Episodes
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I sit down with brand strategist and copywriter for interior designers, Deb Mitchell, to discuss how powerful messaging can transform your interior design business from the inside out. From the importance of authentic brand positioning to crafting a compelling voice that builds trust with your ideal clients, Deb shares her expert insights on the power of investing in strategic messaging for your business.
Learn Deb’s tips for making empowered decisions about your brand messaging and positioning, and the internal growth that’s required when you want to up-level. She offers the three pillars that will help you show up as your most authentic and elevated self, and breaks down how effective messaging and positioning can help you sell more easily, increase profits, and save precious time and energy in your business.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/109
For the resources mentioned in this episode, click here: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources
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As interior designers, it's easy to get caught up in the idea that more is always better. Whether it’s working on client projects or moving the ball on our business goals, we believe that if we could just be more efficient, more organized, or more disciplined, we could finally get ahead. But what if this constant pursuit of productivity is actually holding us back? What if productivity isn’t the pinnacle it sells itself to be?
Join me this week to hear some hard truths about productivity that might surprise you. But don't worry, I also share some good news that will help you approach your work in a more intentional and sustainable way. Learn why more isn’t necessarily better, how the productivity trap strings you along, and most importantly, how to break free from it.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/108
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Missing episodes?
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In this episode, I sit down with Mark Ostrom, the founder, executive director, and creative director of Joy Collaborative: a nonprofit located here in the Twin Cities that creates uplifting spaces for children with life-limiting conditions. Mark shares the story behind Joy Collaborative and explores how designers can give back in a way that's authentic to their talents and values.
If you're looking for a more meaningful way to express gratitude to your clients this year, or are toying with the idea of turning your passion project into reality, this episode will leave you feeling inspired. Mark shares how thoughtful, functional design can be truly life-changing for these families. We also discuss creative ways interior designers can incorporate charitable giving as a memorable gifting and marketing opportunity, and how even small contributions can create a powerful ripple effect of joy.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/107
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In this episode, I answer a question from a listener who struggles with staying calm and collected when project issues arise. We often absorb the stress of these hiccups to shield our clients from them. However, things are most definitely going to go wrong at some point - whether it’s at the project site, during a presentation, or even in response to a client’s reaction. So how can we learn to ride the emotional waves ourselves?
I share practical strategies for managing your mindset when the unexpected happens. Learn how to separate facts from stories and how to tune into your body to process emotions. With these skills, along with realistic expectations, you’ll be better prepared to navigate project challenges with greater ease and resilience moving forward.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/106
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You probably set yourself an annual financial goal back at the beginning of 2024, and here we are, coming into the final months of the year. Are you on track to hit your goals? Maybe you’re falling behind, or perhaps you’ve already surpassed your target and are wondering if you should raise the bar even higher.
Listen in this week as I show you how to master the art of goal revision. Hear what the process of evaluating your current position entails, the factors to consider when deciding whether to adjust your targets, and how to make the most of the remaining months and position yourself for success in the year ahead.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/105
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As CEOs of our businesses, we are constantly faced with decisions about what to keep, what to let go, and what to bring in. But without a clear framework for evaluating these choices, it's easy to get stuck in indecision or cling to things that no longer serve us. That's where the concept of All Killer, No Filler comes in - a simple yet profound way to assess what truly belongs in your business and what needs to be released.
I dive into the origins of All Killer, No Filler, share practical examples of how I've applied it in my own life and business, and guide you through the process of using this powerful filter for yourself. You’ll hear why this concept is the secret to creating more ease, how it opens up both physical and mental energy, and helps you better utilize the resources in your business.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/104
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Whether you have part-time or full-time team members, it's crucial to ensure that their roles and responsibilities align with your company's goals. If you want to feel confident knowing that the investment you’ve made in your team members will optimize payback for you and your design business, it’s time to consider conducting a time audit, and I walk you through this process in this episode.
Learn how you can optimize your team’s performance to increase productivity, profitability, and overall satisfaction. Hear the importance of conducting a time audit to identify gaps, redundancies, and inefficiencies in your team’s workflow. I also share a step-by-step process for gathering data, reviewing it, and implementing solutions that will create more value for your business as a whole.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/103
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Are you holding back in your interior design business due to a fear of rejection? You're not alone. As a designer, putting yourself and your creative ideas out there can feel incredibly vulnerable, and the possibility of hearing no can be paralyzing. But the truth is that learning to work with and move beyond this fear will be transformative for your business and your goals.
Tune in this week as I share a powerful three-step process for supporting yourself through situations where rejection is possible, so that you can take bold action towards your goals with confidence and resilience. You’ll learn how to notice and address initial self-rejection, proactively decide what you know to be true about yourself, and put no on the table as a possibility in order to open yourself up to the potential for getting a yes.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/102
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This week, I’m joined by my former client and incredibly talented designer, Campbell Minister, as she lets us in on her journey from overwhelmed designer to true designer CEO. Over the past eight years, Campbell has grown her Montclair, New Jersey-based firm to a team of three designers, a director of operations, and a procurement and accounting team. But with this growth has come the challenge of maintaining a thriving business while being present in her personal life as a mother of three.
Listen in this week as Campbell shares her insights on the keys to her success as an interior design business CEO. She opens up about her fear of going from solopreneur to leading a full-time team, how she navigates the desire to control every detail, why focusing on relationships, not outcomes, has been vital to her success, and her goals for the near future.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/101
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As I celebrate the 100th episode of the show, there are important lessons I've learned from this incredible journey of creating what has become a well-reviewed and established podcast. But these insights go far beyond podcasting; they are valuable principles you can apply to any new initiative, goal, or project in your interior design business.
Discover why focusing on small wins and cumulative effort is key to achieving big things, how patience and commitment work together to help you stay the course, and why examining your beliefs about yourself is crucial for unlocking your next level of potential.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/100
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We’ve covered a lot of ground over the past CEO Summer School episodes – from trading good for great to overcoming Someday Syndrome. Now it's time to reflect on which topic you want to delve deeper into and embody over the next month. In this episode, I guide you through choosing your focus and making it visible so you stay committed to your goals.
Whether you’ve knocked CEO Summer School out of the park or it hasn’t gone quite as you hoped or planned, join me this week as I show you what’s next. In this final episode of the series, you’ll hear why making small shifts can compound into the kind of success you want, the importance of acknowledging how far you’ve come, and how to focus on the insights that resonated most with you.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/99
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There are two distinct types of confidence that you can leverage in your interior design business to help it grow and also get out of your own way when your brain tells you, “Well, you've never done it before.” If it feels like your brain is holding you back from achieving your biggest goals, you’re in the right place.
I explore the two types of confidence that every interior design CEO needs to master. Learn why your level of confidence affects every aspect of your business and how to build unshakable confidence, even when you're venturing into uncharted territory.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/98
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Being an interior design entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart. Between managing client relationships, juggling multiple projects, and chasing big goals, self-doubt and insecurity are bound to creep in at times. But even amidst the ups and downs, there are moments when you've felt like you were absolutely nailing it.
I share how to identify and leverage those times when you’re at your best so you can embody that version of yourself more often. Learn why tapping into your best self always starts with your thoughts and beliefs and how to use those as fuel to generate the feelings and actions that reinforce your ideal state.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/97
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Leading with your future self is all about focusing on where you're going, rather than where you've been. By setting intentions and taking action in alignment with the version of you that has already created the vision you hold for your business, you can access a well of inner guidance and wisdom. While your future self isn't perfect, they are farther along the journey and can offer valuable insight about the now.
Discover how tapping into the wisdom and perspective of your future self can help you make better decisions, stay motivated, and achieve your biggest goals. Hear why now is the perfect time to see what you can do to set your future self up for success, and how to lead with your future self to gain a fresh perspective on your role as CEO of your interior design business.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/96
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In this episode, I share examples of common blind spots and provide strategies to help you proactively identify what might be getting in your way. By cultivating greater self-awareness and learning to compassionately examine your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, you can skillfully navigate challenges and achieve the outcomes you desire in your business.
Discover how business blind spots limit your growth and a powerful reflection question that will give you clarity on your current blind spots. With this knowledge, you learn how to make looking for blind spots a regular part of your business-building activities so you can make profound changes to accelerate your growth.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/95
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How are you delaying the daily tasks you just don’t want to get to? Where in your life or business are you prone to saying, “I’ll do it later?”
If you often procrastinate with the best of intentions but find yourself never actually getting to the task, you're in the right place. Whether you’re putting things off in the short term or imagining grandiose plans that you never actually take action on, the truth is both hinder your progress toward achieving the goals you want. Learn how to recognize your Later Habit patterns and how to conquer them for good.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/94
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If you are currently delaying the results you want to see and the interior design business CEO you want to become, you’re not alone. We all engage in someday-ing our biggest dreams. Visualizing the result you want without actually putting in the effort can give you the positive emotional experience you want, but when it becomes your norm, your dreams will stay in the distant future forever.
I explore the concept of Someday Syndrome in-depth and give you a variety of ways to begin thinking about how you might be engaging in this habit both in your day-to-day and long-term planning. Learn the downsides of only taking imaginary action, how there might be an underlying fear or resistance you need to address first, and how to lessen the tendency and impact of putting things off.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/93
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Last week, we discussed how feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place in your business is primarily a mental habit. The lens through which you view your life and business is similar. Recognizing your current lenses and considering other options lies at the heart of the mindset work I teach my clients, and I’m guiding you through this process today.
Learn how to name your lenses and identify whether they’re truly serving you. I’m offering you a few examples of how your current lenses are coloring your experience, and why switching them out for other options could improve the way you experience every area of your life and business.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/92
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If you know what you want to achieve next but only see two different yet equally undesirable options, you might be stuck in rock-and-a-hard-place thinking. Perhaps you’re faced with challenging circumstances or courses of action that feel uncomfortable, and you just can’t see beyond the 'bad' options. This is where today’s CEO Summer School lesson comes into play.
Hear examples of how designers find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place, and why, although disempowering, it can feel comfortable to stay frozen. Learn how to strengthen the skill of cognitive flexibility, and why applying your creative thinking skillset as a designer will allow you to see all the options you could be pursuing.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/91
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As your business grows, you will continually cycle through periods of comfort and discomfort. Increasing your capacity for discomfort is an ever-evolving skill that is vital if you want to expand your vision of what’s possible. It all begins with accepting the fact that discomfort is part of the process, and this week, I’m inviting you to consider how you could be more willing to embrace discomfort.
Learn why willingness is required for you to reach your vision of success, and how to begin increasing your capacity for discomfort. Hear what happens when you increase your ability to be with difficult emotions, and why embracing discomfort is the secret to your success as an interior design business CEO.
Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/90
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