Send Katie a Text Message!!

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I swear I’ve already answered this,” while a team member pings you yet again, this episode is for you.

Today, I’m unpacking one of the most exhausting leadership moments I see with designers — when your team keeps asking the same questions over and over, and it starts to make you wonder if you’re doing something wrong as a leader. I want to say this clearly right out of the gate: this isn’t a sign that you’re failing. It’s feedback. And when you understand what that feedback is actually pointing to, everything starts to shift.

In this episode, I talk honestly about why repeated questions usually aren’t a communication problem or a documentation problem — even though that’s where most of us go first. More SOPs, more explanations, or even questioning whether you hired the wrong person often feels like the logical next step. But in my experience, that approach only reinforces the dynamic that’s burning you out.

What your team is really asking — whether they realize it or not — is whether they’re allowed to decide without you.

We dive into the idea of decision ownership and why so many creative leaders accidentally hold onto it longer than they should. I share how being the fixer, the closer, and the safety net can quietly train your team to outsource judgment back to you — even when they’re capable of more. I also walk you through the leadership shift from “doing” to “designing,” and how your role as CEO is less about approving every choice and more about building confident decision-makers.

I also get very practical in this episode. I share how we’ve handled this inside my own firm, including why we clarified decision lanes, created clearer reporting structures, limited unnecessary visibility in project management software, and normalized thoughtful mistakes instead of punishing them. We talk about why mistakes — when made inside clear guardrails — actually build confidence instead of eroding it.

You’ll hear how hiring ties directly into this, why you’re not hiring extra hands but judgment, and how we’ve refined our hiring process over the years to make sure people are truly set up to succeed. I also explain why the 90-day review period is one of the most powerful tools you can use to build trust, clarity, and alignment on your team — without fear or drama.

We also talk about seasons. Sometimes the issue isn’t that someone is a bad hire — it’s that their season has changed. Learning how to recognize that, have honest conversations, and adjust roles accordingly is part of real leadership. I share a recent example from my own team where a simple conversation created massive relief, clarity, and momentum for everyone involved.

And if this conversation hits close to home and you want help untangling it, I offer a free 15-minute problem-solving session where we focus on one real leadership challenge in your business. No pitch, no pressure — just clarity. You can book that at fixmydesignbiz.com.

As always, remember: your business should be working for you, not you working for it. If that’s starting to feel out of alignment, it’s time to redesign how leadership shows up inside your fir

Connect with Katie

LinkedIn

Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers

Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm

Website

Send Katie a Text Message!!

If you’ve ever looked at your business and thought, “Why did this feel easier when I was making less money?”—this episode is for you.

Today, I’m talking directly to designers who are doing “everything right” on paper. The revenue is there. The team is there. The projects are bigger. And yet… everything feels heavier. More complex. More draining.

Here’s the truth I want you to hear upfront: you didn’t do anything wrong. This tension doesn’t show up because you failed—it shows up because you succeeded. And in this episode, I walk you through what that actually means and how to respond as a CEO, not by working harder, but by building a business that can truly carry its own weight.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why most designers hit a wall after profitability—not before it
• The difference between effort and capacity (and why effort eventually stops working)
• How to recognize when your business has outgrown its current “muscle”
• Why more revenue doesn’t automatically equal more freedom
• The mindset shift from control to capacity—and why letting go is strategic, not reckless
• How the wrong client mix can exhaust even the strongest systems
• Why decision-making has to be decentralized if your business is going to scale sustainably
• How processes like project closeouts reduce emotional labor and prevent repeated mistakes
• The real reason your business feels heavy (and why it’s not a time management failure)

I also share personal examples from my own firm—where I hit ceilings, what broke when we grew too fast, and the exact shifts that allowed the business to support growth without burning me out.

This episode is about evolution. About recognizing when your business is asking for something different. And about understanding that heaviness is a signal—not a verdict.

Final takeaway:

If your business feels heavy right now, it doesn’t mean you’re bad at managing your time. It means your business has outgrown the way it was built—and that’s not failure. That’s growth asking for leadership.

And if you’re listening and thinking, “This is exactly where I am,” I see you. You don’t need more grit. You need a business designed for the level of success you’re already experiencing.

As always, your business should be working for you—not the other way around.

Connect with Katie

LinkedIn

Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers

Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm

Website

Send Katie a Text Message!!

Choosing a coach is a big decision—especially when your business is already successful, but something still feels heavy. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what coaching should (and shouldn’t) look like for interior designers. I share the mistakes I’ve made hiring coaches, the lessons I learned the hard way, and the exact criteria I use now—both when I hire support and when designers consider working with me. This isn’t about hype, Instagram followers, or quick fixes. It’s about clarity, alignment, and making decisions that actually support your life and your business.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Why you don’t need a coach because you’re failing—but because your business has outgrown its current structure
• The real signs it’s time for coaching (and why exhaustion isn’t a motivation problem)
• How fear keeps designers stuck longer than necessary—and why that’s often the most expensive choice
• Why coaching isn’t about buying information, but about compressed time, perspective, and decision support
• What I look for when choosing a coach—and why “been there, done that” is a red flag
• Why specialization matters more than popularity when it comes to coaching
• My honest take on group coaching vs. private coaching once you’re past six figures
• The three non-negotiables every designer should use when choosing a coach
• How to know if I’m the right coach for you—and just as importantly, if I’m not

I see designers wait too long to ask for help, hire the wrong support, or assume coaching “doesn’t work” when it was really just the wrong fit. This episode is about giving you clarity—so you can stop second-guessing yourself and start making decisions with confidence, integrity, and intention. Coaching should feel supportive, aligned, and safe—not pressured or performative.

If this episode resonates and you’re feeling ready to talk things through, I offer a free 15-minute problem-solving session. No pitch. No pressure. Just clarity. Head to fixmydesignbiz.com and we’ll talk about what’s actually going on in your business—and whether coaching makes sense for you right now.

Remember: your business should be working for you, not the other way around.

Connect with Katie

LinkedIn

Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers

Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm

Website