218. The Business of Design & The Power of Process with Katie Decker-Erickson
Release Date: 03/11/2025
232. Booked, Busy, and Borderline Burned Out
Only Girl On The Jobsite
If your schedule is feeling tight, or your fall is filling up way faster than you’d like or feeling pressure to take on just one more project, then today’s episode is for you! Scheduling can have an impact on the success of your projects, the health of your business, as well as your sanity. It’s all about scheduling, no matter how experienced you are or how many systems you have in place. And how you handle it and lead your clients through it, how you protect your calendar, that is where the real skills lie. Find the full shownotes at:
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231. The One Question That Will Transform Your Proposals
Only Girl On The Jobsite
There is a powerful, yet overlooked question that you should ask yourself every time you start developing a proposal for your client: “So what?” Whether you’re listing deliverables, defining construction roles, or setting your fees, this question forces you to clarify the purpose, value, and outcome of every line in your scope. If you've ever had a client question why you’re needed on site—or why your fee is what it is—this episode is for you. Learn how to build trust, eliminate confusion, and finally land the jobs you want. Join the waitlist for my course here: Find the...
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230. The Kind of Collaborator You Don’t Forget
Only Girl On The Jobsite
I often talk about the importance of industry partnerships for growing your business and keeping your project pipeline full. But today, I want to take that conversation deeper. In this episode, I’m sharing how truly powerful these relationships can be — not just for business development, but for your own growth as a designer and leader. From managing construction with confidence to navigating complex projects, the right partnerships—built on respect, clear communication, and transparency—can completely elevate your experience and outcomes. I'll also share a personal story about a...
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229. The Confidence Myth: Why Years of Experience Aren’t Enough
Only Girl On The Jobsite
Today’s topic hits home for so many designers. It honestly doesn’t matter if you’re new to construction or you’ve been around for years. Today, we’re talking all about confidence, and specifically that gap between experience and confidence. This seems to trip up so many designers, and the two don’t always go hand in hand. Confidence is not performative; it is built. And you absolutely have the ability to build that confidence to create more profitable projects that bring you joy. Find the full shownotes at:
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228. You Got the Job—Now Lead It
Only Girl On The Jobsite
Today’s topic is another one that I don’t think gets enough coverage or attention, and that’s what happens after you get your contract signed. We focus a lot on getting the signed contract, which makes sense because without it, you wouldn’t be getting to this step. But I want to cover what you do after the client hires you. Find the full shownotes at:
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227. This Wasn’t the Plan—But It Became the Purpose
Only Girl On The Jobsite
This wasn’t my plan. This wasn’t even close to my plan. I never set out to build a course, I never set out to be a podcaster. I certainly didn't imagine I’d be coaching designers or building a program like The Designers Edge. But somewhere along the way, I realized that every experience I’ve had, ever woman I worked for and the lessons I learned on their job sites, the lessons I learned on my own job sites as the owner of my own firm and every coverseation I’ve had with a fellow designer was all leading to here. So in today’s episode, I’m sharing the full story - how it started,...
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226. The Projects Are Out There—Here’s How to Price to Win Them
Only Girl On The Jobsite
Today, I want to discuss the elephant in the room - and that is the economic unease that we’re all feeling, and particularly, how it’s impacting our industry. We’re going to talk about what’s behind the economic unease and how it is impacting both the construction and decorating worlds differently. It’s not just about the rising tariffs, it’s about who the buyer is that you are targeting. I’ve been in this industry long enough to have weathered storms like this before, so I want to reassure each of you that there are ways to protect your businesses, your profits, and your bottom...
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225. The Formula That’s Failing Designers
Only Girl On The Jobsite
Today, we’re going to have a little bit of a wreckoning from something I hear all the time from designers, and it starts something like, “Renee, I use square footage pricing to develop my fees for construction management.” Or, sometimes it’s a tiered flat fee, or per number room, or a percentage. While I'm not here to tell you that pricing formulas don’t ever work, I am here to tell you this: the formulas you are using for your decorating projects are holding you back and underpricing you for construction. If you’ve ever gotten to the end of a construction project and wondered...
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224. 10 Minutes of Magic ≠ Free
Only Girl On The Jobsite
If you’ve ever skipped billing for a “quick” call or job site decision, this episode is your wake-up call! In today’s episode, you’ll see how those small moments of expertise carry massive value—and why it’s time to stop giving them away for free. Learn to protect your time, price your worth, and set clear boundaries on every project, and get ready to take some notes! Join my upcoming workshop, How to Price Construction Projects When You’re More Than Just the Designer: Join the waitlist for my course here: Find the full shownotes at: ...
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223. Doing It All—And Getting Paid for Half
Only Girl On The Jobsite
Today we’re going to talk about something that quietly chips away at your profits, your confidence, and your sanity on construction projects, and that is your unclear role, which affects your bottom line. Join the waitlist for my course here: Find the full shownotes at:
info_outlineIf you're ready to take your business to the next level, today's episode is for you! I am so excited to have my friend Katie Decker-Erickson on today's episode!
Katie began her career in commercial color consulting as a part-time passion project in 2007. Color Works, has grown into a multi-million dollar commercial design company, currently operating in over 20 states nationwide, with a fully remote team of more than a dozen individuals. Katie is known for her business acumen (having grown her interior design firm 1500% in a single year).
As a business coach for interior designers, she knows firsthand what it takes to build a thriving, sustainable business while staying true to your creative vision. With nearly 20 years in the industry and a Master’s degree in Business Administration, Katie is actively in the trenches—elevating her own firm while helping other designers master the business of design through her coaching.
In her podcast, "Success by Design: Mastering the Business of Interior Design" she helps interior designers bridge the gap between creativity and entrepreneurship. Katie shares real-world insights, actionable strategies, and candid conversations to help you streamline your operations, increase profitability, and build a business that works for you—not the other way around.
She has a passion for teaching others (with 18 years teaching graduate & undergraduate university courses), devotion to her two young daughters, and commitment to women’s empowerment both personally and professionally.
Today, we’re diving into when and how to scale your business, the power of process-driven success, and why agility is your greatest asset as an entrepreneur. Enjoy!
Mentioned in this episode: Rules of the Red Rubber Ball: Find and Sustain Your Life's Work
Find out more about Katie here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deckerkatie/
https://www.instagram.com/successbydesign_coach_podcast/
https://www.facebook.com/successbydesigncoachpodcast
Check out her free resources here: https://successbydesign.coach/free-resources
Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/business-of-design-power-of-process