filed in

Wealth

Harnessing The Power of Your Intellectual Property

One of the best ways for an interior designer to harness the power of their intellectual property can be found in a tiktok or instagram search. Dupe, the other four-letter word, means to trick or deceive but across the interwebs #dupe is a deal. Most often, it’s a copy of an original something—fashion, furniture, product—for […]

To Succeed or Not To Succeed

“Too many professionals try to protect themselves against failure, but never plan to exploit success!” ​I’m doing my daily lunch-time reading and that sentence by author Alan Weiss jumped off of the page. As a single mom, I’ve lately been wrapped up answering all of the “what if disaster strikes” scenarios demanded by insurance planners, […]

Receptivity.

The creative entrepreneurs I work with who run the biggest businesses tend to be a good blend of what until recently, science has called being left- and right-brained. They can toggle easily between an analytical approach and a more creative and emotional one to solve problems. I operate that way too. When we’re collaborating to […]

Expensive

In my work with designers, I’ve seen all sorts of tangled beliefs when it comes to money.

Designers who are so worried about the “tax man” that they stop themselves from earning more.

Designers who are so afraid to ask for the client’s budget—everybody has a number—that they cheat themselves out of appropriate fees.

Designers who know they need help, that getting help will bring results but who are afraid to commit to the investment in getting help for themselves and their business because it’s expensive. So they end up spending infinitely more time and even more money, ultimately earning less.

First Class

I was flying back from an event my coach hosted in Arizona when I noticed. Among the people sitting in the nine, first-class seats, I was the only woman.

It’s not the first time I’ve noticed the disparity between men and women in the front half of the plane but today it was particularly meaningful. I had just seen Cindy Eckert speak about founding a pharmaceutical company, selling that company for one billion dollars and then suing the buyer to get it back when they failed to bring the product she fought so hard to create to market, Addyi.

Don’t Work For Free

Happy International Women’s Day!

On this day that celebrates the working woman, I’d like to offer some blunt advice.
 
Don’t let people pick your brain.
 
Don’t barter in unequal measure.
 
Don’t work for free.

Everybody Has a Number

I feel like I just wrote about this but it begs repeating, everybody has a number. Everybody has a number. That potential interior design client who doesn’t know what their budget is? They have a number. Why do I know this? Because the minute you exceed it, they will tell you you’re too expensive. This […]

How To Increase Your Interior Design Firm’s Profits

Earlier this week one of my interior design clients, who recently went through a massive brand transformation, including a name change, told me she was feeling worried because business seemed a slower than it was last year at this time. “I’m busy”, she said.  “But not busy like I’m normally busy.” Although the feedback on […]

Passive Income…Now

With the rise of the Internet and designers’ increasing savvy to opportunities for licensing and information products, the phrase passive income has created a new sense of urgency. Everybody wants to start earning some, now. I get it. Earning money on the work you’ve already done, in perpetuity, sounds pretty good but unless you get […]

An Unpopular Position On References

Recently a client of mine was going through the hiring process for her team. She had narrowed it down to the final two and told me she was going to check references. I suggested that she pay each of the gals to come in for a day, or even two, to get a sense of […]

Our gift to you.

30 days of transformation
starts here. 


Released with intention daily, Smartcut Sessions is a 30-day self-study program designed to help designers get clarity on their vision, market to and close high-end clients, and structure their businesses to earn more: now.

Are you in?

Psssst... Here is $200 off our full-price program (originally $997). Use code MBDWELCOME at checkout and give yourself a high-five!

Deep down, I'll bet you're tired of waiting for the kinds of jobs, recognition, and income that make other design firms successful. You know you deserve them. Being a designer is what you were born to do.

browse popular categories

browse

Business Strategy

view posts →

browse

Branding

view posts →

browse

Lifestyle

view posts →

DOWNLOAD

Get the Free Chapter of Branding + Interior Design

read chapter one now

The difference between unknowns, design leaders and legends is a factor of visibility. But being visible is about more than being seen, one of its underused definitions is available

Ready to Jump In?

Prepare to Think Differently

If you’re feeling stuck when it comes to figuring out the right steps to take your creative business to the next level, I understand.