844: John McClain: Turn Failure into Success
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Release Date: 01/17/2023
863: Power Talk Friday: Howard A. Lim: How to Build a Ten-Figure, World-Class Brand
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Howard A. Lim: Welcome to A Well Designed Business. What does it take to build a ten-figure world-class brand? Today, Howard A. Lim of HOW Creative is here to walk us through all of the steps and inner work needed to build a brand on this level. Even if you aren’t striving to be known around the world, Howard’s DNA of a brand that he teaches us will benefit you and take you where you want to be. Howard says that you must clearly define your Brand Architecture at the outset in order to sustain value, growth, and equity. So there’s some inner work to do first. Enjoy! Pick It...
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862: AphroChic: Celebrating the Legacy of the Black Family Home
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Bryan Mason and Jeanine Hays: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today’s episode features Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason of AphroChic—a media and design brand celebrating African Diaspora cultures through their lifestyle magazine, podcast, and product lines. Jeanine and Bryan are helping us relearn history as we dive into their latest book, AphroChic: Celebrating the Legacy of the Black Family Home. This is essential reading, not only for designers, but for everyone, and the conversation we have around it is an important one so that we can be an active part of the change in this...
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861: Power Talk Friday: Darla Powell: Instagram for Interior Designers
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Darla Powell: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Darla Powell of Wingnut Social. If you’re an avid listener of the show, you know how much of a social media guru Darla is. Now, she has come out with a course called Instagram for Interior Designers which consists of everything you would learn about Instagram if you were to personally pick her brain. Pick It Apart [10:13] Darla tells us about her new course Instagram for Interior Designers. [23:20] The importance of knowing yourself and your value proposition before tackling your social media strategy. [31:00] Why you...
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860: Antonio Deloatch: Believe in Yourself, Believe in Relationships
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Antonio Deloatch Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. What’s the difference between a designer who thrives in business and one who doesn’t? It isn’t talent. It isn’t passion. It isn’t motivation. It’s simply the ability to commit and get things done. My guest today, Antonio Deloatch Jr, is one of those real action-takers—someone who I just have no doubt is going to be big and successful, not just as a designer, but at whatever he puts his mind to. It’s a combination of his outlook, his attitude, and his ability to put one foot in front of the other and make it...
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859: Power Talk Friday: Robyn White: Using Your Website to Market to the Luxury Interior Design Client
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Robyn White: We all know that marketing matters. But so often when I’m talking to newer designers, I realize that marketing is misunderstood—especially when it comes to the luxury client. My guest today, Robyn White, understands that. Today, she’s here to talk about what marketing really is, how marketing for the luxury client is unique, and how to incorporate your personality and story into your messaging. Pick It Apart [2:26] Robyn and LuAnn reflect on what marketing really means. [6:54] Robyn explains the difference in marketing to a luxury client. [15:54] LuAnn and...
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858: Veronica Solomon: Cultivating Self-Awareness as a Superpower
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Veronica Solomon: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today’s episode features Veronica Solomon of Casa Vilora Interiors. Veronica is an award-winning designer and business mentor who believes that knowing yourself, understanding your convictions, and trusting your purpose can impact your business for the best. She has turned self-awareness into her superpower, and she is here today to encourage you to do the same so that you can run your business with intention. Pick It Apart [6:14] Veronica shares that competition has never been something she has focused on in her business....
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857: Power Talk Friday: Shannon Lopez: The ERC Program - Do NOT Skip This Episode!
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Shannon Lopez: You’ve heard of the PPP, but did you know that there’s another government program waiting to give you as much, if not more money back? It’s called the ERC. Today, Shannon Lopez breaks down the program, who it’s for, how you can take advantage of it, and the deadlines you need to know. Pick It Apart [8:55] Shannon breaks down what the ERC is and why it matters. [13:53] LuAnn and Shannon discuss the challenges of running a business at the beginning of the pandemic. [31:16] Shannon explains who qualifies for the ERC. [44:00] Shannon walks us through...
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856: Enrique Crespo: Describing His Type-A Personality Mindset
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Enrique Crespo: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today’s episode features Enrique Crespo of Crespo Design Group. Enrique is here to share how developing a Type A personality approach can ensure success, especially in an industry as creative as interior design. Type A personalities are organized, ambitious, and like to have an agenda. But don’t worry—you don’t have to be one to become one. Over the years, Enrique has refined this mindset and honed the skills to guide and grow his firm, and he shares those stories with us today. Pick It Apart [1:57] Enrique explains how...
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855: Power Talk Friday: Hunter Lowder: Is it Time for a Fractional COO?
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Hunter Lowder: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. We’ve all heard that we should free ourselves up for CEO-level tasks. But knowing we should and actually following through with it are very different things. It can be hard for entrepreneurs who feel like they have to carry everything in their business. Sometimes, the operations get jumbled along the way. My guest today, Hunter Lowder, runs a business that steps in and serves as fractional COO to get designers back on track. She’s sharing how we can let go, how to find the right person for the job, and how the process of...
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854: Lindye Galloway: Connect Your Why to Your Interior Design Business, the Success Will Follow
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Lindye Galloway: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today’s episode features Lindye Galloway, of Lindye Galloway Studio + Shop. Lindye is here to share the inspiring story of how she followed her heart, creating a business model for her e-commerce shop and Designed by Lindye collection that does good for others by giving a portion of the profits to provide microloans to entrepreneurs in underserved parts of the world. Lindye encourages us to find meaning through our own business ventures by exploring our whys and living our truths. Pick It Apart [1:39] Lindye tells the story of...
info_outlineToday With John McClain:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I am joined for the second time by John McClain. John is an accomplished interior designer, business coach, and author of The Designer Within. In this episode, he shares a bit about his back story with us—from crisis to conquest.
John is here to help you understand that you can learn and grow from your mistakes, and success can be born out of failure. John shares his dark night of the soul story with us, but it didn’t end there. He turned that rough patch into a catalyst to organize his business for the better. Since then he has implemented a “How We Work” document, detailed client contracts, flat fees, and non-negotiables because his business is worth it. He is worth it. And you are worth it.
Pick It Apart
[6:38] John shares his dark night of the soul story involving client credit cards, attorneys, a factory fire, and armed guards.
[20:35] John discusses the importance of knowing your company policies and non-negotiables, for example, he does not take credit card payments.
[31:40] John and LuAnn discuss the importance of formal agreements and transparency with clients.
[35:41] LuAnn and John pick apart his pricing structure and flat fees, including his creative fee and project fulfillment fees.[57:29] John talks about the online courses for designers he offers, as well as his new book The Designer Within and the online course for homeowners that goes along with it.
LuAnn Nigara and John McClain's Ah-Ha Moments
“Until you've been through a serious business crisis, it's hard to know how it really cuts you in your gut.” – LuAnn Nigara
“I don't care if you're a solopreneur or if you have 25 people working for you. Your company policy is your company policy. And that is what you have to stand by.” – John McClain
“A lot of people don't take the time to sit down and come up with the rules [of their business]. ” – John McClain
“You do have to take time—really getting clear with who you are, what you do, how you do it, why you do it, and your non-negotiables.” – LuAnn Nigara
“I want to be an advocate for other designers and out in the world, to really stand up for themselves. And to have a company philosophy, have a company vision have a company backbone that they can stand behind.” - John McClain
More About John McClain:
John McClain is an accomplished interior designer, business coach, speaker, on-air contributor, and writer who has turned his lifetime passion for interior design into an opportunity to do the same for others through his book, The Designer Within (available now at thedesignerwithin.co). John McClain Design has offices in Central Florida and Los Angeles, CA. His projects have received numerous awards and have appeared in many publications including Traditional Home and Elle Décor. John's design advice can also be seen regularly in print, television appearances, and online in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Us Weekly, and many more.
Connect with John McClain
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Other Shows Mentioned:
#472: John McClain: Running His Firm from Two Coasts Makes Systems and Tools Critical
#145: Sandra Funk of House of Funk: Why and How She Re-Branded her 10 Year old Firm
#801: Power Talk Friday: Sandra Funk: How Mistakes and Obstacles Led to Growth & Transformation
#842: Joshua Smith: Sell the Experiences, Not the Commodity