974: Power Talk Friday: Katie McDonald: How to Prioritize Your Well-being in Your Interior Design Business

Katie Mcdonald Headshot(1)

Today With Katie McDonald

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m excited to welcome back Katie McDonald, certified holistic health coach and instructor at b.nourished.  As entrepreneurs, we do have a tendency to put ourselves on the backburner, focusing our time and attention on the needs of the business. But if we’re not creating something sustainable—if we’re heading toward burnout, are we really creating well-designed businesses?  It can feel as if we need to justify rest, justify taking time for ourselves, Katie’s take is that we need to view taking care of ourselves in a whole new light—and today she and I are diving deep into the philosophical questions of creativity, well-being, and the way we are intertwined with the business.

Pick It Apart:

[0:02] Katie discusses how our well-being is interwoven into the business—and why taking care of ourselves isn’t a luxury.

[5:47] LuAnn and Katie unpack the guilt entrepreneurs often feel for taking free time to rest and reset.

[12:13] Katie talks about how creativity requires rest, stillness, and space.

[17:23] LuAnn and Katie talk about what rest might look like for different people (and why that’s okay).

[29:10] Katie offers practical places to start when committing to self-care.

[38:58] Katie and LuAnn reflect on the business benefits of taking care of ourselves.

LuAnn Nigara and Katie McDonald’s Ah-Ha Moments

“The only thing that will create change is our commitment to change—our willingness to look ourselves in the eyes, look at our hear, and say, ‘Something doesn’t feel right.’” -Katie

“We’re always thinking about the future or the next big thing for our business. But in our personal lives, we’re willing to accept mediocrity.” -Katie

“Our well-being is our fuel—the engine for our business.” -LuAnn

More About Katie McDonald

Over a decade ago, the demands of Katie McDonald’s corporate career occupied her every waking moment. She was left feeling depleted and depressed—suffering from spiraling mental and physical health crises that threatened her life.

Left with no choice but to transform her body-mind relationship, Katie abandoned her corporate job and finally started applying her knowledge of self-care, alternative health, and plant-based nutrition.

Since then, Katie has been on a revitalizing journey of lifelong self-care.

Fully recovered from years of self-neglect, Katie now helps fellow doers embrace self-care so they can do more and be more while leading healthier, more intentional, and more nourished lives.

Katie leads with tough love to inspire, empower, and challenge audiences. She dispels the destructive myth that self-care is an obstacle to productivity and teaches that self-care is, in fact, a tool to create a more powerful and impactful legacy.

Connect with Katie McDonald

Speaking Site

Coaching Site and Link to Schedule a Complimentary 30 Minute Self-Care Strategy Session

Link to Bnourished Planner 15% discount code for planners LUANN

Offers from Katie:

  1. A 15% discount off the bnourished quarterly planner using code LUANN
  2. Access to my curated resource guide here
  3. Download the Whole life assessment here

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

The Power Talk Friday Tour

Watch the Docuseries!

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

AudiobookThe Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

#881 Power Talk Friday: Katie McDonald: Self-Care is Key to a Thriving, Well-Designed Business

#968 Overheard: Charles Pavarini, Leyden Lewis, and Maria Viola: How to Harness Creativity in Interior Design

973: Jamie Gasparovic: How Investing In Your Business Can Kick Imposter Syndrome to the Curb

Jamie Gasparovic(2)

Today With Jamie Gasparovic

Hi, welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, I am joined by Jamie Gasparovic, Founder and Principal Designer of Studio Gaspo, a boutique full-service interior design firm. Have you ever had imposter syndrome? Join the club. Jamie has a little secret to combating imposter syndrome, and that is to invest in your business.  Jamie has spent thousands in investments for her business. Six figures in the last year, to be more specific. Before you drop your jaw, listen in to hear all of the value and advice Jamie has to give on investing in yourself

Pick It Apart:

[11:51] Jamie explains how investing in your business can combat imposter syndrome.

[17:35] Jamie is proactive in preventing imposter syndrome, which always seems to come up, by making consistent investments.

[22:28] Jamie shares her takeaways from Sandra Funk’s Interior Design Standard.

[27:16] Benefitting from just being in the room at an event and making connections.

[34:20] Jamie shares the tangible things she has learned from the programs/courses she has invested in.

[42:35] How Jamie decides what kind of investments to make.

[46:24] Jamie’s advice for those who are nervous about making that “big investment.”

LuAnn Nigara and Jamie Gasparovic’s Ah-Ha Moments

“When designers ask me if an investment I made was worth it and I say it is. I have a hard time regretting anything because I have a takeaway from everything I have invested in.” – Jamie Gasparovic

“Hearing something in business that you are already familiar with can hit differently when someone else explains it and presents it differently.” – Jamie Gasparovic

More About Jamie Gasparovic

Jamie Gasparovic is the dynamic Founder and Principal Designer behind her boutique full-service interior design firm, Studio Gaspo. Recently, her moody modern aesthetic has been celebrated by Forbes, Architectural Digest, Homes & Gardens, and Apartment Therapy. With close to a decade of expertise in luxury, large-scale construction ranging from new builds to full-scope renovations, Jamie has created a powerful name for herself in Central Florida. Her robust client list includes professional athletes, entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 executives and busy professionals. Today, she frequently partners with prominent builders and architects to design turnkey properties from floor plans to furnishings.

Connect with Jamie Gasparovic

Website

Instagram

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn University – Registration is now OPEN for the Winter 2024 semester!

Watch the Docuseries!

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

AudiobookThe Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Resources Mentioned:

WCAA 2024 Jill Robson Memorial Scholarships

Other Shows Mentioned:

AWDB #592 Power Talk Friday: Kimberly Merlitti: Profitable Firms Build Estimates Before They Sign The Contract

AWDB #660 Sandra Funk: Level Up Your Business Through Mentorship, Coaching, and Classes. Sponsored Show: “Interior Design Standard”

AWDB #709 Jenny and Ben Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors: The Stages and Decisions to Grow Your Design Business

AWDB #759 Power Talk Friday: Rachael Bozsik: Discover Your Goldmine and Unleash Your Marketing

AWDB #786 Meredith Huck: From Corporate to Interior Design Business: 3 Insights to Succeed

972: Power Talk Friday: Lesley Myrick: Profit Insiders: How Interior Designers Can Leverage Local Marketing

Nancy Lesley Headshot

Today With Lesley Myrick:

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. For today’s Sponsored Show, I am so happy to welcome back Lesley Myrick of Profit Insiders.

Now, we all know that local business is the backbone of interior design. And yet, our focus often falls primarily or solely on online marketing. But local networking and marketing offer a lot of potential—if you know how to take advantage of opportunities (and measure your success).

Lesley knows that local marketing is about more than joining BNI or your run-of-the-mill networking group. While those organizations can certainly be valuable to your business, Lesley knows that the best way to land local clients is simply by getting out there and meeting people, wherever you might be.

Today, she shares how she makes this work for her (and what you can do to start taking advantage of local opportunities).

Pick It Apart

[5:39] Lesley shares why local marketing is so valuable for interior designers—even more so than for other businesses.

[12:50] LuAnn reflects on the importance of referrals (and why we need to focus on expanding our network).

[23:40] Lesley and LuAnn talk about the value of an elevator pitch, and how to do it the right way.

[33:48] Lesley shares other important local networking opportunities you can put into action for your business (and how to measure your success).

[50:01] Lesley breaks down how Profit Insiders works and how to apply to join.

LuAnn Nigara and Lesley Myrick’s Ah-Ha Moments

“I understand as an introvert myself, it can be uncomfortable—the local marketing side of it. It’s easy to hide behind a computer and do social media posts or spiff up your website and update your portfolio, and I’m not discounting the importance of those things. But local marketing is so important because this is a business and an industry built on relationships.” -Lesley

“We often engage in a behavior unconsciously in our own lives that we then don’t apply to our businesses. Would you find a hairdresser off Google? Probably not. You would probably ask people…and yet we think that’s what’s going to happen for our business.” -LuAnn

More About Lesley Myrick

Lesley Myrick is an adventurous, organized, and enthusiastic interior designer in the Atlanta, Georgia area (and she works with clients all over the US and Canada, too). Lesley is originally from Canada and has lived and worked in Toronto, Ontario; Los Angeles, California; Waco, Texas; and now Macon, Georgia. She earned an honors diploma in interior design from Sheridan College in 2005 and launched Lesley Myrick Art + Design in 2015. She works with high-achieving women who are ambitious, adaptable, and committed to personal and professional growth. Lesley helps these driven women bust out of boring homes and helps new interior designers launch kickass businesses they love.

Connect with Lesley Myrick

Profit Insiders Academy

Free Resources

Website

Instagram 

YouTube

Other Shows Mentioned:

AWDB #15 Nancy Ganzekaufer- Niche is Rich

AWDB #37 Lesley Myrick – Strategies I Used to Build My Business

AWDB #159 Power Talk Friday – Nancy Ganzekaufer – How To Get Confident & Clear on What You Offer

AWDB #256 Nancy Ganzekaufer- A Powerful Strategy to Attract More Clients

AWDB #389: Power Talk Friday: Nancy Ganzekaufer: The Interior Design Profit Formula

AWDB #584 Lesley Myrick: Building a Business From the Ground Up, Again

AWDB #766 Lesley Myrick: Offering Interior Design Without Procurement

AWDB #783: Power Talk Friday: Nancy Ganzekaufer: Profit Insiders for Interior Designers

AWDB #841: Power Talk Friday: Nancy Ganzekaufer: Profit Insiders For Interior Designers Group Coaching + Mastermind

AWDB #869: Power Talk Friday: Nancy Ganzekaufer: Profit Insiders – How Interior Designers Can Price Themselves Right

AWDB #935 Power Talk Friday: Nancy Ganzekaufer: Profit Insiders Academy: Marketing Lessons From Taylor Swift’s Playbook

A Big Thank You to Today’s Sponsor:

Today’s show was sponsored by Nancy Ganzekaufer and her program Profit Insiders Academy.

971: Vicente Wolf: How to Bring True Artistry into Interior Design

Vicente Wolf(2)

Today With Vicente Wolf

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, I welcome design icon Vicente Wolf to the show.  Vicente’s name speaks for itself, as does his reputation. With more than 50 years of experience and wide-known fame, Vicente is a true artist who undoubtedly inspires upcoming designers on a regular basis.  He has a true talent for design—and it begins with understanding the artistry involved. Today, Vicente shares his insights about creativity, design, and knowing the value you bring to the table.

Pick It Apart:

[1:29] Vicente shares his journey and how he was able to produce groundbreaking designs along the way.

[12:05] Vicente and LuAnn discuss Pinterest, regurgitated design, and how hard it is for designers now to produce truly unique creative work.

[21:40] Vicente discusses his hiring process and what he looks for in junior designers.

[32:14] Vicente reflects on client needs, budget, and how to create artistry within the constraints.

[51:42] Vicente turns the tables on LuAnn and asks her take on what younger and newer designers are bringing to the industry.

LuAnn Nigara and Vicente Wolf’s Ah-Ha Moments

“Architects are respected and revered. Designers often are not—they are seen as putting frosting on a cake rather than the real value they can bring.” -Vicente

“When you run your own business, you make the rules. You can make a decision when you would love to contribute your gift to someone.” -LuAnn

“How can you break ground if you don’t trust your gut?” -Vicente

More About Vicente Wolf

As a Cuban refugee making his way to New York in his teens, Vicente became a force in the home furnishings revolution, changing the vocabulary of interior design into a sleeker, modern vision starting in the mid-1970s.  Known for his high gloss white spaces, he earned the moniker “The White Knight.”  Admired for his impeccable eye and unique perspective, Vicente Wolf has been at the top of the design industry for nearly 50 years. Wolf’s work has been featured in all major lists and shelter publications including Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, and Luxe Interiors + Design magazine. Vicente was named to Elle Décor magazine’s inaugural list of design Titans list on their annual roster of A-List of designers in 2021. In his new book CREATIVE INTERIOR SOLUTIONS (Rizzoli, 2023), he shares the expertise he has honed over the years with project images and easy-to-digest “Lessons Learned”. A passionate traveler, Vicente’s annual jaunts to exotic destinations such as Burma, India, and Thailand provide him with a global viewpoint that he weaves into his residential and hospitality projects, which are displayed throughout the book.  According to Vicente, incorporating authentic artifacts and furnishings from these places with modern décor that exude a quiet elegance, captures a sense of earthy charisma, timelessness, and soul.  In 1999 Vicente opened VW Home by Vicente Wolf showroom adjacent to his design studio in Hell’s Kitchen, New York.   Vicente is an international speaker, author with five book titles to his name, collector, lauded retailer and celebrated visionary.  In 2012, Vicente accepted an honorary PHD in Design & Architecture from Boston Architectural College. He passionately supports God’s Love We Deliver as a Trustee.

Connect with Vicente Wolf

Instagram 

Facebook 

TikTok

YouTube

LinkedIn

Creative Interior Solutions (Rizzoli, 2023)

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

The Power Talk Friday Tour 2024

Watch the Docuseries!

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

AudiobookThe Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Resources Mentioned:

Power Talk Friday Tour

Creative Interior Solutions – Vicente Wolf’s book

Book Call with Duke Renders

Mydoma Studio

Other Shows Mentioned:

AWDB #28 Andrew Suvalsky – What Are You Waiting For?

AWDB #384 Sarah Magness: Practical Strategies for Talking Budgets

AWDB #968 Overheard: Charles Pavarini, Leyden Lewis, and Maria Viola: How to Harness Creativity in Interior Design

970: Power Talk Friday: Ali Stein: Strategies to Acquire New Clients

Ali Stein

Today With Ali Stein

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. My guest today is Ali Stein, owner of Grabler Brand. This is the first time you have heard from Ali on the show, but not the first time you have heard about her on the show. Back when I had Regan Baker on, if you remember, she raved about Ali. Over seven years Ali helped grow the Regan Baker Design team from 5 to 20 employees and she helped increase their revenue by 1200%. Ali was the Director of Operations and she oversaw HR, Performance Management, Finance, Business Development, Marketing, Project Management, and more. Ali now has her own business, Grabler Brand, where she advises creatives as a business strategigist and operations advisor.  This smart lady is joining me on the show to give tips to designers on how they can land their next clients.

Pick It Apart:

[7:55] Ali starts the conversation by explaining how to get your next client.

[8:35] Tip number one to gaining new clients.

[15:45] Why Ali thinks it’s important to cultivate authentic relationships and how to do that.

[24:20] Pushing yourself a little to make relationships, even if you are an introvert.

[36:19] Ali advises to put yourself out there and ask for help.

LuAnn Nigara and Ali Stein’s Ah-Ha Moments

“It is important to give clients that next level experience and not to rush through the process.” – Ali Stein

“When you can establish a working relationship with someone, that can be a strong engine in developing future business.” Ali Stein

“If you are an introvert, there is a way you can be in a room with 25 or 250 people and connect with two or three of them in a meaningful way.” LuAnn Nigara

More About Ali Stein

Ali Grabler Stein brings nearly 20 years of experience to Grabler Brand, a business strategy and operations advisory for the design and build industry. Early in her career Ali worked at Google and then as one of the first 50 employees at Facebook (now Meta). There she helped grow the community from 6 million to over 1 billion users during her 10 year tenure. She played various roles in User Operations, Product and Partner Management, and had the opportunity to lead both small and large teams. Ali then went in-house at Regan Baker Design, a full-service interior design and styling firm, to serve as the Director of Operations where she oversaw Human Resources, Performance Management, Finance, Business Development, Marketing, Project Management and more. She helped grow the team from five to nearly 20 employees and grew revenue significantly. At Grabler Brand her goal is to be a sounding board, ally and guide as creatives navigate their business growth and subsequent twists and turns. As someone who has managed both small and large teams, Ali has a strong sense for the inner workings of a successful business. From her industry knowledge to her experience with internal processes and marketing, Ali helps business owners and teams work towards becoming the businesses they want to be.

Connect with Ali Stein

Website

Instagram 

LinkedIn

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

The Power Talk Friday Tour 2024

Watch the Docuseries!

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

AudiobookThe Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

AWDB #392: Dala Al-Fuwaires: Commercial Designer, Focused Business Owner

AWDB #683: Jessica Matteson: The Client Experience Is #1 in Design

AWDB #838: Regan Baker: Building A Team That Supports Your Core Values

AWDB ·798: Brook Perdigon: Turning a Creative Passion Into a Thriving Business