Business Breakthroughs Come From New Thoughts

By Drue Lawlor, FASID.
Director of Coaching, Gail Doby Coaching & Consulting

Yesterday’s techniques and processes will probably not help you grow your business – and the same can be said for yesterday’s thoughts!

In a recent article the author, a business coach and mindset expert, shared a statement she uses often – to her children’s frustration – “you get to be right – all the time.” Before you get too excited, let me share the question she then asked: “But what if you are ‘right’ about the wrong things?” What if you let your fears and negative thoughts take over your thinking and your beliefs? You fear you will not attract ideal clients – you fear that clients will not pay higher fees – you fear you will not be able to find just the right new hire, and on and on. Sadly, you get to be right.

What if you fill your mind with some specific things that you are going to be right about in 2018, whether it be that your marketing plan is easily attracting ideal clients, your business processes and procedures are ready to provide exceptional service, PR opportunities come to you easily, or whatever your vision may be for your firm in 2018. The key is to fill your mind with that vision so effectively that there is no space for any negative thoughts to slip in – and if they try, then quickly pull them out and don’t let them take root.

Along with eliminating negative thoughts, eliminate negative words from your vocabulary and you will find that it will positively affect relationships with both your clients and your team as well as lifting the weight caused by carrying around negativity.

In addition to removing negative thoughts and fears from your mind, you need to make time to regularly expand your thinking to include new thoughts and new ideas and to remind yourself of what it is about interior design that “makes your heart sing”. Many interior designers think they are too busy to make needed changes to expand the success of their business – or to even take time to figure out what those necessary changes are. That can lead to letting yourself become too busy to really do what you love. You need to remember that you are the master of your time – not other people, unless you allow it.

So as we move into 2018, pledge to spend at least one hour 3 days a week to creating business breakthroughs! Use this time to research and learn new ideas – both for design and the business of design. Gather your team during one of those hours to brainstorm ideas for your business. If you do not have a team, identify several other designers who are also solopreneurs and who are willing and brainstorm new ideas and approaches. Use this time to learn about and create business systems to expand the success of your firm.

Remember: “You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.” ~ Zig Ziglar.