Business of Design ® | Interior Designers, Decorators, Architects & Landscapers Kimberley Seldon

Feeling bogged down? Overwhelmed? Are you fantasizing about an assistant who can do all the things? How to outsource, what to outsource, and why to outsource is our topic for today’s show.

In this episode we learn:
- outsource what you like to do least or what bogs you down
- where do you procrastinate, that’s a good spot for outsourcing
- hire someone who is better than you at a specific task
- outsource the most time-consuming tasks
- outsource tasks that you are able to invoice your clients for such as CAD, 3d renders, sourcing, procurement and client communications.

Success is not an accident. It's a strategy.
Business of Design® is that strategy. Become a member, today.
https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

Struggled with a scarcity mindset? Terrified of asking for a raise or a higher fee? You are not alone. Learn how Kimberley’s former editor from Style at Home magazine, prompted her to face her own negative money mindset. Today, Angela Lawrence describes herself as a money warrior and tells you how you can become one too.

In this episode we learn:
- know what your money is doing for you
- ask questions about how your financial advisors get paid
- consider a course on investing to grow your financial awareness

Success is not an accident. It's a strategy.
Business of Design® is that strategy. Become a member, today.
https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

What do you do when you find yourself with clients who want you to provide everything on their wish list for a fixed amount? They have a budget in mind, and it seems reasonable to them that you should be able to stretch their budget to include everything. Hmmmmm. Let’s hear how Kimberley solved this issue on a recent project.   

In this episode we learn:
- clients are not expert in running design projects, you are
- tell them how to spend their money in a satisfying way
- remind them how indecision costs them money
- forget the kids’ rooms, take care of mom and dad first
- the budget and the wish list never match

Success is not an accident. It's a strategy.
Business of Design® is that strategy. Become a member, today.
https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

As business owners we spend a great deal of time talking about our fees, and these conversations may prompt potential clients to say something like, ohhhh, that's more than I thought it would cost. When the conversation leads there, your bottom line depends on your ability to negotiate with confidence.

In this episode we learn:
- 70% of your effort in negotiating should be invested in preparing for the conversation
- knowing what to prepare helps you efficiently approach the process
- ensuring you're clear on your ideal client profile will help you know who not to negotiate with
- be clear on where you position yourself, your services and your business relative to the market, so you can talk about it
- negotiating is a process, and it is something that you CAN get good at

Success is not an accident. It's a strategy.
Business of Design® is that strategy. Become a member, today.
https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

Many design business owners dislike accounting so much, they avoid it. But this avoidance negatively impacts your ability to perform at your best. By reimagining how financial data is communicated and simplifying the tasks, you can make accounting engaging and accessible. You can be more profitable with very little extra effort.

In this episode we learn:
- partner with an accounting/finance resource that engages on your level
- know (and I mean really know) what is the thing that is most important thing you want to achieve in your life, and how is your business going to help you achieve it
- 3-5 KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) can tell you the health of your business
- stop (solely) relying on your gut and intuition to run your business
- data driven decision making increases the likelihood of an improved outcome by 3x

Success is not an accident. It's a strategy.
Business of Design® is that strategy. Become a member, today.
https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

Kimberley shares some random thoughts from recent coaching calls and client projects. See if you can relate.

In this episode we learn:
- be like Taylor and make a bold change
- good stands in the way of great
- no contract will protect you if you don’t follow the rules
- you are the expert, direct clients to spend money in a way that will bring them the best value

Success is not an accident. It's a strategy.
Business of Design® is that strategy. Become a member, today.
https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast