184: How to Build a Design Business that Fits Your Strengths

Systems & Strategies
Written By Michele Williams

184: How to Build a Design Business that Fits Your Strengths

with Carol Lang

I am so excited to have Carol Lang, of Carol Lang Interiors in NJ, on the podcast with me today. Carol is an excellent designer who has really learned to create her own path forward in this industry. We will be sharing her journey of discovery to clarify what she wants out of her business, and how that work is iterative and ongoing. I hope you enjoy!

Topics Mentioned:

  • Strategy

  • Flexibility

  • Decision criteria

  • Intentional growth

Listen to the Episode

Key Thoughts:

  • I thought this is big. I'm doing this by myself and I could use an expert to help guide me. You gave the analogy, you know, it's a lot harder to turn a cruise ship than it is a little speedboat and I thought oh, I'm a speedboat. Carol Lang (4:21) 

     

  • The staffing decisions that I make are to be made so that I don't need somebody sitting next to me all the time. And that if I can build a team of people, anywhere on the East Coast, that's a great thing. Why not take advantage of resources that are out there that I might not have available in my, little neck of the woods here in New Jersey. Carol Lang (10:44) 

     

  • One of the most clarifying moments for me came when I did the strategy work that you've done, and I said, what do I want to do? What is your why? What is your mission? What is your vision? Michele (19:20) 

     

  • I chose to wait to really blossom, if you will into the fullness of what I wanted to do without regard for I've got to be home at four o'clock and have dinner on the table and what's in the crock pot and what's in the airfryer. Michele (32:02) 

     

  • If you really sit back and ask yourself, why you aren't doing what you think you want to do, or know you want to do. It's because we're either afraid of the outcome or afraid of what's going to happen. (Michele 40:36) 

     

  • It's been really fun to be able to build on all of these little pieces of my life and history and make sure that it can come together in a in a way that is unique and different than what other people are offering. Carol Lang (43:26) 

Contact Michele:

Contact Carol:

References and Resources:

Click here to read the transcript for this episode.

Michele Williams
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183: Preparing for an OPs Resource in Your Design Firm