So, I did a thing. I took my business on vacation. We had such a wonderful time together. Just me and Scarlet Thread Consulting. I had been thinking of this and wanting to do this trip for a while, but the timing was not working. On this podcast I am going to share the 3 benefits of taking your company on a vacation.

With me today is Jessica Harling of Behind the Design. Jessica loves to work with organizations to create training and operational systems to inspire their employees, streamline costs and develop a Rockstar culture. On the podcast today we are going to tackle the topic of employee retention. What are the 5 big tips to creating an environment where our employees want to hang around and work for the success of all? Enjoy the podcast.

I am so excited to speak with you today regarding managing the money goals in your business. On our last podcast together, episode 138, we discussed the 5 main money goals that needed to be established in your firm. Now we are going to talk about how and when to manage to them. This time grab your pen, paper and a calendar and let’s get to it.

With me today is Crista Grasso, creator of the Lean Out Method and the 90 Day Lean Out Planner. Crista helps growing businesses achieve more by doing less through a combination of strategic planning and lean business practices.

Today we are going to talk about what that looks like for the design industry. There are many actionable activities in this podcast, so get ready to lean out your business.

Numbers, numbers, numbers. They can really feel overwhelming in a business. And you always hear me, and others, talking about managing your financials or watching them. And maybe you have been thinking – I am looking at them, but not sure what I am looking at or what they should look like. I get it. So, that is what we are going to dive into on the podcast today. We are going to chat about how to set reachable money goals in your Interior Design Firm. Grab a pen and paper and let’s get started.

With me on the podcast today is Courtney DeRonde. Courtney is a CPA and Managing Partner of TDT CPAs and Advisors in Iowa. Courtney and her team provide boutique advisory services for small businesses that are in a growth mode. Today, she shares with us the 5 blindspots of a growing and scaling company. If we ignore these blindspots issues can certainly arise. Courtney offers actionable ways we can recognize the blindspots and do something about them in advance. Enjoy the podcast.

Joining me on the podcast today is Jack Tompkins of Pineapple Consulting Firm. Jack began his career in the insurance world where he focused on analytics, financials, and building relationships. Now, he works with business owners to turn their flat data into beautiful visual representations to make analyzing and understanding the data so much easier. This was a really fun conversation to have and it seriously inspired me with the possibilities. Listen in for ideas on how to turn that flat data into something more.

Are you feeling overwhelmed with work? Many businesses are right now due to the massive desire our clients are having to control where and how they live since we are spending more time at home. On this podcast we are going to discuss how to delegate work without dumping it. There is a difference, and you might be surprised to know many of us thought we were delegating work when really, we were just dumping it off on our teammates. Let’s break this down together.

Laura Licursi is the founder and owner of Elite Virtual Assistants, a virtual staffing agency that helps busy professionals, like all of us listening, go from busy and overwhelmed to productive by helping them delegate work that is keeping them IN their business so that they can work ON their business.

In our time together today, Laura and I will hit some of the following topics surrounding hiring a VA. First, we will talk about what a VA is, how it is different to an OBM – I know, lots of acronyms, but I promise we will make sense of them. We will chat about hiring from an agency vs. straight freelance when to know if the timing is right, and what you need to have in place to do it well.

I have many VA’s and they help support me to run my business. Listen in to see when might be the right time for you to bring on help in this area.

How often do you consider the idea of a team in your business? Perhaps you are a solopreneur and think you work alone. Or maybe you have a huge group of employees and sub-contractors. Either way, and everywhere in between – we work as teams to get things done. On today’s podcast, we will look at the 5 areas to focus on for our teams to be strong.

Rose Zefferino is the owner of Z Domus Designs, a builder’s interior design firm, located in Pennsylvania. Rose began her career in homebuilding as a project manager right out of college then moved over the years into more of a design position focusing on selections and assisting other builders in creating a smooth-running process. This serves both the clients buying and building the home as well as the builders responsible for the construction.

In this episode, Rose shares with us how her design and selection management process has been honed based on her beginning in construction. We discuss the differences in custom builds and community management, as well as hiring for these different but similar support positions. This episode also helps continue the conversation that there are many facets to design and that finding your area of expertise and doubling down on that can be profitable.

Creating a strategic plan does not have to be difficult or overwhelming. If you followed along in my year end planning podcasts, you have a lot of the inputs to this strategy. If not no worries, you can do it now. Let’s build a strategic plan!

Julia Hash of JSH Designs in Raleigh, NC joins us today. Julia owns a full-service boutique drapery fabrication and design studio. She shares with us how her dream started in her attic, moved down to the main living space, then outside of her home. Listen in to the journey of entrepreneurship that Julia has taken, and continues to take to grow the business in a way that accentuates what she and her team do best.

We are going to discuss why our style is not our brand, how we start to define a brand, and why it matters. Enjoy the podcast.

When I started my first business, I was just doing the work that was in front of me. I had no real plan for where I wanted the business to go and no real plan for the financial success and long-term sustainability of my company. Each year setting goals felt like I was just choosing what felt right or what I was hearing from others at the time without any real basis at all. And you know what, the goals I set did not matter very much as the difficulty of the year progressed. Just like those fitness goals set in January with good intentions, they fell by the wayside. But there is a better way.

Lori May of Lori May Interiors is with me today on the podcast. Lori started her business by blogging which led to rapid growth, an opportunity to be on HGTV, and now running a full-service design business with a team. Lori’s passion to make the ordinary – extraordinary comes through in our conversation. She focuses on building trust with her clients and vendors and enjoys the collaboration aspect of design the most. Listen in as she shares her story.

Today on the podcast, we are going to talk about the saying, “You Are Enough”. Just to be clear, I think that is a lie stated like that. And it is a lie that keeps us down, trapped, feeling less than and encouraging the imposter syndrome to grow larger in our minds. Listen in as I tell you why I believe this to be a lie, and I balance it with some truth.

With me today is Katie Saunders of Pop and Grey. Katie is a brand strategist and website designer who partners with interior designers to elevate their strategic brand design and messaging so that their brand presence reflects their style and story in every unique detail. Katie is a southern girl, so get ready for the double southern accents between the two of us.

We are going to discuss why our style is not our brand, how we start to define a brand, and why it matters. Enjoy the podcast.

Why is Why So Important?

Jack Canfield wrote the book, “The Success Principles” in 2005. I remember reading the book and just being blown away by the title of the first chapter, which was “Take 100% Responsibility for Your Life.” I will just let that one sit with us for a minute.

For the third year, Ceil DiGuglielmo, of the Sew Much More podcast is joining me to review the year we have just had, what made it different, how we approached moving forward, and lessons learned. Make sure to go back and listen to the last two-year end recaps, they all have something to teach. I hope you enjoy!

With me today is Anastasia Harrison, Principal Architect of AHD and Co. Through her extensive experience in complete home design, Anastasia has created a unique niche for her design firm incorporating architecture and interior design together. Her team strives to help clients live beautifully through outstanding design and to provide complete custom spaces that set a mood throughout the entire home.

In addition to running AHD & Co, Anastasia heads up the New Jersey chapter of Savvy Giving by Design, creating safe and cheerful environments for medically fragile children to heal.

Our conversation is going to focus on how she created a firm that mixes architecture and interior design as well as the steps she is taking to grow her firm with intention. Enjoy the podcast.