The Interior Design Business CEO

What if the stress you're feeling with clients or your team isn't actually about what they're doing, but about what you expect them to do without ever saying it? In this episode, I introduce the concept of manuals, those unwritten operating rules you have for other people, and how they quietly create frustration, miscommunication, and emotional friction in your interior design business. I walk you through what manuals are, how to spot them, and why they lead to disappointment when they go unspoken. You'll learn how these hidden expectations show up in your relationships with clients, team members, and partners, and why relying on others to meet them keeps you stuck in frustration. I also share a simple exercise to help you identify your own manuals and begin releasing the ones that are no longer serving you. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/167 If you love what you're learning on the show, and want to learn how I can support you, click here to learn more about coaching: https://desicreswell.com/coaching Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

What if better clients and smoother projects start long before you ever begin designing? In this episode, I sit down with Jaquilyn Edwards of Ochre & Beige to talk about how the words you use on your website, in consultations, and throughout your process, shape the kind of clients you attract and the experience you create. This conversation is all about being more intentional with your messaging so you can build trust earlier and lead your projects with more clarity and confidence. Join us this week to hear how language can either strengthen your positioning or quietly undermine it, why leading is more effective than justifying, and how your values can come through in ways that create a stronger connection with best fit clients. Jaquilyn also shares how small shifts in wording can influence client behaviour, reduce pushback, and support a more aligned and collaborative working relationship from inquiry to install. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/166 Access the free Get It Done Daily Planner: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

Are you carrying too much in your head right now? Between client details, timelines, delegation, and daily decisions, it can feel like your brain never fully turns off. In this episode, I introduce the concept of a digital brain and explain how creating external storage for your ideas, systems, and responsibilities can dramatically lighten your mental load and support a more efficient interior design business. I share why your human brain was never meant to hold everything and how relying on memory alone increases overwhelm and mistakes. You'll learn how to create simple, centralized digital spaces that protect your time and mental bandwidth, support better delegation, and reduce the constant looping of unfinished tasks. When you free up mental space, you create more room for creativity, thoughtful leadership, and strategic growth in your design business. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/165 Access the free Get It Done Daily Planner: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by time? How you relate to time has a significant impact on how you manage your business and personal goals. Shifting your mindset can help you move from a place of pressure and scarcity to one of ease, allowing you to focus on what matters most. In this episode, I guide you through the process of reshaping your relationship with time. By viewing it as a resource that supports you, you'll feel more control over your day and less stressed about meeting your goals. This shift will help you use time intentionally, making it work in your favor. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/164 Access the free Get It Done Daily Planner: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

How do you build a schedule that actually supports the way you work instead of constantly working against you? So many designers try to copy someone else's routine or force themselves into a structure that looks good on paper but falls apart in real life. The result is frustration, inefficiency, and a constant feeling of being behind before the day even begins. In this episode, I walk you through how to create a daily and weekly rhythm that reflects your workstyle, capacity, and responsibilities as a design CEO. Rather than prescribing a rigid formula, I share the principles and questions I use with my clients to help you design a schedule that bends with the realities of client work, team leadership, creative demands, and personal life. This is about building a framework that supports focus, momentum, and flexibility without burning you out. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/163 Access the free Get It Done Daily Planner: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

That feeling of always thinking you could have done more, wishing you were farther along, or feeling behind is something many designers experience. In this episode, I'm sharing my own struggle of closing out the year with a clean slate, only to feel like it wasn't enough. We'll focus on how to manage your time and plan effectively while cultivating the feeling of completeness. You'll learn how to interrupt the emotional patterns that keep you stuck in the "never enough" cycle and why embracing completeness creates momentum. You'll also discover how to become a boss you can trust, one who honors their word and takes time off when promised. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/162 Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

What happens when you set your goals as if the start of the year is a blank slate? In this episode, I am looking at the reality that you are already carrying client work, ongoing commitments, and your personal life into the new year. The key to making steady progress is understanding the whole cost of your goals so you do not overextend yourself or your team. I am sharing the number one consideration you need before setting your 2026 goals and why the whole cost matters for every decision you make. You will learn how to break goals into manageable steps and choose priorities that match your capacity rather than your wish list. This approach will help you plan with confidence and choose goals that you can follow through on all year long. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/161 Sign up for Create Your 2026 Roadmap to join us on January 9th and 16th, 2026: https://www.desiid.com/2026roadmap Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

What if you could close out the year with intention, rather than rushing ahead to the next? In this episode, I'm guiding you through a reflection practice that will help you honor the past year before stepping into the next. This isn't just another end-of-year exercise. This practice will directly influence how you set your goals for the coming year by shaping how you see yourself as a business owner. The exercise I'm sharing is a letter-writing practice to past you, reflecting on everything you've done this year with gratitude. We're not focused on evaluating results or what you missed. This is about appreciating your growth, the challenges you overcame, and the person you've become along the way. By honoring your journey, you strengthen the identity of someone who shows up, creates wins, and evolves as a resilient CEO. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/160 Sign up for Create Your 2026 Roadmap to join us on January 9th and 16th, 2026: https://www.desiid.com/2026roadmap Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

What do you need to do to achieve your goals in 2026? All of us have set points, what we are comfortable having and doing, and where we hold ourselves back. In this episode, I'm diving into how these invisible barriers show up as "floors and ceilings" in your interior design business. These floors are what you're stuck to or cannot move beyond, while ceilings represent the bigger goals and what you need to break through to reach them. The identity shifts required to achieve your 2026 goals are an essential part of sustainable business growth. I'm exploring how your past, present, and future self concept directly impacts what you are able to create in your company. While this episode is rooted in mindset, you'll walk away with tangible takeaways you can start using immediately as you dream up what you want to create and achieve in 2026. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/159 Sign up for Create Your 2026 Roadmap and get early bird pricing until December 16, 2025: https://www.desiid.com/2026roadmap Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the year-end rush? As the holidays approach, the pressure to finish tasks, meet deadlines, and prepare for the new year can feel intense. But what if you could reduce the stress, stay on top of your business, and still enjoy the season? In this episode, I'm walking you through a planning strategy to help you wrap up the year with clarity and confidence. I'll share my approach to creating a "bridge plan" that transitions you smoothly from Q4 to Q1, helping you prioritize what needs to be done now and what can wait until January. You'll learn how to create a "soft landing, smooth takeoff," avoiding that last-minute scramble and starting the new year refreshed. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/158 For the resources mentioned in this episode or to stay tuned for details about Create Your 2026 Roadmap, click here: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

Do you struggle with marketing? Marketing your interior design business requires visibility and connection with potential clients. For introverts who prefer smaller groups and more intimate interactions, traditional marketing advice can feel overwhelming and misaligned with their natural working style. The challenge becomes finding ways to share your work authentically while honoring your temperament and energy levels. In this episode, I'm exploring how to create marketing strategies that align with your individual strengths and preferences as a business owner. Whether you identify as an introvert, extrovert, or somewhere in between, the key is understanding that effective marketing doesn't require you to be someone you're not. I share personal examples of how I structure my marketing activities to support my introverted nature while still achieving business growth. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/157 For the resources mentioned in this episode or to stay tuned for details about Create Your 2026 Roadmap, click here: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

Big goals and bold changes often come with a surprising amount of resistance. Whether it's a shift you know needs to happen or a dream you keep putting off, the tug of war between wanting to move forward and feeling frozen can leave you exhausted. That resistance isn't a sign you're unprepared or unmotivated; it's fear doing its job of trying to keep you safe from uncertainty. In this episode, I'm sharing a coaching tool called a fear inventory that helps you get unstuck, build confidence, and take aligned action on the things you've been avoiding. I walk you through how I've used this process to make some of my biggest business decisions, including shifting the podcast schedule, closing my design practice, and investing in new levels of support, and how this same strategy can help you move through your own pivotal moments with more ease and clarity. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/156 For the resources mentioned in this episode or to book a strategy session to work 1:1 with me, click here: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

How do you make decisions that honor both your business goals and your energy as the owner? Every decision about where I invest my time, money, and mental bandwidth shapes not only my bottom line but also my day-to-day experience as a business owner. The most sustainable businesses come from taking a holistic approach, listening to both the data and my gut when making decisions. In this behind-the-scenes episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my own business to show how I make choices about resources and navigate changes as priorities shift. You'll get a real-world look at strategic decision-making in action. Plus, I share an important announcement about changes to the podcast schedule and how this shift demonstrates exactly how I'm walking my talk when it comes to resource allocation and running toward what I want to create in my business. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/155 For the resources mentioned in this episode or to book a strategy session to work 1:1 with me, click here: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources Sign up to my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

This week, I'm pausing to share a powerful question for you to journal or think through. I also suggest revisiting a past episode with a fresh perspective for new takeaways. Next Wednesday, I'll be back with a big announcement about the podcast and a behind-the-scenes look at how I'm navigating changes in my business. For the resources available to you or to book a strategy session to work 1:1 with me, click here: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources

Sometimes the smallest tasks create the biggest mental weight. That pile of papers on your desk, the drawer you've been meaning to organize, the business process that needs updating – they sit there, taking up space in your mind every single day. The energy you spend thinking about these undone tasks often exceeds the energy required to actually complete them. In this pep talk episode, I share a simple four-step process for moving past avoidance and procrastination to finally tackle those lingering tasks. Using my own closet overhaul as a real-world example, I walk through exactly how I shift from endless postponement to actual completion. The same process works for personal projects and business tasks that keep getting bumped to next week's to-do list. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/154 For the resources mentioned in this episode or to book a strategy session to work 1:1 with me, click here: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources

How do you protect creative time when you're balancing a design business, family life, and a packed calendar? For designer CEOs, carving out dedicated time to create the vision for new projects isn't just a luxury; it's essential for project success and team clarity. In this follow-up to last week's listener Q&A, I'm diving into the practicalities of defining and honoring creative time as part of your regular workflow, even while managing team delegation and project reviews. I'm also reflecting on my own summer slowdown, including what went right, what didn't, and the lessons learned along the way. From perfectionism showing up in unexpected ways to finding powerful personal growth before summer even began, I'm pulling back the curtain on my experience. You'll learn how to manage expectations, re-decide on your plans without guilt, and set boundaries that actually stick. Plus, I'll share the phrase that's helped me extend the same grace to myself that I naturally give to others. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/153 For the resources mentioned in this episode or to book a strategy session to work 1:1 with me, click here: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources

How do you manage growing pains when bringing on a new employee while keeping your business running smoothly? That's the question one listener asked, and it's one many designers face when adding their first junior designer. Stepping into leadership, delegating effectively, and staying productive can feel like a delicate balance, especially when client projects and daily design work don't pause for training. This episode kicks off a two-part Q&A series following CEO Summer School. I dive into practical strategies for onboarding and managing a new team member, pinpointing where delegation often breaks down, and building systems that actually work. I also tackle how to make major business decisions when multiple exciting paths are available, whether that's growing your current business, pivoting to support other designers, or niching down further. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/152 For the resources mentioned in this episode, click here: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources