Episodes

  • Ending the Year Well for Your Design Business

    Ending the Year Well for Your Design Business
    Nov 3 2024
    272: Ending the Year Well for Your Design Business

    Have you ever wondered how to end the year well? You'll hear us talk about this in multiple places all around, how do we end our year well? In this podcast, we will discuss how to define what ending the year well for you and your company looks like, how to plan in advance, how to be intentional, and how to create some time to rest and reset. It is so interesting that the fourth quarter of our year is spent not only making sure that we can wrap up the needs of the current year but also doing a lot of planning and heavy lifting so that we can start the next year off well. The way to start in a power position in the new year is to end this year in a power position. Listen in today and determine what that might look like for you and your company.

    Topics Mentioned:

    • Strategic Planning

    • Business Metrics

    • Processes

    • Intentionality

    Key Thoughts:

    • Finishing well means to be proud of the effort that was put into these critical items knowing that they set us up for a better future. Michele Williams

    • Take stock of where the company is right now and where you anticipate it being at the end of the year with regard to your financials. Michele Williams

    • Ending well also takes advanced thought and planning. Michele Williams

    • Don't overdo it and go into the new year exhausted. Michele Williams

    Contact Michele:

    • Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com

    • Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting

    • Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL

    • Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com

    • LinkedIn: Michele Williams

    References and Resources:

    • CFO2GO

    • Work with Me

    • Metrique Solutions

    • The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today

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    13 mins
  • Buying a Commercial Space for Your Business

    Buying a Commercial Space for Your Business
    Oct 20 2024
    271: Buying a Commercial Space for Your Business

    Joining me today on the podcast is Paul Neal. He's a financial strategist and author dedicated to transforming the way entrepreneurs view commercial property. He has a book called Un-Lease Your Business: Unlock Wealth, Autonomy and Control by Buying Your Building and Firing Your Landlord and it is a very informative book. He is an amazing speaker who is going to help us understand more about the commercial buying process for our businesses. Enjoy the podcast.

    Topics Mentioned:

    • Purchasing commercial real estate

    • Process

    • Financials

    Key Thoughts:

    • You don't have to be a world-conquering type of person, but you have to have stability. Paul Neal

    • You cannot make decisions without your financials in order, or you're making it on a gut feeling and that doesn't always support us. Michele Williams

    • We always suggest to get in with the least amount of down payment that makes sense, because then you've got your money that you're not putting into the brick and mortar you can use for other things. Paul Neal

    • The goal here is that we have to be profitable with what we have, and then provide ourselves as a stable business, meaning stable sales, and stable profitability. Michele Williams

    Contact Michele:

    • Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com

    • Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting

    • Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL

    • Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com

    • LinkedIn: Michele Williams

    Contact Paul:

    • Website: https://www.ownyourbuildingnow.com/

    • Email: paul@vpc.capital

    • LinkedIn: @paul-neal-tea

    • YouTube: @theEntrepreneurialAgent

    • Facebook: @theentrepreneurialagent

    • Instagram: @theentrepreneurialagentpodcast

    References and Resources:

    • Un-Lease Your Business: Unlock Wealth, Autonomy and Control by Buying Your Building and Firing Your Landlord by Paul Neal

    • CFO2GO

    • Work with Me
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    43 mins
  • 4 Year-End Steps to Prepare Your Interior Design Business

    4 Year-End Steps to Prepare Your Interior Design Business
    Oct 6 2024
    270: 4 Year-End Steps to Prepare Your Interior Design Business Join us as we revisit an insightful episode focused on empowering interior designers through creating a strategic business plan. This re-showing of our previous podcast, "Four Year-End Steps to Prepare Your Interior Design Business," is perfect for anyone looking to enhance their business strategy. In this episode, we dive deep into effective strategies tailored specifically for the interior design industry. As an interior design business coach, I’m thrilled to share the exact processes I'm implementing in my own business right now. Whether you're a seasoned designer or just starting out, these actionable steps will help you set a strong foundation for the coming year. Topics Mentioned: Planning SWOT analysis Setting goals Energy Key Thoughts: Taking an in depth look and SWOT analysis at each element in our business really provides us with information and helps shine a spotlight in an area we haven't looked at before. Michele Williams By creating quarterly goals which are more streamlined and individually focused, we have the ability to get four really big goals completed in a year with attention placed on each one. Michele Williams Think about what energizes you and what drains you. Michele Williams Make sure that the majority, if not all, of your products and services and processes are done in a way that moves your company forward with energy instead of draining it. Michele Williams Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams References and Resources: CFO2GO Work with Me Metrique Solutions The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today Who's in Your Room: The Secret to Creating Your Best Life by Ivan Misner, Ph.D., Stewart Emery L.H.D., Rick Sapio 12-Week Year - by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington Unlocking Financial Freedom with CFO2GO: A Journey Through One-on-One Coaching One-on-one coaching is my main line of work, and for a good reason. I dive headfirst into my client's business, helping them become strategic with their finances and decision making to be able to lead profitable companies. My ultimate goal and reward is connecting with and helping incredible business owners in the interior design industry. So, I get very excited when my clients come back on my podcast to share their stories so they can, in turn, help others in the design industry. With CFO2GO you can take your business strategy to the next level with our 4 step process that will help you know your numbers, understand your business position, create a path forward unique to your design experience, skill set, and dream life - plus help you grow your design firm. Click below to find out more! Learn more
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    17 mins
  • Delegating Begins with Hiring

    Delegating Begins with Hiring
    Sep 15 2024
    269: Delegating Begins with Hiring Joining the podcast today is Selina Johnson. Selina is a team operations strategist and go-to expert for reclaiming your time and embracing an enriched, peaceful life. Her mission is to empower CEOs to build efficient teams that don’t rely on them 24/7. We will talk about where delegating really begins and the best practices to get the outcomes you want with teams you enjoy working with. Topics Mentioned: Hiring Trust in a team Big picture Preparedness Key Thoughts: It's really important to determine what's your core focus in your role and, what could you start delegating every morning, even if it's a small task, to somebody else in your team. Selina Johnson Delegation really starts with the building of your team and having the right people in the right positions to do the job that you need to delegate to them because even if they understand it and even if they acknowledge it if they can't do it, it does you no good to delegate it to them. Michele Williams I feel that is detrimental to the business when you don't give all the key information when you're delegating. Selina Johnson It is important that we can help them understand how they fit in and that the job matters. It matters if it gets done. It matters if it doesn't get done. And it matters if it gets done well. Because if they think that it doesn't matter, then you're going to get, it doesn't matter work. Michele Williams Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams Contact Selina: Website: www.selinajohnson.com Email: selina@selinajohnson.com LinkedIn: @selinajohnson-teambuilding You Tube: @ilovemyteam References and Resources: Aim With Intent Coaching CFO2GO Work with Me Metrique Solutions Selina’s Ultimate Hiring Blueprint Unfiltered Wisdom: Free Coaching from Michele’s Keyboard to You Are you hungry for more? Subscribe now to receive two free coaching emails per month, personally crafted by Michele! Delivered every two weeks, these emails are packed with valuable insights, actionable strategies, and thought-provoking ideas to guide you on your business transformation journey towards greater success. Learn more
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    46 mins
  • Pricing Your Work Without Emotion

    Pricing Your Work Without Emotion
    Sep 1 2024
    268: Pricing Your Work Without Emotion On today's podcast we're going to hear a pre-recorded podcast that I did with Ceil DiGuglielmo of the podcast "Sew Much More". Ceil interviewed me and spoke with me about the Pricing Without Emotion course that I have been teaching since 2010. I am so excited for you to hear this as we are getting ready to launch our Pricing Without Emotion course on September 5, 2024. As Ceil says in her intro, even if you are not looking to buy the course or participate in it, there is a lot you can learn from listening to this podcast. So, I invite you to sit back, to think about your pricing, your journey, and your relationship with money while you listen and enjoy. Topics Mentioned: Pricing Strategy Profit Value Key Thoughts: Let's price without emotion. Let's work with the emotion. Let's work with passion, but we don't have to price with it. We can price with more the logic brain, and then we can work with that feeling and emotion brain so that we pour that into it. So, it's not that we're separating it. We're just kind of putting it into place. Michele Williams The first time I took it, it was a question of, can I get the money together to take this course. I knew it was worth it, but did I have the money for it? I made sure I did. And the second time, like, okay, I'm ready. I am putting this money out because I will get it back quickly. Ceil DiGuglielmo If I can get to the point of understanding it, then I can get to the point of ownership. When I can get to the point of ownership, then I have a power. And that means I have the power to make decisions with information. Michele Williams The best time to take this is early on. The next best time is now. Ceil DiGuglielmo Join our Pricing Without Emotion, Group Coaching Program Understanding your pricing is crucial for business success. Pricing isn't just about numbers—it's a balance of math, time, expertise, and value. Beginning September 5, 2024, this 8-week course teaches you how to confidently set prices that align with your revenue goals and reflect the true worth of your products or services. You'll learn to remove emotion from pricing decisions, establish a scalable structure, and effectively communicate your value to avoid bargain-seeking clients. The goal is to master the financial aspects of your business and price with confidence. Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams References and Resources: Work with Me CFO2Go Metrique Solutions Pricing Without Emotion Coaching Program Price Your Work with Confidence by Kitty Stein Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Fix This Next by Mike Michalowicz
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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • The Role of Tech in Your Business

    The Role of Tech in Your Business
    Aug 18 2024
    267: The Role of Tech in Your Business On the podcast today is Jen McFarland founder of Marit Digital. Jen partners with small businesses and teams as they plan, assess, and improve the digital solutions that help them succeed. She helps with implementing AI to setting up web hosting and digital experience design. Today’s topic is all about tech. Topics Mentioned: Technology Audit AI Key Thoughts: It's the same with your tech. You have to reevaluate that from time to time. You have to make changes, you have to assess, go back and look and see what's working. Jen McFarland All of us are running technology businesses; it's just what product or service you're using technology to sell. Michele Williams It's already past time where when you're talking about investment in tech and budgeting for tech, AI needs to be a line item, and it needs to be something that you're thinking about bringing into your stack. Jen McFarland ... I think there is something to being able to engage with the technology in a way that actually makes you feel empowered. I think that is super important when we're looking at tech is it empowering us to do the next things. Michele Williams Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams Contact Jen: Website: https://maritdigital.com/ Email: hq@podcastally.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ncsumarit/ You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@maritdigital References and Resources: CFO2GO Work with Me Metrique Solutions AI Cafe on LinkedIn Unfiltered Wisdom: Free Coaching from Michele’s Keyboard to You Are you hungry for more? Subscribe now to receive two free coaching emails per month, personally crafted by Michele! Delivered every two weeks, these emails are packed with valuable insights, actionable strategies, and thought-provoking ideas to guide you on your business transformation journey towards greater success. Learn more
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    54 mins
  • The Sales Process Doesn't Have to End

    The Sales Process Doesn't Have to End
    Aug 4 2024
    266: The Sales Process Doesn't Have to End Dr. Nadia Brown is the founder of the Doyenne Agency, a global sales and training agency dedicated to educating and equipping women business leaders to pursue their passion, own their power and increase their profits. She is the host of the “Straight Talk About Sales” podcast and is the author of Leading Like a Lady: How to Shatter Your Inner Glass Ceiling and Sell Like a Lady: How to Master Sales with Dignity, Class and Grace. Today we will discuss selling with integrity, how the entire company is involved in the sales cycle, and how not to be a bully in the process. Topics Mentioned: Sales Process Integrity Team Key Thoughts: Sales is a learnable skill, and everyone on the team should understand their role in supporting the sales process. Dr. Nadia Brown Whether the founder or the CEO is the one that's still doing the majority of closing of the sales, it's still important that everyone on the team understands sales, how it works, and their role in supporting that process. Michele Williams Sometimes we only think of sales in that financial exchange when you get to that stage, but you're selling all the way to that stage and you're continuing to sell even after that person becomes a client. Dr. Nadia Brown Even if the product's great, it's the sales system that's not great. It's not about the product. It's not about the person. Nine times out of ten, I like the person. But the process starts to make me feel like I've lost my own agency in it. Michele Williams Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams Contact Dr. Nadia: Website: https://www.thedoyenneagency.com Email: nadia@thedoyenneagency.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drnadia/ Instagram: @IamDrNadia References and Resources: CFO2GO Work with Me Metrique Solutions Michele’s 3 courses: Pricing Without Emotion, Understanding Your Financials, and Master Your Profit Leading Like a Lady: How to Shatter Your Inner Glass Ceiling by Dr. Nadia Brown Sell Like a Lady: How to Master Sales with Dignity, Class and Grace by Dr. Nadia Brown “Straight Talk About Sales” podcast Unfiltered Wisdom: Free Coaching from Michele’s Keyboard to You Are you hungry for more? Subscribe now to receive two free coaching emails per month, personally crafted by Michele! Delivered every two weeks, these emails are packed with valuable insights, actionable strategies, and thought-provoking ideas to guide you on your business transformation journey towards greater success. LEARN MORE
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    52 mins
  • Managing Your Team Effectively

    Managing Your Team Effectively
    Jul 14 2024
    265: Managing Your Team Effectively Today's podcast is a conversation with Shelly Warren. Shelly is a women's leadership advisor, and she's the host of the “Stacking Your Team” podcast. Her expertise is in helping small business owners develop and nurture a leadership team so that they can take over the day-to-day operations, giving you, the owner, more time for growth, conversations, and decision-making. I hope you enjoy the podcast. Topics Mentioned: Career path Management Team building Key Thoughts: Defer to your experts, ask them for their point of view, and then you can take that one step further by making sure that you showcase that individual to your clients and your customers. Shelli Warren The company could be terrible, and the manager could be great. We're going to stay because we are somewhat tethered to that manager. They're watching out for us, they're caring for us, they're leading us, they're growing us, but they're acting like a coach for us, and they're moving us around. Michele Williams A players want to work with other A players, and they want to work alongside an A player leader. Shelli Warren The team that got you here may not be the team that will get you there. Michele Williams Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams Contact Shelli: Website: www.stackingyourteam.com/ Email: shelli@stackyourteam.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelliwarren2/ Instagram: @StackingYourTeam Facebook: @Shelli Warren YouTube: @StackingYourTeam References and Resources: CFO2GO Work with Me Metrique Solutions Michele’s 3 courses: Pricing Without Emotion, Understanding Your Financials, and Master Your Profit It's Okay to be The Boss by Bruce Tulgan Necessary Endings by Dr Henry Cloud Unfiltered Wisdom: Free Coaching from Michele’s Keyboard to You Are you hungry for more? Subscribe now to receive two free coaching emails per month, personally crafted by Michele! Delivered every two weeks, these emails are packed with valuable insights, actionable strategies, and thought-provoking ideas to guide you on your business transformation journey towards greater success.
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    57 mins