28 episodes
Damn Good Interior Designer Cheryl Kees Clendenon and Liz Lapan
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- Arts
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4.9 • 27 Ratings
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Join Cheryl Kees Clendenon and Liz Lapan, the dynamic duo behind the visionary and integrator balancing all the moving parts of a full service interior design firm in their no-nonsense and thought-provoking podcast, the Damn Good Designer.
Each episode is full of damn good truths and real talk as they share invaluable insights on how to run and build a successful business while challenging the norms, the industry, each other and YOU. Emphasizing a business-savvy approach, Cheryl and Liz take you on a roller coaster of discovery, considering success from a different lens, breaking free from groupthink, and encouraging you to embrace your own authentic designer self. There is not much they will not say “out loud”.
In this podcast, you'll find no room for conformity as they shatter the mold of one-size-fits-all business practices. Cheryl's fearless attitude showcases a refusal to follow the conventional wisdom, ask “why” repeatedly and reject what no longer makes sense in today’s world.
If you're seeking a dose of inspiration, a splash of unconventional wisdom, and a refreshing perspective on the entrepreneurial world, the Damn Good Designer is your go-to podcast. Tune in and let Cheryl and Liz, along with their expert guests in the fields of designers, architects, landscapers, and other creative professionals, guide you toward building a remarkable business that defies norms and sets you on a path to unparalleled success."Get ready to challenge the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary!
About the hosts:
Cheryl Kees Clendenon-
2021 KBB Person of the year
2022 Design Studio winner Dallas Arts Awards
2021 Changemaker Design Hounds
200 or so years ago a child came roaring into the world feet first ready to show up and argue a cause. Just because. Her mother still maintains the story is- she was screaming-“why”- from the minute she landed wrong side up and slapped the doctor for disturbing her afternoon nap
And to this day does not give “it” a rest except when she is sleeping. Which is where you will find her only between the hours of 2am and 7:30am. A belligerent non-smoker (in case you were wondering) and a frequent challenger of anything that resembles “normal” or desired by the masses, Cheryl is a natural born contrarian who talks faster than 2x speed on a podcast
She gravitates towards wanting to help clients and designers who are the square pegs in a world of round holes, lose earrings impossibly frequently, fall off of platform shoes and are unapologetically saucy. Relaxing is not in the skill set. Life begins and ends with family.
Her sacred words are: Why, Percipient, Whizbang and Profit.
But please do not say the words: Package, Blocks, Red Flag, Overwhelm or Picked. Hives break out and it gets ugly.
Liz Lapan
VP of Everything, Interior Designer,
Work Wife, Team Cook, Unicorns
People ask, when did you KNOW you had found your ideal work wife- Cheryl will reply ” When she drew me 8 different cacti on her 3rd day because I said -find me a damn cactus”
The woman who has never been through an airport without being extended an invitation to stop and play show and tell with the contents of her backpack, can single handedly plow snow with a rake and rescue her boss in a snowstorm in Arizona.–yes, I said Arizona–after sleeping all night in a tuna can of a rental car.
An accomplished designer in her own right with an amazing sense of color and pattern, Liz can wear the designer hat in the morning, the project manager hat at noon and return to the office being the ultimate manager of all the things. Client’s love her, Subs respect her and the team adores the woman who gets “it” done-whatever “it” may be.
RESOURCES:
www.damngooddesigner.com
https://www.theinteriordesignparadigm.com/
Want to be a guest? Apply here: https://forms.clickup.com/8404193/f/80f71-613517/PFK3QDSALZ30VONMTP
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(TRAILER ONLY!) The Ultimate Win Win Ep 28
In this episode, we discuss the significance of project pricing and minimum spend requirements for achieving profitability in your design firm. But what exactly do these terms mean, and how can you integrate them into your design business? Today, they will discuss the strategy of implementing this business model and explain why this can be a major win/win for both you–and your clients if you are going about it with intention.
Make a one time purchase to listen now! Click HEREClick here to listen to our EXCLUSIVE podcast on "The Ultimate Win Win"
3 ways to join us on this journey. No need to wait. There is a price point for everyone!
RESOURCE LINKS:The Design Paradigm is now enrolling! The Design Paradigm is a 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about running a profitable business and being the expert in the room. It is the only coaching program to combine individual attention & accountability with live group workshops, honest video presentations and customized attention to your needs.
The Interior Design Paradigm - Website
Damn Good Designer - Website
Business coaching for interior designers with honest, real-deal guidance from Cheryl.
Join our free Facebook group - Small Business Think Big and get to know Cheryl better! -
Why is your client ghosting you? Ep 27
Are your clients dragging their feet, hemming and hawing after the presentation and maybe even ghosting you--what do you do? In this episode we discuss five considerations when a client is not making decisions and how to handle them. Designers need to ask themselves certain questions to help determine exactly where the problem lies and if the indecision rooted in something deeper than uncertainty. There may be more than meets the eye and it is up to us, as the expert, to come up with a solution rather than blaming a client's indecision.
Want to hear more podcasts that are too juicy for public ears?
Click here to sign up for our private podcast!
RESOURCE LINKS:The Design Paradigm is now enrolling! The Design Paradigm is a 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about running a profitable business and being the expert in the room. It is the only coaching program to combine individual attention & accountability with live group workshops, honest video presentations and customized attention to your needs.
The Interior Design Paradigm - Website
Damn Good Designer - Website
Business coaching for interior designers with honest, real-deal guidance from Cheryl.
Small Business - Think Big - Facebook
Led by interior Design Business coach, Cheryl Clendenon, please join the free Facebook group Small Business Think Big --for designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need. -
(TRAILER ONLY!) Creating the Game Changer Ep 26
What exactly is a visual scope of work? Cheryl and Liz discuss how theirs has become a game changer not only for In Detail but many other designers Cheryl has coached over the years. In this episode they dive into strategies for creating a successful scope of work and how it can be a powerful marketing tool for your business, how useful they are in setting expectations with clients, showcases the services offered by the design firm, and how this serves as a guide for both the client and the designer, ensuring that everyone is on the same page throughout the project.
Make a one time purchase to listen now! Click HEREClick here to listen to our EXCLUSIVE podcast on "Stay in Your Lane"
3 ways to join us on this journey. No need to wait. There is a price point for everyone!
AND
Join our free Facebook group - Small Business Think Big and get to know Cheryl better! -
(TRAILER ONLY!) Stay in your lane Ep 25
How can you be team player without giving up your own rights?
Working with contractors can be a tricky relationship when they want you to stay in your lane--BUT it doesn't have to be. Creating a team approach with positioning in your marketing, the copy that you use, the verbiage that you talk about, and how you talk about it with other people, all of that is so important. We discuss how important positioning to the client about it being win-win-win and how to sell this to the client and they actually need both components of this is because we do different things and we focused on different things.
Make a one time purchase to listen now! Click HEREClick here to listen to our EXCLUSIVE podcast on "Stay in Your Lane"
3 ways to join us on this journey. No need to wait. There is a price point for everyone!
AND
Join our free Facebook group - Small Business Think Big and get to know Cheryl better! -
Are you talking too much? Ep 24
Our firm, In Detail Interiors, gets a lot of leads and I am grateful for every single one of them. However, that doesn't mean we take on every job of every size and every type--and neither can you. You must have guidelines (NOT A SCRIPT) on how you determine what will work for your set up of your firm, your bandwidth and your resource capacity. Learn how we focus on asking the lead questions, listening to their needs, and finding the key talking point to help us qualify our lead. This is what will set the stage for a successful initial consult meeting.
Want to hear more podcasts that are too juicy for public ears?
Click here to sign up for our private podcast!
RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Designer - Website
Business coaching for interior designers with honest, real-deal guidance from Cheryl.
Take a peek at the latest issue of the Damn Good Designer Magazine! Click below to get access. The latest design competitions - what you should be doing in 2024, answers to burning questions and more.
Small Business - Think Big - Facebook
Led by interior Design Business coach, Cheryl Clendenon, please join the free Facebook group Small Business Think Big --for designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need. -
What is the best investment you can make for your business? --Special Guest Tammy Covington Nagem Ep 23
Going to High Point Market and learning about what you sell is the BEST investment you can make for your business! After 29 markets Cheryl had the honor of talking with Tammy Nagem, CEO of High Point Market authority, to tell you why market is still one of the best business investments you can make. Learn how Tammy and her team help optimize the experience for designers and why it is important for all of you to attend. We discuss vendor relationships, the experience, the events, and how networking is important in this industry. Hear how Tammy and her team are striving to meet the needs of the designer and adapting to the industry. If you want to talk about the cost of doing business, Cheryl believes High Point Market is a MUST.
Want to hear more podcasts that are too juicy for public ears?
Click here to sign up for our private podcast!
RESOURCE LINKS:Be a guest on our podcast!
Click here to tell us all about your epic subject you want to discuss!
Damn Good Designer - Website
Business coaching for interior designers with honest, real-deal guidance from Cheryl.
Take a peek at the latest issue of the Damn Good Designer Magazine! Click below to get access. The latest design competitions - what you should be doing in 2024, answers to burning questions and more.
Small Business - Think Big - Facebook
Led by interior Design Business coach, Cheryl Clendenon, please join the free Facebook group Small Business Think Big --for designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.
Customer Reviews
Everything You Need to Know
Cheryl and Liv are a wealth of knowledge, uncut and unfiltered, serving up actionable steps with a sense of humor and an understanding of what it’s like to be a designer and a business owner. They are in the trenches with you, offering encouragement and a little kick in the pants. I’m so grateful that they are telling it like it is, and helping us, as well as the entire industry, level up.
The Business Bible
Cheryl is a Business Bible in herself! I am serious.. whether it is her FB group or her signature coaching program, everything is just so valuable. Now this podcast.. is the cherry we all needed. I personally feel some of the coaches who call themselves coaches, should listen to this podcast. Having knowledge is one thing, but having the capability to disperse that knowledge into money making processes for others is entirely different. She is active and successful in the design field and to get advise from someone like that is truly beneficial. Thank you Cheryl!
Authentic and Generous!
So grateful for the wisdom and authentic viewpoints. Such good insight and bits of information to implement in my business!