S7 Ep.201 Myth: I Can Build a Thriving Design Business Through Trial and Error
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Release Date: 11/17/2025
S7 Ep.201 Myth: I Can Build a Thriving Design Business Through Trial and Error
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Hey y’all — welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind. I’m Michelle Lynn, and today we’re kicking off a brand-new season called Myth Busting: What People Get Wrong About the Interior Design Industry. And even though I sound like an 80-year-old chain smoker mixed with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (thanks, Texas allergies), I wasn’t about to miss this episode because we’re starting with a big one. There’s a myth so many designers unknowingly build their entire business around: “I can figure this out through trial and error.” And I get it — because that’s exactly...
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Ep. 200: Lessons from the Edge
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Hey friends, welcome to the 200th episode of Designed for the Creative Mind — I can hardly believe we’re here. When I first started this podcast, I honestly didn’t know if I’d have the time or stamina to keep it going, and yet it’s become something I look forward to every single week. Thank you for being here, whether you’ve listened to every episode or this is your first. In this episode, I’m getting real and vulnerable about the edges I’ve faced in my business — the burnout, the betrayal, the mistakes, and the moments I thought about giving up. I share how I learned to...
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S6 Ep. 199: Talent Won’t Save Your Business (and What Actually Will)
Designed for the Creative Mind™
In this episode, I’m talking about something we don’t say out loud enough in the design world: being talented isn’t the same thing as being profitable. You can be incredibly good at what you do — have the eye, the taste, the creativity — and still feel like you’re struggling to stay afloat in your business. And it’s not because you’re not good enough. It’s because most of us were never taught the business side of design. I’m breaking down what really creates stability and momentum in your design business: how you position yourself, how you price your value, the...
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S6 Ep.198 Trusted Partners: How to Build Your Go-To Vendor List
Designed for the Creative Mind™
If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to find and build relationships with vendors, this episode is for you. I’m joined by Juliana and Debbie, and we’re pulling back the curtain on what it really looks like to source confidently, vet your partners, and make those connections that actually make your job easier — not harder. We’re talking about the first steps to take when you’re new, how to walk into a showroom without feeling like an imposter, and what to do when a vendor just doesn’t feel like the right fit. It’s real talk, a few laughs, and a whole lot of practical advice from...
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S6 Ep197: When to Break Your Own Rules
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Hey y’all — welcome back to the Design for the Creative Mind podcast! Today we’re talking about something that might surprise you… when it’s actually smart to break your own rules. Your rules exist for a reason — they protect your time, your profit, and your sanity. But sometimes, breaking one intentionally can lead to big opportunities. In my case, one rule I broke turned into hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit — no joke. So in this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on: Why your business rules and boundaries matter When they turn from protection to a cage ...
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S6 Ep 196: The 90% Plan
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Hey y’all, it’s Michelle Lynn! Let’s talk about something that’s gonna ruffle a few perfectionist feathers—the 90% Rule. It’s my way of saying that doing less is actually the fastest way to make more. Perfectionism might feel like a badge of honor, but babe, it’s a profit killer. In this episode, I’m breaking down how overdelivering and chasing “perfect” are draining your time, your energy, and your money—and how to flip that into efficiency, profit, and freedom. I’ll walk you through how to decide where to give your full 100% and where 90% is more than enough. Because...
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S6 Ep 195 Boundary Scripts That Work
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Scope creep is the silent killer of profit in our industry. Most designers don’t lose money because they undercharge—they lose it because they can’t hold their boundaries. And I get it. Saying no feels uncomfortable. You don’t want to sound difficult. You want your clients to love you. But here’s the truth: boundaries aren’t walls. They’re leadership. In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly why boundaries matter and giving you word-for-word scripts you can use the next time a client asks for “just one more thing.” Whether it’s another rendering, a quick showroom...
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S6 Ep 194 The Influence Advantage
Designed for the Creative Mind™
Being the most talented designer doesn’t automatically make you the most successful—influence does. And I’m not talking about Instagram followers or being Insta-famous. Influence in business is about how your market perceives you: as the authority, the one they can trust, the one they want to work with before they even meet you. In this episode, I’m breaking down what influence really means for interior designers, why it multiplies your results, and the quiet power moves that help you stop chasing clients and start attracting them. I’ll share lessons from the IDS National Conference...
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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...
info_outlineHey y’all — welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind. I’m Michelle Lynn, and today we’re kicking off a brand-new season called Myth Busting: What People Get Wrong About the Interior Design Industry. And even though I sound like an 80-year-old chain smoker mixed with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (thanks, Texas allergies), I wasn’t about to miss this episode because we’re starting with a big one.
There’s a myth so many designers unknowingly build their entire business around: “I can figure this out through trial and error.”
And I get it — because that’s exactly how I built my business in the early years. But here’s the truth: trial and error is the slowest, most expensive, most exhausting “strategy” you could possibly choose. If you’ve ever felt like every project is a guess, every client pushes a different boundary, and every new inquiry sends you into a scramble… you’re not imagining it. That’s what running a business on guesswork creates.
In this episode, I walk you through what trial and error really costs you — not just in money, but in confidence, clarity, and peace. I talk about how emotional pricing drains your profit, how weak or inconsistent boundaries drain your sanity, and why every project feels urgent when you don’t have systems. I also share the moment everything shifted for me and how structure completely changed my business, my margins, my client relationships, and honestly, my life.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• Why trial and error keeps your business in survival mode instead of CEO mode
• How emotional pricing, inconsistent processes, and unclear boundaries erode profit and confidence
• What clients actually pay for (hint: leadership, not guesswork)
• Why systems create clarity, trust, calm communication, and predictable profit
• How structure protects your creativity and gives you back your time, energy, and peace
• What becomes possible when you finally stop guessing and start leading with intention
• Why I created the Interior Design Business Bakery and how it fills the gaps designers have been left to figure out alone
If you’ve been hustling, guessing, Googling, patching together templates, and hoping the next project finally “clicks,” this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale. You don’t need more trial and error — you need clarity, systems, structure, and support. And you absolutely deserve them.
I’m linking everything I mentioned — including the Interior Design Business Bakery — in the show notes. If this conversation hits you in the gut, if you’re tired of feeling behind, or if you’re craving a business that finally reflects your talent, this is your invitation. It’s time to retire the trial-and-error era of your business and step fully into your CEO seat.
Until next week — stay creative, stay confident, and stay in your CEO seat.
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