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Design

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Freedom™ Podcast

Dive into expert insights on how to streamline your processes, boost your confidence, and create a smarter way to run your design business.

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Marketing Luxury Design: Attracting Affluent Clients

The Design Trade’s One-of-a-Kind Guide to Working with the Best

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Book1

the language
of success

Your One-Of-A-Kind Guide To Greater Confidence and More Success

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Why Your Interior Design Business Isn’t Growing (And What to Fix First)

February 16, 2026

If you’re searching for why your interior design business isn’t growing, you’re not alone. Many talented, driven designers feel stalled despite doing so many things right. From the outside, it may look like you should be further along. Inside, it can feel frustrating, exhausting, and confusing.  Here’s the truth I’ve seen after 30+ years running…

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Why Interior Designers Lose Money on Projects & How to Lead for More Profit

February 9, 2026

To understand why so many interior designers are working harder than ever and still feeling financial pressure, look beyond workload. The answer is embedded in your pricing structure. This is one of the most misunderstood and consequential decisions you will make in your interior design business. And it is about far more than rate tactics.…

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Interior Design Team Building for Sustainable Growth

February 2, 2026

Hiring is one of the most emotionally loaded topics in the business of interior design. When I hear designers say, “I have a team, but now I’m more overwhelmed than before,” I know exactly what happened.  Hiring didn’t fail you.Structure failed you. Hiring is not a relief strategy.It’s a leadership strategy. And when it’s done…

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Interior Design Markets: How to Attend Strategically & Profitably

January 26, 2026

If you have ever questioned whether attending an interior design market is worth the time, energy, and investment, this article is for you.  Markets are rarely taught as strategic business environments. Most designers are told to go – without ever being shown how to decide why, when, or whether attending truly serves their firm.  Going…

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Employee Turnover in Interior Design Firms: What to Do When a Team Member Quits

January 19, 2026

When a team member leaves your interior design firm, it can feel like the ground shifts under your feet. There is the operational disruption you cannot ignore and the emotional impact you may not expect. Projects do not pause. Clients do not wait. And suddenly, the principal interior designer is holding everything again—quietly, constantly, and…

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Why Successful Interior Designers Choose a Word for the Year

January 12, 2026

Leadership Focus, Clarity, and Decision-Making at the Principal Level  By the time you reach the principal seat, motivation is not the problem. Focus is. When you are running a profitable interior design firm, the issue is not ideas, creativity, or ambition. It is the sheer volume of decisions coming at you every day. Client expectations.…

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Interior Design Contracts: The Clauses Designers Need to Protect Time, Profit & Sanity

January 5, 2026

Interior design contracts are more than legal protection. They are behavioral frameworks. They define how clients engage, how decisions are made, and whether the interior designer leads the process or loses months reacting to it. When you feel drained, resentful, or chronically overextended, the cause is rarely lack of talent or demand. More often, it…

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How to Fill Your Interior Design Pipeline with Ideal Clients

December 29, 2025

If your interior design pipeline feels light heading into the new year, you’re not alone, and you’re not behind. What you are is in the perfect place to shift your strategy from chasing to planting. It’s easy to feel the pressure to end the year with a bang or start the new one with a…

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Interior Design Burnout: Why Your Growth Isn’t Sustainable

December 22, 2025

Success is supposed to feel good. But what if your growing interior design firm is leaving you more overwhelmed than ever? You’re not alone, and it doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. It means your business is asking you to evolve. This post is for the interior design principal who’s done everything “right”: you’ve built…

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12 Beliefs Blocking Your Interior Design Business Growth

December 15, 2025

If you’re in your first or second year as an interior designer and haven’t crossed $250K in revenue yet, you’re carrying beliefs that feel strategic but are actually sabotaging your success. These are the same limiting thoughts I hear over and over from talented designers inside my coaching programs. When you challenge and replace them,…

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What Listeners are saying

Best biz advice for designers.

Melissa's advice is spot-on in my experience and the relevance to my business at the very moment is uncanny. She is great at explaining the point in a way that sticks. I have taken her advice and gone back to the transcripts to implement her suggestions.

- Jennifer Fordham

Get your pen and paper!

I've listened to Melissa's episodes. She shares a mix of design and business genius in this podcast. Whether you're a new designer or a seasoned designer, you'll want to have a notebook close by to capture these design advice nuggets! Thank you, Melissa!

- KDesign Express

Transformative podcast gem!

This podcast is a gem! It's exactly what I've been searching for - packed with valuable information, truly inspiring, and rich with knowledge. I've been hooked since the first few episodes and I'm binge-listening to catch up on the rest. Excited to dive into coaching with Melissa!

- Anonymous

Melissa rocks!!!

Since I’ve discovered Melissa’s podcast, it is my number one go-to audio content when driving. She is full of really wise advice and tips for interior designers. The more I listen to her, the more it strengthens my will to work with her as soon as I can.

- Catheline Cavarroc

Melissa gets it!

Love this podcast for the actionable tips from someone who’s learned, like us all, while in the trenches and is still learning with and for us all. I really appreciate her generosity in these podcast episodes and FB group too. Thanks for all your hard work, Melissa!

- Jacq Snaps

Amazing inspiration!

Melissa's insights and recommendations are invaluable. All episodes are well-planned and so well-organized; it makes me want to dive into applying all her tips! The nuggets of inspiration are easily digestible and relevant to a variety of experience levels. Grab your AirPods and check it out!

- Merits Design Group

Just what our industry needed!

Melissa has a down-to-earth but forward-facing approach to breaking down the ins and outs of our field. Every episode is so valuable. Mindset-focused, process-focused, and everything in between.

I’m excited for every episode- it’s gold!

- Design Empire

I feel empowered and heard. Melissa gets me!

As a professional creative, I felt heard and understood through the many challenges and obstacles we face in the industry. Refreshing to relate to someone like Melissa who can appropriately guide through these challenges with ease of mind. Wonderfully crafted, Melissa.

- Hollywood Nae

Comprehensive and direct. 

This podcast is a game-changer! Melissa includes how to manage all facets of owning a design business without losing sight of your personal life. She covers a lot of information, but delivers it in a manageable way - it’s easy to understand and she gives clear direction on how to implement. I highly recommend this to all designers looking to grow their business and regain personal time.

- 23220 Designer

Melissa is a valuable asset to your business!

I have been lucky to find and take Melissa's advice and have already increased my income. I highly value her expertise and advice. And the fact that she shares such valuable information on her podcast is amazing to newer firms (like mine). I can't recommend her enough!!

- Little Black Fox Design

A wealth of information.

I was first introduced to Melissa through her book, "Marketing Luxury Design: Attracting the Affluent Client". I was thrilled to learn she recently started a podcast. Melissa is smart, witty, and true cheerleader for those of us in the design world. Her advice and recommendations have helped me effectively build my business. I can’t wait to hear all she’ll share next!

- Jakson Gaming

Mark your calendar! This will be a weekly listen for me.

I’ve had the pleasure of being coached by Melissa and this content is beyond valuable. I’m a slow implementer so I need all this reinforcement of the good business practices she has guided me toward. If you're a creative and you need a roadmap to success, she’s your person!

- Ambinatl

Mentor extraordinaire!

Melissa is so knowledgeable, humorous and her tough-love approach is refreshing! Each time I listen, I learn so much; not just one thing. She provides excellent advice while sharing what she has learned from her mistakes, providing me with tools to become a better designer and business owner.

- TMMP77

Melissa is a game-changer!!

We started our business in October of 2022 and thank God that we happened to attend one of Melissa’s seminars at High Point Market that month, because she absolutely changed the course of our new business. Thanks to her principles, we are making 2-3 times the revenue than we had anticipated, we are booked out months in advance already, making our first year in business an unbelievable success. I would not in my wildest dreams have believed the results that we are getting. Thanks to her podcast, we are just going to keep climbing and we will know how and when to hire help, how to market, and we have already started our business with a healthy work-life balance that I never could have believed was possible. Weirdly, the podcast also helped me get closer to my husband because it gave me permission to prioritize self-care even as an entrepreneur. With better self-care, I have more time, attention, and energy for my friends and family and doggies. :) I’m now a total unabashed fan girl and can’t wait to see the incredible potential that Melissa Galt has made possible in my life. :) Thank you so much for this! Would recommend for any designer or creative no matter how long you’ve been in business. I would have given anything to know about this resource right out of design school 15 years ago. :) Thank you, thank you! Keep doing this amazing work, you’re changing lives.

- Megan J. B.

Amazing mentor!

Melissa Galt is a very creative and supportive person full of an amazing energy, who provides not only assistance as an interior design business coach, but also provides support as a friend from an encouraging perspective to the design community. I find her new podcasts to be extremely valuable as they are super helpful as well as very productive to become a successful business designer and to run a profitable firm while enjoying life. I definitely cannot wait to continue listening to her next podcasts and see how my business grows by being on the right path under her knowledgeable advice and achieving my goals while being unique, productive, successful, and the best designer and a very happy person. I cannot thank Melissa enough for her fabulous podcasts.

- Noelia Ibáñez

Experience The Affluent Creative.

I’m loving the new weekly podcast from Melissa Galt! She is personable, knowledgeable and humorous while challenging you to be realistic and introspective. I feel I found a mentor who truly understands me, inspires me and makes me think “what would Melissa do?” The weekly topics allow you to grow your business while being there for yourself and your clients. Finding ways to grow your business and your confidence. Earning more money in less time and finding your ideal clients to build the business you truly love! You will be truly surprised and inspired by what you hear. So if you are looking for weekly inspiration and direction to move your business forward, I highly recommend The Affluent Creative!

- Tanga Winstead Designs

I love Melissa-isms!!!

I’ve always loved listening to Melissa speak, she is sophisticated, and is luxury. Her insight and advice for my business has driven my design firm to the next level. So excited for her podcasts! Now, I can get inspired and motivated any time. She is a wealth of information! Melissa has these phrases that she shares that are elegant and amazing, and the perfect scripts to deal with situations we all encounter in design. I like to call them Melissa-isms!

- H Ball Interiors