Those that know me well, know I’ve not yet married and been online dating (yes, I have a book full of stories!). When I want to change direction in a life area whether personal or professional, the first thing I do is examine my environment. For example, when I want to add clients, I clean out my client files, making room for new additions (simple, and incredibly effective!) I applied the same technique coupled with some new meditations and affirmations to my romance life. (Researching and writing my manual really proved to be an invaluable catalyst.)

I had a moved my bedroom furniture around a year or so ago but when I did, it negated the space for a second night stand and my bedroom was looking very much like it was meant for one. I had a fit of strength one recent weekend and moved the monster pieces about, got the chair out and into the new study, and by relocating a dresser, I got the second nightstand to mirror the other side. I already had a pair of lamps, now a pair of nightstands and left room on the nightstand for the idea of someone else. It was literally within a week that I met TDH (and yes, he does read these.)

Our interior environment is a reflection of our interior selves and when we want to create change, it is essential that our environment reflect that desire. What are you making room for? Romance, clients, family, health, entertaining, travel? Or have you shut off possibilities for change and growth?

Lifestyle Selling: Making More With Less, the how-to guide to limitless sales growth in the interior design, staging and retail home furnishings industries, just released!

I share my insights, experiences, and best practices for growing business with a limited number of clients. Less really does mean more in this case and it isn’t about all you can grab, but how deep you can reach with each project. Working smarter, not harder is what it is all about. Truly climbing inside client’s lives and knowing their lifestyle means a depth of service and success unparalleled.

There is an old decorator’s rule of thumb that alleges that every room needs a bit of black. Nonsense! Only if you want it. I do tend to include it in kitchens, great rooms, living rooms, dining and foyers, but not in bedrooms or baths. Black is the elegant neutral without necessarily being formal. But oh does it show the dust!

It is the one shade that picks up all emotions going on around it, which is why it is used by custom and tradition at funerals and memorial services. It is a “look don’t touch” color, which is why the gal in the red dress and the man in the blue cummerbund always have more fun at the black tie gala than all the folks hanging about in black!

Black is a nonnegotiable color and is rarely used in corporate environments. And I have found that people generally communicate less in the presence of a lot of black than other colors. I rarely wear full black with clients but instead opt for carefully selected color designed to elicit communication and feedback. Communication demands color!
Black also will command a higher price than any other color. Think about a black stretch limo or black tie dress, both associated with luxury. Years ago Breyer’s ice cream changed their packaging to black and raised their prices and their sales shot up! Elegance pays.

I have a tendency to pick up on the latest technology a little on the too early side. While I was one of the first in the interior design field to have a website back in 1994 and it has served me invaluably, I am also one of the pioneers to adopt VOIP (voice over internet phone service) and this first is way too soon. Often it makes more sense not to be a leader in implementing new technology but instead allow the marketplace a chance to work out the kinks, develop the necessary support systems, and thoroughly investigate providers. My phone service is down more often than up, and having to do continual resetting to the boxes is irritating and often fruitless. I’m actually seriously entertaining a return to land lines despite the increased investment. Reliability is often priceless!

Similarly, I recall an instance, about three years ago, when I was introduced to video business cards and told that within a few mere months they’d be all the rage. Fortunately I didn’t bite that bait as they are yet to truly catch on. But rumor has it, they are still going to be the latest technology craze!

What latest greatest are you considering? Is it time proven and tested? Are you better off waiting for others to go through the hitches and glitches of newness and get the next better version? Look and listen before you leap at state of the art. Sometimes being ahead will feel more like you are behind with lack of support, rampant downtimes, and unique issues.

Are you competitive? I am, always have been. In fact, I learned long ago that if I couldn’t do something well, I wouldn’t do it at all. Of course this led to me missing out on things, and as I’ve grown wiser, I’ve relaxed a whole lot (some of you will smile to read that.) But recently I’ve had a couple of friends’ company’s land in the Inc. Fastest Growing. That is a real coup and very impressive. And my first thought was not congratulations, but instead why not me? Until I realized that that has never been and is not now, my intention. I’ve never wanted to manage people and prefer a virtual office with a talented team at my disposal on an as needed project basis. I am a coordinator and big picture creator, instead of a manager!

How many of us measure ourselves against inappropriate benchmarks just because someone else we know has gotten there. Do you want an Emmy, but aren’t a TV actor? Maybe you want a cotY award, but aren’t a contractor (yeah, I know you thought it was fashion, no it is Contractor of the Year.) Decide what your real intention is with your business and determine the most suitable benchmarks, awards, and recognition from there.

Winning awards takes work. It means presenting your accomplishments, often filling out lengthy applications and submitting your business to outside scrutiny. It isn’t for everyone. It can help grow your business, but there are no guarantees. It is also typically subjective judging by a panel, rarely strictly a numbers decision. Does it add credibility, absolutely! Is the award or recognition, industry based or consumer based? Who is your market and what will this gain you beyond a warm fuzzy feeling and a statue or plaque to display? Most importantly is this a benchmark that you wanted, makes sense, and fits your business growth?

Know your talents, define your market, serve your niche, and measure your success in terms that matter to you and are realistic in your market.

To truly master delegating you have to be attached only to the outcome and not to how it is accomplished. I remember in grade school getting extra points if I showed my calculations, and while necessary in accounting and record keeping, in most of life it isn’t how you get there, but that you get there. Whenever I’ve hired design assistance, I show them my way and then explain that if they have a better way or way they prefer that is fine, as long as they get the desired result.

With contractors it goes a step further. I am not the expert in what they do, they are. I trust my contractors to get the job done successfully and I don’t stand over their shoulder while they are doing it. I recently had 9 windows replaced (yahoo! I finally did it) and trusted Plymart to get the job done. In both installations (doors and windows) I left a key and was gone during the installation. I arrived home to find my house newly sealed up with the perfect window as ordered and reduced HVAC bills (my old ones were single pane and leaking!)

I do the same thing with installations of furniture. While typically I am on site, I have found that if I watch every move, it only adds to everyone’s stress and in the event of a challenge all will be made right. I had a client once that during an installation of bedroom furniture being moved upstairs with three strong guys, she cursed them every step of the way. I was mortified having never experienced this grossly unprofessional, unnecessary, and horribly rude behavior ever before. It didn’t make things go faster, and really left a bad taste all the way around (I let the client go a bit later in the project.)

Guide and direct is my motto and mantra, leave the dictatorships to the politicos!