Mastering the Business of Interior Design: Success by Design
Katie Decker-Erickson, Business Coach for Interior Designers
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91. Lessons From Our Big Mistakes w/ Michelle Lynne
Send Katie a Text Message!! As this year comes to a close, I wanted to have a very honest conversation—one rooted in experience, not perfection. In this episode, I’m reflecting (with another seasoned firm owner- Michelle Lynne) on the mistakes we’ve made, the lessons we learned the hard way, and what actually matters when you’re trying to move your business forward with clarity instead of chaos. This isn’t about beating yourself up for what didn’t work. It’s about looking back clearly—without ego or shame—so you can recalibrate your direction, trust yourself again, and make smarter decisions as you head into 2026. Here’s what we dig into in this episode: In this episode, I talk about: Why you can’t change direction in your business without honestly looking in the rearview mirrorHow growing just for the sake of growth often leads to stress, misalignment, and regretWhy busyness, headcount, and “looking successful” can hide deeper operational problemsThe real cost of ignoring your intuition—and why it always shows up eventuallyHow intuition becomes powerful when it’s supported by data, not separated from itWhy avoiding your numbers only creates bigger problems down the roadWhat I call the “toll of the soul,” and why some profitable work still isn’t worth itHow letting go sooner—clients, projects, models, or people—can lead to faster alignmentWhy leadership requires hard conversations, not avoidanceHow reflection is meant to recalibrate your business, not keep you stuck in regretThis episode is for designers who know something needs to change—but don’t want to burn everything down to make it happen. My hope is that this conversation helps you look at your business with more honesty, more confidence, and a lot more self-trust as you step into what’s next. You don’t need to have all the answers for 2026 right now. But you do need to be willing to look clearly at where you’ve been—so you can choose where you’re going on purpose. If you’re ready to move forward with clarity instead of guesswork, this episode is for you. Stay in touch with Michelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedesignbakehouse/ Connect with Katie LinkedIn Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm Website
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