Profit Is A Choice

292: Hospitality is Profitable for Everyone Welcome to today’s episode! With me is Rick Campos — a recovering interior designer, podcast host, and design business coach. Rick is certified in Coaching the Unreasonable Hospitality methodology, and we’re diving into what it really means to go beyond service and show up with true hospitality. Stick around for practical insights and action items you can start using right away in your interior design business. Topics Mentioned: * Hospitality * Community * Intentionality * Listening Key Thoughts:  * Recognizing where the client touch points are and recognizing the likes and the wants and the desires of that individual client actually slows us down enough to make it an intentional meeting so that we can make sure we're touching all of the things that matter to them.  Michele Williams      * I have tested the theory, and it does work because it means you're listening, and all of a sudden that evokes an emotion, a feeling, and that's what makes a true impact. It's what makes an ordinary moment extraordinary.  Rick Campos    * The nice thing is you can build it into the business and it's not an accidental. These things are very thought out and planned for even within individual budgets. Michele Williams    * Those are the moments that we focus on, that we drill into. Not the big moments that everyone else is paying attention to because everyone else is already doing it. It's those little moments that's going to set you apart.  Rick Campos    Contact Michele: * Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com [Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com] * Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting [https://www.facebook.com/scarletthreadconsulting] * Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL [https://www.instagram.com/scarletthreadatl] * Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com [https://www.scarletthreadconsulting.com/] * LinkedIn: Michele Williams [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-williams-business-coach/]   Contact Rick: * Email: rick@designbizsurvivalguide.com [rick@designbizsurvivalguide.com]     * Instagram: @Designbizsurvivalguide [https://www.instagram.com/designbizsurvivalguide/] * Website: Design Biz Survival Guide [https://designbizsurvivalguide.com/]   References and Resources: * Work with Me [https://www.scarletthreadconsulting.com/work-with-me-page] * The Designers' Inner Circle [https://www.scarletthreadconsulting.com/inner-circle] - Become a Member Today    * CFO2Go [https://michele-williams-gde3.squarespace.com/cfo-2-go] * Metrique Solutions [https://www.metriquesolutions.com/] * Unreasonable Hospitality [https://amzn.to/3TlYNFB] by Will Guidara * Secret Service: Hidden Systems That Deliver Unforgettable Customer Service [https://amzn.to/41oKaVc] by John R. DiJulius III * Banana Ball: The Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah Bananas [https://amzn.to/4mUHpmW] by Jesse Cole * 7 Days Out on Netflix, SE 1; episode 7

291: 3 Ways to go from Hobbyist to Interior Design Professional Welcome to the show! Today we’re diving into how to go from hobbyist to professional—whether you’re in interior design or building any creative business. We’ll cover three powerful areas that can transform your journey: mindset, boundaries, and intentionality. So, grab a pen and paper, and let’s reflect—where are you still showing up like a hobbyist, and where are you ready to level up and own your role as a professional? Topics Mentioned: * Mindset * Boundaries * Intentionality * Sustainability Key Thoughts:  * When we have the mindset of a professional, we're certainly going to create a boundary to make sure that we're making a profit or we're not going to engage in the work. Michele Williams   * Being intentional about what we do, having these mindsets that we talked about of a very professional mindset, creating good boundaries, all of those things start to move us into that proactive stance instead of a reactive stance. Michele Williams   * Having a very intentional, clear focus of what you're doing really creates grounding, it creates trust, it creates an environment where people can get behind it and kind of push that boulder uphill with you because they all know that they're pushing in the same direction. Michele Williams   * Sustainability shows up because we have sustainable processes, we have sustainable team dynamics, and we have sustainable profitability. Michele Williams   Contact Michele: * Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com [Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com] * Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting [https://www.facebook.com/scarletthreadconsulting] * Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL [https://www.instagram.com/scarletthreadatl] * Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com [https://www.scarletthreadconsulting.com/] * LinkedIn: Michele Williams [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-williams-business-coach/]   References and Resources: * Work with Me [https://www.scarletthreadconsulting.com/work-with-me-page] * The Designers' Inner Circle [https://www.scarletthreadconsulting.com/inner-circle] - Become a Member Today    * CFO2Go [cfo-2-go] * Metrique Solutions [https://www.MetriqueSolutions.com] * E-Myth Revisited [https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280?crid=1NYHXTDGP1J5T&keywords=e-myth+revisited+by+michael+gerber&qid=1675085055&sprefix=e-myth,aps,111&sr=8-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=scarletthread-20&linkId=03dc3d979d1bdf1266ab95241a2b6260&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl] by Michael E Gerber

290: Self-Care is Profitable for You and Your Business Today’s guest is Katie McDonald, a powerful self-care strategist who helps high achievers get things done without coming undone. After overcoming her own burnout, Katie now guides others from constant doing to intentional being. If you're feeling overwhelmed or running on empty, this episode is for you. Topics Mentioned: * Burnout * Self-care * Strategy * Accountability Key Thoughts:  * We're so used to quieting ourselves and our needs so that we can focus on others, that we don’t give ourselves permission to turn around to even ask ourselves what do you want. Michele Williams   * Much like when an interior designer goes into a space, empties it all out, we need to empty it all out. Our bloated schedules empty it all out. Clean out a closet? Empty it all out. And then curate intentionally one thing after another, choose what you let back in. Katie McDonald   * I will say the one thing that I had to learn early on is when I asked the question, I couldn't say, okay, achiever Michele, you've asked the question, now get up and go do something. You have to sit there and listen. Michele Williams   * Celebrate any progress, celebrate any learning as growth opportunity and then you'll show up for more growth opportunities. Katie McDonald   Contact Michele: * Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com [Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com] * Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting [https://www.facebook.com/scarletthreadconsulting] * Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL [https://www.instagram.com/scarletthreadatl] * Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com [https://www.scarletthreadconsulting.com/] * LinkedIn: Michele Williams [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-williams-business-coach/]   Contact Katie: * Email: katie@katiemcdonaldspeaking.com [katie@katiemcdonaldspeaking.com?]  * Instagram: @_bnourished [https://www.instagram.com/_bnourished/?hl=en] * Website: bnourished.com [https://bnourished.com/] * LinkedIn: bnourished [https://%20contact%20info%20%20%20https//www.linkedin.com/in/bnourished/%20%20%20%20%20https://bnourished.com%20%20%20katie@katiemcdonaldspeaking.com]   References and Resources: * Work with Me [https://www.scarletthreadconsulting.com/work-with-me-page] * The Designers' Inner Circle [https://www.scarletthreadconsulting.com/inner-circle] - Become a Member Today    * CFO2Go [https://michele-williams-gde3.squarespace.com/cfo-2-go] * Metrique Solutions [https://www.metriquesolutions.com/] * How to Build, Manage, and Execute on a Business Strategy [https://michele-williams-gde3.squarespace.com/strategy-group-coaching-program] course beginning August 2025 sign up now!

289: The Entrepreneurial Journey Welcome to today’s episode, where we dive into the entrepreneurial journey—from the spark of an idea to building a business with real impact. We’ll explore the key stages of growth, the evolving challenges at each step, and what it takes to succeed along the way. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up, this episode is packed with insights to help you move forward. Tune in, take notes, and discover where you are on your entrepreneurial path. Topics Mentioned: * Strategy * Visionary mindset * Investment * Management Key Thoughts:  * There is no shame in where we're starting from. The only shame that comes is if we stay there too long out of fear or not doing something so that we never progress. Michele Williams   * I think people underestimate how much time that truly takes to own that role of CEO visionary. Yes, you might not be knocking off tasks for one of your projects, or for one of your design projects, but it takes true time and intention to get into that visionary mindset and really predict what's to come. Courtney Bramlett   * When we are thinking about moving forward and strategy, I would say the more that you can build it in from the beginning at least the idea of strategic thinking, which means this business is more than what is happening today. Michele Williams   * The best strategizers can strategically think through their daily task and how to align it to that vision state, and that takes time and practice and by allowing yourself that time to even do it. Courtney Bramlett   Contact Michele: * Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com [Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com] * Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting [https://www.facebook.com/scarletthreadconsulting] * Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL [https://www.instagram.com/scarletthreadatl] * Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com [https://www.scarletthreadconsulting.com/] * LinkedIn: Michele Williams [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-williams-business-coach/] References and Resources: * Work with Me [https://www.scarletthreadconsulting.com/work-with-me-page] * The Designers' Inner Circle [https://www.scarletthreadconsulting.com/inner-circle] - Become a Member Today    * CFO2Go [https://michele-williams-gde3.squarespace.com/cfo-2-go] * Metrique Solutions [https://www.metriquesolutions.com/] * How to Build, Manage, and Execute on a Business Strategy [https://michele-williams-gde3.squarespace.com/strategy-group-coaching-program] course beginning August 2025 sign up now! * FREE Step-by-Step Guide to Mapping Your Business Growth [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/8ENZuFvmnPlPZajCvi3C] * E-Myth Revisited [https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280?crid=1NYHXTDGP1J5T&keywords=e-myth+revisited+by+michael+gerber&qid=1675085055&sprefix=e-myth,aps,111&sr=8-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=scarletthread-20&linkId=03dc3d979d1bdf1266ab95241a2b6260&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl] by Michael E Gerber * Fix This Next [https://amzn.to/4gaFw2L] by Mike Michalowicz

288: Invest in Yourself for Business Growth Today on the podcast, we’re joined by Kacey Graham, owner and principal designer of Boehm Graham Interior Design. From working alongside her mother on over 17 interior design show houses to leading her own successful design firm, Kacey shares her inspiring journey of business growth. We’ll dive into the key investments she made in herself and her team to build a thriving interior design brand. Topics Mentioned: * Self investment * Growth * Hiring * Excellance Key Thoughts:  * I needed someone that really had a different energy and a different experience base, business mindset, and financial backing. Enter Michele Williams, Scarlet Thread Consulting. I remember crying and going, I can't afford to hire her, and it was kind of like I slapped my own face and said I can't afford not to hire her. And that was the best decision I ever made. Kacey Graham   * Everything's building blocks. So, we can't skip over those heavy, difficult pieces. Whether it's in organization or marketing or financials, we've got to put the basic building blocks together. Michele Williams *   * It's going to be an evolution. Much like our homes are our workshop, our businesses are always evolving and always improving. That should always be the goal. Kacey Graham   * You've got to have your thumb on the pulse of what's happening in the economy because hiring somebody to do something today that we hired three, or four years ago the price would be completely different. Historical data informs the future. Michele Williams   Contact Michele: * Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com [Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com] * Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting [https://www.facebook.com/scarletthreadconsulting] * Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL [https://www.instagram.com/scarletthreadatl] * Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com [https://www.scarletthreadconsulting.com/] * LinkedIn: Michele Williams [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-williams-business-coach/] Contact Kacey: * Email: kacey@boehmgrahamdesign.com [kacey@boehmgrahamdesign.com%20?]   * Facebook: Boehm Graham Interior Design [https://www.facebook.com/BoehmGrahamInteriorDesign]  [https://www.facebook.com/BoehmGrahamInteriorDesign/] * Instagram: kacey.graham [https://instagram.com/kacey.graham] * Website: www.boehmgrahamdesign.com [https://www.boehmgrahamdesign.com/] References and Resources: * Work with Me [https://www.scarletthreadconsulting.com/work-with-me-page] * The Designers' Inner Circle [https://www.scarletthreadconsulting.com/inner-circle] - Become a Member Today    * CFO2Go [https://michele-williams-gde3.squarespace.com/cfo-2-go] * Metrique Solutions [https://www.metriquesolutions.com/] * How to Build, Manage, and Execute on a Business Strategy [https://michele-williams-gde3.squarespace.com/strategy-group-coaching-program] course beginning August 2025 sign up now! * FREE Step-by-Step Guide to Mapping Your Business Growth [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/8ENZuFvmnPlPZajCvi3C]