As many of you know, I contemplated two years before even starting this podcast in 2018. I purchased everything I needed, put it on a shelf, and waited. Because at that time, I did not have the bandwidth to produce it and keep it going. It took me two years to clear my head and schedule to be able to commit to what it would take for a podcast. It is a lot of work, but well worth it. While some podcasters watch the number of listeners and subscribers, I check it very little. Why? Because if you are the only one listening and if you are able to shift your mindset around profitability – then it is worth it. You. I decided at the very beginning, and still hold this dear – I am willing to do this work and share it as long as I am learning and offering the same to you.

So, like the two years before, I would love to share with you my favorite highlights of each episode from the last year. This offers not only a refresher on my guests, but if you are new to the podcast, a hint of what you might want to go back and listen to.

Joining me on the podcast today are Michelle and Alex Gage of Michelle Gage Interiors and Business Measurements. We are focusing our attention on the need for business financial measurements that allow a business to know where it is and use the data to make decisions on where it is going.

If you have been listening to my podcast for any time, you know how much I focus on profitability – hence the name of the podcast, as well as, the importance of not only knowing your numbers but knowing what they are telling you. The story of your numbers if you will. What Michelle and Alex have created is a dashboard that will help you know your numbers at a glance whenever you want. And knowledge is empowering.

No matter where you are with your financials, listen in today. And don’t forget to go to my website and check out the Understanding Your Financials course and Master Your Profit course to really understand what all the numbers are telling you.

Joining me on the podcast today is Eileen Hahn. Eileen is a leadership consultant who partners with organizations to assist them in hiring and leading exceptional people. Today we will be exploring the 5 keys to success that exceptional leaders employ. Eileen joined us on episode 50 where we talked about hiring exceptional people. See the connection? Eileen is all about working in and with the exceptional. Grab a pen and paper and get ready for a great conversation.

On the podcast today is Katie Baldwin, the founder of Katie Baldwin Designs out of Lakeville, Connecticut. Katie is an awesome designer who has started shifting her business just a little bit to focus on some of the areas that she really loves, instead of doing what she thought she had to do. She's following her heart, her strengths, and skill set and finding that her joy has been increased. In addition this focus has brought great opportunities for collaborations with other professionals.

I hope that you enjoy listening today. Maybe consider taking a step back and looking at your own life and your own business. Ask yourself where you're doing what you think you have to do, and maybe where you have an opportunity to do what you want to do.

On the podcast today is Glenna Stone. Glenna is the owner of Glenna Stone Interior Design, located in the Philadelphia area. Her background is in engineering and we're going to discover how her knowledge of supply chain and prior work in the consumer products industry have formed her business model for her design company.

Glenna and I are having this conversation during the time of COVID-19 and we address some of the nuances that this business disruption has brought into our ways of doing business. We also talk about what we think business will look like on the other side of shelter in place. Glenda is such a smart businesswoman. She loves the numbers side and that thrills my heart. She is just gracious and sharing. I'm sure you're going to be inspired by all she has to share. Enjoy the podcast!

On the podcast today we're going to look at how to dissect our businesses so that we can analyze them and perhaps put them back together again in a different way. Really knowing the pieces and parts, as well as what we're great at, or core competency, helps us to determine the best ways that we can show up and then serve our ideal client. And so in the podcast today, we're going to focus on how to be nimble in an ever-changing world. How to grow and scale while keeping flexibility, which is not always easy. That will allow us to maneuver through any change. I hope you enjoy.

Today, I am going to share with you some of the training that I've been offering my private group. I really believe that this is information we should all have. It's also going to be information that you're going to be able to catch in video form in my blog post later this month, and there's a downloadable PDF that will come in the blog post.

In this process, that we're going to look at today, it’s about creating a transition plan and a restart plan. I am an advocate of doing all the planning in advance as much as we can. So that when it comes time to execute, we already know what to do. It’s kind of like where you're thinking about what's the worst-case scenario or even a best case scenario. And then when it's time to do it, you just do it. So, with that we are going to be looking at how to create a transition plan. What is a transition plan? Why do you need one? All of those good details and hopefully it's going to help you not only manage during this time but prepare for what's to come. Stay tuned and enjoy the podcast.

Welcome to the podcast today.

You know, most of my podcasts are recorded well in advance of when you are going to hear them. Sometimes one or two months in advance and they're normally planned out. Right now we're in a time of very dynamic changes to information. And what's happening can change in a matter of moments. What we start with in the morning may be something different than that we know or are learning about in the afternoon. I want to make certain that I am being dynamic in our podcast with what is happening and not to miss that. And so we're going to be changing up just a little bit. Feel free to take notes and think about how to create a new perspective for your business as you listen to the podcast today.

On the podcast today, I'm going to be sharing with you the focus in my company on scaling your business. If you've listened to a lot of the past podcasts and blogs, you've noticed many of them were on scaling. Scaling simply means growing. And there's more than one way to do that. So my goal is to help the businesses, that I work with, implement business principles early on as quickly as they can, so that they scale with intention and not out of control. I hope you enjoy the podcast today.

On the podcast today, we're talking all about growing your interior design, business, and scaling. Isn't that a great topic to kick off the year? My hope is that by the end of the podcast, the idea of scaling is not something scary, but something that you feel like you can tackle. I remember the first time I was asked how I was going to scale my business, and honestly, it got a little irritated. In my mind, all I could think of was Dang, I just started this business. While I've already got to start thinking about that. The truth is that earlier you think about it, the better. And so today, we're going to talk about the indicators that it might be time to scale, what scaling might look like, and hence it's not the same for everybody and what are some actionable steps that you can take.

With me again on the podcast is Ceil DiGuglielmo. Ceil and I had a joint podcast at the end of 2018 and agreed to do another based on the feedback. Ceil is owner of the Curtain and Soft Furnishings Library as well as Sew Much More podcast and also a drapery workroom by the same name. We are going to share how we approach a review of our company at year-end, how our thoughts and impressions impact our goal setting, what our goals look like, and the exercises we go through to help form our thinking and intentions. We would love for you to share your exercises and thoughts with us after you listen. Enjoy the podcast.

On the podcast today is Brenda Thompson, owner and lead designer at HouseLift Design. She is a designer in the Metro Atlanta area and started it as a second career after 20 years working in corporate. Brenda and I are going to talk about three main topics today: transitioning from corporate to being an entrepreneur, how she scaled her business and realized she could not do everything, and creating a work/life balance.  

Brenda is open and transparent about her journey and that makes it such a great discussion. My bet is that each person listening will find some area of the conversation that resonates with their own journey. I know I saw many parallels with my story.

Amber De La Garza is on the podcast today. She is a productivity specialist who helps entrepreneurs create actionable solutions to maximize profit, reduce stress and to focus on what matters most to them. Amber also hosts a podcast, Productivity Straight Talk. She and I met at Podcast Movement, a conference for podcasters in late summer. After realizing how many connections we had in common over a lunch meeting, we hit it off. Amber focuses on productivity as a means to leverage profits – and you know I love that!

On our podcast today Amber shares what she considers to be productivity and what is not. You just might be surprised. We also dig into how to quickly determine if what you are doing in your business is really productive and profitable. 

Jamie Lieberman joins the podcast today. Jamie is a lawyer and founder of Hashtag Legal. Jamie describes her firm as not only your lawyer, but a partner in your business. I love that description. Her firm focuses on helping you maximize your profit while protecting your assets. And who can’t get behind that!  

Jamie and I met at Podcast Movement this summer. And as you can hear me share with Jamie in our discussion – she was so approachable. Honestly, after a quick meeting, I was a little shocked that she was an attorney. Not because she was not professional – quite the opposite. She was professional and approachable – and that is not always expected from the legal profession.  

On the podcast today is Amy Ferrer of Miko and Boone Home. Amy and I have been friends for quite a few years. Probably since 2013 when I met her through another colleague. Amy is just one of a kind and I'm so excited to bring this podcast to you today. What we're going to talk about is her journey in business and how she uses it to encourage other designers.

Amy started off as a drapery workroom and she definitely has a heart for designers. I don't think I've ever met anybody who expresses their passion the way Amy does.

With us on the podcast today is the Trim Queen – Jana Platina Phipps. Jana is an expert in all things trimmings and as the title of this episode of the podcast, she believes embellishment is a creative form of self-expression. Jana will share with us her start with embellishments and where it has taken her. Topics we cover include unexpectedly finding a passion that you were not actively seeking, stepping out in faith and not fear, and pivoting when needed. This was such a fun conversation and I know you are going to enjoy it.

With me today is Jennifer Smith of JLS Designs in middle Tennessee (just outside of Nashville).  Jennifer began her business almost 20 years ago focused on window coverings. She now offers design services to her clients as well. 

Jennifer has a vast portfolio of clients. She has completed design projects for Fortune 500 executives, some of the country’s most talented music and athletic industry professionals and hundreds of families to meet their home design and decor needs.  Her expertise and attention to detail has helped clients renting one-bedroom apartments and owners of multimillion-dollar estates. Her work has transformed area homes, schools, and office suites across the region. 

Jennifer is an active member of the Window Coverings Association of America where she serves on their board of directors. She is also an active member of the Williamson County Business Chamber (Williamson Inc), Professional Drapery Workrooms in Middle Tennessee, Drapery and Design Network, and America’s Window Covering Buying Network. She also has a monthly design column featured on the online daily news resource for all things stylish in your life, Style Home Page. 

Ashley Uhl is the owner of Ashley Uhl Consulting which offers client service consulting for designers. Ashley has been cultivating a love of service her entire lifetime. Traveling extensively throughout the world early on in life, she developed an incredible respect, understanding, and interest in the five star service she encountered.

Wow, I cannot believe that we are a year into this podcast journey of Profit is a choice. I am not sure if you all heard my beginnings in podcasting – but I started investigating a podcast in 2016. At that time, I determined the amount of time it would take was time I did not have available – so I shelved it. Then in 2018, I was able to create sustainable time in my calendar to create and produce the podcast. And now – here we are. On this episode we are going to do a year of review and highlights – so much goodness has happened this year and I was reminded of the value this podcast has brought into the world as I looked back. 

Cat French, founder of Catherine French Design, LLC., runs a full-service interior design studio located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She is a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Master of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture and a Specialization in Historic Preservation. After teaching the Environmental Design Studio at UNCG and giving presentations on interior design and historic preservation at several State and National conventions, Cat decided to open her own business and launched Catherine French Design, LLC – just a few short years ago. Her clients include executive-level professionals, Physicians, Authors, and Professors, and are located all across the East Coast, ranging from luxury new construction homes to relaxing condos by the sea. Cat is known in the professional community as a trusted, reliable designer that will get the job done on time and within budget.