Profit Is A Choice

315: Monday Minute: The Profit Gap: High Revenue, Low Clarity Welcome to the Monday Minute with Michele—your quick hit of strategy, insight, and actionable ideas to help you move your business forward one small win at a time. Today, we're talking about the profit gap. The gap is the difference between what is happening (high revenue) and our understanding of how the money is being managed (low clarity). Topics Covered: Revenue alone can mask operational issues Owner's can be the most underpaid people in the company Clarity comes from understanding the drivers of profitability Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams References and Resources: Work with Me The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today CFO2Go Strategy2Go Metrique Solutions

313: Seven Primal Questions that Impact Your Employees Joining me today is Kathryn Dillon, a certified Primal Question Coach with more than 30 years of experience owning and operating a successful window treatment design and fabrication business. While Kathryn has built a thriving career, her true passion has always been mentoring others—helping them grow personally and professionally with clarity, compassion, and confidence. Guided by the Primal Question framework and her own journey of healing, she creates safe, judgment-free spaces where clients can gain insight and walk away with practical tools for meaningful change. Kathryn and I both believe that growth is possible at any stage of life and business, which makes this conversation especially powerful. Today, we're introducing you to the Seven Primal Questions—and how they can transform the way you think, lead, and grow. Topics Mentioned: Hiring and managing staff Framework of understanding Big question Key Thoughts: Our primal question is related to how we see the world and our internal dialogue. We all have core motivational needs. Knowing our primal question can lead to healthier decision making and emotional regulation. Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: scarletthreadconsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele-Williams Contact Kathryn: Email: kathryn@shiftingrhythmscoaching.com Website: shiftingrhythmscoaching.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shiftingrhythmscoaching Facebook: Shifting Rhythms Coaching References and Resources: 7 Primal Questions by Mike Foster Atomic Habits by James Clear Strengths Finder 2.0 Assessment Work with Me The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today CFO2Go Metrique Solutions

311: How Intentional Messaging Elevates Your Design Business With me today is Jaquilyn Edwards of Ochre and Beige. Jaquilyn helps interior designers step into high-end positioning through their words, systems, and client experiences—so their value becomes unmistakable. In today's episode, we explore how intentional messaging builds trust faster, strengthens boundaries, and ultimately grows and protects your profit. Our hope is that you walk away with insight and clarity to run a thriving business that truly reflects the caliber of your work. Topics Mentioned: AI impact on copywriting Luxury strategy Affluent client messaging Key Thoughts: AI can be cost effective to help with copywriting but it creates generic content that lacks personalization. Luxury in design also refers to luxury communication which is clear. Messaging may need to be repositioned over time to attract ideal clients. Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: scarletthreadconsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele-Williams Contact Jaquilyn: Email: jedwards@ochreandbeige.com Website: www.ochreandbeige.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/ochreandbeige LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jaquilynedwards

299: Year-End Wrap Up: Creating Margin in Life and Business Joining me today on the podcast is Ceil DiGuglielmo, host of the Sew Much More podcast and owner of the Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library. Every year, Ceil and I sit down for an end-of-year business catch-up to talk honestly about what worked, what didn't, and what we've learned. We ask each other thoughtful, leading questions to get a real glimpse into work, life, balance, and how all of those pieces fit together. Our hope is that as you listen, you'll reflect on your own year and maybe ask yourself some of the same questions. This year, we spent a lot of time discussing what it means to create space and margin in our lives—and the importance of checking in with ourselves rather than looking to a book, a podcast, AI, or anything else for the answers. It's about learning to hear ourselves think again. Topics Mentioned: Margin in our calendar and business Client Expectations Retirement and Work-Life Balance Embracing Wisdom Key Thoughts: Family changes impact life and work. Client expectations are changing - wanting more for less. Clearing physical and digital clutter allows better focus. What are we building towards - what does retirement mean? Intentional time management is crucial to balance. Goal for 2026 is more time (margin) to think and process information. With the rise of AI we need to be careful not to outsource all of our thinking. Striving to be a cheerleader for everyone. Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams Contact Ceil: Email: ceilwdi@gmail.com The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library Podcast: Sew Much More Learn to Choose Window Coverings

Joining me today on the podcast is Stacey Brown Randall—a returning guest and someone you're going to love hearing from again. Stacey has been on the show twice before, and today she's back to share insights from her brand-new book, The Referable Client Experience. You may also know her as the author of the multiple award-winning book Generating Business Referrals Without Asking, and as the host of the hugely popular podcast Roadmap to Referrals. Beyond her work as a consultant and coach, she's also a wife and mom of three, bringing a grounded, real-world perspective to everything she teaches. In this episode, we're diving into what it truly takes to create a client experience that naturally generates referrals—without the awkward asks or uncomfortable scripts. You won't want to miss this conversation. Topics Mentioned: Emotional Connection Client Experience Consistency in Connection Referral Strategies Key Thoughts: The Referable Client Experience Book Overview This book explores how businesses can create a client experience that generates referrals. The focus is on being a referrable business to begin. Enhancing Client Referral Experiences It is important to create a referable client experience beyond just delivering results. Understanding how people feel when referring others, not just the results, highlights the need for a repeatable process to ensure consistent positive results . Focusing on client feelings is crucial for generating referrals. Client Experience Emotional Design Intentionally craft a client experience to align with desired outcomes. "Ideal Client Reaction Script" involves identifying 3-5 key emotions or reactions clients should experience and ensuring your process is crafted to achieve these outcomes. Enhancing Client Experience with Consistency Having a repeatable process allows for consistency in approach and delivery. Clear SOPs that are documented encourages the client experience to be analyzed from start to finish. AI and Human Connection AI has a place in client experience models, but it cannot replace human connection. Identify which touch points can be automated, and which should be done by a human. Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams Contact Stacey: Email: stacey@staceybrandall.com Instagram: @staceybrownrandall Facebook: Stacey Brown Randall YouTube: Referrals Without Asking LinkedIn: Stacey B Randall Website: Stacey Brown Randall References and Resources: Work with Me The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today CFO2Go Metrique Solutions The Referable Client Experience by Stacey Brown Randall

295: Avoiding Common Mistakes When Charging Premium Rates Raising your prices can feel like a bold move—but what happens when your premium rates don't deliver the results you expected? In this episode, we're uncovering the most common mistakes entrepreneurs and service-based professionals make when charging high-end prices. Learn how to identify the gaps in your pricing strategy, communicate your value effectively, and attract clients who are ready to invest at your level. If you've ever wondered why your premium pricing isn't landing the way it should, this conversation will show you exactly how to fix it. Topics Mentioned: Profitability Premium Value Brand Alignment Strategic Pricing and Brand Differentiation Key Thoughts: Align premium rates with premium outcomes. Value must match the pricing. Align your brand identity, messaging and presentation with the premium pricing to avoid client distrust. When pricing and brand and value alignment is done well you will not feel the need to apologize or over explain the cost. Target a specific audience instead of trying to appeal to everyone. Create transparency in your pricing and billing practices with open and clear communication. Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams References and Resources: Work with Me The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today CFO2Go Metrique Solutions Pricing Without Emotion® Coaching Program

293: Unblock Your Cash Flow: Strategies to Free Up Money Fast Have you ever hit a point where your design business cash flow just isn't flowing? The truth is that money doesn't always stay steady—it moves in and out, up and down. In today's episode, we're digging into how interior designers can get the money moving again with quick cash flow wins, plus a long-term cash management strategy for financial stability and growth. Topics Mentioned: Profitability Financials Pricing Strategy Key Thoughts: We just make much better decisions when we've had good rest, good sleep practice, good eating and health, and then those things start to go away because of the worry and the stress that comes from not having enough money. As we all know, one of the number one reasons is that small businesses fail is lack of cash and lack of cash flow management. Michele Williams Start asking is there anything that we need to do on our side as the business to satisfy a need that would allow that money to be paid. Michele Williams If you're not billing directly dollar to dollar, penny to penny, it can be very easy to get underwater on that so that you're absorbing more cost because you don't want to pass them along to the client, and after a while you're eating into your profitability. Michele Williams Cash flow is usually enhanced by ensuring that we've got the right pricing, that we're monitoring the cost of the product and the cost of running the business, and then that leads us to profitability. Michele Williams Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams References and Resources: Work with Me The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today CFO2Go Metrique Solutions Pricing Without Emotion® Coaching Program

291: 3 Ways to go from Hobbyist to Interior Design Professional Welcome to the show! Today we're diving into how to go from hobbyist to professional—whether you're in interior design or building any creative business. We'll cover three powerful areas that can transform your journey: mindset, boundaries, and intentionality. So, grab a pen and paper, and let's reflect—where are you still showing up like a hobbyist, and where are you ready to level up and own your role as a professional? Topics Mentioned: Mindset Boundaries Intentionality Sustainability Key Thoughts: When we have the mindset of a professional, we're certainly going to create a boundary to make sure that we're making a profit or we're not going to engage in the work. Michele Williams Being intentional about what we do, having these mindsets that we talked about of a very professional mindset, creating good boundaries, all of those things start to move us into that proactive stance instead of a reactive stance. Michele Williams Having a very intentional, clear focus of what you're doing really creates grounding, it creates trust, it creates an environment where people can get behind it and kind of push that boulder uphill with you because they all know that they're pushing in the same direction. Michele Williams Sustainability shows up because we have sustainable processes, we have sustainable team dynamics, and we have sustainable profitability. Michele Williams Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele Williams References and Resources: Work with Me The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today CFO2Go Metrique Solutions E-Myth Revisited by Michael E Gerber