Are You Getting in Your Own Way?

One of the hardest parts of building an interior design business isn’t actually the design.

It’s getting yourself out of your own way.

I know what it feels like to struggle toward consistent cash flow, good clients in the pipeline, and a steady paycheck. Maybe your income goes up and down like a roller coaster. Maybe you keep attracting clients who can’t make decisions or don’t have the budget to support the kind of business you want to build. Maybe you’re working longer hours than ever, pushing harder than ever, and wondering why things still aren’t getting better.

I want you to know something important: it doesn’t have to be this way.

The business you want is probably much closer than you think. But often, the biggest thing standing between where you are and where you want to be is the story you’re telling yourself.

Let Go of “I’m Not Good Enough”

One of the biggest ways designers get in their own way is by believing they’re not ready yet.

I hear it all the time.

“I’m not good enough to do that project.”

“I’m not experienced enough to apply for that show house.”

“I’ve never done a new build before, so maybe I shouldn’t take it.”

And then the opportunity slips away.

Here’s what I want you to remember: you are good enough.

You know more than you did last year. You know more than your client. And every single project you complete makes you better.

As designers, we’re constantly learning and refining our skills. Every job teaches us something. Maybe you improve your process by 2%. Maybe you learn a better way to communicate with clients or organize selections. Those small improvements add up.

Imagine being just 2% better with every project you do. In a few years, you’ll be extraordinary.

Yet so often, we completely miss our own growth. A client is standing in a newly completed room, absolutely thrilled with what you’ve created, and instead of receiving that moment, you’re focused on the tiny detail in the corner that isn’t quite right.

Don’t overlook your progress.

Fear and Playing Small Will Keep You Stuck

Another thing that keeps us in our own way is fear.

Not real danger. Not the kind of fear that tells you to step back from the edge of a cliff. I’m talking about imagined fear.

“What if I say the wrong thing?”

“What if I present a big number and they say no?”

“What if I take this project and can’t figure it out?”

Those stories feel real, but they usually haven’t happened and often never will.

The truth is that growth almost always comes with a little discomfort. There’s usually a moment where you’re standing at the edge of something new and thinking, “I’m not entirely sure how this is going to work.”

That’s often exactly where your next level is waiting.

And then there’s playing small.

You can’t become the designer who does large, beautiful, whole-home projects if you keep saying, “I only do one room at a time.”

At some point, you have to say yes to the opportunity and trust that you’ll figure it out. You’ll ask questions. You’ll seek support. You’ll learn what you need to learn.

That’s how growth happens.

Create the Mindset That Supports Success

I believe finding wonderful clients and building a thriving business starts on the inside.

You have to believe that you’re worthy of having amazing clients who appreciate your work, trust your expertise, and invest in beautiful design.

Pay attention to what you say about your business and your clients. The stories you repeat become the things you focus on. And what you focus on tends to grow.

Take responsibility for your financial success, too. Your mindset around money matters. The clients you want are operating from a place of abundance, and you need to begin thinking that way as well.

And finally, pay attention to the people around you.

The people you spend the most time with influence what you believe is possible. Surround yourself with people who encourage growth, share knowledge generously, and take responsibility for creating the lives they want.

At the heart of all of this is a simple truth: there is nothing wrong with you.

You’re not broken. You’re not behind.

Sometimes you simply have beliefs and stories that are getting in your way.

And when you begin shifting those beliefs, the technical pieces of building a successful design business become so much easier.

Because often the biggest transformation in your business happens when you finally stop standing in your own way.

You can listen to the full podcast episode here.

Until then, design something beautiful… and get paid what you’re worth.

With love,

Terri