Episodios

  • Ep. 178 Time Trap: Charging By the Hour

    Ep. 178 Time Trap: Charging By the Hour
    May 12 2025

    Hey there, welcome back to Designed for the Creative Mind! Today we’re diving into a topic that hits way too close to home for so many designers — the dreaded “time trap”. Yep, I’m talking about hourly billing and the never-ending stress of tracking every bathroom break like you're auditioning for TaskRabbit.

    If you've ever stayed up late trying to remember how long that third round of tile edits took… this episode is for you.

    What we’re talking about in this episode:

    • Why charging by the hour feels “responsible” but wrecks your profits (and sanity)

    • How hourly pricing turns you into a technician instead of a trusted expert

    • Why your efficiency should be rewarded, not penalized

    • How to handle clients who want a minute-by-minute breakdown

    • A real-life example of switching to a flat fee (and how it changed everything)

    • How value-based pricing builds trust, boundaries, and breathing room for creativity

    I’m walking you through my own journey of breaking free from hourly billing — the mistakes I made, the lessons I learned, and how I now coach other designers (like my client “Jess”) to make this shift with confidence.

    Here’s the big takeaway:

    Clients are paying for your genius, not your time. It’s time to stop selling hours and start selling transformation.

    If you’re ready to ditch the time trap and step into your role as a creative professional (with pricing that reflects it), let’s chat. Book a call with me or my team and let’s get you out of hourly hell.

    Remember — you're not alone. And you don’t have to stay stuck.

    Until next time, keep rising — one decision at a time.

    Podcast Website and Resources:

    Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery

    Text BESTIE to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.

    SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.



    Stay in touch with Michelle

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/

    Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad

    Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

    Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

    A Podcast Launch Bestie production
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    15 m
  • Ep. 177 Spolier: I Burned the Old Recipe

    Ep. 177 Spolier: I Burned the Old Recipe
    May 11 2025
    Hey y’all, welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind — the podcast where we dive into the business side of interior design with strategy, heart, and zero fluff. Today’s episode is a big one because I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes look at some major changes we’ve been cooking up. I’m thrilled to share that my coaching platform has officially rebranded! While the podcast will keep its name (Design for the Creative Mind), everything else now lives under a new and very on-theme umbrella: The Design Bakehouse. Why the Change? If you’ve been around for a while, you know that Design for the Creative Mind wasn’t just a podcast — it was also the name of my entire coaching business. But as things have grown and evolved (just like your design business!), it became clear that we’d outgrown that structure. Our community has expanded, our content has deepened, and we're now supporting designers at every stage — from launching to scaling past six figures. It was time for a brand that reflected the power of this work. Introducing: The Design Bakehouse Yes, I went all in on the baking theme — you know I love a good theme! The Design Bakehouse is now the home for all of our coaching programs, digital tools, and community. Think of it as a fully baked business ecosystem designed to help you rise. Inside The Bakehouse, you’ll find: The Interior Design Business Bakery – our signature mentorship program Design From Scratch – for those starting fresh and ready to do it right The Key Ingredients – essential foundations for a thriving design business Our expanding product shop – with tools, digital resources, and freebies And yes, everything got a major glow-up — the branding, the clarity, the delivery. It’s so pretty, y’all. Get a Taste with The Sampler Box To celebrate the launch, I’ve put together a delicious freebie for you: The Sampler Box. It’s a curated preview of what The Bakehouse has to offer, and you can grab it at thedesignbakehouse.com. Why The Bakehouse? A bakehouse isn’t just where bread is made. It’s where craftsmanship meets mastery, where recipes are refined, and where the best in the business perfect their skills. That’s exactly the kind of environment we’re creating — but instead of flour and sugar, we’re working with strategy, sales, and systems to help interior designers build profitable, sustainable, and fulfilling businesses. So my question for you is: Are you ready to rise? Whether you’re brand new or fully booked, if you’re craving structure, support, and a plan that actually works, The Bakehouse was baked just for you. The Podcast Isn’t Going Anywhere Design for the Creative Mind — the podcast — will stay right here, continuing to bring you honest conversations about the business of interior design every single week. But now, it’s cozily nestled inside The Design Bakehouse. Thanks for being here. I built this for designers just like you, and I cannot wait to see what we create together inside The Bakehouse. Until next time, keep rising. Podcast Website and Resources: Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery Text BESTIE to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates. SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business. Stay in touch with Michelle Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact A Podcast Launch Bestie production
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    7 m
  • Ep. 176 Retail Rookie - Why Shopping Like a Client Costs You

    Ep. 176 Retail Rookie - Why Shopping Like a Client Costs You
    May 5 2025

    Hey, hey, hey – welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind! This season, we’re talking all about rookie mistakes and real talk – the stuff that’s keeping so many talented designers stuck. And today? We’re hitting a big one: shopping retail.

    Yep. I’m talking about that habit of ordering from Pottery Barn, HomeGoods, or West Elm, skipping your trade vendors, and sending clients links instead of curated presentations. Sound familiar?

    I get it. I’ve been there myself—and I’ve coached hundreds of designers who’ve struggled with the same thing. Whether it’s the fear of clients balking at markups, the desire to be “helpful,” or the looming fear of liability… retail feels like the easy button.

    But babe—it’s not. It’s costing you big time.

    What I cover in this episode:

    • Why retail shopping chips away at your profits, your positioning, and your authority

    • How sending links is training your clients to bypass you

    • Why markup is NOT a dirty word (and how to confidently talk about profit)

    • Real talk from a designer named Lindsay who learned this the hard way

    • The difference between being a personal shopper vs. a professional designer

    • How to shift your business model so sourcing becomes a strength—not a stressor

    • The mindset shift that leads to a more profitable, scalable, and luxury-level business

    Here’s the truth: when you rely on retail, you lose control—of the quality, of the client experience, and of your income. Your design becomes replicable. Your service looks DIY. And your value? Flattened.

    But when you embrace trade sourcing, you gain back authority, margin, and process. And yes, you can absolutely educate your clients about it without apologizing.

    So ask yourself: where are you defaulting to retail out of fear or convenience? And what would shift—financially, creatively, emotionally—if you trusted yourself to lead like a CEO?

    You’re not selling stuff. You’re selling an experience. A transformation. A feeling when someone walks into a room and says “Wow.” And that? That’s worth protecting.

    Podcast Website and Resources:

    Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery

    Text BESTIE to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.

    SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.



    Stay in touch with Michelle

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/

    Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad

    Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

    Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

    A Podcast Launch Bestie production
    Más Menos
    22 m
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