The Interior Design Business CEO

Whether you're worried about getting started with systems in your business, think you don't have the time, or aren't sure if your team will get on board with new software and procedures, you're in the right place. This week, I'm here with Katie McFarlan from Dakota Design Company to debunk three systems myths that are preventing you from implementing and using systems to their fullest potential.  ...

Whether your flavor of procrastination looks like choosing to do anything but work, or what I call "procrasti-working," I'm here to empower you with tools for navigating procrastination so you can notice it and stop it in its tracks. There are a few reasons you might be tempted to procrastinate, and I'm laying them out on this episode.    Discover how to stop procrastination from holding you back...

How many unfinished projects do you have weighing on you?   Your notebook is full of ideas from the last training you attended. You often think to yourself "I should do this to improve my business." Your inbox is full of downloads but that's where it stops.   Designers, it's time to take your to do list and consider it done. Join Master Certified Life & Business Coach Desi Creswell for To Do To Do...

If you find that you never actually let yourself enjoy the success you've created, you have likely fallen prey to a term called arrival fallacy. It's a cycle of belief that can be challenging to opt out of, but the good news is we can learn to work with its presence, and I'm showing you how this week.   Discover how arrival fallacy often shows up for interior design business owners and why we cont...

My clients often have some idea of what they desire. They know there is more that they want to achieve, but their vision isn't crystal clear or specific enough for them to begin taking deliberate action. Add to that the inevitable doubt that comes with wanting to bring a bigger vision to life, and they can find themselves stuck, lacking inspiration, and operating from survival mode.   Discover how...

As the CEO of your interior design business, you might be unwittingly turning your to-do lists into an enemy, when in fact, it can be an amazing partner in making effective use of your time.    I present five truths about to-do lists, and how recognizing these truths will offer you a great deal of freedom with your time. Learn why it's important for you to determine your own definition of "enough,...

Between drawings, contracts, emails, and conversations, both written and verbal, with staff, clients, and vendors, communication is a crucial part of your business and bringing your projects to life. I took several communication classes when studying for my degree, but I know this isn't the case for everyone.   Discover four essential ways to communicate in your interior design business. These com...

Even though we know that all designers miss the mark or have oversights sometimes, we secretly hope it never happens to us. You can do your absolute best and still have things go wrong, and the truth is this is just part of running a business. If you're holding yourself to a standard of perfection or believe you can plan enough to avoid all problems, listen in.   Discover why there is so much to b...

We can all agree that running and growing an interior design business can be filled with some (or many) annoying parts. What can we do when we experience those humps that keep us stuck? Is it possible that we might be making the challenges in our business even more annoying?   Hear why wishing challenges away isn't an effective strategy, how to begin accepting the annoyances in your design busines...

I'm not someone who is particularly big on birthday celebrations, but as I head into my birthday weekend, I've realized that this is a great time to reflect on and glean lessons from another year that's passed.    I share four birthday reflections from the past year and how you can take these lessons and apply them to your own life and business. Hear the value of encountering the same lessons time...

Whether or not you wear glasses in your everyday life, you know that they have the ability to make everything look crisp and clear or blurry and out of focus. Many designers fail to realize that the lenses they currently wear are optional. If your lenses are making your life and business more challenging than necessary, you might want to consider trying on a different pair.   Hear examples of how...

As a designer, you wear lots of different hats in your business. You also have multiple moving pieces that need to be addressed, sometimes simultaneously, which is why designers often fall into a cycle of panic and overwhelm. You need an organized way to approach your work.   I offer three highly effective approaches for getting your work done. Hear how these three strategies will help you and you...

Summer is in full swing and it's time to detox what's dragging you down.     Join me for a brand new, free workshop with MyDoma on July 13th (12-1pm Central).     I'll guide you through your summer business detox to lessen your load so you can strategically make more progress on your projects and business goals.     The Summer Business Detox is an interactive workshop where you will:   Get clear o...

Discover the three things that needed to shift internally for me to reclaim five hours per week while continuing to serve my clients, produce weekly content, and execute a full launch for Out of Overwhelm. Hear why you have to combine the strategies with the mindset to effectively reclaim more time and how evaluating your self-concept and your relationship with your business will create huge rippl...

Clients inside Out of Overwhelm can absolutely reclaim five additional hours per week. Not only does that create a compounding result of time saved over the years and the financial impact of being more effective with their time, but it also impacts how they're able to care for themselves when they aren't stretched so thin.   Hear the key strategies I use to reclaim five hours a week and where the...

We're all familiar with that little (or sometimes loud) voice that presents itself when we've planned to do something, and we really don't feel like it. Whether later means tomorrow, after the summer, or next year, the later habit shows up in the everyday execution of your business tasks as well as in the long-term planning of your business.   I introduce you to the later habit and explore how it...

Are you working way more than you want in your business while not making the amount of money you expect? Is your business generating the revenue you desire, but you still find yourself working more hours than ideal? Whether you charge your design fees by the hour or have a flat fee, this mindset leads you to set your fees in a way that results in overworking and under-earning. No amount of scaling...

Whether you need guidance on navigating a difficult conversation, saying no to a client that's not the best fit, overcoming procrastination, or any other support you require, this is your chance to receive personalized help directly from me.   Discover what the Ask Desi feature of my online community offers, and how you can begin using it to submit your questions and get the support you need.   Ge...

Tired of the midday slump? Struggling with finding the motivation to kick-start your mornings or push through low-energy moments?   Whether you're coming off an intense creative session and need some rest or simply experiencing an unexplained dip in energy, tune in to discover effective strategies to manage low-energy days without sacrificing productivity or peace of mind.   Get full show notes an...

The decision to invest in your business often brings up hesitation and fear, especially as it relates to brand-new investments that seem like unknown risks. Investing both time and money in your business is significant. If all you can think about is what you're going to sacrifice or how much it'll cost you, you're in the right place.    Hear my decision-making process behind investing in my busine...

There is a real emotional component to what we do as interior designers, especially as it relates to being an entrepreneur. Stephanie Brown found herself falling out of love with her business and experiencing escapist thoughts, even considering changing industries altogether. She decided things needed to change, and that's when she joined Out of Overwhelm.   Stephanie shares the challenges she was...

You're invited to join me for Coaching & Coffee, a free event to celebrate open enrollment for Out of Overwhelm.   Session 1: Create Focus, On Demand May 18 (11am - 12pm Central)   Session 2: Delegation ROI May 23 (10:30am - 12:30pm Central)   Work with me live, get your Out of Overwhelm questions answered, and be entered to win a coffee gift card!   To sign up at no cost go to  www.desiid.com/ask...

Sarah Langtry is the owner of Interiors by Sarah Langtry and a residential interior designer based in Ontario, Canada. She was no exception to the experience of feeling out of control around her time and schedule when she first found me. She was overwhelmed and found herself procrastinating without understanding why, but she turned it all around and she's letting us know how.    Sarah offers her e...

Where are you losing time and energy in your business? It's common for designers to believe they don't have enough time, especially when it comes to the more visible tasks in your business like appointments, proposals, invoices, or client communication. However, hidden areas of your business consume your time and energy, and when you can fix them, everything else becomes more manageable.   Discove...

Mindset is becoming more and more of a hot topic. I've seen this to be true in the last few years and want these conversations to continue to grow. However, there are common myths around mindset that are holding you back from fully experiencing the benefits of using these tools.   Hear what maintaining mindset is really about, why it's a practice that is ever-evolving with you, and the three myths...