Cynthia Bleskachek is with us today to share a business challenge. She has been doing upholstery professionally since 2001 and is the owner of The Funky Little Chair which focuses on hands-on education for aspiring professionals.  

Joining us today is Shari Walla, owner of Accent Custom Drapery in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Shari is a to the trade workroom and is sharing a business challenge with us today. As you listen, you will hear that the challenge may be presenting as one thing – but that there is a different fear and challenge behind it. Maybe this has happened to you.

On the podcast today, we're talking all about growing your interior design, business, and scaling. Isn't that a great topic to kick off the year? My hope is that by the end of the podcast, the idea of scaling is not something scary, but something that you feel like you can tackle. I remember the first time I was asked how I was going to scale my business, and honestly, it got a little irritated. In my mind, all I could think of was Dang, I just started this business. While I've already got to start thinking about that. The truth is that earlier you think about it, the better. And so today, we're going to talk about the indicators that it might be time to scale, what scaling might look like, and hence it's not the same for everybody and what are some actionable steps that you can take.

With me again on the podcast is Ceil DiGuglielmo. Ceil and I had a joint podcast at the end of 2018 and agreed to do another based on the feedback. Ceil is owner of the Curtain and Soft Furnishings Library as well as Sew Much More podcast and also a drapery workroom by the same name. We are going to share how we approach a review of our company at year-end, how our thoughts and impressions impact our goal setting, what our goals look like, and the exercises we go through to help form our thinking and intentions. We would love for you to share your exercises and thoughts with us after you listen. Enjoy the podcast.

Welcome to another episode of PIAC and our Business Challenges Series. In this series, business owners share their challenges and we work through some methods to solve the problems they are facing. Even if your challenge is not the same, listen in to see if the methods and thought processes could apply to you. 

Our business challenge today is from Sheri Corey of Style and Stich in Homewood, Alabama. Sheri is pivoting in her business to also prepare for the end game – retirement. Listen in as we dig into the fear that is surrounding her pivot and the often present Imposter Syndrome.

The podcast today is part of a new series called Business Challenges. In this series, business owners share their challenges and we work through some methods to solve the problems they are facing. Even if your challenge is not the same, listen in to see if the methods and thought processes could apply to you. 

Our first business challenge is from Annette Faber of Kaylee’s Creations in Greenville, SC. Annette is a to the trade workroom and is looking to scale. Her vision of the future of her business has a bit of a twist to it – and this twist can change the course of her business based on how she implements. 

On the podcast today is Brenda Thompson, owner and lead designer at HouseLift Design. She is a designer in the Metro Atlanta area and started it as a second career after 20 years working in corporate. Brenda and I are going to talk about three main topics today: transitioning from corporate to being an entrepreneur, how she scaled her business and realized she could not do everything, and creating a work/life balance.  

Brenda is open and transparent about her journey and that makes it such a great discussion. My bet is that each person listening will find some area of the conversation that resonates with their own journey. I know I saw many parallels with my story.

On the podcast today we are going to talk about transparency in pricing. We hear it all the time. The need to be transparent. I am going to tell you right now, there should be some boundaries around this - and spoiler alert – I don’t think we need to tell our clients everything. Listen to the podcast to hear the argument for being transparent in our process but guarded in our pricing.

Joining me on the podcast today is Sherry Wilson, owner of Business By The Book which provides bookkeeping services across the country. Sherry started her business as a side hustle in 2013 and I met her in 2014. She has grown the firm to more than 5 people and now has a location outside of her home. 

Sherry and her team strive to offer excellent service and industry understanding. Some of their offerings include budgeting, payroll, and sales tax filing in addition to the normal bookkeeping services we all need. Sherry and her team have multiple certifications and stay on top of the latest and greatest changes each year.

Cindy Lin is on the podcast today. She is a home staging educator, podcaster and the founder of Staged4more School of Home Staging.  Her podcast, The Home Staging Show,  is the longest-running and the #1 podcast on iTunes dedicated to home staging.  Her goal is to provide modern, practical and quality home staging education to help home stagers excel and build profitable and sustainable businesses.  

In our time together today, we focused on what staging is, how Cindy got started and some of the pivots she has had in entrepreneurship. Cindy is always learning and trying to stretch herself. Listen in as she shares where she thinks she got that drive. 

Amber De La Garza is on the podcast today. She is a productivity specialist who helps entrepreneurs create actionable solutions to maximize profit, reduce stress and to focus on what matters most to them. Amber also hosts a podcast, Productivity Straight Talk. She and I met at Podcast Movement, a conference for podcasters in late summer. After realizing how many connections we had in common over a lunch meeting, we hit it off. Amber focuses on productivity as a means to leverage profits – and you know I love that!

On our podcast today Amber shares what she considers to be productivity and what is not. You just might be surprised. We also dig into how to quickly determine if what you are doing in your business is really productive and profitable. 

On the podcast today, I have my husband Joel.  I am pretty excited and just a little bit scared about the conversation that we're going to have…but I think it's going to be fun for many of you. My listeners have asked what my husband thinks about what I do, so I'm going to ask him some questions.

Jamie Lieberman joins the podcast today. Jamie is a lawyer and founder of Hashtag Legal. Jamie describes her firm as not only your lawyer, but a partner in your business. I love that description. Her firm focuses on helping you maximize your profit while protecting your assets. And who can’t get behind that!  

Jamie and I met at Podcast Movement this summer. And as you can hear me share with Jamie in our discussion – she was so approachable. Honestly, after a quick meeting, I was a little shocked that she was an attorney. Not because she was not professional – quite the opposite. She was professional and approachable – and that is not always expected from the legal profession.  

Richelle Plett, of RLP Interiors is with us on the podcast today for a second time. Richelle joined us initially on Episode 8  in 2018 entitled, Stepping Back can be a Growth Strategy. At that time Richelle shared that she was closing her custom upholstery shop after many years and many iterations – as well as the difficulty she was facing from not having a scalable business – and not digging into the financials earlier.  

Since then, Richelle is finding new ways to push through after implementing Profit First and is continuing to push forward with courage into the new challenges and opportunities that are before her. In our conversation today – we are focusing on how to pick up and move forward. How to readjust our view and how to work without a safety net.  

On the podcast today is Amy Ferrer of Miko and Boone Home. Amy and I have been friends for quite a few years. Probably since 2013 when I met her through another colleague. Amy is just one of a kind and I'm so excited to bring this podcast to you today. What we're going to talk about is her journey in business and how she uses it to encourage other designers.

Amy started off as a drapery workroom and she definitely has a heart for designers. I don't think I've ever met anybody who expresses their passion the way Amy does.

On today’s podcast we are talking about trust. What is it, how to tell if you have it, and why it matters.

With us on the podcast today is the Trim Queen – Jana Platina Phipps. Jana is an expert in all things trimmings and as the title of this episode of the podcast, she believes embellishment is a creative form of self-expression. Jana will share with us her start with embellishments and where it has taken her. Topics we cover include unexpectedly finding a passion that you were not actively seeking, stepping out in faith and not fear, and pivoting when needed. This was such a fun conversation and I know you are going to enjoy it.

With me today is Jennifer Smith of JLS Designs in middle Tennessee (just outside of Nashville).  Jennifer began her business almost 20 years ago focused on window coverings. She now offers design services to her clients as well. 

Jennifer has a vast portfolio of clients. She has completed design projects for Fortune 500 executives, some of the country’s most talented music and athletic industry professionals and hundreds of families to meet their home design and decor needs.  Her expertise and attention to detail has helped clients renting one-bedroom apartments and owners of multimillion-dollar estates. Her work has transformed area homes, schools, and office suites across the region. 

Jennifer is an active member of the Window Coverings Association of America where she serves on their board of directors. She is also an active member of the Williamson County Business Chamber (Williamson Inc), Professional Drapery Workrooms in Middle Tennessee, Drapery and Design Network, and America’s Window Covering Buying Network. She also has a monthly design column featured on the online daily news resource for all things stylish in your life, Style Home Page. 

Ashley Uhl is the owner of Ashley Uhl Consulting which offers client service consulting for designers. Ashley has been cultivating a love of service her entire lifetime. Traveling extensively throughout the world early on in life, she developed an incredible respect, understanding, and interest in the five star service she encountered.

Wow, I cannot believe that we are a year into this podcast journey of Profit is a choice. I am not sure if you all heard my beginnings in podcasting – but I started investigating a podcast in 2016. At that time, I determined the amount of time it would take was time I did not have available – so I shelved it. Then in 2018, I was able to create sustainable time in my calendar to create and produce the podcast. And now – here we are. On this episode we are going to do a year of review and highlights – so much goodness has happened this year and I was reminded of the value this podcast has brought into the world as I looked back.