Business of Design ® | Interior Designers, Decorators, Architects & Landscapers
Kimberley Seldon
465 episodes
2 days ago
In the design industry, clarity is power. Whether you’re running a firm with a business partner, leading a solo practice with or without a team, or collaborating with your spouse, like today’s guests, how you divide tasks can make or break your projects and your business. Marli Jones and Michael Kreuser share how they define their roles, delegate responsibilities like procurement and project management, and rely on trusted team members to keep every project running smoothly. There’s real value in having clear job descriptions—for project managers, operations managers, and even for yourself—so that creativity can flourish without chaos.
In this episode:
- Establish clear roles and responsibilities—clarity eliminates confusion.
- Define ownership and decision-making authority from the start.
- Use contracts and agreements to keep partnerships clean and professional.
- Build systems and processes before you delegate.
- Separate creative work from operations for balance and efficiency.
- Foster a culture that accepts mistakes and learns from them.
- Choose clients based on fit, not just project size or budget.
- Let process create space for creativity and innovation.
- Empower your team with trust, autonomy, and shared accountability.
- Nurture strong relationships with clients, trades, and vendors.
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In the design industry, clarity is power. Whether you’re running a firm with a business partner, leading a solo practice with or without a team, or collaborating with your spouse, like today’s guests, how you divide tasks can make or break your projects and your business. Marli Jones and Michael Kreuser share how they define their roles, delegate responsibilities like procurement and project management, and rely on trusted team members to keep every project running smoothly. There’s real value in having clear job descriptions—for project managers, operations managers, and even for yourself—so that creativity can flourish without chaos.
In this episode:
- Establish clear roles and responsibilities—clarity eliminates confusion.
- Define ownership and decision-making authority from the start.
- Use contracts and agreements to keep partnerships clean and professional.
- Build systems and processes before you delegate.
- Separate creative work from operations for balance and efficiency.
- Foster a culture that accepts mistakes and learns from them.
- Choose clients based on fit, not just project size or budget.
- Let process create space for creativity and innovation.
- Empower your team with trust, autonomy, and shared accountability.
- Nurture strong relationships with clients, trades, and vendors.
EP 447 | Overwhelmed to Overjoyed with Diana Wagenbach
Business of Design ® | Interior Designers, Decorators, Architects & Landscapers
37 minutes 57 seconds
1 month ago
EP 447 | Overwhelmed to Overjoyed with Diana Wagenbach
For many of us, the hardest lessons are the ones that stick, but why not skip the struggle and learn from someone who's been there? On today's episode, designer Diana Wagenbach dishes out five solid takeaways that will change how you run your business. First up, it's not about waiting for the perfect system—just start with what you've got and let it evolve. Diana also reveals why time-tracking is a game-changer for profitability (hint: you’re probably undercharging without even knowing it!). She also dives into the power of saying ‘no’ to the wrong projects and the magic of creating clear, repeatable processes for your team. Finally, Diana drops a simple yet powerful truth… be nice. It’s the secret ingredient to building lasting relationships and growing your business. Don't miss this episode—it's packed with no-nonsense advice that will give you the boost you need right now.
In this episode we learn:
- don’t wait for the perfect time, start where you are
- the cost of underestimating Time and Tracking Early On — How failing to track hours and project scope from the start led to undervaluing work — and why consistent time tracking is critical for accurate estimating and protecting profitability.
- avoid saying yes too soon (and too often)
- hiring without defined roles or expectations leads to costly missteps
- doing it all isn’t a badge of honor
Business of Design ® | Interior Designers, Decorators, Architects & Landscapers
In the design industry, clarity is power. Whether you’re running a firm with a business partner, leading a solo practice with or without a team, or collaborating with your spouse, like today’s guests, how you divide tasks can make or break your projects and your business. Marli Jones and Michael Kreuser share how they define their roles, delegate responsibilities like procurement and project management, and rely on trusted team members to keep every project running smoothly. There’s real value in having clear job descriptions—for project managers, operations managers, and even for yourself—so that creativity can flourish without chaos.
In this episode:
- Establish clear roles and responsibilities—clarity eliminates confusion.
- Define ownership and decision-making authority from the start.
- Use contracts and agreements to keep partnerships clean and professional.
- Build systems and processes before you delegate.
- Separate creative work from operations for balance and efficiency.
- Foster a culture that accepts mistakes and learns from them.
- Choose clients based on fit, not just project size or budget.
- Let process create space for creativity and innovation.
- Empower your team with trust, autonomy, and shared accountability.
- Nurture strong relationships with clients, trades, and vendors.
