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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

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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.

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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.

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If you feel stuck in indecision, overwhelmed by options, or frozen because you’re afraid of making the wrong move in your design business, this episode is for you.

In this conversation, I’m talking directly to designers who are waiting for more clarity, more confidence, or more certainty before taking action — and how that waiting is often the very thing keeping them stuck. Indecision isn’t neutral. It’s still a decision, and it usually comes with hidden costs: stalled growth, increased stress, team confusion, and long-term burnout.

We’re unpacking why so many designers confuse overthinking with being strategic, and how avoidance quietly undermines your leadership as a CEO. Strong leadership isn’t about having all the answers or getting it perfect — it’s about making informed decisions, learning from them, and allowing momentum to build. Confidence doesn’t come before action. It comes from action.

I also share what decision-making actually looks like at higher levels of leadership, why trying to be “nice” can erode trust in your business, and how delaying decisions spreads stress across your finances, operations, and team. This episode is about shifting out of reaction and into intentional leadership so your business can move forward.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why indecision is often more expensive than making the wrong decision
• How overthinking keeps designers stuck and overwhelmed
• The difference between thoughtful leadership and avoidance
• How delayed decisions affect your team, culture, and profitability
• Why action creates clarity — not the other way around

If you’re ready to stop spinning, stop waiting, and start leading your business with confidence and clarity, this episode will help you rethink how you make decisions and what it’s costing you not to.

Listen in and let’s talk about how to move forward as the CEO your business actually needs.

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As we step into 2026, I wanted to record this episode before you opened your inbox, before you looked at last year’s numbers, and before you started telling yourself stories about what this year needs to be. This is your 2026 pep talk. Because most designers don’t start a new year with a clean slate — they start it carrying the emotional weight of the year before. And if we don’t address that first, it quietly shapes how we show up, the goals we set, and the decisions we make. In this episode, I’m walking you through how to release last year without ignoring it, move out of overwhelm, and step into 2026 with clarity, intention, and confidence.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why 2026 does not need to be a reaction to 2025 — and how trying to “make up” for last year leads to burnout
• The truth about why most designers struggle (hint: it’s not talent, it’s systems, boundaries, and emotional energy)
• How carrying shame or comparison into a new year limits your capacity before you even begin
• Why defining how you want your business to feel matters more than jumping straight into revenue goals
• How to set goals without shame, pressure, or punishment
• What makes a goal actually supportive using a simple SMART framework
• Why being “behind” is a dangerous story — and how being informed puts you in a position of power
• How intentional reflection leads to better decisions, not self-judgment

If you’re heading into 2026 feeling overwhelmed, behind, or unsure where to start, this episode is your reminder that you are not failing — you’re informed. You’re allowed to begin again, design this year differently, and build a business that works for you instead of the other way around. And if you want help figuring out your next right step, I invite you to book a free 50-minute problem-solving session with me at fixmydesignbiz.com. Let’s get clear, get honest, and move forward intentionally together.

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As this year comes to a close, I wanted to have a very honest conversation—one rooted in experience, not perfection. In this episode, I’m reflecting (with another seasoned firm owner- Michelle Lynne) on the mistakes we’ve made, the lessons we learned the hard way, and what actually matters when you’re trying to move your business forward with clarity instead of chaos.

This isn’t about beating yourself up for what didn’t work. It’s about looking back clearly—without ego or shame—so you can recalibrate your direction, trust yourself again, and make smarter decisions as you head into 2026.

Here’s what we dig into in this episode:

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why you can’t change direction in your business without honestly looking in the rearview mirror
• How growing just for the sake of growth often leads to stress, misalignment, and regret
• Why busyness, headcount, and “looking successful” can hide deeper operational problems
• The real cost of ignoring your intuition—and why it always shows up eventually
• How intuition becomes powerful when it’s supported by data, not separated from it
• Why avoiding your numbers only creates bigger problems down the road
• What I call the “toll of the soul,” and why some profitable work still isn’t worth it
• How letting go sooner—clients, projects, models, or people—can lead to faster alignment
• Why leadership requires hard conversations, not avoidance
• How reflection is meant to recalibrate your business, not keep you stuck in regret

This episode is for designers who know something needs to change—but don’t want to burn everything down to make it happen. My hope is that this conversation helps you look at your business with more honesty, more confidence, and a lot more self-trust as you step into what’s next.

You don’t need to have all the answers for 2026 right now. But you do need to be willing to look clearly at where you’ve been—so you can choose where you’re going on purpose.

If you’re ready to move forward with clarity instead of guesswork, this episode is for you.

Stay in touch with Michelle on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thedesignbakehouse/

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Today’s episode is one I’ve been wanting to record for a long time because it’s built entirely around the questions I hear every single week as a business coach. These are the questions that come up in strategy calls, Voxer messages, office hours, and hallway conversations at High Point. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unsure about hiring, confused by your numbers, or stuck relying on referrals, you are not alone — and this episode is for you. I’m walking you through the real answers, not the emotional ones, so you can start making CEO-level decisions in your business.

IN THIS EPISODE, I COVER:

• Why feeling overwhelmed usually isn’t a hiring problem, but a clarity and systems problem
• How to know whether you actually need help — and whether that should be a contractor or a W2 employee
• What your numbers need to tell you before you ever make a hire
• Why relying only on referrals leaves your business vulnerable, especially in changing markets
• What a sustainable, predictable marketing strategy actually looks like for designers
• How to align your financial reality with your goals instead of relying on vision boards alone
• Why pricing is math and positioning, not emotion
• How to know when you’re truly ready to scale
• Why niching isn’t limiting — it’s how premium businesses grow
• How to raise prices without guilt and stop undervaluing your expertise
• Why you can’t “do it all” at once — and how the accordion model allows your business to support your life

If there’s one thing I want you to take away from this episode, it’s this: you cannot reach your goals without understanding your numbers. Every single time. Clarity comes from data, not panic, and confidence comes from knowing what your business can actually support. If you’re ready to take the next strategic step — not the emotional one — I’d love to help. You can book a free 15-minute problem-solving session with me at fixmydesignbiz.com. Your business should work for you, not the other way around.

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If you want 2026 to look different than 2025, this episode is where that shift begins. Today, I’m walking you step-by-step through the 2025 Business Audit Worksheet and showing you how to look at last year honestly — without judgment, without overwhelm, and without getting stuck in the past. This isn’t busy work or a reflective exercise for the sake of reflection. It’s about understanding what actually happened in your business so you can make grounded, confident decisions about where you’re going next. You can’t build your next chapter without understanding the last one, and this episode gives you the structure to do exactly that.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Why reviewing 2025 realistically is the most important step before planning 2026
• How to use the 2025 Business Audit Worksheet as a decision-making tool, not a report card
• The difference between being busy and being profitable — and how to spot the gap
• Which numbers matter most when you’re scaling and why avoiding them keeps you stuck
• How to evaluate your time, energy, and stress alongside revenue and profit
• How to identify offers, projects, and clients that delivered both profit and alignment
• Why misaligned services quietly drive burnout — even in “successful” businesses
• How the 80/20 rule reveals what actually moved the needle in 2025
• What you need to stop doing before you can scale sustainably into 2026
• Why letting go of what no longer fits is leadership, not failure

WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS:
So many designers want clarity for the year ahead, but clarity doesn’t come from guessing, hoping, or planning based on emotion. It comes from data, patterns, and honest reflection. This episode helps you slow down, pull your business over to the side of the road, and assess what really happened in 2025 — so you’re not building 2026 on assumptions, habits, or outdated models. Looking back isn’t about staying stuck. It’s about choosing your next move with intention.

If listening to this episode surfaced questions about your numbers, pricing, offers, or next steps, that’s exactly where real growth begins. I offer a free 15-minute problem-solving session to help you translate what you’re seeing in your audit into clear, actionable decisions for 2026. No pressure, no scripts — just clarity. You can book that conversation at fixmydesignbiz.com. Your business should support your life, not consume it.

Grab your 2025 Audit Worksheet HERE

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