Resilient by Design with Rebecca Hay

Presentation Day is one of the most exciting days for us and for our clients. Its the day where all of our hard work as interior designers comes together and we get to showcase it to our clients with the hopes they'll love it.  But what's one thing that can throw off the excitement presentation day and what follows? An unprepared client! In this episode I walk you through the handful of proven ste...

If you're looking for your sign and confidence to quit our 9-5 and start your interior design business, this episode is going to inspire you! We start by talking to Angela Wainscott about how she got her start, why she originally rejected the idea of owning her own business and the surprising yet quick action she took on the first day of Power of Process! Angela opens up about how her support syst...

If you've been wanting to start your own design business or have just taken the leap and are wondering what you need to do, this episode is for you! I'm unpacking first 6 steps that I believe are essential when you start your interior design business! As someone who has "been there, done that, and here to tell the tale", I'm sharing the key must-dos to tackle when you start out. I'm also go into s...

We're back with part 2 of my conversation with Karin Bohn, award-winning House of Bohn Design Studio founder and star of Netflix's Restaurants on the Edge!  Tune into this juicy conversation as we dive into social media and the truth behind being an influencer, the hoops and hurdles to landing on Netflix, and of course, the adventure into motherhood. Karin shares her TV hosting journey, how she co...

Communication is EVERYTHING when it comes to providing a good client experience and ensuring that you're the one steering the ship throughout each project! In this episode I'm diving into a few best practices to help you improve your client communication.  Your main goal as an interior design business owner is to ensure that all of your communication is clear and consistent so that your client alw...

Pinch me I must be dreaming! In this episode, I sat down with the talented Karin Bohn, who has truly been an inspiration for a number of goals I've tackled and achieved over the years - from my YouTube to my community of designers to this very podcast!  Within this part 1 of our conversation we talk in depth about how Karin started her interior design business in Vancouver, what propelled her to c...

Today's shorty episode is about tapping into the power of social accountability. Holding yourself accountable is one thing. But once you share your goals with a community of like minded people who support and challenge you, you will be much more likely to keep your forward momentum and achieve it. I share my biggest rule with setting goals, a story of my own recent experience in this area and why...

Ever thought of expanding your home staging business to also include design services? My guest did just that and we dive into all the details in this episode! Joké Durojaiye has been in many different careers and always found herself back in the design space; currently, she's running her own home staging business in Seattle and has recently answered the call many of her clients have had by adding...

In this episode, I dive into what to do when a client ghosts you! I share the mindset shift that will save you from the mental toll and some sales skills to help you weather it. Through the episode, I share a few of my own frustrating experiences and how I handled them to protect my mental sanity and why letting things go may be the best decision you could make to halt the mental drain. Truthfully...

Today I speak with POP Alumni and ambassador extraordinaire Betty Simtikidis who has decades of experience in the corporate arena and took the leap to launch her own design business during the pandemic. Through the episode, we talk about what pushed her towards this huge career pivot, the worries she had at first and the eventual help she found as a self-professed "life long learner". She shares h...

In this episode, I dive into a common challenge faced by designers: creating proposals for clients with vague scopes of work and uncertain budgets. I share some strategies that have worked for me in guiding clients through the design process, determining fair fees, and ensuring transparent alignment between scope and pricing. Learn the importance of professionalism, expertise, and customized propo...

Ever had your plans derailed? It happens to the best of us! In today's episode, we're diving into a common hurdle: clients opting out of your services for their project's implementation phase. Join me as I unravel 5 crucial questions to navigate this setback, complete with real-life examples and actionable scenarios. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, it's essential to anticipate...

Welcome to my first shorty episode! Every week, in between teachings and amazing interviews, I'll be sharing bite-sized nuggets to help keep you motivated and inspired! In this episode I delve into the concept of the "messy middle" – a phase in our entrepreneurial journey where progress seems elusive and doubts start creeping in. Drawing inspiration from Theodore Roosevelt's speech, I emphasize th...

In this episode I speak with Amanda Arcone, about her decades of experience in the corporate and banking world and how her entrepreneurial spirit eventually led her to start her own design business. She describes searching for structure, framework and community and the specific ways my courses and Designer's Room resonated with her. You aren't going to want to miss her ideas on cultivating confide...

Dive into this enriching conversation filled with valuable advice, personal insights, and motivational gems! Listen in as we delve into the career journeys of two esteemed members of Designer's Room, Jamie Khan and Adriana Pietropaolo, as they transition from commercial design to the dynamic realm of residential design. In this special episode, Jamie and Adriana, who have been integral parts of ea...

This episode is a little different, but in a terrific way! Now that Designer's Room is open to the Interior Design Industry, I wanted to give you a small peek into what this incredible community provides. This episode is an excerpt from a Designer's Room training session from May 2022 where I get into that often dreaded topic of Mastering Sales. I break down some mental blocks I've seen come up fo...

This episode is filled to the brim with "aha!" moments about all things Human Resources and the role it plays in a small business, so get ready to take some notes. I chatted with Laura Tolhoek, founder and principal consultant of Essential HR Canada, to get answers to all my burning HR questions and learn why it is so worth it for small businesses to hire an outside expert. She shares the differen...

In this episode I had the opportunity to chat with two incredible Designers who are also POP alumnae and long time members of Designer's Room.   Yazyth Norelius of Colorado and Ariella Arazi of Montreal each share how they started in the industry and in their businesses, where they felt stalled and how joining our community, POP, and then Designer's Room gave them the support, ideas and confidence...

Today is one for the books! I am thrilled to speak with the Queen of podcasting herself, LuAnn Nigara, and bask in her wisdom. LuAnn describes her inspirational career trajectory and how her business has evolved in the last 4 decades. She shares nugget after nugget of wisdom as she highlights the importance of quieting down, cultivating an inner voice, visualizing goals and how to listen to that i...

Buckle up folks because I've got a big announcement for you! If you've been feeling, like me, that you are doing anything and everything and still can't keep up, then take a listen to this episode. I'm sharing a story of how being deflated by early failure eventually turned into a swath of offerings like courses, groups, events, memberships and of course, this very podcast. Recently, after taking...

Today, I'm spilling the beans on the game-changing moves I make every single day that have completely transformed the way I navigate both my life and business. As I've aimed to streamline my processes, I've come to realize the power of being proactive rather than reactive when it comes to life. Brace yourself for some seriously good, absolutely necessary (and maybe even a tad controversial!) tips...

This is Part 2 of a three part series, so be sure to check out the other episodes in this series linked below.  In this episode you'll catch part 2 of a longer and fabulous conversation with the talented and spirited Adrian Ramsay and Eric Dillman. Through the episode we speak about our experiences and thoughts on how Covid has affected the industry, trusting our intuition when it comes to right a...

In the first official episode of Season 5 we dive into a hot wellness topic just in time for Dry January! I sat down with Casey Davidson, a seasoned sobriety coach who specializes in assisting busy women in their journey toward drinking less. Listen in as I share my journey with breaking up with alcohol, and Casey shares her insights, wisdom, and practical advice for the sober curious.   Key Takea...

Welcome to Season 5 and 2024! This is a short message to get you hyped for what is coming up with the podcast and in my business this year. I have a new goal in 2024 to focus on simplicity in order to be intentional and find more joy in work and in life. I share some exciting news on the podcast front as well as an "aha!" moment I recently had about the word "resilient" that will encourage you as...

As another year ends, I'm bringing this timely and important episode on goal setting back to the top of your podcast feed. As you get ready to review this past year and plan for the next, I encourage you to focus your mindset to set your goals with intentionality.   In this episode, I share some goal-setting learnings that have been reinstated by the book I am currently reading, The ONE Thing: The...