Profit Is A Choice

Michele Williams | Business Coach | Podcaster |Speaker
  • 4.8 (55)
  • BUSINESS
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Profit Is A Choice

Owning every choice in your business is not for the faint of heart. Each Monday, join Michele Williams, strategic profitability coach for the interior design industry as she interviews guests who are taking control of their business one decision at a time to increase their profits. If you are an entrepreneur who wants to make money while working in your passion, this is the podcast for you.

  1. 1D AGO

    Invest in Yourself for Business Growth

    288: Invest in Yourself for Business Growth Today on the podcast, we’re joined by Kacey Graham, owner and principal designer of Boehm Graham Interior Design. From working alongside her mother on over 17 interior design show houses to leading her own successful design firm, Kacey shares her inspiring journey of business growth. We’ll dive into the key investments she made in herself and her team to build a thriving interior design brand. Topics Mentioned: Self investment Growth Hiring Excellance Key Thoughts:  I needed someone that really had a different energy and a different experience base, business mindset, and financial backing. Enter Michele Williams, Scarlet Thread Consulting. I remember crying and going, I can't afford to hire her, and it was kind of like I slapped my own face and said I can't afford not to hire her. And that was the best decision I ever made. Kacey Graham   Everything's building blocks. So, we can't skip over those heavy, difficult pieces. Whether it's in organization or marketing or financials, we've got to put the basic building blocks together. Michele Williams   It's going to be an evolution. Much like our homes are our workshop, our businesses are always evolving and always improving. That should always be the goal. Kacey Graham   You've got to have your thumb on the pulse of what's happening in the economy because hiring somebody to do something today that we hired three, or four years ago the price would be completely different. Historical data informs the future. Michele Williams   Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams Contact Kacey: Email: kacey@boehmgrahamdesign.com   Facebook: Boehm Graham Interior Design  Instagram: kacey.graham Website: www.boehmgrahamdesign.com References and Resources: Work with Me The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today    CFO2Go Metrique Solutions How to Build, Manage, and Execute on a Business Strategy course beginning August 2025 sign up now! FREE Step-by-Step Guide to Mapping Your Business Growth

    49 min

  2. JUN 15

    The Hidden Costs of Winging It in Your Design Business

    287: The Hidden Costs of Winging It in Your Design Business In this episode, we unpack the hidden costs of winging it in your design business. Michele shares why flying by the seat of your pants can lead to burnout, missed opportunities, and financial messes. She dives into the power of intentional planning, strategic hiring, and clear marketing—all rooted in a strong, future-focused vision. If you're ready to stop guessing and start growing, this one's for you. Topics Mentioned: Missed Opportunities Peace Process Being Intentional Key Thoughts:  When I was winging it, I realized there was a huge cost to me, to my peace, to my time, and certainly to my money. Michele Williams   We're working on the wrong initiatives, the wrong plans, and things that might support us in the short term, but not in the long term. Michele Williams   I would like to work with an intentionality on where I'm going, what I'm doing, who I'm doing with, and how I'm going to show up in the world, because that brings me peace. Michele Williams   The goal here is to really be able to have an intentionality in what we are doing so that as we do it, we know that we are checking off those tasks and those goals that are moving us closer to the business that we want to become. Michele Williams   Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams References and Resources: Work with Me The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today    CFO2Go Metrique Solutions How to Build, Manage, and Execute on a Business Strategy course beginning August 2025 sign up now! FREE Step-by-Step Guide to Mapping Your Business Growth

    13 min

  3. JUN 1

    Profitability of Working with a Family Member

    286: Profitability of Working with a Family Member On today’s episode, we’re joined by Beth Meyer and Abby McLane of Beth Meyer Design, a mother-daughter team specializing in luxury residential interiors. Featured in Southern Home and LUXE, they’ve built a trusted brand through elegant design and smart business growth. We’ll explore how they started working together, their approach to profitability, and the benefits of running a family-based interior design business. If you're looking for real strategies to grow your design firm, this one’s for you. Topics Mentioned: Strategy Organization Technology   Key Thoughts:  That was the whole reason I started the coaching practice as having come from burnout myself. When I get those calls, my heart feels for that, because I've been there, and I know what that feels like. The exhaustion and the mental load and the emotional turmoil, it's real and it's heavy. Michele Williams   I went back to the strategic plan where we are in structuring the company and roles and SOPs. You're giving them the tools they need to do their job well. You're not just giving them expectations that they really can’t meet. Beth Meyer   There is something about your daughter or your mom in the business having your back in a different way that gives you the courage to continually push forward. So not only does iron sharpen iron to keep each other accountable and focused and better and growing and all the things, but there is something about the courage that one person lends to another person to move forward. Michele Williams   Our goals are the same and we have done a deep dive into our missions, our values, and all the things. When we are both pushing each other, it's built-in accountability to reach those goals. Abby McLane   Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams Contact Beth and Abby: Email: abby@bethmeyerdesign.com Facebook: @bethmeyerdesign    Instagram: @bethmeyerdesign    Website: https://bethmeyerdesign.com/  You Tube: Beth Meyer Design   References and Resources: Work with Me The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today    CFO2Go Metrique Solutions How to Build, Manage, and Execute on a Business Strategy course beginning August 2025 sign up now! Click here to read the transcript for this episode.

    1 hr

  4. MAY 18

    The Top 5 Profit Drains in Your Interior Design Business

    285: The Top 5 Profit Drains in Your Interior Design Business   Welcome to the podcast! Today, we’re diving into the five biggest profit drains that can silently sabotage your interior design business. If you’ve ever wondered where your money is going or why your profit margins aren’t where they should be, this episode is for you. Grab a pen and paper—because you’ll want to take notes on how to boost profitability and take control of your money management starting today.  Topics Mentioned: Pricing   Financials  Ideal Client  Managing Cash Flow Effectively  Key Thoughts:  You cannot sell more of something at a really bad price and continue to make money, a bad price is a bad price.  Michele Williams    An ideal client is somebody who has the same value statements that we are coming in with as the company and there's a value continuance between us and that client.  Michele Williams    The more we're fighting people, processes, or not knowing what the numbers are, the more it's going to cost us the profits and the money, but also the profitability of peace in our lives.  Michele Williams    Know how money comes in, know how revenues are recognized, know how profit is recognized, and know when you need those funds.  Michele Williams    Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams References and Resources: Work with Me The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today    CFO2Go Metrique Solutions Metrique Solutions - Free Month Promo Code How to Build, Manage, and Execute on a Business Strategy course beginning August 2025 sign up now! Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

    17 min

  5. MAY 4

    The Hidden Costs of Employment

    284: The Hidden Costs of Employment s    Joining me is Jessica Harling, founder of Behind the Design. Jessica is a seasoned expert in employee and process development, specializing in recruitment, training, and change management for design organizations. Her work helps businesses streamline costs, increase productivity, and develop high-performing teams.​ In this episode, we'll discuss practical business strategies for interior designers for effective hiring, onboarding, and retention to ensure your team thrives.​ Enjoy the conversation! Topics Mentioned: Employment Strategy Accountability Employee Training Key Thoughts:  Fears are normal. How we analyze them and deal with them is determinate based on the strategy that we have for our business.  Michele Williams   You still need, as the manager, the owner, to be able to either prepare or have an oversight over that plan and not just delegate or dump it to another person and not know what they are covering.  Jessca Harling    We're not executing with success. We're executing within the moments of the day, and what feels good today, but today's feel good might not line up with tomorrow's plan and goal.  Michele Williams    Look at the strategy of the process, the finances and things like that before you make a reactive decision to jump and add someone on.  Jessica Harling    Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams Contact Jessica: Email: jessica@gobehindthedesign.com  Facebook: @BehindtheDesign Instagram: @GoBehindtheDesign Website: GoBehindTheDesign.com LinkedIn: @BehindTheDesign References and Resources: Work with Me The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today    CFO2Go

    1 hr

  6. APR 20

    Implementing Profit First with Success

    283: Implementing Profit First with Success    Welcome to the podcast! Today, we’re talking about Profit First—a powerful money management system that is proven to boost interior design business profit. If you're making money but never seem to keep it, or constantly juggling funds, you're not alone.  We’ll show you how Profit First helps you separate money with purpose, avoid the “robbing Peter to pay Paul” cycle, and make smarter financial decisions. Whether you're just launching or scaling your design business, this episode is packed with strategies to help you pay yourself first and grow a more profitable interior design business.  Topics Mentioned: Profit First Money Management Sustainability  Financial Strategy Key Thoughts:  What Profit First is really trying to do is put you in the mindset that we want the business to live within the means of what the business can afford to live in, so that we're not spending money that the business truly doesn't have. Michele Williams    It is being able to separate out your money into bank accounts where it can then be looked at in smaller chunks with a purpose in mind, so that we're not overspending on the wrong things.  Michele Williams    The more that we can plan for profit and be very clear on where the money is coming in and going out, the more that we have the power to actually use those numbers to move us forward.  Michele Williams    The very first thing is to truly understand how money flows in and out of your business, and that means the amount, the timing, and the revenue recognition.  Michele Williams    Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams References and Resources: Work with Me The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today    Master Your Profit course Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Profit is a Choice episode 248: All Roads Can Lead to Profit Profit is a Choice episode 189: Reviewing Your Profit First Strategy Profit is a Choice episode 092: How to Start Profit First with No Profit in Your Design Business A Well-Designed Business-The Power Talk Friday Experts by LuAnn Nigara

    17 min

  7. APR 6

    Design Mentorship for Beginners

    282: Design Mentorship for Beginners     Welcome to today's episode. I’m thrilled to have Rebecca Ward with me. Rebecca is an award-winning interior designer based out of Sacramento, California, and she’s truly dedicated to nurturing emerging talent in the design industry. Not only does she host the Design Curious podcast, but she also runs a mentorship program called My Design Mentor. Rebecca focuses on answering those essential early questions for anyone looking to build their business in interior design. In this episode, we’ll discuss the many paths people take into the industry and the common questions new designers face as they start their careers. Tune in for valuable insights on how to kickstart your journey and make smarter business decisions in interior design. I hope you enjoy our conversation!  Topics Mentioned: Mentorship  Community  Sharing information  Support    Key Thoughts:  Those hard lessons sometimes are the best lessons that are getting our attention. They're sometimes painful along the way.  Michele Williams    I see mentorship as this is something that I'm still actively doing. I'm still learning in my business. I'm still learning the best way to do things, and as I do it, I adjust, and I share that information.  Rebecca Ward   I think when you really love people, it's easier to be willing to want to help and to give than to say, well, I fell, so it's normal you fall.  Michele Williams    There are a lot of hard things and I want to make sure people are aware of going in with their eyes wide open before they get into the career, but I also talk about the great parts of it, but I want them to have a realistic view.  Rebecca Ward    Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams Contact Rebecca: Email: rebecca@rwarddesign.com Instagram: @rwarddesign Facebook: @rebeccawarddesign Website: https://rwarddesign.com/  LinkedIn: rwarddesign Pinterest: rwarddesign X/Twitter: rwarddesign You Tube: @rwarddesign References and Resources: Work with Me The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today    CFO2GO Design Curious Podcast E-Myth Revisited by Michael E Gerber

    42 min

  8. MAR 16

    Creating an SEO Strategy with Pinterest

    281: Creating an SEO Strategy with Pinterest    On the podcast today is Julia Bocchese, an SEO and Pinterest consultant for small businesses in the creative industry. We’re discussing business strategy for interior designers, covering essential strategies for your website, Pinterest direction, and SEO. Julia shares some simple, actionable reminders that will help position your business to be found online. If you're an interior designer looking to improve your digital presence, this episode is packed with expert tips to enhance your strategy and grow your business. Tune in to learn how to effectively optimize your online strategy!  Topics Mentioned: SEO strategy Social Media Management Google Business Profile Website Content Key Thoughts:  Knowing who you are, what you do, who you serve, how you serve them, and being very clear with that on the website is important.  Michele Williams    Whatever blog posts, portfolio photos, or things like that that you have, that's going to dictate your strategy on Pinterest.  Julia Bocchese    What we're really trying to do is create this big communication and feedback loop, that runs through all of our Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and all the different socials that we're using trying to keep everything connected in this little ecosystem so that people are staying within your ecosystem.   Michele Williams    In terms of the type of content, I do recommend thinking about what your ideal client would be searching for, and what would be beneficial to them.   Julia Bocchese    Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams Contact Julia: Email: julia@juliareneeconsulting.com  Instagram: @uliareneeconsulting Website: https://juliareneeconsulting.com/  LinkedIn: julia-bocchese References and Resources: Work with Me The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today    Financial Courses at Scarlet Thread Consulting CFO2GO Julia’s SEO Freebie

    43 min
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4.8
out of 5
55 Ratings

About

Owning every choice in your business is not for the faint of heart. Each Monday, join Michele Williams, strategic profitability coach for the interior design industry as she interviews guests who are taking control of their business one decision at a time to increase their profits. If you are an entrepreneur who wants to make money while working in your passion, this is the podcast for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Michele Williams | Business Coach | Podcaster |Speaker
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    101
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Scarlet Thread LLC 2018
  • Show Website
    Profit Is A Choice

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