Finding the perfect balance between passion and profession can be a journey as intricate as any design project. For my client Jenna Wedemeyer of Schnabel Interiors in Lexington, Kentucky, this balance has been the key to transforming her career and life. Her story is a testament to the power of aligning your personal passions with your profession, demonstrating how love and authenticity can drive both business success and personal fulfillment.
The Turning Point: From Burnout to Balance
Jenna’s journey began with a challenge that many interior designers know all too well: burnout. After years of running a thriving business in Chicago, she found herself exhausted and disconnected from the joy that once fueled her work. Her days were consumed by her business, leaving little room for the personal passions that once brought her happiness.
Reconnecting with Passion: A pivotal moment in Jenna’s life was when she realized that her love for horses, a passion she had long neglected, could play a crucial role in revitalizing her business. I asked Jenna simple questions “where do meet most of your ideal clients.” And when she thought about it, she realized it all came back to her riding.
By reconnecting with this passion, Jenna discovered that many of her clients shared her love for horses, opening up new opportunities for her business. This realization underscored the importance of aligning your personal passions with your profession.
Letting Love Lead: Embracing her passion for horses, Jenna decided to lease, and eventually purchase, a horse named Ernie. This decision wasn’t just about fulfilling a personal dream; it also brought renewed energy and focus to her professional life. Ernie became a source of inspiration, aligning her personal passions with her profession and reigniting her love for her work.
A New Chapter: Moving to Lexington
Jenna’s journey took another significant turn when she decided to leave Chicago and move back to Lexington, Kentucky. This move was motivated by a desire to reconnect with her roots and spend more time with her family, including her mother. It also marked the beginning of a new chapter in her professional life.
Partnering with Family: In Lexington, Jenna teamed up with her mother, a highly respected designer with decades of experience, to establish Schnabel Interiors. This partnership allowed Jenna to blend her modern design sensibilities with her mother’s traditional expertise, creating a dynamic duo that brought together the best of both worlds. This new venture further demonstrated how to align your personal passions with your profession by working alongside someone she deeply admired.
Starting Over: Despite her success in Chicago, starting over in a new city was a daunting challenge. Jenna had to build her reputation from the ground up in a place where she wasn’t as well-known. However, this fresh start also provided her with the opportunity to refine her brand and approach her business with renewed vigor, perfectly aligning her personal passions with her profession.
Rebuilding the Business: Strategies for Success
Re-establishing her business in Lexington required Jenna to adopt new strategies and approaches. She focused on rebuilding her brand, creating a strong online presence, and ensuring that her business was positioned for long-term success.
Strategic Marketing: At my recommendation, Jenna and her mother invested heavily in their website, social media, and branding efforts. By strategically placing ads in local publications and aligning their marketing with their target demographic, they were able to attract the right clients and grow their business.
Client-Centered Approach: One of the key strategies I taught Jenna to employ was creating a comprehensive inquiry process on their website. This process allowed them to pre-qualify potential clients based on their budget, timeline, and expectations, ensuring that they only took on projects that were a good fit for their services.
Navigating Personal Challenges
While Jenna’s professional life was on the upswing, she also faced significant personal challenges. Her partner, Ryan, suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident, which had a profound impact on their lives. This event forced Jenna to shift her focus to the present, prioritizing day-to-day well-being over long-term plans.
Balancing Work and Personal Life: Despite these challenges, Jenna is able to maintain her business with the support of her mother and a flexible work schedule. This experience underscored the importance of a supportive team and the ability to adapt to life’s unexpected changes.
Key Takeaways
Jenna Wedemeyer’s journey is a powerful example of how aligning your personal passions with your profession can lead to both personal and professional growth. And how getting an interior design business coach on board who understands your vision, as I did, makes all the difference.
By reconnecting with what she loves, partnering with family, and embracing new challenges with an open heart, Jenna has not only rebuilt her business but also found a deeper sense of fulfillment. Her story illustrates that true success in the interior design industry is not just about financial gains; it’s about building a life and career that reflect your values and passions. When you align your personal passions with your profession, you create a foundation for sustainable success and lasting happiness.
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.
