If you are anything like how I was as a young creative, you may view procrastination as a productivity tool. I pretended that waiting until the 11th hour to do something meant that I would get it done better, faster, and stronger. Instead, I got it done with a ton of unnecessary stress put on both myself and my teammates. There’s a reason I don’t recommend that approach, and I can say that I’ve learned a lot since those days. That’s why today, I want to share with you the rules and tips that I’v...
Apr 24, 2023•45 min•Ep. 31
We’re quickly approaching the eve of this spring’s High Point Market so on today’s episode, I’m diving in with some tips on how to maximize your High Point Market experience. High Point is the world's largest furniture market with 12 million square feet of showrooms. Whether you've been before or you're a complete newbie planning your very first visit, it is going to be an epic experience–but you always need to go in with a plan. I want your experience at High Point to be stress-free so you can ...
Apr 17, 2023•39 min•Ep. 30
In this episode of The Affluent Creative, I'm sharing some fun tricks and tips for how to sell the design dream. In my experience, taking a new client from a prospect to a VIP is a process of courtship. It is all about the romance and the wooing that needs to take place for your client. And to navigate that place most successfully, you need to learn how to use the correct language to paint a picture of the transformation you're going to deliver for them. You want to create that vision in a way t...
Apr 10, 2023•37 min•Ep. 29
It’s so easy to geek out over the design process–it’s what gets our creative juices going. But something that we always have to remember is that as designers, we would not have a place for those creative talents to flow if we didn't have clients. Even so, you’d be surprised how often I notice the client missing almost entirely from the focus of the design process. There may be a space where you, too, are forgetting or ignoring your clients inside your design business. We’re talking about that im...
Apr 03, 2023•37 min•Ep. 28
Receiving objections from clients can feel incredibly uncomfortable without the right frame of mind. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of taking objections personally or resisting them outright. It can feel like your own worth is being rejected. However, dealing with objections becomes much easier when you can learn to actually welcome them. They can instead become an opportunity to educate your client on the value of your design and the transformation that you are going to create for them. In ...
Mar 27, 2023•35 min•Ep. 27
As a creative, you may be terrified of networking. I get it–even if you were to throw me into a room of people without my cloak of expertise, I’d be heading for the closest comfortable wall to hide! I know that this makes sourcing client referrals feel overwhelming and uncomfortable at times, so I’ve put together my best advice on how to make networking work for you. Today, we’re diving into the ways that you can build your own network of referrals and collaborative partners that you love and wa...
Mar 20, 2023•50 min•Ep. 26
Today, we’re continuing our two-parter series on the impact of Instagram on your business and how to harness its power to build your creative brand. In the last episode, we talked about why you should be using Instagram, what to post and when to post it, and a few other nuggets such as how to create your bio and design your grid. In today’s episode, we are diving into how to make sure that you are seen on Instagram–because what good is it to spend your precious time on Instagram if it is not get...
Mar 13, 2023•55 min•Ep. 25
I know learning a new social media platform can be uncomfortable, or something many designers don’t want to bother with. In fact, I was apprehensive about Instagram myself when it first arrived on the scene. However, its staying power has persisted and it has continued to reshape the way that consumers interact with brands and businesses. At this point, you’re only doing yourself a disservice if you are still avoiding it. Today, we’re starting a two-parter series on the impact of Instagram on yo...
Mar 06, 2023•52 min•Ep. 24
Social media is an amazing tool that, when used correctly, can serve and support your business’ success. It is not something that you need to dedicate gobs of time to either, as long as you can use it strategically. Selecting only certain feeds to follow, setting specific goals for engagement and activity, and not overwhelming yourself by managing too many accounts are just some of the strategies I’ll be diving deeper into throughout today’s episode. Today, I’m sharing with you 12 specific princ...
Feb 27, 2023•46 min•Ep. 23
Today, we’re diving into how to deploy the ten layers of design to maximize, multiply, and drive your profits. When we talk about these ten layers, I am referring to how you incorporate the following ten design components into each finished project: flooring, rugs, paint, upholstery, pillows and throws, case goods, lamps and lighting, accessories and art objects, artwork or wall decor, and window treatments and drapery. Including selections from all ten of these layers maintains your scope of pr...
Feb 20, 2023•46 min•Ep. 22
Today is all about great expectations. We’re talking about creating profitable client expectations for every project, every time. When you enter into a design agreement with a new client, there needs to be clarity and transparency at all stages of the conversation. Too often I hear from designers frustrated that their clients don't have realistic expectations of their work. Working this way is stressful on both ends–the client and the designer– because it creates false expectations and preconcei...
Feb 13, 2023•52 min•Ep. 21
Today, we are diving into our next installment on the onboarding and hiring process: when and how to outsource online. Outsourcing is about hiring digital remote talent to help you in your business. Because remote talent is flexible and can be hired out on an as-needed basis, using online outsourcing keeps you nimble in both uncertain times and wonderful times. You're not locked into a commitment of hours per week, you don't have benefits to pay, and you don't have vacation time to consider. For...
Feb 06, 2023•39 min•Ep. 20
When holding interviews, it's common to feel as if you're the one being interviewed. Sometimes our nerves get the best of us, and we talk more than we listen, or we don't allow ourselves to see the candidate for the person they are presenting themselves to be. So today, we're going to dive into some of my best interviewing and onboarding tips and tricks. In last week's episode, we discussed how to hire local assistants correctly the first time. Today's episode builds on that theme, with my inter...
Jan 30, 2023•35 min•Ep. 19
Diving into hiring for the first time doesn't have to be complicated. It can be simple as long as you follow the process that you need for success. Often, what stops designers from hiring is that they are afraid of managing people. Yet the right team can effectively manage themselves while saving you time and giving you back that creative energy for projects where you thrive. Today, I want to focus in on hiring additional talent locally, as it seems to be the first step most designers take. We’l...
Jan 23, 2023•50 min•Ep. 18
We all hit a rut at some point in our design careers. Perhaps you've gotten to a place where business seems to have slowed down and you want to hit the refresh button to jumpstart yourself into a new market of clients. Or, maybe you are a budding new designer, trying to build up your portfolio and make it into your ideal client market. Whether you are new to the game or simply looking for a new perspective, you need to step outside of your comfort zone and use the tools you have at your disposal...
Jan 16, 2023•33 min•Ep. 17
The topic we will discuss in today’s episode might come as a bit of a surprise. When you are listening here with me, you are used to getting a heavy dose of strategic inspiration, motivation, and momentum. And I know that talking about firing a client may seem like a bit of a downer. But the fact of the matter is that you need to be in charge of your business at all times, and that means when a client goes rogue, becomes abusive, or goes from being a great fit to being a poor fit, you have the r...
Jan 09, 2023•41 min•Ep. 16
When you are gearing up to begin the design discovery process with a new client, one of the best investments to provide them with is a welcome kit. A welcome kit provides your client with a glimpse into you and your team, social proof of your work, and a peek into your design process and pricing. You want to provide your future client with a preview of the perks they will receive when working with you and information to help them consider their potential investment. There’s a lot of debate on wh...
Jan 02, 2023•37 min•Ep. 15
When aiming for success, sometimes the biggest obstacles are your own personal thoughts and beliefs. Whether you are limiting yourself, doubting yourself, or just not pushing yourself hard enough, all of these can hold you back from the greatness that you are so capable of! That’s where the Three Gs of Success will help. I’m talking about Gratitude, Goals, and Grit, in that order. These three qualities are so important in pushing yourself to become the best creative that you can be. You need to ...
Dec 26, 2022•22 min•Ep. 14
Believe it or not, I see so many designers flying without a net, which is what I call it when you work without a letter of agreement or with one that has absolutely no protection for you in it. A letter of agreement is just another word for a contract, but it sounds much friendlier. Most importantly, a letter of agreement will outline all stipulations, clauses, and information that you and your client need to set up a positive and professional project timeline. Your business needs to have a docu...
Dec 19, 2022•55 min•Ep. 13
As the fiscal year comes to a close, it can be tempting to plow straight ahead and into next year’s work without pause. You might find yourself in over-drive, trying to tie-up those loose ends from this year while preparing for next year’s project load. Or, maybe you had a great year and you’re looking forward to what next year will bring and just can’t wait to dive in. Whatever it may be that’s pushing you full speed ahead into the upcoming year, I want you to do yourself a favor and take a mom...
Dec 12, 2022•50 min•Ep. 12
The past few years were a great time for design firms, with an extraordinarily high demand for our creative services. However, the times are beginning to change and we are seeing more and more economic uncertainty, which can be unsettling for many designers. Recessions are a normal part of economic cycles and we can't avoid them. But, we can be prepared to not only survive them, but to even thrive during them. One of the keys to surviving an economic downturn is to avoid panic and worry and inst...
Dec 05, 2022•42 min•Ep. 11
Think about your current client load and project pipeline. Are you satisfied and fulfilled by every decision that you’ve lined up at this moment? Or are you, like many creatives, worried about how you are going to manage all of the tasks and requests that you’ve agreed to while also jumping through hoops for a client’s every whim to get them on board with your vision? Many of the designers that I work with have found themselves in the latter camp at some point in their creative endeavors. And yo...
Nov 28, 2022•42 min•Ep. 10
What are you doing for the whole of your body and soul? Think about it for a moment. If your first reaction is to say, “Oh, I don’t have time for that, I’m on a roll in my business and self-care has to wait,” then I have some news for you. When you short-change yourself, you short-change your family, your friends, your clients, and, yes, your business. It’s just that important. Putting yourself first isn't selfish. It's healthy and it is self-preservation that helps you to thrive rather than jus...
Nov 21, 2022•27 min•Ep. 9
It may sound truly counterintuitive, but being cheap is killing your profits. We often look for ways to complete important tasks for our business by ourselves to save money. We think that this will maximize our profits because we aren’t spending the money to outsource the job. But taking on too many tasks that you don’t enjoy or aren’t skilled at is really just taking you away from your zone of genius. When you are in your zone of genius, you’re at that intersection of what you absolutely love t...
Nov 14, 2022•38 min•Ep. 8
Most creatives tend to go job to job, project to project, and client to client without any sense of a waitlist or a queue. This usually ends up feeling like a rollercoaster of cash flow and profits in your business. And while a rollercoaster ride is always exciting at an amusement park, it is much less enjoyable when it comes to your business model. The last thing I want is for you to feel overwhelmed by an incessant flow of projects without time to manage them all or, on the flip side, worried ...
Nov 07, 2022•45 min•Ep. 7
When I first started my design business, I found myself in a client trap. 80% of my revenue was coming from 20% of my clients, but 80% of my clients were delivering just 20% of my revenue. When it came to choosing clients for the first five years of my business, I was not selective and I was not discerning. I didn't even know about an ideal client. But once I made this discovery and started to focus on the 20% of my ideal clients, my workload dropped significantly. I cut loose all the lovely peo...
Oct 31, 2022•51 min•Ep. 6
In today’s episode, we are diving into the many ways that you may be hiding inside your business. We are going to look at all the little ways that you are getting hung up on the mechanics of your business instead of getting yourself out there and participating in the magic of your creative energy. I define creativity as the space where art and science meet and make magic. And I want you to be a creator of that magic rather than hiding on the sidelines! There are so many ways that you may be avoi...
Oct 24, 2022•34 min•Ep. 5
Time is our greatest non-renewable resource. There never seems to be enough of it, but worrying about not having enough time only limits you further. When we worry about feeling overwhelmed or lacking the hours in a day to get everything accomplished, we give into the kind of time-shrinking thoughts that interfere with our productivity. Today, I want you to identify your limiting beliefs around time to take better control of your time once and for all. In today’s episode, I am diving into the be...
Oct 17, 2022•43 min•Ep. 4
When was the last time that you evaluated how you are compensated for your creative services? The last time that you raised your rates to reflect your experience and value? You know what I’m about to tell you: it’s time, in fact, you’re overdue! Today we’re diving into how to accurately charge for your services based on your value rather than your worth. You’ll learn how the solutions that you provide to the three universal problems every client has–health, wealth, and relationships–are your gre...
Oct 03, 2022•41 min•Ep. 3
Today’s episode focuses on my big “why”: why I have taken on this podcast and how it can help you in your pathway to creative success. I hope that through sharing my experiences, giving you tips and tricks of the trade, and bringing in creative luminaries throughout the field, you will gain the insight and confidence to do what it takes to spark your passion. Coaching, training, inspiring, and speaking with creatives on their path to business success is something that brings me joy and fulfills ...
Oct 03, 2022•44 min•Ep. 2
