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.

With us today is Todd Palmer, CEO of Extraordinary Advisors. He is an executive coach, author, and speaker committed to helping business owners tackle their obstacles and clear a path to success. Todd understands struggles, as he will share on the podcast today. He has had it all and lost it all – from a thriving business to $600k in debt – then finding his way out.

On the podcast today is Meg Casebolt of Megabolt Digital. Meg focuses on SEO to help her clients have their websites be easily found. What I love about her approach is that it is crafted to allow for the individuality of each client. The term SEO can be so off-putting or something that we don’t really want to think about – but it is necessary in an online world.

Brita DeRemee is joining us on the podcast today. She has over 30-years of experience helping clients create homes they love to live in. She is their trusted design partner for everything from renovations to custom home furnishings. Brita is passionate about leveraging art to inspire design and loves the collaborative and layered process. Her Swedish roots and modern sensibilities make her a natural advocate for craft and sustainability. She embraces the pragmatic and spiritual, the functional and the beautiful. Brita serves a wide variety of busy professionals, art lovers, dog lovers, busy families and empty nesters in Minneapolis, the greater Twin Cities area and beyond.

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 are Jeremy and Chandler Quarles. Together they own Peach and Pine Interiors and host the wonderful podcast, Love Where You Live. After pursuing other careers that were centered around music, they both are now focusing on building the interior and renovation business…with a little music still on the side. We are chatting today about how their business began, how they are integrating their home life and business life and focusing on the foundational aspects of business that will put them in a place for future growth. With a one-year-old child and a three-year-old business, you can bet they are busy – and how they support and listen to each other is inspirational. Enjoy the podcast.  

On the podcast, today is Stacie Kennedy of Atlanta Custom Interiors. ACI provides custom soft furnishings, upholstery, hard treatments, and dorm bedding to both the retail and trade. Stacie is sharing today in our Business Challenge podcast the question of how to grow two sides of her business at the same time. We talk about the right time to hire, and how to market to keep the new hires busy with steady work. Not something to take lightly. The focus is on timing, opportunity, and marketing.  Enjoy the podcast. 

With us today is Jessica Williamson, owner of JTW Design. Jessica is sharing a business challenge with us today focused on company growth. Her business has been steadily growing and she is feeling pressure to grow more. We unravel some of the feelings and expectations that she is facing so that she can make a plan to move forward and grow in a way that is true and authentic to her and her team – and that results in the best offerings for her clients. 

Joining me on the podcast today are my sons, Harrison and Brantley. They are in their 20's and have of grown up with me starting businesses out of the house for over 20 years. Many of you, after listening to the podcast with my husband Joel, asked if you could hear from my sons talk a little bit about how me being an entrepreneur or having an entrepreneurial parent had impacted them as kids. What they've seen and the lessons they've learned or taken is where we dive in. Hopefully, you'll have just a bit more of an insight into our, I would say, family entrepreneurial journey, and then maybe use some of these questions and go back and ask your own kids. I think you might be surprised at the answers.

With me today are Virginia Toledo and Jessica Geller of Toledo Geller. They have a boutique firm that excels at delivering turn-key, custom residences for singles, couples, and families who value exceptional design. Virginia and Jessica’s approach begins with a deep dive into how each client dreams of living and they get to know their clients intimately.

Cynthia Bleskachek is with us today to share a business challenge. She has been doing upholstery professionally since 2001 and is the owner of The Funky Little Chair which focuses on hands-on education for aspiring professionals.  

Joining us today is Shari Walla, owner of Accent Custom Drapery in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Shari is a to the trade workroom and is sharing a business challenge with us today. As you listen, you will hear that the challenge may be presenting as one thing – but that there is a different fear and challenge behind it. Maybe this has happened to you.

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.

Welcome to another episode of PIAC and our Business Challenges Series. In this series, business owners share their challenges and we work through some methods to solve the problems they are facing. Even if your challenge is not the same, listen in to see if the methods and thought processes could apply to you. 

Our business challenge today is from Sheri Corey of Style and Stich in Homewood, Alabama. Sheri is pivoting in her business to also prepare for the end game – retirement. Listen in as we dig into the fear that is surrounding her pivot and the often present Imposter Syndrome.

The podcast today is part of a new series called Business Challenges. In this series, business owners share their challenges and we work through some methods to solve the problems they are facing. Even if your challenge is not the same, listen in to see if the methods and thought processes could apply to you. 

Our first business challenge is from Annette Faber of Kaylee’s Creations in Greenville, SC. Annette is a to the trade workroom and is looking to scale. Her vision of the future of her business has a bit of a twist to it – and this twist can change the course of her business based on how she implements. 

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.

On the podcast today we are going to talk about transparency in pricing. We hear it all the time. The need to be transparent. I am going to tell you right now, there should be some boundaries around this - and spoiler alert – I don’t think we need to tell our clients everything. Listen to the podcast to hear the argument for being transparent in our process but guarded in our pricing.

Joining me on the podcast today is Sherry Wilson, owner of Business By The Book which provides bookkeeping services across the country. Sherry started her business as a side hustle in 2013 and I met her in 2014. She has grown the firm to more than 5 people and now has a location outside of her home. 

Sherry and her team strive to offer excellent service and industry understanding. Some of their offerings include budgeting, payroll, and sales tax filing in addition to the normal bookkeeping services we all need. Sherry and her team have multiple certifications and stay on top of the latest and greatest changes each year.