Creative Genius Podcast

Gail Doby & Erin Weir
  • 4.6 (10)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Creative Genius Podcast

Two good friends who also happen to be the two co-founders of a creative consultancy for designers, Gail Doby and Erin Weir share how their long and enduring friendship impacts the way they inspire each other and work through whatever life and business challenges come their way. In their own honest musings, and also in their open conversations with speakers, authors, and influencers, they further their own journey as friends and founders, causing us to further our own journeys, too.

  1. NOV 5

    All About Innovation (Jeff Standridge)

    In his 2020 account of his 15 years as CEO of the Disney empire, The Ride of a Lifetime, Roger Iger proclaimed the maxim, "Innovate or Die". It quickly became a mantra for business executives and would-be executives hoping to emulate Disney’s phenomenal success. Whether or not you share the same sense of passion and urgency for innovation as Iger does, the fact is that some degree of innovation is needed for any business to maintain competitiveness and move forward. Knowing how to apply innovation to your business can be a strategic advantage. In this episode, Gail talks with consultant Jeff Standridge, based in Conway, Arkansas. Jeff also teaches in the College of Business at The University of Arkansas. He is the author of The Innovator's Field Guide: Accelerators for Entrepreneurs, Innovators and Change Agents and The Top Performers Field Guide: Catalysts for Leaders, Innovators and All Who Aspire to Be. Innovation, as Jeff defines it, is “planned change directed at better ways than we are currently doing things today.” He identified three types of innovation that occur in businesses: incremental, breakthrough, and disruptive. Innovation, he said, is happening exponentially in today’s businesses. Much of it is driven by new technologies, such as the digital revolution and AI. Gail asked Jeff how owners can apply innovation to their businesses. He said designers already have expertise in one of the main tools for innovation, design thinking. Beyond that, he said, first learn what innovation is and how it can impact a business, utilize an innovation process, conduct quantitative and qualitative research to determine what things in your business could be done better than how they’re being done today. Having identified those things and confirmed that they are things that are negatively impacting the business, develop solutions and implement them. Gail also asked Jeff what key messages from his book he would like to share with listeners. He offered the following: Sustained success comes from the ability to balance results and relationships. Failure is only failure if you quit. The only thing required for innovation to occur is a constraint. To hear why Jeff believes innovation and leadership are inseparable and other insights, listen to the entire podcast. If you're listening on your favorite podcast platform, view the full shownotes here: https://thepearlcollective.com/s11e9-shownotes Mentioned in This Podcast To learn more about Jeff and to contact him, go to the firm’s website at jeffstandridge.com. You will also find information about his books and a page with a list of his podcasts and videos. You can also message Jeff through his page on LinkedIn. Jeff recommended the book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni. Both Jeff and Gail recommended another book by the same author, The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business. Both are available from online booksellers. Gail mentioned the book The Obstacle Is the Way: the Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday. In speaking about their use of AI, Gail and Jeff mentioned a couple of AI tools they are currently using. Gail mentioned one called Granola, a self-described AI notepad for meetings. Jeff recommended a site called Auxigen, a library of AI-driven tools that bills itself as the “the world's first Entrepreneurial Support Platform.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SCaDSkYCPs Episode Transcript

    44 min

  2. OCT 29

    Social Media Marketing for Interior Designers (Darla Powell)

    Using social media to market products and services is not a new practice. But in recent years it has increased exponentially with the massive popularity of channels like TikTok and Instagram. That proliferation presents new opportunities for interior designers, but it also presents some challenges. With so much competition for consumers’ attention, you need a consistent, coherent strategy if you want to reap the benefits. In this episode, Gail talks with Darla Powell, director and self-proclaimed Head Wingnut, with Wingnut Social, based in Leonardtown, Maryland, which specializes in providing social media management and marketing services to the interior design and home decor industries. Darla ran her own interior design firm, Darla Powell Interior Design, for many years. During that time, she became interested in the commercial use of social media and how she could apply it to growing her business. Following a break up with her partner, she decided to close the design business and devote herself to helping interior designers use social media to market themselves and their services. Social media marketing involves leveraging social media platforms to share content, build networks, and engage users with the goal of growing a business. Darla pointed out that while we hear a lot about social media celebrities and influencers and how many followers they have, the best metric of success for social media marketing for businesses is growing reach and awareness. You want to increase the number of potential ideal clients who are viewing your content. Darla explained that to see meaningful results from social media marketing requires a long-term, organic strategy. You have to have great content, keep refreshing your content, be responsive to inquiries, and be consistent in doing so week in and week out. You are working on building relationships with potential ideal clients. “It takes three to six months of doing everything 100 percent before you really start building up momentum,” she said. Darla said there was no set formula or pattern for the way one should do social media marketing. It is different for each designer. She said that while, in her experience, Instagram is currently the best platform for interior designers to market on, for some designers LinkedIn, Facebook and Pinterest can also produce results. TikTok is growing for business use, she said, but is not currently a major focus for her firm. Darla also talked about the services her firm offers, what type of firm is a good fit to work with her firm, what kind of budget one needs, what qualities to look for when outsourcing social media marketing, and why you need to be able to scale your business quickly in preparation for the influx of new clients. For all that and more, listen to the entire podcast. If you're listening on your favorite podcast platform, view the full shownotes here: https://thepearlcollective.com/s11e8-shownotes Mentioned in This Podcast To learn more about Wingnut Social and the services it provides, go to the firm’s website at wingnutsocial.com. You will also find there a link to Darla’s podcast, Designed by Wingnut Social. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO_MEZmpPoY&pp=ygUYcGVhcmwgY29sbGVjdGl2ZSBwb2RjYXN0 Episode Transcript Note: Transcript is created automatically and may contain errors. Click to Show Transcript Welcome to the Creative Genius podcast, Darla. Hi, Gail. Thank you for having me. It's my pleasure. it's pleasure having you. So tell us about Wing That Social. How did that come to be? wow. How much time do you have? My goodness. Okay, well, let's settle in. I was born. So long, very long story.

    31 min

  3. OCT 8

    Outsourcing Virtual Assistants (Danae Branson)

    Practicing interior design is highly demanding. So is running a small business. Combine them and you have a perfect storm for generating stress and burnout. You can ease some of that pressure by getting help. Whether you’re a sole practitioner and like it that way or a firm with a small team, you don’t have to do everything yourself. You may not want or are not able to hire an employee or two, but you can get assistance by outsourcing to others who have expertise in areas you don’t have or don’t have time for. In this episode, Gail talks with Danae Branson, founder of Elite Design Assistants, based in Alexandria, Minnesota. Since the early 2000s, her firm has helped hundreds of interior designers to grow and scale their businesses through a menu of virtual outsourced services. Danae has a background in interior design, but found her true calling was in helping other designers. Gail asked Danae what kinds of services her firm provides. She said in the beginning they mostly focused on administrative and operational support. But over the years her clients asked for more services. Today, they also offer CAD drafting and 3D rendering, procurement and sourcing, bookkeeping, social media marketing, and project management. She said one reason for her firm’s success is that they are very good at matching clients with the appropriate people, both in terms of expertise and personality. Danae said many of her clients stay with them for two to five years. Some just for short periods at a time, for example, to cover staff on vacation or during a position vacancy. It makes no difference to her firm. They work on an as-need basis with no minimums. The main reason clients come to them is that they are feeling overwhelmed and stressed from trying to take on too much. “Every interior designer at some point has to outsource something,” she said. They just are unable to keep up. Danae said outsourcing may not be for everyone. She admitted that when she started the business, ironically, she herself was reluctant to outsource. However, she came to realize, as do many of her clients, that there are so many opportunities when you start to outsource. Yes, there is always the risk that the arrangement may not work out well. But she said, “With risk comes reward.” Gail and Danae also talked about how to find quality outsourced services, what to look for when selecting an outsourced service or freelancer, and how to prepare for outsourcing. For all that and more, listen to the entire podcast. If you're listening on your favorite podcast platform, view the full shownotes here: https://thepearlcollective.com/s11e5-shownotes Mentioned in This Podcast To learn more about Elite Design Assistants and the services they provide, go to the company website at www.elitedesignassistants.com. You will also find information towards the bottom of the home page about how to sign up for the weekly newsletter Danae mentions near the end of the podcast. https://youtu.be/9A0vhva_cyU Episode Transcript Note: Transcript is created automatically and may contain errors. Click to Show Transcript to the Creative Genius podcast today. We are so excited that you're here. I'd love for you to start off and just tell us about yourself. How did you find your way into the interior design industry? Sure, absolutely. Thank you so much for having me, Gail. I appreciate it. Yes, so I have been in the interior design industry since the early 2000s. I was mainly self-taught and I did that for a while while my husband was in construction. And then I kind of got a quote day job in the financial industr...

    24 min

  4. OCT 1

    Doing What You Love (Dawn Sweitzer)

    People have many reasons for why they do the jobs that they do. Certainly, some may have more options than others. Yet, time and again studies, personal accounts and memoirs attest to the fact that people who devote themselves to doing what they love—even when it involves great sacrifice—experience the greatest satisfaction from what they do and while they are doing it. And often, they eventually achieve high levels of success. In this episode, Gail talks with multi-media artist Dawn Sweitzer, of Dawn Sweitzer Studio in High Point, North Carolina. Dawn started her arts career in the mid-90s with a product design firm called Notre Monde. She currently designs for a number of top brands, including Banana Republic, Art House Furniture, Crate and Barrel, Anthropologie, and others. Her work includes painting, textiles and other forms of decorative art. Dawn said one of her key attributes in working for major brands is that she is good at understanding and maintaining the aesthetic of the company. She also works with interior designers and their clients, both residential and commercial. Gail and Dawn talked a lot about the creative process and how one keeps going year after year. Dawn said she is discovering and experimenting with new techniques all the time. That helps to keep her creative process fresh. Having her studio space, which has separate areas for different types of arts, helps to inspire her. She is surrounded by creative projects and possibilities. Dawn acknowledged that she did not always have such a high level of confidence in her work. She was concerned about how others might judge it. In time, though, she learned to let go of that doubt and to be content with what she can produce. “If it brings me joy, then that’s enough,” she said. That has given her the confidence to try new things. “When you feel solid in what you’re doing and you share that with a fearlessness, I think that’s contagious.” Gail asked Dawn what advice she had for listeners who perhaps are experiencing some doubt about their work. She said, Believe in yourself. Trust your instincts. Put yourself out there. Work really hard on your vision. Start somewhere. Do something. As a final thought, Dawn added, “Stay true to your vision, because your time will come.” For more of Dawn’s story, listen to the entire podcast. If you're listening on your favorite podcast platform, view the full shownotes here: https://thepearlcollective.com/s11e4-shownotes Mentioned in This Podcast For more information about Dawn and her work, go to her website at www.dawnsweitzerstudio.com. Gail mentioned the book The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday. You can find out more about it at theobstacleistheway.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_ObjBp9Yio&pp=ygUQcGVhcmwgY29sbGVjdGl2ZQ%3D%3D Episode Transcript Note: Transcript is created automatically and may contain errors. Click to show transcript Hello Dawn, welcome to Creative Genius podcast. We are so excited to have you on today. Hi Gail, thanks for having me. Well, it's a pleasure having you and I understand this is you are a virgin on podcast, which is awesome. I think it is great to have somebody who's brand new to it, but you're such a natural. I think it's going to be a lot of fun today. We had the pleasure of visiting your studio at High Point in North Carolina at the most recent market. And we really appreciated your generous hospitality and seeing your space and your whole proc...

    38 min

  5. SEP 17

    What Does My Business Need to Be Profitable?

    Alas, there is no magic formula or time-tested blueprint for running a successful interior design business. One reason is that, despite a number of similarities, each interior design business is unique. Yet, struggling business owners often look to their competition to try to figure out what they should be doing. Instead, they should be asking themselves what will make their particular business profitable. In this episode, Gail talks with Ali Faulkner, principal designer, AEF Interiors in Orange County, California. Ali opened her firm only five years ago, not long before the COVID pandemic rocked the industry. She’s had a lot of ups and downs, but has managed to hold on and grow her business into a highly successful firm with a team of seven in a relatively short period of time. Ali explained that when she first started operating her business she made a lot of mistakes. A major one was that she kept turning down smaller projects in the hope of landing some really big ones, because that's what other firms in her area were doing. But, those big projects didn’t materialize. Finding her business on the ropes with little money in the bank, she realized that she could be a lot more successful doing many small but profitable projects. Ali says owners need to ask themselves, What does my business need to be profitable? “It’s crucial for you to have an understanding of what size project you need and how many you need.” To do that, Ali said, you have to pay attention to the business side of the firm. Know how it operates and know your numbers. “If you have the interior design skills and you know the business, you have a double whammy,” she said. Another important component is to have a clear vision for your firm. She said she knew early on that her vision was to use interior design to help people better. “Getting clear on our vision is what has propelled our growth,” she said. “What makes us all different at the end of the day is who we are and the level of service we provide.” Gail asked Ali what advice she had for other design business owners.  She said, Lean on your resources. Use whatever is available to learn on the fly. Know your data and know your business. Hire people who are smarter than you and then get out of their way. To hear how Ali got stays motivated despite her setbacks, and more, listen to the entire podcast. If you're listening on your favorite podcast platform, view the full shownotes here: https://thepearlcollective.com/s11e2-shownotes Mentioned in This Podcast To learn more about Ali’s firm, go to the website at aef-interiors.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV3lT2vcZ3M&pp=ygUQcGVhcmwgY29sbGVjdGl2ZQ%3D%3D Episode Transcript Note: Transcript is created automatically and may contain errors. Click to Show Transcript Allie, it's so great to have you on Creative Genius Podcast. Welcome. Thanks for having me, Gail. it's our pleasure. So. I would love for you to tell your story. How in the world did you get started with interior design and tell us about your story in Orange County, just a little bit about you. Gosh, okay. Never very good at making a long story short, but I'll try my best here to give you the spark note version. I used to work in luxury hospitality and consulting. So I used to come from a service -based background and worked in operations. I moved to Orange County six years ago. for another job. It was my first opportunity in being a part of a startup and actuall...

    31 min

  6. SEP 10

    When a Recruiter Can Make All the Difference (Ken Roberts)

    Perhaps at one time or another you’ve considered using a recruiter to help you with a difficult or timely hire. Perhaps, too, after reviewing their fees you decided to conduct the search on your own. Understandable — but did you factor in all the elements involved? A recruiter can do a lot more than helping you find possible candidates. They can make the difference between making a satisfactory hire and making a great one. In this episode, Gail welcomes back to the podcast Ken Roberts, principal with Interior Talent based in Orlando, Florida. Interior Talent specializes in talent recruitment and retention for firms in the architecture, interior design, engineering, retail and manufacturing industries nationwide. The firm has been serving those industries for 21 years. Ken said he and the team at Interior Talent think of themselves as “career matchmakers.” They help clients find the best candidates for their firm and candidates to find the best fit for their career plans. He pointed out that for most employers conducting their own search, the process can take up to six months. Their firm usually can fill a position in one to two months. Ken explained that a recruiter not only can save employers time — time they can better devote to growing their business — but they have industry knowledge and contacts that give them access to candidates who might be a great fit but who are not responding to job postings. They also can help with other aspects of hiring, such as conducting skills assessments, onboarding and retaining employees. Ken acknowledged that a recruiter is not for everyone. He said, in general, they are best called upon to fill more senior-level positions and in firms with five or more employees. But, he said, clients need to be ready to make the commitment to work with the recruiter. They need to devote time to the process and communicate responsively. In the second half of their conversation, Gail and Ken talked about succession planning. In particular they discussed what’s involved in identifying and, if necessary, recruiting the right leadership to take over the firm to ensure its future success. Leadership goes beyond competency, Ken pointed out. What makes someone a great designer does not necessarily make them a great leader. In selecting someone to lead the firm, clients need to have a good understanding of where they want to take the company. For more insights, listen to the entire podcast. If you're listening on your favorite podcast platform, view the full shownotes here: https://thepearlcollective.com/s11e1-shownotes Mentioned in This Podcast You can find more information about Ken and Interior Talent on the firm’s website at interiortalent.com. To listen to Ken’s previous appearance on the Creative Genius Podcast, in which he talked about hiring and retaining employees, listen here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSf2gEe70zM&pp=ygUQcGVhcmwgY29sbGVjdGl2ZQ%3D%3D Episode Transcript Note: Transcript is created automatically and may contain errors. Click to Show Transcript Ken, welcome to the Creative Genius podcast. We're glad to have you here with us. And for those of you that don't know Ken Roberts, I'm going to have him share his story. How did he get into being an executive recruiter? Gail, so great to see you. I love spending time with you. So thanks so much for inviting me to be part of this. My pleasure. I know your listeners will be always hopefully get some more exciting stuff like that. You always like to share, but A little bit about me. Well,

    43 min

  7. SEP 3

    Moving Beyond Fear (Rhonda Britten)

    Fear can be a positive emotion, protecting us from danger. Fear can also be a hindrance, holding us back from achieving our best, true selves. Deep-seated fears and traumas from the earliest years of our lives may influence our choices and relationships without us even being aware they are doing so. In the name of keeping us safe, they create barriers to growth. Recognizing and getting free of these fears can allow us to live more positive, productive and satisfying lives. In this episode, Gail talks with Master Life Coach Rhonda Britten, founder of the Fearless Living Institute. The Institute offers coaching and programs to help individuals identify and master their fears. It also offers training and certification for those who want to become coaches. Rhonda is also an Emmy-winning TV host and the author of several books on living fearlessly. Rhonda related her own traumatic past and how it colored her sense of self and choices into adulthood. Her decision to change led her eventually to understanding the critical role fear plays in our lives and how one can break free from fear. “Everything comes down to fear,” she said. “Fear loves you. It wants to keep you safe.” That might seem a good thing. But as Rhonda discovered, fear cuts you off from your essential nature, from the activating principle that wants you to live the life your soul intended. What we normally think of as fears are what Rhonda referred to as fear triggers. The kind of fear she is talking about is a more deep-seated core fear that develops sometime before we reach age five. She identified 10 of these core fears, one or more of which most people are affected by. Gail asked Rhonda what are the keys to living fearlessly.  Rhonda stated five: Truly believing that there’s nothing wrong with you. You do have a soul mission—a calling or purpose. You are exactly where you need to be. Be willing to forgive yourself for your past. Recognize your brain is your friend when your brain is in freedom and your brain is your enemy when your brain is in fear. Ask yourself, Am I making this up or is it true? For all the details of Rhonda’s story and her insights into living fearlessly, listen to the entire podcast. If you're listening on your favorite podcast platform, view the full shownotes here: https://thepearlcollective.com/s10e10-shownotes Mentioned in This Podcast For more information about Rhonda, the Fearless Living Institute, and her books, go to the website at fearlessliving.org. You will also find her podcast and blog on the site. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv6CO-n0vCE Episode Transcript Note: Transcript is created automatically and may contain errors. Click to show transcript Rhonda Britton, it is so good to see you and have you on the podcast today. And well, thank you, Miss Gail. Yeah. And here we are. It is July in two thousand and twenty four. I can't believe this. We have known each other almost 10 years. Get out of town. No, I know. Wow. We met each other at a mastermind retreat years and years and years ago. You've done a lot of different things over the years and I can't wait to talk to you today about what you've been doing and what you're planning to do. But, and I almost hesitate to start here, but I think your story is so powerful and I would really love for you to share this with listeners because the minute I heard that, I mean, I just felt it all over my body and,

    38 min

  8. AUG 27

    Planning for the New Longevity (Michael Clinton)

    In many parts of the world, life expectancy is increasing. Many adults in the U.S. today can anticipate living into their 80s and possibly beyond. Maintaining a high quality of life in one’s later years requires taking steps now to ensure your future physical, mental and financial well-being. With a sound foundation, the second half of life can be just as fulfilling and rewarding as the first. In this episode, Gail talks with Michael Clinton, author of ROAR: Into the Second Half of Your Life (Before It's Too Late) and founder of Roar forward. Prior to transitioning to the second half of his life, Michael worked for many years in the magazine publishing industry, holding top-level positions with GQ, Conde Nast and Hearst Magazines. He is also a writer-at-large for Esquire and a regular columnist for Men’s Health. Michael chose to leave his publishing career and devote himself to promoting and advancing what he calls “the new longevity.” People in a number of countries are not only living longer; they are healthier, better educated and better off financially than the elderly of past generations. They can take advantage of many new possibilities in the second half of their lives. Michael created the acronym ROAR to sum up his blueprint for successfully aging well into one’s 70s, 80s and beyond. It stands for Reimagining one’s life as one ages, Owning your numbers (assessing your current health and financial status), Action plan to realize the life you want for yourself, and Relationships (found to be essential to happy, healthy longevity). A key to aging well is engaging in activities and endeavors that are fulfilling and help you continue to grow, such as lifelong learning, exploring, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Michael offered three observations on how to capitalize on the new longevity: Release yourself from self-imposed ageism. Reimagination and reinvention are possible at any age. You are probably going to live longer than you think.  Are you prepared for that? How is your physical and financial health? Do you have a sense of purpose for the second half of your life? During their conversation, Michael also talked about how the new longevity is affecting the economy and how interior designers can take advantage of the new longevity 50+ market for renovation, redesign, second homes, and home building. For all that and more, listen to the entire podcast. If you're listening on your favorite podcast platform, view the full shownotes here: https://thepearlcollective.com/s10e9-shownotes Mentioned in This Podcast For more information about Michael and his book, go to the website for Roar forward at roarforward.com. You can also sign up there to receive the newsletter Michael mentioned at the end of the podcast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnV0HOME314 Episode Transcript Note: Transcript is created automatically and may contain errors. Click to Show Transcript Michael, welcome to the Creative Genius podcast. So I'd love to know a little bit about your background and then what led you to write the book Roar into the second half of your life before it's too late. Thanks, Gail. It's great to be with you and to see you again. Well, I spent about 40 years in the magazine publishing business in New York City. I was the longtime publisher of GQ. Then I was a senior VP, exec VP at Conde Nast. Then I went over to Hearst. where I was on the team that launched Oprah's magazine and we launched Food Network and HETV and built out ...

    35 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Two good friends who also happen to be the two co-founders of a creative consultancy for designers, Gail Doby and Erin Weir share how their long and enduring friendship impacts the way they inspire each other and work through whatever life and business challenges come their way. In their own honest musings, and also in their open conversations with speakers, authors, and influencers, they further their own journey as friends and founders, causing us to further our own journeys, too.

Information

  • Creator
    Gail Doby & Erin Weir
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2024
  • Episodes
    104
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All Rights Reserved - Pearl Collective
  • Show Website
    Creative Genius Podcast

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