Every year, you have the opportunity to set new goals, refine your processes, and take your interior design business to new heights. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned designer, taking time to reflect, assess, and plan can make all the difference in achieving your best design year ever. In this article, we’ll explore seven actionable steps to help you create a year full of growth, profitability, and personal fulfillment.
#1 Celebrate Your Wins
Before diving into goal-setting, take a moment to reflect on the past year and celebrate your wins. It’s easy to get caught up in what didn’t go right, but recognizing your successes is crucial for maintaining motivation and building momentum. Start by identifying one big win from the past year. It could be landing a dream client, completing a major project, or even personal achievements like better work-life balance.
Make it a habit to log at least one win every day. This simple practice will shift your focus from challenges to achievements, helping you maintain a positive outlook throughout the year. Consider starting your day by predicting a win and ending it by confirming that win—this mindset can be transformative.
#2 Set One Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG)
Goal-setting is essential, but too many goals can dilute your focus. Instead, choose one Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) for the year. This should be a goal that excites and challenges you. Something that, if achieved, will have a significant positive impact on your business.
Write this goal down daily to keep it top of mind. By doing so, you engage your subconscious to constantly seek out opportunities that align with your goal. This level of focus can lead to breakthroughs and unexpected wins that would otherwise be overlooked and get you much closer to your best design year ever.
#3 Assess and Optimize Your Client Relationships
Not all clients are created equal. Take time to assess which clients are bringing the most value to your business. Which marketing channels brought these clients to you? Boost the channels that are working and minimize those that aren’t delivering results.
Refine your ideal client avatar to ensure your marketing efforts are targeted. Knowing exactly who your ideal clients are allows you to craft messaging that speaks directly to them. This increases the likelihood of attracting more of the right clients. And an interior design practice focused on ideal clients is better positioned to deliver your best design year ever.
#4 Evaluate Your Projects for Profitability and Delight
After each project, conduct a thorough assessment. Was the project profitable? Did it require more effort than expected? Most importantly, did you enjoy it? Your design delight factor—how much you enjoyed the project—should be a key consideration in deciding whether to take on similar projects in the future.
If a project didn’t turn out as you hoped, consider creating a rendering of your original vision to showcase what you aimed to achieve. This can be especially helpful in marketing your services to future clients.
#5 Focus on Revenue Streams and Where You Excel
Detail your revenue by category to see where you’re earning the most. Are you excelling in upholstery and case goods but lagging in accessories or window treatments? Identifying these gaps allows you to focus your efforts where they’ll have the most impact and deliver your best design year ever.
If you’re not thrilled with the types of projects that are bringing in the most revenue, consider adjusting your marketing to attract the kind of work you truly enjoy. Knowledge of where your money is coming from empowers you to make informed decisions that align with your goals.
#6 Build and Assess Your Team
Your team is the backbone of your business. Regularly assess their performance to ensure everyone is working in their zone of genius. If someone isn’t meeting expectations, provide them with steps to improve or consider replacing them if necessary. Toxic team members or those underperforming have no place in your firm when you’re focused on achieving your best design year ever.
Don’t be afraid to delegate more tasks, even if it means hiring additional team members or outsourcing certain functions. As you grow, staying focused on your strengths and delegating the rest will allow you to achieve more with less stress.
Avoid the Groundhog Year: Plan and Reflect
Don’t let your business get stuck in a repetitive cycle. Regularly assess your progress, set new goals, and learn from the past year’s lessons. This approach ensures you’re always moving forward and making improvements.
Take 30 minutes to write down the lessons you’ve learned over the past year. Keeping these lessons in plain sight will help you avoid repeating mistakes and keep your business on a path of continuous growth.
Key Takeaway
Achieving your best design year ever starts with intentional planning, reflection, and goal-setting. By focusing on celebrating wins, setting one big goal, assessing your client relationships and projects, optimizing revenue streams, building a strong team, and avoiding repetitive cycles, you can set the stage for a year full of success and fulfillment.
Remember, it’s not just about working harder—it’s about working smarter and making strategic decisions that align with your vision for your business.
When you’re ready to increase your interior design business profits, work exclusively with ideal clients, and enjoy the time and resources for your extraordinary life, explore your coaching options. We’ve got your back in the business of design and the business of home.
