There was a time when I felt chained to my inbox, constantly reacting, jumping between tasks, and always playing catch-up.

That changed when I started time blocking.

In this rebroadcast episode, I'm sharing three simple, actionable tips you can start using right away to improve your focus, reduce overwhelm, and manage your time more intentionally.

Before you dive in, I encourage you to take a step back and look at where your time has actually been going. A quick time audit can help you make small, meaningful shifts without overhauling your entire schedule.

Inside this episode:

• How I structure focus, buffer, and free days
• How to map out your ideal week
• A simple daily habit to help you stay on track

Time blocking doesn't have to be all or nothing. Start small, stay consistent, and build from there.

Learn more about Designers Room: https://rebeccahay.com/waitlist

Original Resources:

Lisa Canning Conquer Your Calendar Course

The Gap and the Gain

10x is easier than 2x

Full Focus Planner

Read our Blog: How to achieve more by doing less

Your project budgets aren't totally wrong—but they don't feel solid either.

In this episode, I break down why that happens (even after you've gained experience) and how to fix it.

We're talking about:

• Why early budgets should be ranges, not detailed breakdowns
• When the real budgeting work actually begins
• How to validate your numbers with trades and real data
• The mistake that quietly erodes client trust

If your budgets feel inconsistent or hard to stand behind, this episode will help you move from guessing to grounded, confident numbers.

Learn more about my new coaching experience for interior designers: https://rebeccahay.com/waitlist

This episode is sponsored by Programa.

Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems.

Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

There comes a point in business where what once worked no longer feels aligned.

In this episode, I'm sharing a big decision: after years of teaching my signature program, Power of Process, I will not be launching it again.

This isn't about walking away from something that didn't work. It's about recognizing when you've outgrown something that did.

We're talking about the stages of business growth, how to know when it's time to pivot, and why so many designers feel stuck even after building their systems.

If your business is working, but something feels off… this episode is for you.

Episode Resource:

• Learn more about Designers Room & Join the waitlist!
  
  
  

This episode is sponsored by Programa.

Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems.

Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

Hiring can feel overwhelming — especially when you're not sure if you're setting things up the right way.

In this rebroadcast episode, Rebecca sits down with HR expert Laura Tolhoek to break down the key decisions every design business owner needs to make when hiring.

They cover subcontractors vs employees, what needs to be in your contracts, and how to avoid the common mistakes that can create problems later.

If you're thinking about hiring or want to refine your approach, this episode will give you the clarity you need.

Episode Resources:

• Essential HR

• Essential HR Canada on LinkedIn

• Essential HR on Instagram

Hiring someone in your design business should make things easier… but sometimes it does the opposite.

Tasks get misunderstood. Expectations feel unclear. And before long you're wondering if you made a bad hire.

But what if the problem wasn't the person you hired?

In this episode, I'm sharing why many hires fail in small design firms and how a simple 30-60-90 day onboarding plan can completely change the outcome.

I walk through how to structure the first 90 days, define success clearly, and create an onboarding process that builds confidence for both you and your new team member.

If you've ever felt burned by a hire that didn't work out, this episode will shift how you think about leadership, delegation, and building your team.

Episode Resources:

• Get on the waitlist for my new Designer's Room
• This episode is sponsored by Dovetail Furniture

In this episode, I sit down with Sarah St. Amand to talk about how she's built a design business that serves different types of clients without discounting her expertise or compromising her brand.

We talk about smaller design packages, profitability, client communication, team structure, and why designers need to stop equating beautiful work with business success.

If you've ever wondered how to stay true to your aesthetic while still building a profitable, sustainable business, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• Serving different client budget levels without diluting a luxury brand

• Offering smaller design packages with strong boundaries

• Why profitability has to be part of every design decision

• How to communicate clearly with clients from the start

• The role of team and operations in supporting growth

Connect with Sarah:

Instagram: @sarahstamandinteriordesign
Website: stamanddesign.com

Episode Resources:

• Learn more about Designers Room: A new coaching experience for interior designers: https://rebeccahay.com/waitlist
• Episode 34: How to serve your luxury clients with Sarah St. Amand

Construction projects shouldn't be your biggest stressor — or your biggest money leak.

In this episode, Rebecca sits down with construction management expert Renee Biery to talk about:

• Flat fees vs hourly billing

• Charging in advance

• Procurement on renovation projects

• Allowances and contractor negotiations

• Liability myths designers believe

• How construction stabilizes your income

If you've ever felt burnt out on renovations or unsure how to price them profitably, this conversation will shift how you think about construction entirely.

Episode Resources:

• To learn more about Renee Biery visit her website, follow her on instagram and listen to her podcast, The Only Girl on the Jobsite.
• Episode 158: Managing a Construction Job Site with Renee Biery
• Episode 256: Live At High Point Market | Money Matters: Expert tips from a profitable business with Renée Biery, Dina Holland & Jamie Merida

One month your design business feels calm and steady.
The next, it feels chaotic and uncertain.

If you've ever experienced that swing, this episode is for you.

Rebecca Hay unpacks the recurring cycle almost every interior designer faces: expansion followed by contraction. She explains why inconsistency doesn't mean you're failing and how a lack of structure, not a lack of talent, is usually the real issue.

You'll learn how to stop reacting to slow seasons, build systems that support you year-round, and shift from panic into leadership.

Because calm in business isn't constant momentum.
It's grounded structure.

• Join the Waitlist for Rebecca's new Program!