected] Manuella's website: www.manuellaMoreira.com Manuella's Instagram: mgmdecor

Today is the first of two shows sponsored by Designer Inc. If you haven't yet heard of Designer Inc, be sure to go back to episode #85, where Heather Gillette, it's founder, was first introduced onto the show. On that show, LuAnn talked to her and to Designer, Mark Cutler about the introduction of Designer Inc to the marketplace. Today, Heather is back, joined by her co-founder, Dorothee Fischer, to share all of the latest developments to this valuable Interior Design Business tool. Listen in to find out all about these developments. By using the To The Trade Only Designer Inc, you can cut your sourcing time by half. You can source by using filters- by product, by the showroom, by price point, by color, or even by dimension. It allows you to create client project folders, to organize your finds and you can share customized tear sheets with your clients. LuAnn points out that this software does not replace a Management System like MyDomo Studio- Designer Inc works in conjunction with your Client Management System, which is one of the really genius parts of it. With Designer Inc, which has all the trade sources on the site, you don't need to go back and forth to each individual site, when looking around for a particular item. You can search within the Designer Inc platform and compare, get quotes and purchase- all right there! You can do this for multiple vendors for a single project, or a for single check-out experience. Once you've made your selection, you can simply go back and import your selection to MyDomo Studio and you're off and running! Sounds pretty fabulous, doesn't it! Listen in today, as Heather and Dorothee fill in all the gaps and tell you about the newest features to Designer Inc. Heather Gillette is a tech person, who has specialized in early stage start-ups for the past twenty years, with a focus on the operations end. She founded and headed several departments at Youtube, including copyright enforcement, content review and user support departments. This was both pre and post-Google acquisition. Her teams kept Youtube legal and clean and processed millions of videos and user communications daily, with very little manpower. Heather is also the founder of New Decor, so she really knows the challenges that you face as Interior Designers, as Designer Inc was created specifically to increase their firm's productivity. Dorothee Fischer is the co-founder and the Chief Marketing Officer of Designer Inc. She was also an early Youtube employee and she was their first post-acquisition marketing hire. She has twenty years of marketing behind her, nine of which she spent mastering social media. Her other areas of expertise include User Acquisition, Content Marketing, Partner Marketing, and Branding. Today, Heather and Dorothee talk to LuAnn about: The really special kind of relationship that gets built in, almost automatically, when people listen to this podcast and the people that LuAnn interviews. Heather can tell from the get-go, when people sign up for her site, that there's a different kind of relationship, due to this. Heather explains the basics of what Designer Inc really is. Heather explains some of the recent developments to their purchasing service, and why they launched it early. How the quoting process works, within the Designer Inc site. That Designer Inc will come back to you to confirm, should you have made multiple choices. That you would pay no more order through Designer Inc, than you would if you ordered directly from the manufacturer. How they make their money, at Designer Inc, through kickbacks from the manufacturers. The loyalty program that they're developing, to offer you more savings. That the commission will still be paid to the manufacturing or sales reps, for your order. How the shopping experience actually happens, on Designer Inc. Their Shop By Showroom filter. Using the price filter on Designer Inc. The various other filters that you can use, like style and dimension. The flag feature that you can use, for your feedback, to make corrections on the site. The save searches that you can use, to narrow down and save your searches as you build your projects. That you can share items on the site, by inviting your client, so that they can also comment. The really huge number of well-known vendors, on Designer Inc. That they're a bit like the High Point Market, or Amazon, for Interior Designers. What happens when an order goes wrong...that they take the responsibility and handle all of that, on your behalf. That they handle all the shipping logistics, to the first destination. That they really want your feedback, at Designers Inc. How you, as Designers, can now invest and own equity at Designer Inc. Link: To invest in Designer Inc, go to: www.wefunder.com and search for designerinc

Today's guest is Joe Cariati, an award winning glass blower, artist, craftsman, and educator, who has had more than twenty years experience as a designer, maker, and mentor. Listen in to find out more about Joe and his really arty craft. Joe opened his own studio in Los Angeles, California in 2003, where he still continues refining his craft and pushing his boundaries, both as a glass blower and as a designer. He launched his own business, Joe Cariati Design, in 2015. Listen in today, as Joe talks to LuAnn about his career, the things that he's learned about being a Creative and running a profitable business, and also about the new line of glassware, lamps, pendants, and accessories that he now has available for you, through CuratedKravet.com. Today, Joe talks to LuAnn about: His background, starting in college and the many years leading up to where he is today. The thousands and thousands of things that are made in his studio every year, today, with a very small team of three. His simplistic, yet complex way of making things, to get a particular quality that his glass has. The risk he took in forming his own company, which finally solidified in 2007. His desire to create a legacy company, where it could be passed on to his son, Vincent Cariati, should he want to become a glass blower. The really close, family vibe within his company. Joe's particular requirements for anyone wanting to come and work with him. What happened for Joe in 2007, when he applied and was accepted to the New York Now Show. How it was for him when he met Kravet for the first time in 2008. The validation he got as a designer/maker, from being recognized by Kravet. What he did to prepare for his meeting with Kravet back then. What's available and the things that are happening with his new line at CuratorKravet.com- with exclusive colors and products! How he arrived at the particular color groupings that were settled on with Kravet, for his exclusive collection. All about the colors he uses and how that challenges him, as a Creative. The aspects of his business that he's most active in. How he figured out all the processes in his business, before deciding which aspects would be best done by him, personally. How to set yourself up in your business, and which people you should hire, in order to move in the direction that you really desire to go. Thriving off of a repeatable process and getting predictable results. The design scene in America right now. Links: CuratedKravet.com

Today's show is a very different one. LuAnn is airing someone else's podcast on her feed and she really hopes that you will like it! She was a guest on Nicole Culver's podcast, called A Few Blissful Bites, a few weeks ago. Nicole is a podcaster and business person who teaches food bloggers how to turn their blogs into profitable businesses. LuAnn listens to Nicole's podcast because she truly believes that business principals are business principals and anybody who does a good job of expressing and teaching them, is worth listening to. So she asked Nicole to be a guest on her show, but the funny thing is that Nicole said that LuAnn should be on her show too! Listen in as LuAnn and Nicole talk about building a business that you can be proud of. The thing about Nicole is that she's very actionable. She runs a community, she has a Blogger To Business Support Group, where she offers training and resources, she does workshops and she does goal check-ins and live Q & A- and she brings all of this to her food bloggers. LuAnn knows that if you're an Interior Designer who's blogging, and you would like to turn that blog into something that earns money for you some day, that Nicole's resources and her community will be valuable to you. LuAnn points out that she has no financial investment in this at all- she just knows that good business strategies for a Food Blog will be good business strategies for a Design Blog. Listen in now, as LuAnn and Nicole talk about the things that really drive business and profit. Today, LuAnn talks to Nicole about: Why, if you were to take the word 'design' out of her podcast, it could apply to the food (or any other) industry also. How LuAnn actually got into podcasting. That what LuAnn and her partners have as their core belief is that you have to stick to your company mission. That you have to filter your new ideas if you want to be really successful with your main bread and butter business. That there is a hurdle to doing podcasts consistently and well- it has to support your main business. LuAnn tells a story to highlight the real importance of her partners and herself having understood who their customer was, in the beginning, with their brick and mortar business. Figuring out your niche and positioning yourself for your ideal market. How LuAnn deals with competition without letting it affect her business. That you need to know your competition, but not worry about them. LuAnn's intention for her podcast and how it's really helped her business. That LuAnn really understood her priorities and her passion, when she started doing her podcast. What LuAnn did to attract her ideal listener for her podcast- working with intention. Nicole's website: http://nicoleculverblog.com

Have you been considering putting your toe into the podcast pool lately? If so, you will really learn a lot from today's Power Talk Friday, as LuAnn interviews Rob Greenlee, a pioneer in the Podcast Industry. LuAnn often talks about your 'only' on the show. Well, Rob's only is that he is the very first person to take a radio program and turn it into a podcast and that's pretty exciting! If you're wondering why she's talking to a leader in the Podcast Industry, it's because Interior Design Podcasts are busy popping up all over. Although LuAnn and Nick have been covering the business side of the industry on their podcast, the consumer-facing side of podcasting has more and more Interior Designers joining their ranks. LuAnn has had a number of previous guests who'd had their own podcast by the time that she had interviewed them and this is apart from the dozen or so other shows that have launched in the last year or two, that LuAnn has not yet had a chance to engage with. These are all consumer facing and talking about the things that LuAnn doesn't talk about- the pretty stuff. Listen in as Rob indulges you a bit and LuAnn picks his brain about where this field is heading and also to help you to decipher some of the in's and out's of it. Rob is the head of Podcast Content at Spreaker.com, a really huge name in podcasting. He is the former Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Podcast Network, Podcast 1.com. He is also the former Content Manager of Podcast For Windows Phone, Zoon and Xbox and he currently co-hosts the new media show at Geek News Central Live, every morning at 9 am (Pacific time). Rob is also the former founder and lead host of Web Talk World Radio Show and Zoon Insider Podcast. The really cool thing is that Web Talk Radio was an eight year running national, syndicated terrestrial broadcast radio show and it's recognized as the very first broadcast radio program in the world, to begin podcasting! Listen in now to find out more! Today, Rob talks to LuAnn about: Why it's really not too late to start a podcast right now. What's coming in the future, technologically, with podcasts? How long it really takes to build a new media. What current research about podcasts is showing. The really powerful medium of podcasting. What makes a successful podcast host. Podcasting as a really viable form of advertising. That you have to offer value, before you receive value, with this medium. That authenticity and trust are fundamental qualities for success in this medium. That your particular slant on design can really come across on the podcast. Using video to supplement your podcast. The best approach to podcasting as a marketing arm of a business. What it takes to inspire the listener to have a visual experience through audio. Ways to use listener's questions to create a podcast. Why your Interior Design Podcast can really be unique. That consistent production of shows really builds an audience. Building a loyal base of listeners. Choosing the best hook for your show. Why you should really just jump in and do it! That it's really okay to learn and evolve as you grow, with podcasting. That it's really hard to predict where you will go with this particular 'box of opportunity'. Doing your research, if you intend doing a podcast. How you really can become an expert in your field through podcasting.

Today's guest is Reed Humphrey, the President of Alder and Tweed Home Outfitters in Park City, Utah, a family owned business that Reed runs with his two sisters. Reed was first exposed to the world of interiors at the age of eight, when he would travel all over the world with his parents, who were the owners of a successful lighting business, to visit suppliers and factories. This really allowed for Reed to develop a discriminating eye and knowledge for quality. This expertise has carried on as Alder and Tweed continue to source some of the best leathers, fabrics, furnishings, and suppliers in the world. Listen in to find out about how Reed and his sisters have used their really clear vision to re-invent and niche their business, to service strictly, the vacation homeowners buying in Park City, Utah. Reed, an open, humble and skilled leader, has operated the business side of Alder and Tweed for the past thirteen years, overseeing the logistics, strategy, marketing, and human resources. He also supports the wholesale side of Alder and Tweed Furniture. Since 2004, the firm has focused on a client-centric approach to projects, and it has grown to a staff of eighteen employees, with offices in both Park City, Utah and in Big Sky, Montana. Reed, who lives in Sandy, Utah with his wife Jenna and his daughter, London, was raised in El Dorado Hills, California and moved to Utah in 2002, after being offered a scholarship to play basketball for Utah Valley University, where he studied business. Reed speaks Japanese fluently and enjoys basketball, golf and traveling. Listen in now, to find out more about Reed and his really successfully niched business. Today, Reed talks to LuAnn about: How the family business, which started out as a retail showroom, has evolved, over time, eventually targeting vacation home buyers in Park City. How they decided to close their original business in Salt Lake City within one week, to move to Park City. That the family all knew that they had to make a move, at the time- and fast. The dynamics involved in running a family business. What Reed and his sisters did to brand themselves in a different light, so as not be just another Design Business How Reed and his sisters became are aware of the pain points of their clients, and what they do to help them to overcome these problems and make everything really easy for the client. How they manage to allocate the money as an operating expense, to fly out to see the clients. How they went into their new niche market and became known within it. What they did to reach out to Real Estate Agents in Park City, within their first six months. How they really make it their business to cover everything, seamlessly. How their referral stream has really picked up. How their Junior and Senior Designers work as a team, together with Reed's sister, Heather. How the processes of their projects run. How their Client Portal Their fantastic team, which is capable of running different projects, at different stages, all at the same time. The different packages that they have available, for all the various, different client needs. Why Reed and his sisters haven't really made it known that they are the owners of the firm. The biggest thing that Reed would caution people wanting to start a similar business with. How they manage to operate their business without a showroom. That they focus on quality and customer experience, rather than on the numbers. What Reed and his team really love about what they do! Links: http://www.alderandtweed.com http://www.alderandtweedfurniture.com Upcoming events include today’s FB Live Flash Mob at 2:00 pm EDT from the Kravet Showroom. Then, Design Uncorked – How to grow from Design Firm to Design Empire. A live interview with Kelli Ellis from the Kravet Showroom at Las Vegas Market on Tuesday, August 2 at 2:00 pm. Last week did you catch our 1st guest blog post by Kelsey Grose of Farmer’s Daughter Interiors? “How I Landed A Full Kitchen Project With No Portfolio” It’s a great read. Reminder: to be on our email list, text to this number- 444999 and in the text filed type designbiz it will bring you to 1 screen to enter your email and you’re all set.

Today's guests are Ronald Alvarez and Monica Santayana, the principals of Moniomi Design in Miami, Florida. This is really going to be a great show for the takeaways, so if you're in business with a partner, whether you're married to them or not, you will really get some great value today! Listen in as this very special husband and wife team talk about how they work and relate together and how this contributes to the great success of their company. Ronald and Monica met while attending Florida International University, where they were both studying Architecture. They started Moniomi about five years ago and they've become unbeatable, due to the fabulous way that they lead their team, in the up and coming River Area of Miami. Monica focuses on the creative details and finishes and selecting the specifics of the Design Process, like the textiles and the furniture, while Ronald, who has his background in Project Management and Advertising, keeps everything running on time, within the budget and moving forward. They offer Full Service Interior Design, for projects of any scale, as well as Custom Art and Furniture Design, Graphic Design, Space Planning and Project Management. Moniomi's commercial work includes a private aircraft terminal at Orion Jet Centre and their Hospitality Projects include Hyatt Place, Comfort Suites, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Pincho Factory Restaurant. LuAnn really thinks that you're going to enjoy this talk with these two very special people, as she really enjoyed getting to know them and she thinks that you will too! Listen in now, to hear their conversation. Today, Ronald and Monica talk to LuAnn about: The organic development of each of their different roles, within the business, which runs in a similar way to how they organize the rest of their lives. The great level of respect and trust that Monica and Ronald have for each other. How Ronald and Monica really support each other and also even push one another at times. That Ronald initiated and brought systems into the business, while Monica concentrated on developing the firm. Their one on one Discovery Consultations, to really get the feel of the client and ascertain whether they will be compatible, or not. That they really look for creative freedom, with their projects. How they coordinate and work together on a new project. Where they fork off from one another with the projects and Monica focuses on the Design side of things, while Ronald focuses on the organizational side. How they handle their vendor meetings. That their construction documents and drawings need to be really clearly defined, for the Project Manager. That clients tend not to see the Contractor as separate from and the Designer, which can be a little unfair on the Designer. That most of their projects involve some type of renovation, which is bigger than the decorating side of things. How the communication between Ronald, Monica and the rest of the team is organized, during a project. That it's really just Ronald and Monica, as a team, that deal with the residential projects. That their design team works with the Hospitality and Commercial Projects. That their Residential clients know and feel comfortable in that they can reach out to Ronald and Monica, personally. The great respect that Ronald and Monica have for each other's capabilities. Why you need to focus on building a really strong team. Monica shares some things she's learned, in hindsight. Ronald's advice and number one take away- that all relationships, with your clients, employees and vendors really need to be valued.

The guest for today's Power Talk Friday is Adam Urbanski, aka The Millionaire Marketing Mentor and he's a real headliner in Online Marketing and Podcast circles! There are so many ways that Adam could really help and influence all LuAnn's Designer friends to get that extra 'something' to tweak their businesses, so today, she's decided to go with Adam's Dream Business Design Process. Listen in to find out how this process helps Designers to identify what they want to sell the most and also how to sell to the most clients. Adam, who has been in business for seventeen years now, is really the 'go to guy' for Coaches, Consultants and other Service Professionals who want to attract more clients, convert more high-value sales, build an authority brand, or grow a Lifestyle Business that has more impact and generates more income. Adam's clients have often doubled, tripled and even ten times-ed their businesses, some of them in as little as ninety days! All of this and Adam started out with only $194 and limited English and he still managed to turn his first business into a seven-figure business in less than ten years! LuAnn knows that she's in the presence of a true expert with Adam, so she's very grateful that he's on the show today! Listen in now, as Adam shares some really hot tips with you, to help you to become a way better business strategist! Today, Adam talks to LuAnn about: Becoming a master of, and being known for a very specific approach. What his six question worksheet allows you to zero in on. How he discovered his ideal clients. That 90% of his clients are women and this happened by design! That marketing is really all about listening. Adam talks you through his six questions and how to best approach working with them. Finding your specific magic, as a Designer. Thinking about your dream income, per client. Identifying your dream project. Identifying the characteristics of your dream client. What you'd need to do in order to execute your project in the best possible way. (i.e. identifying your Superpower) Really understanding the expectations that you have to meet with your project. Expressing what you're really good at to your client. Establishing systems for really clear processes in your business. Knowing that everything is changing all the time, so you need to maintain a constant process of evaluation with your clients. Asking yourself how much money you'd like to make from each project, per year. Examining which three to six marketing activities you really need to focus on- to avoid becoming overwhelmed. That you should really become a one track pony, in order to not lose sight of your core competencies. Links: Adam's websites: www.adamurbanski.com or www.themarketingmentors.com Adam Urbanski is also on Facebook

Are you a little intimidated at the thought of incorporating art into your design projects? Well, today's show could really help you to move beyond that, as the discussion centers on the value of a trusted vendor- in this case, an expert Framer, someone who can really help you to attain success in this area. LuAnn points out that the expert Framer is yet another colleague for you to rely on and so she couldn't think of a better way to have this conversation, than to have an artist on the show, alongside his favorite Framer. Listen in today, as LuAnn talks to Paul Thomas, a renowned artist and Daniel Beauchemin, an accomplished Interior Designer and the owner of the famous Chelsea Frames, in New York City, about the importance of quality professional framing and how that can really enhance a beautiful piece of art. Paul Thomas has been described as an artist of intuition. His paintings are composed through a natural pattern of creation, rather than a formal analysis. Paul's work is a true reflection of his personality- bright, cheerful, full of vitality and movement and filled with an inner radiance. Much of the translucence of the color tends to be lost when viewing Paul's work online or in a catalog, so it would really be well worth seeing it in person. His work is in both public and private collections in the US, Canada, France, Italy and South America. Some of the highlight collections include the US Consulate in Florence, Italy, The Museum of Contemporary Art in Bologna, The Louis Azzaro Collection, The NYU Langone Medical Centre, Montefiore Medical Centre, Boston Scientific World Headquarters, Holiday House 2013, 2014 and 2015 and Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2015. In 2016, Paul won “Best In Show” at the Architectural Digest Design Show, where he collaborated with Charles Pavarini (Episode #16). Paul has also worked in collaboration with numerous other well known Interior Designers. In 2017, Paul's work became the exclusive art for Haru Restaurants in New York City. Daniel Beauchemin grew up in a house where the design was part of daily life. It was a multi-cultural environment where he was exposed to the Canadian-American and European culture at home and his parent's friends spanned the whole world, so he developed an eclectic taste for beautifully designed things from a very early age. Daniel studied Architecture, with a focus on Furniture design, as well as Art History and Interiors. He came to New York in the early 1990's and worked with some notable New York City Interior Design Firms and he also opened his own firm in 1996, which he ran until 2009. He purchased Chelsea Frames in 1995 and it became the focus of his work. By 2009, it had become one of the most renowned framing studios in the USA, with customers all over the world. He left for a while and worked and designed for Larson-Juhl, but after seven years, he rejoined his partner, Jaclyn Acker, full time in Chelsea Frames, where he still works with Collectors, Designers, and clients on a daily basis. Listen in now and learn from a unique perspective, how you can incorporate fine art into your Design Projects with confidence! Today, LuAnn, Paul, and Daniel discuss: Daniel's perspective on the relationship between an Artist and a Framer and what he brings to the table when he works with an artist like Paul. How Daniel was recently approached by Larson-Juhl to do their booth presentation at the Art Expo New York 2017. How Daniel approached the Larson-Juhl booth at the Art Expo New York and framed Paul's pieces in three different ways so that he could effectively display both Larson Jewel's products and Paul's work. Paul's thought that the artist's work is elevated by what the Framer does with it. How Daniel guides designers to learn to develop an eye to select a really good frame. That it's really Daniel's job to listen. The three very different collection styles that Daniel used with the Larson-Juhl booth presentation. The effect that Daniel's work- the art of framing- has on Paul and his work. The real benefit of Artists, Framers, and Designers working collaboratively. How Daniel actually 'finished' one of Paul's pieces. Some tips for Designers to work better with Framers. That Daniel works regularly with Designers all over the world, so you can feel free to reach out to him. Paul's suggestion for making the best decision when choosing a frame. That there are some Designers who actually create the room around the art because it's such an important feature. Links: Daniel's email: [email protected]

Today’s guest is Kathy Kuo, an open, high-energy, talented designer, and Rockstar businesswoman. You may have seen her amazing Instagram feed or heard of the online boutique she founded, Kathy Kuo Home. She’s also a wife, mother, cook, and world traveler. Born in Taiwan, raised in Boston, and now settled in NYC, Kathy graduated from the Rhode Island School of Interior Design and has traveled to over 30 countries. She recently starred in the FYI Network’s Rowhouse Showdown and her designs have been featured in several lifestyle publications. She’s here to discuss her career, her design firm, and how Kathy Kuo Home can help you! What you’ll hear in this episode: The impetus behind the e-commerce site she founded 10 years ago: it later became Kathy Kuo Home How times have changed in the last 2-3 years Kathy’s site, and how it is consumer-facing and trade-facing Freedom and flexibility with online shopping How Kathy’s network functions to meet clients’ needs What it’s like working with celebrities Great topics on Kathy’s blog: The top three? How to answer awkward questions, How to mix metals, and How to create a design board Why your initial contract should include clear intention How to deal with a client’s inflamed remarks Vendors available at KKH E-design: how it works Why the presentation has to be significant Kathy’s “Get the Look” project collection Resources: www.kathykuohome.com (Find Kathy’s blog, shop, and design business information!) www.mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness (Find the special offer for listeners!)

The guest for today's Power Talk Friday is Jan Bowen, the Founder, and Principal of Strategic Solution Services. Jan is an author, a keynote speaker, a catalyst and a thought leader, with the central theme of her work being alignment. Jan talks about work aligning with life from both the inside and the outside. She is passionate about helping people to live their lives fully, through her work as an Author, a Coach, and a Public Speaker as well as through her business. Listen in to find out more about Jan and the really inspiring work she does. LuAnn could talk to Jan about any of the several aspects of coaching that she does- Leadership Coaching and working with teams or individuals, but the subject of intuition is the one that came up. There are so many things that LuAnn can teach, but she realized that although she's a huge believer in intuition and she's spent her whole life, since childhood, cultivating it, she feels that teaching people how to cultivate and follow their intuition isn't something that she can break down into actionable advice. Intuition has become so instinctive for her that she doubts she has the language to teach it. So, today LuAnn will talk about that with Jan, because Jan really knows how to teach people how to use it- it relates to leadership training and to interactions with clients. Listen in now and find out from Jan how you can cultivate your intuition and use it to enhance your life and business. Today, LuAnn talks to Jan about: How her intuition speaks to her. How she teaches people to cultivate their intuition. What people tend to think that intuition is. Allowing your intuition to build and develop. Keeping a log of your successes with your intuition. How to know the difference between just an idea and her intuition. That intuition is rational- it's not emotional. Starting with knowing what your personal feelings about intuition really are. That your intuition will never lead you into harm- it will save you. Your intuition is really your truest self, talking to you. Paying attention to ways that you get your intuitive messages and the miraculous patterns that they form. That many people get their intuitive messages when they're showering. Having goals for how you would like your intuition to work for you. How Jan uses her intuition in a unique way, within business relationships. The many, many areas in your life that intuition can really work for you. Keeping track of how your intuition talks to you, to increase the intuitive messages that you will receive. Clearing your clutter, to be still and better hear your intuitive voice. When you are physiologically busy, you can often be more open to hearing your intuition. Allowing your intuition to talk to you, as you really do have all the information that you need, for everything. Listening carefully to pick up the non-verbal messages that people are giving you. That your heart is really intelligent! Why you need to trust and follow your hunches. That using your intuition makes it grow stronger. Intuition is part of the human condition. Resources: Jan's books: It's Not That Complicated- How To Create A Personalised Template Of Alignment. Why Do You Get Up In The Morning?- Demystifying Life Purpose How To Hear What You Know Links: Jan's website: www.janlbowen.com Jan is also on Instagram, Linkedin, and Twitter

The guest on today's show is Jane Cunningham, the President, Principal Designer and CEO of Room Resolutions. Interestingly, Jane is also a classically trained musician- she used to be the Principal Clarinettist in the Honolulu Symphony. Jane describes how she is particularly skilled at finding her way through the intimacy of the second movement of a musical piece. LuAnn learned from Jane's website how Jane sees the second movement in music in correlation to the journey we have in our lives, seeking a different tempo in the second half, or sometimes even changing the theme, or using a different key. That got LuAnn thinking about Fred Berns (#174) and she found it interesting that Jane not only knows what her 'only' is, but she has it right there, on her website! Listen in and find out how Jane's skill as a classically trained musician and her specific talent for the second movement inform her both as an individual and as a Designer. Room Resolutions is a luxury Interior Design Firm, which is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, specializing in large scale residential and commercial renovation, as well as new builds. Jane runs Room Resolutions together with her daughter, Amanda, who is the firm's Design Manager. Amanda is responsible for educating the clients about the scope, the specifications and the details of the selections in the projects, from vendor relationships, procurement and expediting, to total Project Management, including the overseeing of the tradesmen and craftsmen. She also manages all the Social Media and website tasks. Sounds like a busy lady! Listen in now to find out more about the awesome firm that these two ladies run together! Today, Jane and LuAnn discuss: The 12 Core Values of her Company, that Jane has listed on her website. How Jane arrived at her Core Values. The value of being clear about who you are and what you want to convey to your clients. The more that people get to know who you are, the more you can stand out. That for Jane, there has to be an in-depth relationship with her clients, which starts with her being intrinsically honest about who she really is. Vulnerability- how it works for Jane in getting people to know who she really is. What Jane means by 'Champagne Professionals'. How Jane's firm keeps everything in really detailed and systemized order. Making sure that the communication is really clear when working on a project, by setting everything up in advance. Jane's process of avoiding glitches in the Designer world. Dealing effectively with changes, with clear communication. How Jane handles with her client communication, by corralling them in the beginning. How Jane ascertains if a client is right for her firm. Two questions that you could ask your potential clients, to tell you a lot about them. Some amazing things about Amanda!

Are you an Outlanders fan? If so, you're just going to love listening to the accent of today's guest! LuAnn warns you though, that if you're not, the first five to ten minutes of today's show aren't going to be your cup of tea! Today's guest is Laura Lochrin, who's originally from Scotland and she only moved here, with her husband and children, five years ago. She now lives in sunny California. Listen in to find out about Laura and the particular way that she goes about her business. LuAnn was really surprised to discover that Laura only opened her firm eight months ago. Today, they talk about the challenges that Laura faces in having a start-up design firm, two small children and a husband- all of this while living on the other side of the world from where she was raised! Listen in now, to their really fun conversation. Today, Laura talks to LuAnn about: What it was like for her, getting started in the USA. How she grew her Instagram following in such a short time. Her Instagram feed- how much of her own work is on it and how much of it is curated posts of other people's work. Laura's way of working with Instagram. How Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and now also Yelp are translating into business for Laura. Appealing to the right people for her kind of work, through her Instagram feed. Using Instagram as a Marketing Tool. Those things are starting to get a little hectic with her solo business, now. Time management- one of her biggest challenges at the moment. The challenges of being a working mom. How she makes things work, as a mom and a designer. That she developed the necessary confidence to do design work as a result of her background in advertising. Some of the challenges that she faces with her business, at the moment. How much she's learned from listening to LuAnn's Podcast! That she uses Design Manager to help with her administrative processes. That she falls a little more in love with MyDoma, every time she uses it. What she does that really helps her new business to thrive. How Laura structures her fees. That she knows the value of her work because she knows what she has to give up in her life, in order to make it happen. Making the time to go to the Industry Markets and to meet other designers. That her Superpower is all about the details- in every aspect of her life. Laura's website: Laura Lochrin Interiors

Today, LuAnn is delighted to be getting together again with Anna Brockway, who first appeared on episode #79 of the show. Anna is the CEO and founder of Charish, which is also one of the show's sponsors. Anna is back today, as there are some crazy new updates to Charish that she and LuAnn want to share with you. Listen in to find out more about Charish and why it's important to you, as Interior Designers. Charish is an Online Marketplace, which was started about four years ago. Three months ago, it had over 150 000 items available for sale on the site and nearly 1 000 000 buyers and sellers that do business there every month. Recently they've introduced a really cool virtual app that Interior Designers are going bananas about! Listen in now and find out more about Anna's really fun and fast growing business. If you're new to the show, please go back and listen to episode #79, to get the full story of how Anna started Charish and everything else that you need to know about it. Today, Anna talks to LuAnn about: A quick run down of what Charish is and how it helps Interior Designers with their businesses. That the transactions at Charish are similar to those on e-Bay. The delivery service that Charish provides. The advantages of using Charish for Interior Designers. The 'cash back' discount benefit, for Interior Designers who use Charish. The new and exciting things that have been recently added to the Charish platform, making it an even better tool for the Design Trade to use. How the fantastic, new, 'try it before you buy it' virtual app works. That you can use the app to do design work on your iPhone. Amazing ways that you could use the app. The really large range of prices available at Charish. The Charish Pink Book- a digital pricing guide. Their version of the Kelly Blue Book. The environmental advantages to buying vintage furniture. The styles and trends that are available at Charish. The value points for used furniture. Pricing for either time or money. Links: Anna's website: https://www.chairish.com

Are you bummed because you weren't able to attend the amazing Designerlebrity Event, which was held on the 17th of May at the gorgeous Ethan Allen Showroom in New York City? If so, have no worries, because we have the full audio for the event, right here for you, on today's show. Listen in now, to catch this special presentation. The panel for the event included Barbara Viteri, a brilliant business woman and the Creator of Designerlebrity, Cheryl Eisen, the Founder of Interior Marketing Group, Mikel Welsch, the Principal of Mikel Welsch Design and Manuella Morreira, the co-founder of the really beautiful New York Ethan Allan location. Today's show starts off with LuAnn's private, pre-show interview of the four panelists. After that, we go straight into the live panel discussion, which happened in front of all the attendees. Listen in to find out more about this outstanding Designer Event. Some highlights include: Mikel gives some inside info on Harry Connick Jr – that he really is as sweet and authentic as he seems to be, on his show! Mikel gives a brief synopsis of working with Steve Harvey. What it's like for Cheryl Eisen to work on the show with Frederick. That Cheryl staged Bethany's apartment and it sold within twenty-four hours – for over asking! What it's like for Cheryl, working with networks and doing amazing work that just doesn't get spoken about. Cheryl talks about the freedom of not having to design for a client and why people come to her. What it's like for Manuella, to design with the challenge of people from every walk of life coming into her showroom, in the middle of Manhattan. How Manuella got to where she is today. LuAnn explains what a wonderful and unique person and the astute businesswoman that Barbara Viteri really is! How Barbara got to where she is today. Barbara explains about the hot topics and the potentials in her great, new Designerlebrity.com thing that she's doing for the design community. Being prepared to be lucky! Barbara, Cheryl and Manuella's struggles on the way up and how they've grown beyond them. LuAnn's encouragement for you to take time to listen to the voice inside you, which will never lead you wrong. How Designers can help Celebrity Designers and grow in the industry. If you're a Designer and you have something going on, share it with Barbara and she will put it out on the Designerlebrity Platform if it's noteworthy. Cheryl answers Facebook Live questions about what was involved in her re-invention of herself and how she got started with doing staging of homes. Barbara's definition of what epitomizes a Designerlebrity. What makes a 'potential'. Links: Barbara's email: [email protected] To be on LuAnn's mailing list, send a text to 444 999 and put the word designbiz in the message field. Go to LuAnn's website: www.windowworks-nj.com to see The Designerlebrity Event streamed live on Facebook, through Tastefully Inspired. (Go to the To The Trade Blog and you'll see a whole recap there.) You can also see all the pictures on the sites and blogs of all the others – Ethan Allen, Designerlebrity, and even Tastefully Inspired has a post about it.

Do you sometimes look around and wonder if there could be different, or perhaps better ways to run your business more efficiently? If so, take heart and don't despair. Amber Lewis is back on the show today and she knows where you're at and what you're going through because she's been there. Today, Amber and LuAnn will go a bit deeper into the business side of what Amber does. They talk about how she discovered this podcast last winter and that she signed up for Kimberley Seldon's courses, because of even Amber, with a firm as successful and as large as hers, still wonders if there could be a better way to run things more effectively. Listen in today, as Amber shares her advice and the things she's learned along the way. Today, Amber talks to LuAnn about: Some of the things that she's struggled with and challenges that she's faced, in her business. How she had to fake it, to make it, in the beginning, when dealing with people that were way more professional and talented than she was. What it was that catapulted her into a level above her own, in the beginning. Being comfortable with evolving and knowing that your style could change often. Being firm in your convictions, if you trust your own style. That clients will tend to focus on your weakness if you let it show. Parenting and running a business. Figuring out invoicing in a way that makes sense to the client- it's everything! The importance of figuring out how to create a good contract. Studio Webware- Amber finds this to be an amazingly intuitive program. The importance of figuring out your system and the chain of command in your firm. How she really works really together with her whole team. That she understands and accepts that there will always be variables with the trade. That her organization takes overall responsibility for everything in a project. How she works very specifically with vendors and contractors. That client couldn't care less who's fault it is if there's a problem- It's your responsibility! Treating your job as if it's your business and learning as much as possible about all it's aspects if you intend starting out on your own, one day. That she's always learning, growing and being humbled. That there's always the human factor in business. Links: Amber's website: http://amberinteriordesign.com Amber's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberinteriors/

Do you realize how hard it can be to create a really successful experience for an intern in your business? LuAnn certainly does and this is one of the reasons that she asked Ranya Barrett to come onto the show today, to talk about the terrific Intern Program that she's set up at The House Of Funk. This program has both helped and developed the House Of Funk in the last year and the interns there have really benefited from the winning experience that Ranya has created for them. Listen in to find out more about Ranya's awesome Intern Program. For nearly a full year now, LuAnn has admired the enormous change and that Ranya, as a single individual, has brought to Sandra Funk's business. LuAnn has watched an extreme uplevel of their message, branding, marketing and focus since Ranya joined their firm in the Spring of 2016. Prior to that, Ranya was a Content Director, Writer, Editor and a Branding Consultant, with more than thirteen years in the industry. She's written and edited for Glamour Magazine, Glamour.com, Highlights Magazine and Scholastic Books. Ranya has a B.FA in Theatre, from New York University Tisch School Of The Arts and before taking up her current position as the Development Director at The House Of Funk, she was the Content Director at CA Creative, a New York-based Digital Media Agency. Listen in now, to find out more about Ranya and her really creative ways with interns. Today, Ranya talks to LuAnn about: That her Internship Program is an unpaid program, for school credit, so they cannot hire Interns if they're not getting school credit. Some creative ways to go about looking for the right Interns. Meeting the necessary criteria for the different colleges, when it comes to the credit requirements for the Interns. That The House of Funk have taken it upon themselves to have a Close Out Program with their Interns, where they write a letter of recommendation, highlighting the Intern's particular skills, of which they both keep a copy and send one to the Intern, to be used later, as a reference. The kinds of things that an Interior design Intern would need to turn into their school, at the end of a semester. The kinds of interns that The House Of Funk has had. The kinds tasks that Ranya has the Interns do. What prompted her to initiate her Internship Program in Sandra Funk's business and how those interns are a real benefit to the business. Tapping the skill sets of Graphic Design, Editorial or Video Interns, to your mutual benefit, in your business. That it's not really necessary to plan ahead, in order to have a productive workflow for the Interns in your business. How she manages situations where the Intern does not quite operate to the standard of quality that is required by the business. Using your instinct with Interns. Although you cannot expect to necessarily hire your awesome Intern, however, you might well be able to do that. How much time the Interns spend working in the business. Systems that she uses for monitoring the work of the Interns. The amount of time and guidance that's necessary for the Interns. That there will always be things that Interns can help you with, that will save you time and benefit them. The Six Points Of Law, regarding unpaid Internships. That Ranya takes in Interns for each semester. The number of applicants that usually apply for Internship and Ranya's advice for interviewing and vetting Interns, to find the right fit. That there will always be someone on your team, who could benefit from the assistance of an Intern.

Isn't it intriguing how we are sometimes lead to meeting certain people in strangely serendipitous ways? Today's guest, Christie Leu, met LuAnn in a really fun and unusual way. Listen in to find out what brought these two ladies together and why LuAnn wanted to have Christie on the show today. Christie, originally from Ohio, is the principal of Christie Leu Interiors in DC. She started out in her career as a working artist, participating in juried shows and selling her work through galleries, stores, and catalogs. However, after having completed some major renovations to a number of her own homes, she realized just how much she really loved every step involved in the Interior Design process. So she enrolled in Montgomery College when her children were in pre-school and she earned an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences in Interior Design, with a further specialization in Kitchen and Bath Design. Christie was a star student and she won the local version of the National Kitchen And Bath Design Competition and was also asked to serve on the Montgomery College Advisory Board for Interior Design. Listen in now to find out more about how Christie and her colleagues learn from each other and help one another to grow and develop their businesses. Today, Christie and LuAnn talk about: The hysterical story about how Christie and LuAnn met at IWCE. What happened with Christie, Darcy Heather, Lisa Escabar and Jessie Cooney at a Gail Doby Design Summit Event and their fabulous Mini Summit that ensued from that. How their Mini Summit really helped them to get to know one another and gave them a real understanding of the reasoning process that people have. The background behind Christie Leu Interiors. How Fred Berns (#174) helped her to discover that she's probably the only Artist Triplet Mom Interior Designer in the country- and how that's lead her to give her clients a really fabulous experience! That her assistant (Hired from Craig's List) also has triplets- the same age as hers! How being the mom of triplets helped her with her design process. What she really gained from the role play, during the Mini Summit. Why LuAnn really has no problem in asking for the money. The question of a standard markup on all products. Using historical data to help to arrive at an appropriate markup on products. Options for clients around flat fees and markups. Having boundaries with flat fee contracts. The benefits of listening to good and relevant podcasts. The work they did with the 'Energy Person' who was brought to their Mini Summit. That Christie prefers meeting with clients few times - how she keeps things efficient, in order to do that. Christie's website: www.christieleuinteriors.com

Get ready for today's show, with Angela Rassmussen of H2H design Plus Build, in San Jose, California. Angela is the definition of a go-getter and she's a firecracker, so LuAnn says that you may want to strap on your seat belt for this interview! Listen in and prepare yourself to be blown away! H2H Design plus Build is a really fun and dynamic firm, which was started in 2009 by Matt and Angela Rassmussen, specializing in convenient all in one service, from kitchen and bathroom, to master suites and additions. Today, H2H has become known, both locally and nationally, as an award winning Design Plus Build firm. Some of their awards include those from prestigious associations like NARI, NKBA, and HGTD, to name just a few. At H2H Design Plus Build, the focus is on a no-nonsense approach to bringing the best Design Solutions and Remodelling Services. Their service is turnkey and they are set apart from general contractors and other design plus build firms because they take care of every aspect of your renovation. Listen in now, to find out more about the firm that Matt and Angela started, with the intention to change the game in the Construction Industry. Today, Angela talks to LuAnn about: How she and Matt decided to start their business. Her success while at Design school, being an A+ student and getting onto Dean's List. How She and Matt just clicked when they met, both emotionally and business-wise. Their roles in the business when they first started out. How they started out slowly and built up, one job on top of the next. There really noteworthy early projects. How she implemented what she learned at school immediately, in the business. The growth and management of their team, over the years. The challenge of leading a team really well. Organization- her priority. What her ideal project looks like, from start to finish. The evolution of their company from kitchens and bathrooms, to bigger projects. That they handle every aspect of renovation, down to the appliances and finishes. Why their demographic market is more geared to renovation than building. The fun new cutting edge Home Automation Technology. The benefits of hiring professionals. Buildertrend- Their really good Track Your Project Their new design studio, opening in the next couple of months. Their other goals for the future. Angela's website: https://h2hpro.com

If you'd like to learn about the concept of Profit First and find out how you can really benefit from using it in your Design Business, you will gain a lot from today's Power Talk Friday with Michele Williams, one of the very few certified Profit First Coaches in the United States. LuAnn loves the idea of Profit First and she really wanted to bring it to the Interior Design community after hearing Mike Michalowicz talking about it on The Biz Chicks Podcast. So she asked Michele, who has been interviewed on the show once before, (#137) to come back and explain the concept. Listen in to find out more. Michele is a truly gifted Business Coach. Before becoming a coach, she worked in the Financial Software Industry and ran a business as a Soft Window Treatment Fabricator. She has a BS in Business Administration and a diploma in Christian Life Coaching as well as her Profit First certification. Listen in now, to find out all you need to know about Profit First. Today, Michele talks to LuAnn about: What Profit First is all about and how it works. How Michele initially got going with Profit First. Why so many designers really need Profit First for their business. Bookkeepers and accountants are amazing, however, they are only going to work with the figures that the business owner gives them. How Profit First can help business owners understand how much money they really have available for themselves. How Profit First's view of profit differs from that of GAPS. That Profit First doesn't change the way you're doing your accounting, it changes the bank accounts that money gets allocated to. That Profit First changes the way that you're making your spending decisions. Some of the terms that are used by Profit First and what they refer to. What is meant by Real Revenue? That you have to sell the right product to the right person at the right price and then you need to manage the money. That it's not enough to build top line if you're spending all the money. Parkinson's Law, human nature and why you take profit first. That being honest and clear about your figures is really important. The benefit of moving money out to separate bank accounts, for your financial security. Your five main accounts- with Profit First. That staying consistent is key for this to work. Where a lot of business owners tend to get into trouble. That Profit First helps you move from cash flow negative to cash flow neutral, to cash flow positive. How Profit first can help you out of a hole, if you're in debt and willing to do the work. The beauty in Profit First working on percentages, for the natural ebbs and flows of your business. An instant assessment that you can do now, for your business. Owning your numbers, a bit at a time. Pricing for value and not to cover your needs. Links: Michele's website: www.scarletthreadconsulting.com Michele's email: [email protected] Michele on Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Your Coupon Code for 10% off Michele's Passion For Profit online course: WDB10 Resource: Book: Profit First by Mike Michalowicz is available from Amazon, or other good book stores.

The guest on today's show is Lynn Leonidas, the really intentional principal of Lynn K. Leonidas Design and Decoration, in the San Francisco Bay Area. LuAnn had quite an 'aha moment' when she first started talking to her, as she suddenly realized that Lynn had achieved some really awesome things and has been published in some truly notable places, after only running her own firm for two years! Listen in to find about the really remarkable way that Lynn launched her business. Lynn takes particular pride in her relationships with her vendors, which she says comes from having a contractor father, who taught her all about building techniques and materials. Lynn has a degree in Interior Design and Architecture and another in English Language and Literature. Her work has been featured in Sunset, Domino, Lonny, Rue and also in Refinery 29. Prior to starting her own business, Lynn worked in Interior Design in the Bay Area for ten years. She first worked at The Workroom for two years, doing window coverings, soft furnishings, and upholstery. This is where she says that she probably got the best education for doing what she does now. After that, she became a Project Manager at The Workroom and then after that, she did Project Management for a couple of other designers, before striking out, on her own. Join LuAnn and Lynn now and find out how Lynn intentionally set out to achieve her success. Today, Lynn talks to LuAnn about: How she's been able to achieve so much in only two years. Her strategy, once she knew that the article about her was coming out in Domino Magazine, in six months time. The Consultant (Christa Cooper Communications) and Business Coach (Sarah, of Anchor and Orbit) who really encouraged her to go out on her own. How she landed a featured in Domino Magazine, before even going out on her own! What she did to be prepared, after deciding to start her business. How she started out, using a friend's network, before having a portfolio to show people. The great opportunity to do a gut renovation, that presented itself to her, as she was starting out. How her Business Consultant helped her to develop her dream and business plan and to decide about the kind of work that she really wanted to take on. How she handled the clients who were not able to meet her budget requirements. How she's evolved to being totally comfortable with talking openly to people about their decorating budgets. Her past experience with Project Managing and with Bookkeeping, and how these have really helped her in her own business. Her experience with working in editorial and how it helped her later, as a designer, to understand the fits for the various publications. The importance of doing the research and getting to know the target market of each publication. How she determines which projects are portfolio-worthy. The roles of her two employees. How she promotes her business and gets her name out there. Using a vision board to create inspiration, when your portfolio is still small. Some tips to gain confidence, when starting out as a designer. Her opinion about working for free, for friends or family, when starting out. That transparency is a huge part of how she runs her business. Her plans for the month of May, and some of her short-term plans for the future. The changes in her business model that Lynn is planning. Links: Website: http://lynnkleonidas.com/

The guest on today's show is Monique Duarte. She's a brilliant business person and the founder and principal of Duarte Decor in New Jersey and the founder of Duarte Consulting, where she coaches Interior Decorators to help them to run their businesses better. Monique has traveled the world gathering inspiration and ideas for her design work. Listen in and find out more about Monique and the fabulous work that she does. Monique is an active member of The National Association of Professional Women of the International Interior Decorator's Association and she's also a member of the Certified Interior Decorator's Association. She holds a number of degrees, including a Career Degree in Interior Decorating and in Autocad Design, a Bachelor's in International Business, with a specialization in Economics and Marketing and a Master's Degree in Interactive and Direct marketing. Monique was awarded Woman Of The Year for Interior Decorating in New Jersey in 2013 by the NAPW and her work has been featured in Your Decorating Resource and in Moxy Magazine. As a Design Coach, Monique combines more than ten years of marketing experience with her design knowledge. She has had five years of experience in running her own seven-figure Interior Decorating business, which reached six figures in its very first year- while Monique was still working in her full-time job! Listen in now, to find out how Monique managed to achieve all of that! Today, Monique talks to LuAnn about: How her ten years in advertising and marketing have informed the things she does to run her own business profitably. The really creative family that Monique comes from. How she realized that she had a gift for decorating, after buying her first home. Her first project, when she started her business as a side-hustle, eight years ago. Where and how she managed to find herself a mentor and how she cultivated a good working relationship with him. Why she really recommends finding a mentor or coach. That her mentor taught her that there is enough to go around. What the Local Experience and an International Experience, that she offers on her website, are all about. Her Eight Key Steps To Building A Profitable Design Business. The importance of figuring out who you are and who you want to work with. That she's always looking out for what's coming next and sharing that with designers. That the way you package and present what you have to offer is really important. That she always talks to clients upfront about how she works to set their expectations. Having a strong enough mindset to only work with the clients that really fit with you. The power of connection, networking with the right people and going to the right events. Submitting your design work for contests, as a marketing move. A book that Monique really recommends- Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. Links: Monique's website: www.duarteconsulting.net To request to join Monique's Facebook group, type 'Interiors Guide To Profitability' into the search box on Facebook, or you can do it via her website, above. Resource: Book: Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

The guest on today's Power Talk Friday is Sarah Daniele, the CEO, and Co-founder of My Doma Studio, a sexy software which was built specifically for the Interior Design Industry. Sarah appeared on the show (#91) last November and then she became a sponsor for the podcast. LuAnn and her partners were all so truly impressed with the platform that Sarah has created that they actually invested in My Doma Studio, which is used by a lot of the Designers that LuAnn works with. Listen in to find out how My Doma Studio can really help you to keep a lot of balls in the air at the same time. Sarah has a degree in Interior Design. She spent four or five years working for other Designers and then opened her own Design firm, with her focus on renovations, kitchens, and bathrooms. In episode #91 Sarah explains that while she was working for other Design Companies, she found no Project Management Systems in place at all, so Sarah, a highly intelligent, technical and organized person, developed her own system. Today, Sarah talks to LuAnn about some of the really cool things that have been happening with My Doma Studio. They have been featured recently in a number of publications- Editor At Large, Kitchen And Bath, Kitchen And Bath Design News, and Home Accents. Listen in now to find out more about Sarah's great system, which has really attracted a lot of well-earned buzzes lately! Today, Sarah talks to LuAnn about: The new things that are coming out with My Domo Studio. Sarah's recipe for growing and scaling your Design Business. What went into their latest, brand new version, based on feedback from Designers. Some of the things that the new version has, that's different from the original. How her program has been designed to really assist with easy collaboration. How unlikely it would be to accidentally, or inadvertently communicate with a client, using Sarah's system. The great advantages of her new system. The kind of communication that the system makes possible, for different projects. How this system makes for better organization with projects. How checklists can be used in context, within the system. That My Doma Studio has automatic updates. That you can try Sarah's system out for thirty days for free. Links: Sarah's website: https://www.mydomastudio.com

If you're interested in hearing about innovative designers who are also really good at business, you're in for a treat! The guests today are Carolina Gentry and Beth Dotolo of Pulp Design. LuAnn really wanted to have them on her show. She's been researching designers for the last year and a half and some of them have videos on their websites. Some of the videos are better than others, however, when she looked at those on Beth and Carolina's website, they were so good that she just wanted to keep on watching! She really enjoyed how their personalities come across in a subtle, yet distinctive way and also that their high regard for one another is very clear. Listen in and find out why LuAnn couldn't stop herself from falling in love with these two adorable rock stars! Some of the videos are better than others, however, when she looked at those on Beth and Carolina's website, they were so good that she just wanted to keep on watching! She really enjoyed how their personalities come across in a subtle, yet distinctive way and also that their high regard for one another is very clear. Listen in and find out why LuAnn couldn't stop herself from falling in love with these two adorable rock stars! She's been researching designers for the last year and a half and some of them have videos on their websites. Some of the videos are better than others, however, when she looked at those on Beth and Carolina's website, they were so good that she just wanted to keep on watching! She really enjoyed how their personalities come across in a subtle, yet distinctive way and also that their high regard for one another is very clear. Listen in and find out why LuAnn couldn't stop herself from falling in love with these two adorable rock stars! Pulp Design has studios in both Seattle and in Dallas and their team has been recognized and published by Architectural Digest, The Traditional Home and New York Times Magazine. Beth has received an ASID Legacy Of Design Award and she was also named Best Designer in Dallas in 2011 and in 2012. Fashion Group International recognized her as a rising star in Interior Design and she's been named Dallas Design Glitteratti by Modern Luxury Magazine. Carolina has had more than fifteen years of experience in Interior Design and in Project management, with her work including award-winning New Construction and Renovated projects in Hospitality, Residential and Multi-family. Some of her projects have been for high-end hospitality brands, like Ritz Carlton, Hyatt Regency, Hilton and Mariotte, with her projects spanning all the way from New York City to Asia. Carolina was also a recipient of an ASID Legacy Of Design Award and she's also been recognized as a rising star in Interior Design by Fashion Group International. LuAnn had so much fun talking to these ladies and she knows you're really going to enjoy today's episode. Listen in now! Carolina has had more than fifteen years of experience in Interior Design and in Project management, with her work including award-winning New Construction and Renovated projects in Hospitality, Residential and Multi-family. Some of her projects have been for high-end hospitality brands, like Ritz Carlton, Hyatt Regency, Hilton and Mariotte, with her projects spanning all the way from New York City to Asia. Carolina was also a recipient of an ASID Legacy Of Design Award and she's also been recognized as a rising star in Interior Design by Fashion Group International. LuAnn had so much fun talking to these ladies and she knows you're really going to enjoy today's episode. Listen in now! Carolina has had more than fifteen years of experience in Interior Design and in Project management, with her work including award-winning New Construction and Renovated projects in Hospitality, Residential and Multi-family. Some of her projects have been for high-end hospitality brands, like Ritz Carlton, Hyatt Regency, Hilton, and Mariotte, with her projects spanning all the way from New York City to Asia. Carolina was also a recipient of an ASID Legacy Of Design Award and she's also been recognized as a rising star in Interior Design by Fashion Group International. LuAnn had so much fun talking to these ladies and she knows you're really going to enjoy today's episode. Listen in now! Today, LuAnn talks to Beth and Carolina about: What went into creating their beautifully done videos. That they wanted to create videos that people can really relate to. How the videos really save them so much time. The steps that went into the creation of their video. What they wanted to communicate with their video. How long it took to film all their videos. How Carolina managed to overcome her camera shyness. How much they invested in making their video. How quickly they started making a return on their investment. How they started out with their company ten years ago. How they decided that they could work with a two hour time difference. The support group that they work with. That even though they work

My guest today is Judi Kieffer, who has over 24 years’ experience in hospitality, luxury residential, and restaurant design. Her portfolio is full of top tier projects and satisfied clients. In our conversation, she shares advice about how she built and now manages her design firm in Boise, Idaho. Judi is involved as an advocate for the personal and professional development and for sustainable products and developments. She participates in several local philanthropic and civic groups and is a mentor for women’s and children’s organizations. She was recently appointed as a spokesperson for the American Society of Interior Designers and is a certified Green Globe auditor. Her passions are yoga, fine wine, riding horses, hiking, and inspiring other designers to run more profitable and enjoyable businesses. Join me for this conversation with Judi! What you’ll hear in this episode: How Judi’s career began, working for three different companies before opening her own firm The benefits of experience, classes, and various job positions before going out on your own What it’s like to build your own design firm in the beginning: cold calling, mailings, projects, and referrals What the builder or architect needs to hear from the commercial designer: how our services can fit into your project How to use directories for leads on upcoming commercial projects How to find free top sheets in your local area The benefits of long-term relationships in the design business Judi’s recommendations for software, including Quickbooks, Studio Designer, and MORE! The challenges as your business grows: having systems in place and using personality profiles as you add more people to your team Day-to-day running the firm: journals and calendars Judi’s superpower? Using the interior as a marketing tool Clear practices for charging fees Judi’s advice to a new designer with no portfolio: show your passion and excitement, have confidence, ask questions, and present solutions Judi’s interest in green building products The recent surge in green products Advice Judi’s received that is still with her: Be absolutely true to your passion Honor yourself Allow yourself time to breathe, renew, and relax Be transparent in communication What’s ahead for Judi? Hiring an office manager and hosting eco-glamping retreats Resources: Find out more about Judi! www.kiefferdesigngroup.com For the free WindowWorks newsletter, text 444-999 and enter “designbiz” www.usgbc.org (Find out more about green building products) Search the GreenWorks or Green Standard group in your local area Judi recommends the following books: ECO-preneuring by John Ivanko The Northwest Green Home Primer by K.L. Smith and Kathleen O’Brien The Philosophy of Sustainable Design by Jason F. McLennan Women in Green by Kira Gould and Lance Hosey Value Pricing for the Design Firm by Frank Stasiowski A Guide to Principles and Practices for Interior Designers by Harry Sigel Marketing and Selling Design Services by Mary V. Knackstedt Interior Designers Business Handbook by Mary V. Knackstedt