Welcome to today’s episode of Power Talk Friday! LuAnn has a really special treat in store for you today – her husband, Vince will be joining her on the show! LuAnn has recently had a lot of people asking her to address the topic of husband and wife teams, working together.

She recently interviewed Syd and Shea McGee, of Studio McGee (#270) and there are also a few more interviews scheduled with husband and wife teams, which are to be aired in the near future. Vince has already appeared on the show once before, where he talked to LuAnn about the kind of advice that he would give to new entrepreneurs just starting out in their business. He discussed establishing a mission, core values and also systems. So if you’re interested in finding out more about any of that, please go back and listen to episode #78. Today, LuAnn and Vince will be talking about how they’ve managed to be in business together for so many years, and still, like (let alone love) each other! Listen in to find out more!

Vince is the brains behind the finances at Window Works, with a degree in Accounting and also an MBA in Business. He has been the fearless leader at Window Works for thirty-five years this December and he has achieved a very recognizable level of stature within their Window Treatment and Awning community. He has served on a number of Marketing and Operations Advisory Boards, for Window Works and for Dorosol (The Awning Company that they use most often) and he served for just less than two years as the Vice President of Franchise Sales, for Decorating Den. Listen in today, to find out more about how Vince and LuAnn have managed to work together, really successfully, for so long.

Show highlights:

• Vince shares some of the core reasons that he thinks they have managed to work so happily and successfully with each other and with their third partner, Bill.
• How the Universe has really gifted them with their different yet clearly defined roles within their business.
• Recognizing their very different strengths and skills, which really blend well together, for the benefit of their business.
• Not micromanaging each other or their staff really works well for Vince and LuAnn.
• What makes a really great Salesperson.
• Their ‘code’ of who gets the final say if there’s a disagreement about something in the business. (Unless it’s a money decision).
• Letting go of your inner ‘control freak’ to find harmony in your business relationships.
• The importance of moving on after a deal has been done and signed off, regardless of what may transpire later.
• The importance of having a basis of respect in any relationship to avoid issues.
• It’s so much easier to be in business with your spouse when you really do love and care for one another.
• Observing the fine line of respect/familiarity.
• Always keeping the bigger picture (the business) in mind when disagreements arise.
• The benefits of using rationality rather than emotional manipulation.
• Delineating responsibilities yet allowing people to grow by allowing them to work within their strengths and to run with what they do really well.
• It really helps to curb disagreements if you can actually feel the pain of your partner.
• Always keeping what’s best for the business uppermost in mind.

Links:

Previous shows mentioned in this episode:

Vince Nigara #78

Syd and Shea McGee #270

Welcome to today’s show! Our guest for today is Rasheeda Gray, the Principal of Gray Space Interior Design, which is located in the Philadelphia Metro area. Gray Space is still a side hustle for Rasheeda at this point in time and yet in just under two years, she has already had more than twenty projects! You’re probably wondering how she has managed to do this, so today she shares three strategies that she has used, to land these twenty plus projects and also her thoughts on what it takes to succeed in the field of Interior Design. Listen in now, to get some really actionable tips from Rasheeda, to fill your pipeline.

Rasheeda holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and International Business, as well as a Master’s Degree and she currently works full time, in a corporate position. She also has a husband and two kids. Rasheeda brings her business skills to her Design Firm, so listen in, as she explains how she’s managed to achieve as much as she has, in such a short time.

Show highlights:

• What led to Rasheeda starting Gray Space Interior Design, as her side hustle.
• Rasheeda is a strong believer in Vision Boards.
• How Rasheeda managed to obtain her first two projects.
• The way that Rasheeda made use of social media to get herself known, as an Interior Designer.
• The magic mix for Rasheeda’s success on social media.
• The secret to Rasheeda’s success on Instagram.
• Rasheeda’s way of growing her business intentionally to attain the kind of success that she has, in such a short time.
• Taking full advantage of any opportunity to speak at events as a great way to get yourself and your business known.
• What Rasheeda did to get to know five Realtors.
• All about Rasheeda’s Consultation Special for Cyber Monday.
• Using Loss Leaders to attract more business.
• How referrals and testimonials have helped Rasheeda to fill her pipeline.
• The way that Rasheeda leverages her reviews on Howz, to get more business.
• How Rasheeda found Cheryl and then selected her to be her mentor.
• How mentorship has contributed to Rasheeda’s success.
• Why it could be tricky to have a mentor from the same area as you.
• Why it’s important to be upfront with your clients about your working a full-time job.
• The questionnaire that Rasheeda has her prospective clients complete right in the beginning.
• Assessing the needs of your clients, then providing solutions for them.
• The logistics of running a Design firm, a full-time job and a family.

Links:

To take advantage of the special incentives that are being offered to you, as a listener of the podcast:

From My Doma Studio, go to: https://www.mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness

and

From our newest sponsor, Fresh Books, go to https://www.freshbooks.com/luann

Today we have Remya Warrior on the show with us and she’s a New Jersey Interior Designer with a Master’s Degree as well as fourteen years of experience in the field. She is active in both the WCAA (Window Coverings Association of America), where she is currently the Vice President of the New Jersey chapter, and also in ASID in New Jersey, where she is the featured Tech Talk host. Listen in today, to hear all about what that is and also to find out about Remya’s very actionable Seven Step Process that she uses to really knock her networking right out of the park.

Remya really loves to cook for her friends and family and she firmly believes that the kitchen is the heart of the home and it is this that has her specializing in Kitchen Design. Being an active member of the WCAA has led her to her falling in love with window treatments and specializing in that area as well.

On Remya’s website, there is a line that says that she helps busy, middle-income families create a home that they love and this is something that LuAnn found very interesting because she really enjoys finding out what makes you, as an Interior Designer, different. LuAnn loves researching and finding out what really sets certain Designers apart, for the purposes of the show, and she points out that your clients also want to find something on your website, that really sets you apart as a Designer.  Listen in now, to find out more about Remya and the really interesting things that she does with her business, to set her apart from the rest.

Show highlights:

• Koffee Break– the Video Resource that Remya used to have on her website.
• What Remya learned from doing Koffee Break for two years.
• What Tech Talk is all about and who Remya has connected with, through doing it.
• How Remya has really managed to up her game, through doing Tech Talk.
• How Remya selects the people that she interviews on Tech Talk.
• You can go to the ASID channel on YouTube, to see the library of resources that Remya has created there with her webinars.
• If you’d like to attend one of Remya’s Tech Talk Live Webinars, you will need to friend her on Facebook. (Remya Warrior)
• Remya gives a detailed explanation of her Seven Step Process designed to help you to network most effectively.
• The heartfelt and personal messages that Remya sent to only five special people on Thanksgiving.
• What it takes to create a really effective Sales Conversation.
• The three separate email sequences that Remya has on her website to put business leads into her pipeline.
• Building your referral strategy, through Remya’s Seven Step Process.

Resources:

Remya’s website: https://www.rwarriordesigns.org

Remya on Facebook-Remya Warrior Designs

Remya on LinkedIn-Remya Warrior Designs

Remya learned this networking technique from her friend Paul McManus!

You can also search for Remya on YouTube and Ted Talk.

To get 10% off your entire first purchase from Curated Kravet, go to https://www.curatedkravet.com and use the code C K Podcast at the checkout.

If you’d like to be in one of LuAnn’s Masterminds, email her at info@luannnigara.com to see if you’re a good fit.

Please leave your review for the show on iTunes – LuAnn will really appreciate it

Welcome to today’s show! Our guest for today, Amanda Evans, is someone you may know through Instagram. She is the Founder and Principal of Amanda Evans Interiors, which is based in Vancouver. Amanda opened her business in 2009, before the birth of  Theo, her first child. Today Amanda talks to LuAnn about what work looked like for her before Theo came into her life, what it looked like after Theo began pre-school and what it looks like now, after their daughter, Marlee, who is now just three months old, was born. Listen in to find out more.

On the show today, Amanda gives a detailed explanation of how she grew and then filled her pipeline, so that now, only three years later, she already has three employees. If you have been battling with ways to give your new (or existing firm) a boost in getting new leads, you’re going to really enjoy today’s show. Listen in now, to find out from Amanda some ways to handle the transitions in life, both from a business standpoint and when things come at you personally.

Show highlights:

• Some of Amanda’s observations about the transitions in her life, over the last few years.
• Amanda’s really intentional way of creating relationships with the Builders and Realtors that she wanted to work with.
• What it was like for Amanda, and how she coped, when she first joined the mostly male Builder’s Association and started going to networking meetings.
• Amanda’s way of initiating a first meeting, to connect with the Builders and Realtors that she wanted to build relationships with.
• Some lessons that Amanda learned, and how her thinking changed, while making the transitions in her life.
• How Amanda was able to up-level her work and take on even more, by hiring people to assist her.
• Taking the pain out of developing new relationships with Builders or Contractors.
• How Amanda managed to get ideal team together.
• Some advice to help you to hire the right people for your business.
• Amanda’s way of growing her Instagram, to get over 12 000 followers.
• Some things to watch out for, when tagging people on Instagram.
• You really do need to credit your photographer!
• Winning ways to work with Instagram.
• Some tips for engaging with your Instagram Community.

Links:

Website: https://www.aeinteriors.ca Instagram: @amandaevansinteriors Facebook: Facebook.com/amandaevansinteriors Twitter: @amandaevansinc   Previous shows mentioned on this episode: 

Nancy Ganzekaupher #256

Tabitha Carro #235

Shea McGee #236

Amber Lewis #184