S5 Ep 188: No Portfolio? No Problem: The Secret Strategy to Attract High Paying Clients
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Release Date: 08/04/2025
S6 Ep. 193 Decision Speed is a Moneymaker
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Indecision is one of the most expensive habits you can have in business. Every time you delay—whether it’s raising your rates, hiring help, or investing in the support you need—you’re leaving money, time, and momentum on the table. In this episode, I’m sharing why overthinking costs you far more than mistakes do, how to build decision speed as a profitable skill, and the tools I use (and teach my students) to stop spinning and start moving forward. IN THIS EPISODE, I’M TALKING ABOUT: The four traps that keep designers stuck: perfectionism, scarcity thinking, people-pleasing, and...
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S6 Ep. 192 The Silent Profit Killers
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Hey y’all, in today’s episode I’m pulling back the curtain on the silent profit killers that sneak into your design business and quietly drain thousands from your bottom line. These aren’t the big, obvious issues like not charging enough or overhead being too high—these are the sneaky, day-to-day habits that fly under the radar but add up fast. I’m sharing where I’ve personally lost money (yep, guilty), where I see designers leaking profit all the time, and most importantly, how to patch those leaks so you can keep more of the money you’re already working so hard to...
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Episode: S6 Ep 191 When Clients Say One Thing… But Mean Another
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Hey, hey, hey! In this episode we’re talking about something that feels scary but will absolutely change your business: saying no before you feel ready. I know how hard it is to turn down a project—what if the right one doesn’t come along? What if word gets around that you turned someone down? I’ve had all those same fears. But here’s the truth: every time you say yes to the wrong project, you’re blocking space for the right one. I’ll share the hidden costs of saying yes to everything, how to recognize the red flags early, and the exact scripts you can use to say no without...
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S6 Ep 190: How Turning Down the “Wrong” Work Accelerates Your Growth.
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Hey, hey, hey! In this episode of Design for the Creative Mind, we’re talking about something that feels scary but will absolutely change your business: saying no before you feel ready. I know how hard it is to turn down a project—what if the right one doesn’t come along? What if word gets around that you turned someone down? I’ve had all those same fears. But here’s the truth: every time you say yes to the wrong project, you’re blocking space for the right one. I’ll share the hidden costs of saying yes to everything, how to recognize the red flags early, and the exact scripts...
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S6 Ep 189: Stop Over-Delivering: Why Doing More Is Costing You Time, Money, and Sanity
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Season 6: Off the Record: The Hidden Curriculum of Design Business They didn’t teach you this in design school. You won’t hear it in a CEU course. And most business coaches wouldn’t dare say it out loud. This season of Designed for the Creative Mind is your backstage pass to the unspoken skills, strategic instincts, and hard-won wisdom that separate hobbyists from high-earning design business owners. From reading between a client’s words, to knowing exactly when to say no (and how to do it without burning bridges), to spotting profit leaks before they sink you — these are...
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S5 Ep 188: No Portfolio? No Problem: The Secret Strategy to Attract High Paying Clients
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Hey hey hey! I’m so glad you’re here with me today on Designed for the Creative Mind. Whether you’re listening from your studio, your car, or curled up with a glass of wine (not in the car, please), you’re in for a really insightful conversation. I brought on the fabulous Mina from Duke Renders to talk about all things renderings—especially how they can help you build a strong portfolio even if you don’t have a single professionally photographed project. If you’ve been holding off on putting your work out there because you’re waiting for the “perfect” photos, this...
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S5 Ep 187 From Italy to the UK: One Baker, Two Countries, Big Design Dreams
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Today, we’re crossing the pond! I had such a fun and inspiring chat with one of our fabulous Bakery graduates, Marta Rosato, who built her thriving interior design business all the way from Bristol, UK. Her story is filled with courage, creativity, and a whole lot of clarity — and I know you’re going to love hearing it. Marta didn’t start out in interior design. She spent 20 years working across Europe in project management and event organizing, and later as a marketing strategist for sustainable tourism. But after moving to the UK and becoming a full-time mom, she had a moment...
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S5 Ep 186 Why Your Dream Clients Don’t Know You Exist (Yet)
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Hey, hey, hey y’all! We’re back with Part 3 of our “Booked by Accident vs. Booked by Design” series—and today we’re tackling something that stings a little... but only for a second. You know that feeling when someone tells you there’s food in your teeth? Yeah. It’s kind of like that. Awkward for a moment, but ultimately a gift. Because once you know, you can fix it. Same goes for today’s topic: Why your dream clients don’t know you exist… yet (and yes, that “yet” is doing some heavy lifting). Here’s what we get into: The real reason the best...
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S5 Ep 185 Booked by Accident? It’s Time to Get Intentional
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Hey friend—this episode is for you if you’ve ever had a dry inbox and wondered, Where the heck are my dream clients?I’ve been there. Back when I started ML Interiors Group, I hustled hard, did great work, and just hoped the right clients would find me. And for a while… it worked. Kind of. But behind the scenes? Total chaos. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what I call being “booked by accident”—when your leads are inconsistent, your clients are sometimes not the right fit, and you’re crossing your fingers instead of working a plan. If your business has...
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S5 Ep 184 If You Build It, They Still May Not Come
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Welcome back to Designed for the Creative Mind, the podcast where we get real about what it actually takes to build a beautiful and profitable interior design business. In this episode, Michelle kicks off a brand-new series called Booked by Accident vs. Booked by Design—a must-listen if you’ve ever wondered why your dream clients still aren’t showing up, even though you’re doing “all the right things.” Michelle unpacks what’s really going on in today’s economy and why relying on referrals, a pretty Instagram feed, or a solid reputation alone just isn’t enough anymore....
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Hey hey hey! I’m so glad you’re here with me today on Designed for the Creative Mind. Whether you’re listening from your studio, your car, or curled up with a glass of wine (not in the car, please), you’re in for a really insightful conversation.
I brought on the fabulous Mina from Duke Renders to talk about all things renderings—especially how they can help you build a strong portfolio even if you don’t have a single professionally photographed project. If you’ve been holding off on putting your work out there because you’re waiting for the “perfect” photos, this episode is going to change everything.
Mina shares how Duke Renders came to be after she had frustrating experiences outsourcing renderings as a designer herself. What started as her husband and his brother helping her out turned into a full-blown, high-touch rendering studio that truly understands the needs of interior designers.
We also talk about the process (which I completely loved working with), why outsourcing your renderings isn’t as scary as it seems, and how even the biggest names in design (yes, we mention Shea McGee) dealt with team resistance before seeing the light.
If you’re at the beginning stages of your business or pivoting into a new niche, Mina explains how renderings allow you to showcase the kind of work you want to be hired for—even if you haven’t landed those ideal clients yet. We talk about creating a portfolio based on your dream aesthetic, using renderings to fill the gap when photography isn’t possible, and why this investment often brings a bigger return than advertising or getting published.
The biggest takeaway? Renderings aren’t just pretty pictures—they’re a powerful business tool. They can help you land higher-end clients, speed up your design process, and most importantly, give you the confidence to put your work out there.
This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever felt stuck because your portfolio isn’t “there yet.” Renderings might just be your new secret weapon.
Thanks for tuning in. You’ve got this, and I’m so excited for what you’re building.
Resources Mentioned:
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Follow Mina and the Duke Renders team on Instagram: @dukerenders
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You can always find me on Instagram @michellynninteriors. Shoot me a DM—I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode!