You vs. Your Interior Design Business: What’s the Score?

It can feel like a constant struggle between what we want for ourselves, our families, our health, our finances and what our design business wants needs, and enables us to achieve and have. Does any of this sound familiar?

  • You’re tired of how long things are taking.
  • You’re tired of doing things that used to work but no longer are.
  • You’re just not seeing the results you want.
  • You’ve lost your drive.
  • Your creative energy is down.
  • You’re not as excited about your business as you used to be.
  • You wish you loved the projects and clients you’re working with, but frankly, you’re taking what you can to get by.

How do you take control and change your business for the better? How can you create an interior design business that supports you – creatively, emotionally, energetically AND financially?

It begins by making a decision to do something and taking action. It most likely means doing things a bit differently than you have before.

Let’s start with this simple exercise: Take a few moments to clear your mind of your huge to-do list. Sometimes it helps to write it all down and just do a brain dump. Once you clear the decks, really stop and consider your business. Where would you like to take it? What is that one thing that really creates some excitement for you (or feels a little scary and exciting at the same time)? What have you been putting off because you’re unsure about how to do it or where to get help?

It’s time to SCORE 1 for you AND your design business. SCORE = Simplify. Control Overwhelm. Reduce Effort.

How can you Simplify?

  • Is everyone your ideal client? Probably not. Simplify your business by identifying your ideal client.
  • Simplify your business operations and create systems to reach out to those ideal clients. For example, systems for client communications, referrals, and testimonials.
  • Now implement one of those systems, automating or delegating where you can.

Next, let’s talk about Controlling Overwhelm:

  • When it comes to marketing your design business, focus on what resonates with you and your ideal client. How will you best reach your ideal client in a way that’s most meaningful to you and to them?
  • Shore up your core business and processes. This could be back-office support, general administration, bookkeeping, and reporting. It could also include client support (scheduling and confirming appointments, providing information to clients before consultations, and following up after), vendor services (scheduling and confirming appointments to avoid no-shows, order tracking and status, coordinating deliveries), and presentations.
  • Now select one business process to improve, automating or delegating where you can.

Finally, let’s move to the Reduce Effort portion of SCORE:

  • Just stop. Stop running around, chasing bright shiny objects. Take a deep breath, clear your mind, and focus. Back to our exercise earlier … where would you like to take your business? What is that one thing that, if accomplished this month or this year, really gives you that sense of excitement about next month or next year?
  • Now review your responses to the questions and exercises above. What will you do? What will you stop doing? What can be automated? What can be delegated?
  • Stick with what you’re good at! SCORE another point for you and your design business – Successfully Create Outstanding Results Easily – with leverage. You create leverage by finding other people to help you build and grow your business, such as coaches, mentors, interns, and virtual assistants.
  • Now review your responses to the questions and exercises above. What will you do? What will you stop doing? What can be automated? What can be delegated?

Take control and change your business for the better. Create an interior design business that supports you, your dreams and ambitions. Even the score.