Maximize & Optimize Your Design Business

Who Were You on Your Sixth Grade Graduation?

Cheryl Craig — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:34:37 GMT

I was attending my daughter's Sixth grade graduation a few days ago. The children walked down a long aisle centered between a sea of people. As I watched these beautiful children walking down that aisle, I witnessed a remarkable thing.

Many walked with their eyes cast down to the floor, hoping to go unnoticed. Some walked with their head hung low as if they were embarrassed. There were others who walked so fast, it was obvious they just wanted to get through their discomfort as quickly as possible. Out of the entire graduating class of 103, only a handful of students walked comfortably with smiles, making eye contact and enjoying the moment as they walked down that long aisle.

I don't remember how I felt on my own sixth grade graduation. So, I tried to put myself in the minds of these children. How would I have to feel in order to walk with my eyes looking at the floor or my head hung low? I would have to feel ashamed, unworthy, unsure, shy, embarrassed...
All these feelings can be expressed 3 words: I'm not enough.

A feeling of maternal love washed over me as each child walked past me. And I thought "to each one":
"You are enough"
"You are precious."
"You are unlimited potential that is yet to unfold."
"You are a beautiful child, created by God."
"You are worthy of love and everything you yearn for."
"You are more than enough."

After that, two things occurred to me:

1. It is up to us, the adults in our children's lives to keep feeding them with praise, love, and encouragement; so as to give them a solid foundation of self worth. Because somewhere between birth and sixth grade graduation, self doubt is born and sometimes sets up shop for good.

So, consistently tell your children or somebody else's how wonderful they are. How special and innately talented, how beautiful, how loved they are. Let them know that they can truly be whoever or whatever they want to be when they grow up.

2. If self doubt sets up shop for good, it takes a long, long time to rid ourselves of it as adults. Some people never do . You are that same beautiful child you were at sixth grade graduation. The only difference is, now you are in a bigger, older body.

I'm here to remind you:
"You are enough"
"You are precious."
"You are unlimited potential that is yet to unfold"
"You are a beautiful child, God's creation."
"You are worthy of love and everything you yearn for."
"You are more than enough."

Now go to the mirror and speak those words to the child inside you and the adult before you. It's time to remember who you are.

How to Make Your Clients Want to Stick With You (MP3)

Cheryl Craig — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:12:30 GMT

Create a package that will make your clients want to stick with you; shift the focus off you, and put it on them.Listen in on a recording that I offer my ezine subscribers.

Click here to listen:
All material in this recording: copyright (C) 2008 by Cheryl Craig

Market Yourself With Laser Like Focus (MP3)

Cheryl Craig — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:43:00 GMT

Your ideal clients will resonate with you when you are able to market yourself in a way that reveals your true nature.Listen in on a recording that I offer my ezine subscribers.

Click here to listen:
All material in this recording: copyright (C) 2008 by Cheryl Craig

How to Discover Your Uniqueness (MP3)

Cheryl Craig — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:32:30 GMT

You are your signature product. There is no other designer like you. Now, I know you already know this, but if I were to ask you: “What makes you different?” What would you tell me? Listen in on a recording that I offer my ezine subscribers.

Click Here to Listen:
All material in this recording: copyright (C) 2008 by Cheryl Craig

How to Find Your Niche (MP3)

Cheryl Craig — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:30:47 GMT

You may have been told that finding your niche is the key to business success. Well, that’s great advice, but how do you find your niche? Listen in on a recording that I offer my ezine subscribers.

Click here to listen:
All material in this recording: copyright (C) 2008 by Cheryl Craig

Cheryl and Nika talk with David Neagle

Cheryl Craig — Fri, 23 May 2008 00:13:55 GMT

David Neagle is the author of such esteemed works as: "Just Believe", "The Power of Belief", "Experience the Reality of Success", "The Art of Success" and "Breaking the Debt Barrier", sharing his message in more than seven countries.

David Neagle founded Life is Now Inc., which is dedicated to helping people fulfill their goals and their dreams through spiritually based success principles. He shares his experience and expertise with thousands of people globally, helping them achieve great wealth, happiness and freedom.

He has been a partner with Bob Proctor, who you may know of from the movie “The Secret” David is a master teacher of the Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles and the Science of Getting Rich by Napoleon Hill. He has trained sales and marketing teams and has personally mentored some of this country’s Multi Millionaire Entrepreneurs.

David’s clients reside in countries all over the world including Australia, Singapore, Canada, the United States, Israel and the United Kingdom. International clients are supported and coached through tele-seminars, the internet, live speaking engagements and live seminars.

Listen to the call with Cheryl Craig and Nika Stewart talking with David Neagle (click below)

Walk Your Talk!

Cheryl Craig — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:04:47 GMT

How many times have you gotten advice from someone who doesn't walk their own talk? I heard Randy Gage say: "Stop taking financial advice from broke people". I love that. I also saw a cool quote on a website yesterday: "Image isn't everything.... It's just the first thing."

So.... may I boldly suggest to you, my beloved designers, that you surround yourself with the same degree of beauty you purvey to your clients? How many of you are working in an office that is less than inspiring? Hey, you deserve a beautiful space just as much as your clients do! And for those of you who have a studio or showroom for your clients to visit... What do you think runs through their minds as they enter your 3-Dimensional Portfolio? Yes, you can be sure they are keeping a score card about your ability and talents based on what they see, even before you show them samples of your work or your actual portfolio.

If your office, studio, or showroom is not a reflection of your design expertise, you will have to overcome your own negative energy about it; and convince your clients that what you see is not what you get.

Let's learn from some major marketers- the department stores or high end boutiques. The message is: what you see is what you want! But not always what you get; at least until you can afford to have it all.

So, I am here to light a fire under your butt. Make an appointment with yourself. Design your dream office or studio. Give your space the makeover it needs. Let your professional space sell for you, not against you. You'll get more energy and inspiration from it. You deserve it, and your prospects and clients expect it.

Waterfalls of ideas for your business growth and achievement~
Cheryl Shelley Craig -Sales & Marketing Muse for Interior Design Professionals
copyright (c) 2008 by Cheryl Shelley Craig
visit her website at cherylcraig.net

Taxes on Health Insurance Premiums for the Self Employed

Cheryl Craig — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:01:48 GMT

How could it be April 15th again already? Do you file a Schedule C or Schedule SE?
A lot of us creative thinkers loathe the parts of our business that involve math or accounting. Some of us even stick our heads in the sand, and just hand off our boxes of receipts, statements, and papers to someone else to figure out. We just say "Here's my stuff, just give me the bill when you're done."

Well, did you know that we self employed pay taxes on our health insurance premiums? We are the only segment of people in business who do.There is a movement to get legislation passed to make a change for this. You can visit the website of the National Association for the Self Employed aka NASE to view an article about it. http://news.nase.org/nase_about/PressRelease.asp?PRID=223

I'm not talking about individual income tax, I'm talking about self employment tax. Self Employment taxes are actually the Social Security and Medicare contributions. We self employed pay 15% of our self employment income. Unlike certain corporations, we are disallowed the deduction of Health Insurance premiums as a business expense. Employees who receive health benefits do not pay taxes on health insurance premiums either.

The self employed do have a place on form 1040 to make a deduction for their health insurance premiums on line 29, however that is after self employment taxes have been calculated on Schedule SE. If you live in a state like NJ, your self employment taxes on health insurance premiums alone could total around $2500.00 - $3000.00 in taxes! Here is another interesting article: http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/10/15/story18.html.

If you want to learn more, just click around and Google for other articles regarding this subject.

Disclaimer- I am not a tax expert, so be sure to consult your tax professional regarding any information you read from me or any other non-tax professional. To my knowledge, as of tax year ending 2007, this information is correct.

Your Professional Image

Cheryl Craig — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:43:26 GMT

You are the product that you are selling. You, your style, knowledge, expertise, and ability to create inspiring spaces, constitute your “package”. So, wrap your package in a marketable way. As interior designers and decorators, you are in a “style” industry. So, let me ask you- when is the last time you did a survey of your own image? By image, I’m talking about your:

Business wardrobe
Handshake
Company name and logo
Business cards, letterheads, and other documents
Briefcase
Organizational system for client data management
Office
Showroom
Displays
Marketing materials including website, portfolio, brochures, ads

All of these things represent you, your talent, your expertise, etc. Are you projecting the image you want? Your clients respond to the message they get from all these things. Just like you do a survey and analysis for your clients, do one for yourself.

Imagine that each element mentioned above is an individual “representative” of your business.

Does each one send the right message about you?
Are you consistent with your business identity?
Are you using multiple or outdated logos?
Do you shake hands like you are in business, or do you shake hands like you are meeting your neighbor’s great grandmother?
Does your showroom showoff your creative talents or does it need an update?
Do you have a website or are you still getting used to using your fax machine?

If you only want to dabble, you don’t have to worry about your professional image. If you are serious about your business, you have to treat your business seriously. That means investing in all of the packaging and wrapping of what you offer. Get clear on what message you want to project. Invest in your image. You can’t realistically expect your clients to invest in their furnishings, décor, construction, etc., if you don’t invest in your business. Keep up with the times and play full out for a bigger payoff. If you want to be in business, then be in business. Don’t complain about the market unless you make every effort to stay on top of your game. If a self assessment and plan seems daunting, ask for help. After all, that’s what your clients do.

Cheryl Shelley Craig – Maximizer - Optimizer - Marketing Muse
Waterfalls of ideas for growing your business and achieving more.
Visit her Web site at:www.cherylcraig.net
Copyright © 2008 by Cheryl Shelley Craig

Attracting Wealth into Your Life

Cheryl Craig — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:06:15 GMT

Several years ago, I read a book called “The Trick to Money is Having Some” by Stuart Wilde. At first, I thought the title was saying something like: “It takes money to make money”. But that’s not what the author meant at all. What he meant was this: the acknowledgment that you have money attracts more money to you. It means be grateful for what you have, and feel the “wealth” of it; really know the wealth of it; accept the wealth of it. The power of that “knowing” allows more wealth to flow in. Even the pennies on the ground are symbols of money flowing into your life! Think about it; you’ve heard it said “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer”. Why? Because each is in a state of “accepting” the belief of their status.

Now, develop the mindset that you don’t need money. You have money. Even if it seems like you don’t; you do. First, realize that you are your biggest asset. You have the ability to give value to the world in exchange for money. And you have a whole lot more than you probably think you do.

I’ll share something I learned about this very idea from my son when he was 10. He was asking me why some kids go to private schools. I explained to him that some go for religious reasons, some because the local public schools are not good, and some rich people send their kids to private school to be with other kids who are rich like they are. Then my son said to me: “Mom, we’re rich, why don’t we go to private school?” I was so amused by his perception of our financial status. I replied “We are not rich, we are just regular people!” (Instead of feeling happy that he thought we were rich, and enjoying the beauty in that, I was embarrassed that he thought we were rich. It felt like bragging- talk about subconscious beliefs… and at the time, my definition of rich certainly did not include us.) Then he said real low and deliberate: “Mom…. we are rich.” I continued to argue my point that we were not rich by any stretch of the imagination. He then informed me: “We have more than we need. We are rich.” How profound! I had a sudden “awakening” to the fact. Yes, we are rich, indeed. Immediately, I felt the abundance and wealth that was all around me.

How much more than you need, must you have –in order to feel rich? How much does the cup need to “runneth over” before you realize the cup is more than full? I immediately started to see and feel things in a whole new way. I am rich- and to think- all this time, I had been focusing on the lack! I’m not just talking about material possessions either. I am blessed with a loving and exciting husband, six beautiful children, loving and supportive family and friends, a beautiful home, wonderful clients; I could fill pages! Most of us are rich. We just don’t see it. As soon as you notice it, it just can’t be ignored, and all you have to do is feel gratitude for everything positive you have. Take notice of all the beauty, wealth, love, and inspiration in your life. Now revel in that thought. And then, more will flow in.

I want to give this concept some personal perspective. First, I want you to know that my husband and I share the same belief about our abundance. (Hey, that’s a blessing right there; no conflicting philosophies!) By the time my son was 12, we found ourselves living in a new home, almost twice the size, on a street where all of our neighbors feel like family. Am I bragging? No, I’m sharing my experience to bear testimony to you that the law of attraction works. I am telling you, so you can use my experience to help you build your faith in yourself. Everyone deserves beauty and abundance. Everyone.

If you believe you deserve what you desire, it makes allowing it possible. You want a new car? Take it for a spin. Feel the feeling of being in the car; that it’s yours. I did this very "exercise". I decided that I would not feel guilty driving a luxury car. Many of my clients have luxury cars. Many do not. For a bit, I worried that if I drove an expensive car, I’d turn off some clients. (There it is again- embarrassment, guilt; being self conscious about “having”) So, not long after I test drove my car of choice, (I had to do it a few times to feel “real” in the driver’s seat) I was signing papers. Then of course, my husband wanted to have a new luxury car for himself. We call his car the “James Bond” car. It even talks to you. Why the car example? Not to dwell on status; no. It’s just that it’s easy to see the results of your efforts this way. It’s measurable. You could do it with anything. A piece of artwork, jewelry, new bedcoverings, a handbag, a pool, a partner, a date, a housekeeper, whatever feels good to you.

Whenever my husband or I hear ourselves saying “I can’t afford that” or “Sorry kid, I’m broke”, we check ourselves and re-word our statements to be more like this: “ I’m not choosing to spend my money on this or that” or “Sorry kid, there are other things we are using our money for right now.” Remember every dollar you spend is a choice. And every dollar you don’t spend is a choice, whether you think you have it or not.

The Secret Gift You are Giving to Your Design Clients

Cheryl Craig — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:51:05 GMT

As an Interior Designer or Decorator, you see yourself as a creative business person. Your client may have a different take. Your client may see you as any or all of the following:

Someone creative
Someone with good taste
A source of ideas
Someone to guide them
A mediator
A marriage counselor (you know what I'm talking about)
A source of supply for things they can't get on their own
A symbol of status
Someone who fills a void

What you really are, is someone who creates a feeling that the client longs for. A well designed interior:

Creates balance and organization
Increases the flow of energy (Chi)- You know how you get that boost of energy when everything is in it's place? Your client gets that and more.
Creates a mood; it can energize, relax, stimulate, soothe, inspire, enhance focus..
Is an outward expression of the client's style, taste, and personality. Your client gives you the "notes", and you create a "symphony" out of them. Or they give you the "words", and you create the "song or poetry".
And best of all, it inspires a sense of deep appreciation and gratitude from it's inhabitants.

And now, here is the secret gift.....

You are giving your clients a feeling... an emotion... certainty; something that gives them a great sense of well being and gratitude for the environment they live in, for who they are (expressed as splashes of color and style everywhere around them). The gift in this is: while experiencing and expressing gratitude for the "wealth" that they are now feeling, the energy of it attracts even more wealth!

Wealth: Financial, Well Being, Energy, Love, Happiness......

Imagine... and you thought you were just a designer! You are a "path to wealth" guide!

Cheryl Shelley Craig – Maximizer - Optimizer - Marketing Muse
Waterfalls of ideas for growing your business and achieving more.
Visit her Web site at:www.cherylcraig.net
Copyright © 2008 by Cheryl Shelley Craig

Know Why You Aren't Achieving Your Goals?

Cheryl Craig — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:08:38 GMT

You’ve been taught how important goal setting is. And lately, you’ve been hearing a lot about writing your goals down. Why would you need to write them down? I promise if you try it, you’ll discover why. First off, let me ask you candidly: “What are your current specific goals”? (Silent pause for you to consider some ideas while looking up to the sky ~ or maybe a beautifully constructed coffered ceiling) I think I heard you say:

I want to be happy

I want to make a lot of money and be successful

I want to travel

I want to have a great relationship

Although these goals sound lofty, and may inspire you to some degree, they are hardly specific. Writing down your goals is more deliberate than just offering a desirable thought to yourself. That’s just a daydream. Learning to tap into your true self will help you decide what goals are worthy of your intentions and energy. Knowing what you want is half the equation. If you have trouble identifying goals and things you want, it may be helpful to start by identifying what you don’t want first. It’s not productive to dwell on what you don’t want, but sometimes it can help to uncover your true desires.

Let’s look at just one example and get specific. Write down a goal such as ~ I want to be happy. Then, list things that don’t make you happy:

Working past 7 pm makes me tired and resentful.

I loathe “accounts payable.” I get overwhelmed with bookkeeping. I’m an Interior Designer for Goodness’ Sake, an Artist (said with a French accent), not an accountant.

And come to think of it, I hate installing anything! I’m not an installer either. I feel like I’m compromising my business image.

Now, list things that do make you happy:

I love spending time with my husband.

I feel so rewarded when my clients love their environments because of my work.

I have a great time presenting my ideas to my clients. I just know they are going to love their new surroundings.

Now that we have listed things we like or dislike, let’s put some ideas in writing to bring this goal into reality. Write down specific actions you’ll take to feel happy:

I work a professional schedule of either 8-4 or 9-5 with exceptions only when I feel they are necessary.

I use one of the following methods for my bookkeeping to make more time for what I enjoy: I keep all my accounts on pro-forma status using a credit card that earns me frequent flyer miles, or I use a program like Quick Books to keep accounting manageable, or I use an accounting service on a monthly fee basis.

I build installation charges into my proposals to my clients and sub contract installations out so I am free to do what I do best; design and sell my ideas.

Gee, I’m feeling a rush of happiness already! Just making the DECISION to implement these changes has caused a surge of energy to pour through me. Now I have more time to spend with my husband. (Since I will no longer schedule appointments in the evening. ~Who can see colors properly then anyway?) And now that I’m delegating the bookkeeping, I have more time for new clients and more sales. I have more time to do what I love most; creating beautiful spaces for my clients!

And now there is real power behind these goals. By acknowledging and feeling the emotions that come from these achievements, you experience the happiness that you seek in your imagination. Your subconscious mind will begin to activate even more opportunities and ideas to fuel the actions you must take to achieve your goals. There may be other things that you would put on your list. What would they be?

By adding a deadline, such as “by the end of this month”- or, better yet, scheduling it on your calendar, you give even more power to the goal. It also becomes measurable. The goals should be realistic in the sense that you must believe in their possibility. The cost for accounting services may get you doubting. But consider what you may be willing to “swap” (not give up) for it. Maybe that fancy little latte every morning, eating out at a cozy little eatery instead of an extravagant high end restaurant, spending $50 dollars instead of $180 at your neighbor’s Pampered Chef party... Pretty soon, you will be making more than you are spending on accounting because of the extra time you have for designing and selling. You won’t need to worry about swapping your “little luxuries” for long.

There are many strategies to setting goals and goal mapping. The one thing that I have recognized as the common denominator in all of the goals I have achieved is the DECISION to obtain or do whatever it is that I want. Discovering what you want is key, and is another subject worthy of your exploration.

This is just a small sampling of what we do in a goal mapping session. Creating a blueprint to work from accelerates effortless achievement of your goals.

Cheryl Shelley Craig – Maximizer - Optimizer - Marketing Muse
Waterfalls of ideas for growing your business and achieving more. Visit her Web site at: www.cherylcraig.net
Copyright © 2008 by Cheryl Shelley Craig

Design Your Boundaries

Cheryl Craig — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:05:25 GMT

Feeling overwhelmed in your work? Do you hear yourself saying things like:

I don’t have enough time.

I’m just burnt out.

My job isn’t fun anymore.

I’m so stressed!

Well, there is hope to gain control over what seems to be out of control. It has been my observation (and personal experience) that many designers are simply just “too available” to their clients; especially the designers who are women. In our society, women are trained to be people pleasers. This makes it difficult to say no when a client has an unreasonable deadline or wants something for less than it’s worth.

However things may seem, the issue here is NOT with the client, but with the designer. How many times have you:

Taken on a client against your better judgment or intuition

Agreed to a deadline that you were uncomfortable with

Accepted less of a fee for a product or service than you normally charge

Worked until the wee hours of the morning to finish a project

Driven great distances to pick up an item for your client because it was “urgent”

Presented selection after selection to an indecisive or “fussy” client

I can sense the heads nodding in agreement. I know ~ I’ve been there myself when I owned my own design and decorating business. So, why isn’t the client to blame for all this resentment? Because you have not taught the client how to work with you on your terms. You have not set the proper boundaries for yourself.

Using defined boundaries is a way to take control of your time, satisfaction with your career, and your personal well being. There are ways to create habits and policies for yourself. First, you must decide what you will and will not do. Then state your policies in your contracts and your conversations with your
clients.

Some examples would be:

Don’t take on a client if your instincts tell you not to. Your intuition is there to help you know when something is right or wrong. Listen to your inner voice! Taking on a client with a bad vibe usually ends up costing you money instead of making you money. Especially in times of financial scarcity.

Define a timeline that you feel will give you ample time to create a design plan or make selections for any project. Then, put it in writing and have your client either sign or initial it.

Know that you or your products are worth the fee you set forth. Only compromise if it’s something that you truly believe deserves a cut in price. You are being hired for your expertise and the way you “put things together”.

Define a work schedule for yourself and stick to it. Your family or friends will appreciate it too. So will you. Remind yourself that you need time to enjoy the fruits of your labors. Otherwise, what’s the point?

Remind yourself and your clients that there is no real urgency (unless your contract depends upon it) in interior design/decorating. You will do your best, and you will do what is fair.

Define in your contract how many choices you will offer before additional design fees will be charged. You are not a shopping service, although some clients get personal shopper and designer confused! They can shop at their leisure and pay you for the reassurance if that’s all they really seek. (That’s a different service entirely) I find that 2-3 choices is fair upon presentation of the design plan with an agreement to offer flexibility on specific items if needed. For instance, you create an entire scheme for the downstairs, and offer 3 design schemes. The client likes scheme number 1 very much, but wants to see a couple of alternate choices for the upholstery fabric you have selected for one of the sofas. No problem. You may agree to research for another 2 choices or so for that fabric without incurring more fees. That’s simply fine tuning the plan.

Setting boundaries does not mean that you are not performing at peak or that you are not going the extra mile; two things that are musts in today’s market. It’s just a way to contain what you do and when. I am a believer in giving more than your client expects. I am also a believer in doing business in a way that empowers you, not devalues you. Look for other ways to set boundaries for yourself and your business. It’s professional, it’s fair, and it’s liberating. When you have it written and verbalized to your clients, you will find that they have more respect for your time and for you as a professional.

Cheryl Shelley Craig – Maximizer - Optimizer - Marketing Muse, offers waterfalls of ideas for growing your business and achieving more.
Visit her Web site at: www.cherylcraig.net
Copyright © 2008 by Cheryl Shelley Craig