Designed for the Creative Mind™

• S6 Ep197: When to Break Your Own Rules

  Hey y’all — welcome back to the Design for the Creative Mind podcast! Today we’re talking about something that might surprise you… when it’s actually smart to break your own rules. Your rules exist for a reason — they protect your time, your profit, and your sanity. But sometimes, breaking one intentionally can lead to big opportunities. In my case, one rule I broke turned into hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit — no joke. So in this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on: Why your business rules and boundaries matter When they turn from protection to a cage How to know the difference between a strategic exception and a fear-based compromise Because business doesn’t live in absolutes — it lives in the messy middle.  IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARE: Why boundaries and rules eliminate decision fatigue (and chaos!) The difference between bending a rule for strategy vs. breaking it out of fear Real-life stories from my firm — the good, the bad, and the “what was I thinking?” moments The $100K+ example of breaking my “no weekend work” rule the right way The painful lessons I learned from breaking rules for the wrong reasons — like discounting from fear or saying yes to a client who wasn’t a fit My personal framework for deciding: Am I doing this for strategy or for fear? You’ll walk away knowing exactly when to hold firm — and when to give yourself permission to flex. Rules protect you — but they can also box you in. The real power comes from discernment: knowing when a little flexibility can actually strengthen your business. If you’ve ever wrestled with questions like “Should I make this exception?” or “Am I being too rigid?” — this episode will help you decide with clarity and confidence. Remember: flexibility isn’t weakness — it’s wisdom. Or as Kenny Rogers said, you gotta know when to hold ’em and know when to fold ’em.   RESOURCES:   INTERIOR DESIGN BUSINESS BAKERY - Our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://thedesignbakehouse.com/interior-design-business-bakery   SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. All-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. https://mysidemark.com/   MARKETING MEMBERSHIP - Join our hands on marketing & visibility program, no contract, only $59/month. https://thedesignbakehouse.com/lead-lab   Stay in touch with Michelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedesignbakehouse/   Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad    Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide   Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact  

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• S6 Ep 196: The 90% Plan

  Hey y’all, it’s Michelle Lynn! Let’s talk about something that’s gonna ruffle a few perfectionist feathers—the 90% Rule. It’s my way of saying that doing less is actually the fastest way to make more. Perfectionism might feel like a badge of honor, but babe, it’s a profit killer. In this episode, I’m breaking down how overdelivering and chasing “perfect” are draining your time, your energy, and your money—and how to flip that into efficiency, profit, and freedom. I’ll walk you through how to decide where to give your full 100% and where 90% is more than enough. Because guess what? Your clients can’t tell the difference—and they’re already wowed.  IN THIS EPISODE, I TALK ABOUT: What the 90% Rule is (and why it works) Why perfectionism is not service—it’s self-sabotage How “overdelivering” confuses clients and eats your profit The difference between excellence and perfection Real stories from ML Interiors Group (and how one change saved us 10–15 hours per project!) Where to give 100%: client experience, communication, and installation Where 90% is plenty: backend systems, sourcing, and social media consistency How the 90% Rule frees you to take on better clients, protect your creativity, and actually enjoy your business again You don’t have to give 110% everywhere to build a wildly successful design business. You just need to know where it counts. When you stop trying to perfect every detail and start focusing on what actually drives results, you make more money, get more energy back, and give your clients a smoother, more confident experience. RESOURCES:   INTERIOR DESIGN BUSINESS BAKERY - Our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://thedesignbakehouse.com/interior-design-business-bakery   SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. All-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. https://mysidemark.com/   MARKETING MEMBERSHIP - Join our hands on marketing & visibility program, no contract, only $59/month. https://thedesignbakehouse.com/lead-lab   Stay in touch with Michelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedesignbakehouse/   Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad    Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide   Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact  

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• S6 Ep 195 Boundary Scripts That Work

  Scope creep is the silent killer of profit in our industry. Most designers don’t lose money because they undercharge—they lose it because they can’t hold their boundaries. And I get it. Saying no feels uncomfortable. You don’t want to sound difficult. You want your clients to love you. But here’s the truth: boundaries aren’t walls. They’re leadership. In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly why boundaries matter and giving you word-for-word scripts you can use the next time a client asks for “just one more thing.” Whether it’s another rendering, a quick showroom stop, or after-hours access, I’ll show you how to hold your line with confidence—without sounding pushy or rigid.  IN THIS EPISODE, I TALK ABOUT: Why small “freebies” add up to thousands in lost profit How boundaries protect your profit, your time, and your sanity The people-pleasing and scarcity traps that keep designers saying yes Real-life scripts you can use when clients push for more than they paid for A case study of a student who went from burnout to respected professional with one simple shift Boundaries aren’t about being mean—they’re about being clear. They create trust, stability, and respect in your client relationships. And when you stick to them, you stop leaking profit and start running a business that sustains you instead of drains you.   Download my free Client Boundaries Script Pack → designbakehouse.com/boundaries-script   RESOURCES:   INTERIOR DESIGN BUSINESS BAKERY - Our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://thedesignbakehouse.com/interior-design-business-bakery   SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. All-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. https://mysidemark.com/   MARKETING MEMBERSHIP - Join our hands on marketing & visibility program, no contract, only $59/month. https://thedesignbakehouse.com/lead-lab   Stay in touch with Michelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedesignbakehouse/   Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad    Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide   Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact  

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• S6 Ep 194 The Influence Advantage

  Being the most talented designer doesn’t automatically make you the most successful—influence does. And I’m not talking about Instagram followers or being Insta-famous. Influence in business is about how your market perceives you: as the authority, the one they can trust, the one they want to work with before they even meet you. In this episode, I’m breaking down what influence really means for interior designers, why it multiplies your results, and the quiet power moves that help you stop chasing clients and start attracting them. I’ll share lessons from the IDS National Conference in New Orleans, stories from my own experience, and a real student transformation that proves influence—not just visibility—is what changes everything.  IN THIS EPISODE, I TALK ABOUT: Why talent alone doesn’t guarantee success (and what does) What Jeffrey Shaw’s keynote taught me about how clients make decisions The myths about influence (it’s not followers, charisma, or luck) The four business habits that build influence: Consistency in pricing and positioning Clear and confident communication Showing up and staying visible (online and in-person) Delivering on your promises every time The habits that erode influence—like apologizing for your pricing, changing your services constantly, or ghosting your market until you need something A student case study: how cleaning up her positioning, pricing, and consistency completely shifted her reputation and results When you build influence, everything in your business gets easier—clients trust your recommendations, pricing conversations feel smoother, vendors and contractors treat you as a priority, and referrals multiply. Influence shortens your sales cycle, strengthens your reputation, and reduces how much effort it takes to land the right projects. RESOURCES:   INTERIOR DESIGN BUSINESS BAKERY - Our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://thedesignbakehouse.com/interior-design-business-bakery   SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. All-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. https://mysidemark.com/   MARKETING MEMBERSHIP - Join our hands on marketing & visibility program, no contract, only $59/month. https://thedesignbakehouse.com/lead-lab   Stay in touch with Michelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedesignbakehouse/   Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad    Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide   Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact  

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• S6 Ep. 193 Decision Speed is a Moneymaker

  Indecision is one of the most expensive habits you can have in business. Every time you delay—whether it’s raising your rates, hiring help, or investing in the support you need—you’re leaving money, time, and momentum on the table. In this episode, I’m sharing why overthinking costs you far more than mistakes do, how to build decision speed as a profitable skill, and the tools I use (and teach my students) to stop spinning and start moving forward. IN THIS EPISODE, I’M TALKING ABOUT: The four traps that keep designers stuck: perfectionism, scarcity thinking, people-pleasing, and over-researching Real stories from my own business where delayed hiring and decision-making cost me big Why 80% clarity is more than enough to move forward Tools to help you make decisions faster: setting deadlines, running the numbers, the regret test, and the 80/20 rule A student success story that proves indecision costs more than action ever will Business growth doesn’t come from perfect choices—it comes from consistent, timely ones. Every month you delay raising your rates, every time you put off hiring, every program you “wait until later” to join—that delay is costing you thousands. Indecision doesn’t keep you safe, it keeps you small. RESOURCES:   INTERIOR DESIGN BUSINESS BAKERY - Our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://thedesignbakehouse.com/interior-design-business-bakery   SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. All-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. https://mysidemark.com/   MARKETING MEMBERSHIP - Join our hands on marketing & visibility program, no contract, only $59/month. https://thedesignbakehouse.com/lead-lab   Stay in touch with Michelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedesignbakehouse/   Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad    Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide   Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

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