- For Interior Designers
- For Window Treatment Pros
Build a Plan for Your Next Stage of Business Growth
LEAD-201: Strategic Planning and Simple Metrics for Early-Stage Design Firms
Just because you’re working hard doesn’t always mean you’re working on the more productive things. This 5-week course helps early-stage designers understand where their business stands, what to focus on next, and which simple metrics matter most. Learn how to plan strategically, track meaningful data, and guide your growth.
5-Week Course
A Clear Path Forward for Early-Stage Firms
Instructor Sonia Barney explains why understanding your data is just as critical as creativity in building a thriving design business. She shares how strategic planning and metrics can transform decision-making, the mindset shifts students gain, and why early-stage designers who embrace these skills set themselves up for long-term success.
Imagine This…
By the end of this course, you will:
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Understand Where You Are with Your Business
Learn how to identify where your business sits in the growth journey and what challenges and priorities come with that stage. -
Track What Matters Most
Build simple tracking systems that help you understand sales, time, and profitability without overcomplicating your workflow. -
Turn Data into Direction
Learn how to translate information into actionable metrics that guide decisions and support long-term growth. -
Plan Intentionally
Create realistic goals and habit-based plans centered on strategy rather than reaction.
For early-stage designers who want to plan for growth using simple metrics.
Early growth can feel confusing when effort and results don’t line up. This course creates space to step back, see the bigger picture, and understand what truly drives progress at your stage of business. You’ll build simple tracking tools, learn how to read the story behind the numbers, and create a plan that supports steady, sustainable growth.
from 12:30pm -1:45pm EST
Meet Sonia Barney
Sonia Barney is an award-winning designer and business mentor with 20 years of experience. Known for her love of process and metrics, she brings a clear, approachable teaching style to even the most intimidating business topics, helping new designers track smarter, price better, and grow with confidence.
20
Years in
the Industry
100's
of Hours
Spent Mentoring
100+
Clients
Served
Sonia's Superpowers
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Over Two Decades of Experience as a Designer, Educator, and Business Owner
Sonia brings firsthand knowledge of what it takes to build a thriving firm—with systems that support both creativity and profitability. -
Specializes in Translating Data Into Actionable Strategy
She teaches designers how to track the right numbers and actually use them to make smart, confident business decisions. -
Known for Her Detailed Processes and Operational Discipline
From design books to business systems, Sonia is the go-to expert for structure, documentation, and decision support. -
Mentored Hundreds Through Teaching and Studio Leadership
Her experience as a university instructor and team leader equips her to break down complex business concepts into clear, accessible steps. -
Built a Regional Design Community from the Ground Up
As founder of the East Idaho Interior Design Community, Sonia actively supports the growth and collaboration of early-stage business owners.
Is this course for you?
We’re a great fit if…
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You don’t know exactly how your current efforts are paying off
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You feel stuck in a cycle of trial and error
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You’re intimidated by spreadsheets but want to grow a real, scalable business
We’re not a fit if…
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You’re not interested in scaling or improving your systems
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You aren’t willing to track any data, even in a simplified way
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You think great design alone is enough to run a successful business
Clear planning creates calmer, more sustainable growth.
Growth feels easier when you understand where your business stands and what matters most right now. This course helps you replace guesswork with simple systems that support smarter decisions and long-term stability.
A 5-Week Framework for Strategic Growth and Simple Metrics
The Business Growth Journey
Understand the stages of a typical design business, common challenges at each phase, and what mindsets support healthy progression.
Wednesday, March 11th at 2:00pm EST
What to Track and Why It Matters
Learn which types of data matter most at different stages and how tracking supports better decision-making.
Wednesday, March 18th at 2:00pm EST
Start Your Simple Tracking System
Set up an approachable sales tracking system using Excel that supports clarity without complexity.
Wednesday, March 25th at 2:00pm EST
Creating Actionable Metrics
Learn the difference between raw data and metrics, understand KPIs, and expand tracking with simple tables and charts.
Wednesday, April 1st at 2:00pm EST
Planning Your Vision
Practice analyzing your data, apply insights to strategy, and set realistic business goals supported by habit-based systems.
Wednesday, April 8th at 2:00pm EST
What were your biggest, business-changing a-ha moments? How are you taking action? Join LuAnn in picking up insights from every course and every department!
Thursday, April 30th at 1:00pm EST
What’s Included?
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FREE RECORDED CLASSES FOR 90 DAYS: Can’t make one of the classes? No problem! Recordings will be available the next day—just log in to your account to access them. If you’d like unlimited access, you can purchase Lifetime Recording Access for $95 when you register—or at any time during your 90-day window.
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LIVE VIDEO COACHING CALLS WITH 5 SPECIFIC TOPICS: 5 weeks of 1 hour and 15 minute live zoom video coaching with 1 hour of your instructor teaching and 15 minutes of live Q&A.
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PRIVATE CONVERSATION BOARDS FOR EVERYONE IN THE COURSE: Sometimes we need to try something or think about it further...and then we look for clarification. This group is for collaboration, victories and trouble-shooting. Your instructor, LuAnn, and your peers will deepen your understanding of the content.
5-Week Course
Interested? Sign up for LuAnn’s updates and early bird pricing!
FAQs
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We meet each week via livestream. Expect an email with instructions a few days before your class begins.
Each meeting is one hour and fifteen minutes of live coaching with a combination of dynamic teaching (expect tons of real-world examples!) and live Q&A.No problem! Recordings of each class will be available the next day, so you won’t miss a thing. However, keep in mind that your access to these recordings is free for 90 days after your last class. After that, access will be removed unless you purchase Lifetime Recording Access for $95, which ensures your recordings never expire. You can add this option when you register or later if you need more time.
And don’t forget about the Conversation Boards! Your instructor will be there each week for extra Q&A and to help you deepen your understanding. So even if you’re in a different time zone, you can still sign up and get the full value out of this course.Your instructor will be checking in on your Conversation Board at least a few times a week to answer any questions that you post. You will also be able to interact with your classmates, continue discussions from your sessions, and share wins as you put your new-found skills into practice.We meet on Wednesdays for five weeks at 2:00pm ET. -
We want you to feel confident when you enroll in a LuAnn University course. Our policy is designed to be fair to both students and instructors:
If you cancel before the course begins: You’ll receive a refund of your tuition, minus transaction fees.
If you request a refund after the course begins: Refund requests may be made within the first two weeks of the course. We’ll review your request and work with you to find the best solution. To be eligible, you must have completed the pre-course Q&A form, which helps ensure your goals and expectations align with the course content.Once the 90-day access period ends, your recordings will no longer be available—unless you’ve purchased Lifetime Recording Access. You can add Lifetime Recording Access to your cart when you register—this means your recordings never expire. If you decide later, don’t worry! We’ll remind you when your 90-day window is about to close, giving you another chance to keep them for life.No! We’ve created a full business education with multiple tracks—but you get to decide where to start. Register for any course or intensive in any track.