Creative Genius Podcast

All work and no rest is a recipe for a meltdown.  You owe it to yourself and your business to take some time off now and then to recharge, renew and rebuild your store of resources.  That might entail taking care of your physical, mental, emotional, and/or spiritual health.   In this podcast, Gail talks with Erin about the sabbatical she took at the end of last year and how it...

Stories. Do we have stories! In order to enhance the lives and living spaces of their clients, interior designers need to get to know the insides of their homes and of their personalities. That can lead to uncovering some unexpected things. Embarrassments and awkward encounters are occupational hazards of sorts, and discretion is a professional requisite. In this podcast, Gail and Erin asked some...

What dreams do you have for your business?  To make more money?  Maybe to have better clients, better projects?  To grow your staff?  Or to diversify into other areas?  Whatever your dream, how will you make it come true?  It takes planning and then acting and following through on those plans. In this podcast, Gail and Erin talked with Cody Beal, owner of Cody Beal In...

Brands endure because they deliver what they promise.  What about your brand?  Does it truly reflect what is authentic about you and your work?  Does it have integrity?  Don’t try to guess what clients want.  Be true to yourself, show them who you are, and let them decide. In this podcast Gail’s guest is Charles Edward Maurice Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer. He is a historian,...

When it comes to decisions, there’s no such thing as right or wrong.  Yes, in hindsight, some choices may have been better than others.  But no decision is ever perfect.  In the moment, the best you can hope for is to make a well-informed decision that feels right.  Whatever the outcome, you can learn from it and move on. In this podcast, Gail and Erin talk with Christine Turkn...

The success, growth and profitability of any business ride on the three E’s:  efficiency, effectiveness and execution.  For that, you need to have the right processes in place so everyone on the team knows what to do, how to do it, and when to do it.  When processes are ignored, go awry, or fail to keep up with the changing business environment, something can—and often does—go wrong...

From the moment we come into this world, we are moving toward the future. The present is a springboard to the next stage in our development. Our success as designers and as business owners is rooted in our continuous personal and professional growth, which prepares us for the next level of achievement. Envisioning what that next level is pulls us toward the future and shows us the path that will l...

Taking risks can be scary. Life can be scary. The only way to get to the other side of things as they are is to move past the fear in the belief that something better waits ahead. The rewards can be great. As a bonus, you acquire more resilience and wisdom along the way. In this podcast, Gail and Erin talk with interior designer Ginger Curtis, owner and principal designer, Urbanology Designs , Nor...

Like everything else, partnerships have their pros and cons.  Partnering with another designer can be a great way to grow your business.  However, many business partnerships eventually fizzle out or fail.  So what does it take to create a successful business partnership?  How do you sustain it?  What could a partner bring to your business? In this podcast, Gail and Erin ta...

What if you could double your revenue without increasing your marketing, networking or cold calling?  Sound too good to be true?  It might be more doable than you imagine.  You just have to think differently about your business. In this podcast Gail and Erin talk with management consulting and marketing wizard Marty Fahncke.  In addition to providing strategic and creative direction...

Welcome!  We’re so excited to be launching the fourth season of the Creative Genius Podcast.  Thanks for joining us. Hiring an employee is a big step for any business but a necessary one if you want your business to grow.  Done properly, adding to your team can be a game-changer, for you and the employee. In this podcast, Gail and Erin discuss the benefits of hiring, when to hire an...

Businesses must change to survive.  Over time, the brand you began your business with will no longer reflect the business you have today or the business you want to have in the future.  That’s when it’s time for a brand makeover. In today’s podcast, Gail and Erin relate the brand journey their business has been through over the years.  Recently, as they developed a 10-year vision fo...

With so much to see and so much territory to cover, it can be a challenge for weary designers to find a place to roost at High Point Market.  Universal Furniture has got you covered, with food, drink, a place to store your stuff, learning events, welcoming staff, and a huge showroom offering something for everyone. In this podcast Gail and Erin chat with Neil Mackenzie, vice president for marketin...

Do you know how much profit your business is making?  Do know what your business is worth?  Do you know how much you owe and how much is owed to you?  If you don’t know where your numbers are, you could be heading for big trouble. In this podcast, Gail is joined by Nick May, host of the interior design business podcast “The Chaise Lounge” and founder of Walls by Design in Denver, Co...

Great accomplishments begin with grand visions.  Give yourself permission to dream big and go for it.  The sooner you begin, the sooner your dream will come true. In this podcast, Gail and Erin talk with interior designer Cheryl Stauffer, CEO and principal, Crimson Design Group , Columbus, Ohio, offering residential and commercial design services.  The daughter of two Mennonite miss...

Do you shy away from a new challenge or task, afraid you might make a mistake or not succeed?  Don’t block that fear or succumb to it.  More than acknowledge it, welcome it.  It’s trying to tell you something. In this podcast Gail and Erin talk with interior designer Lori McRae , co-founder and partner, Frederick McRae Ltd. , Grand Cayman Islands.  Celebrating its tenth anniversary...

Little tweaks can snowball into major changes.  Make one improvement and you begin to notice other areas that need attention.  As they accumulate, your business will run more smoothly, so you can get more done with less stress and strife. On today’s podcast, Gail and Erin talk with Marissa Matiyasic, principal, Reflections Interior Design , Cleveland Heights, Ohio.  When just a few...

What’s keeping you from growing your business and realizing your dreams?  Often it’s not a lack of skills or knowledge or resources that holds us back but a lack of confidence in ourselves.  Believe in yourself and your abilities and go for it.  You can do it. On today’s podcast Gail and Erin talk with Vicky Serany , founder and principal designer, Southern Studio Interior Design in...

Many designers have a hard time thinking of themselves as businesspeople.  Often, the business is an afterthought, something they need to do in order to create, which is their real passion.  But businesses need to be tended to, especially if your goal is to make enough money to support the life you want for yourself.  Taking charge of your business can make all the difference. In to...

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the interior design industry, and that includes High Point Market.  This year, Spring Market, usually held in April, is moving to early June.  It won’t be quite the same as the Market you’re used to but more open than Fall Market was last October.  Here’s what you need to know to make the best use of your time at Spring Market. In t...

Every designer is unique, but all design businesses face similar challenges and follow similar growth trajectories.  You can overcome those challenges more quickly by learning from those who have surmounted them before you.  By doing so, you could double your net profit in short order. In today’s podcast, Gail and Erin talk about the upcoming release of Gail’s new book, Business Breakthr...

Running a business without a plan is like taking a trip without an itinerary or a map.  How do know where you’re going or when you’ve arrived?  More than that, making a plan sets in motion the energies that will bring about the future you’ve planned for. In today’s podcast Gail and Erin share some observations and insights from their firm’s recent annual planning sessions.  They rec...

What separates business owners from entrepreneurs is how they think about the business. Business owners focus on operations. Entrepreneurs focus on realizing a vision. If you dream of running a $1 million-plus business , you may need to adjust your mindset. In today’s podcast, Gail Doby interviews Scott Oldford, one of the world’s top business coaches and advisors, author, and creator of the ROI O...

The path to a better future begins with being able to see yourself as more accomplished, more successful.  When you open yourself up to possibilities and allow yourself to embrace a larger vision, you start to identify the steps you need to take to get you there. In today’s podcast, Gail and Erin talk with multi-award-winning designer Lisa Gielincki, principal at Lisa Gielincki Interior Desig...

Growing a business involves risk.  That can be scary.  Sometimes we can see where we want to be but are uncertain whether we can get there.  A coach can be a motivator and a bridge to help you take that next step. In today’s podcast, Gail and Erin talk with Karen Wolf, creative principal and owner of KBW Interiors in Millburn, New Jersey.  In addition to designing amazing homes...