The Interior Design Business CEO

166. Designing Client Behavior: How Your "Words" Create Better Projects (Interview with Ochre & Beige)

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What if better clients and smoother projects start long before you ever begin designing?   In this episode, I sit down with Jaquilyn Edwards of Ochre...

165. Digital Brains: Protect Your Mental Bandwidth

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Are you carrying too much in your head right now? Between client details, timelines, delegation, and daily decisions, it can feel ...

164. Change Your Relationship to Time

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by time? How you relate to time has a significant impact on how you manage your business ...

163. Crafting a Schedule that Works for Your Workstyle and Goals

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How do you build a schedule that actually supports the way you work instead of constantly working against you? So many designers t...

162. Taking a Break When There Is Always More to Do

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

That feeling of always thinking you could have done more, wishing you were farther along, or feeling behind is something many desig...

161. The Whole Cost: Calculate Before You Commit (2026 Goals)

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when you set your goals as if the start of the year is a blank slate? In this episode, I am looking at the reality that...

160. Guided Reflection: Close out 2025 with Clarity and Intention

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if you could close out the year with intention, rather than rushing ahead to the next? In this episode, I'm guiding you through...

159. Floors & Ceilings: Identity Shifts to Reach Your 2026 Goals

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What do you need to do to achieve your goals in 2026? All of us have set points, what we are comfortable having and doing, and where ...

Stop Winging Your Goals: Create Your 2026 Roadmap

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ready to make 2026 your best year yet? Join me for the Create Your 2026 Roadmap Workshop on January 9th & 16th.   In this special bonus episode, I'm ...

158. Soft Landing, Smooth Takeoff: A Less Stressful Year-End Planning Process

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the year-end rush? As the holidays approach, the pressure to finish tasks, meet deadlines, and prepare ...

157. Marketing for Introverts: Aligning Strategies with Your Strengths

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you struggle with marketing? Marketing your interior design business requires visibility and connection with potential clients. For ...

156. Fear Inventory: A Strategic Tool to Get Unstuck and Move Forward

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Big goals and bold changes often come with a surprising amount of resistance. Whether it's a shift you know needs to happen or a dream y...

155. Inside My Business: Decision-Making, Priorities, and Podcast Changes

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do you make decisions that honor both your business goals and your energy as the owner? Every decision about where I invest my time, ...

Changes Ahead and a Reflection for Your Week

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, I'm pausing to share a powerful question for you to journal or think through. I also suggest revisiting a past episode with a f...

154. Pep Talk: Stop Avoiding and Start Making Progress

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes the smallest tasks create the biggest mental weight. That pile of papers on your desk, the drawer you've been meaning to organiz...

153. Protecting Creative Time, Boundaries, and My Summer Wins & Fails (Listener Q&A Part 2)

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do you protect creative time when you're balancing a design business, family life, and a packed calendar? For designer CEOs, carving ou...

152. Delegation, Productivity, and Deciding What's Next (Listener Q&A Part 1)

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do you manage growing pains when bringing on a new employee while keeping your business running smoothly? That's the question one listen...

151. Client Trust, Social Media, and Authentic Marketing with Melissa Oholendt

10 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do you build trust with clients before they even start the inquiry process? For designers, this foundation often determines whether a pro...

150. Build Momentum through Strong Decisions (CEO Summer School)

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if the key to moving your business forward isn't having all the answers, but making the right decisions and committing to them? In this e...

149. Growth, Team, and Leadership Lessons from Katie Kath

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does it take to run a multifaceted design business that balances creativity, leadership, and growth? Katie Kath, CEO and Creative Director...

148. Are You Solving the Right Business Problems? (CEO Summer School)

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you solving the right problems in your design business? Every day brings new challenges, from client communications eating up your inbox tim...

147. PR Strategies for Designers: Strategic Growth & Visibility with Allison Hay

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is your design business ready to take the next step with PR? If you've been wondering how public relations could help you grow your firm but aren...

146. Delegation and Outsourcing: Collaborate, Don't Abdicate (CEO Summer School)

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Building a strong team goes beyond simply hiring the right people. It requires a fundamental shift in how you engage with those who support your b...

145. Stop Being So Hard on Yourself: The Power of Self-Compassion

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you often find yourself being your own toughest critic? Running a business as an interior designer requires resilience, but constantly foc...

144. Scaling Is an Inside Job (CEO Summer School)

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Running a business is like being on an upward spiral - you're continually expanding as your business expands, but the spiral isn't always smooth. Yo...

143. Time & Energy: Identifying Your Gains vs. Drains

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are hidden time and energy drains quietly sabotaging your productivity? It's easy to focus on the obvious tasks—proposals, appointments, and emails...

142. Time Management: The First Domino of Success (CEO Summer School)

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Could time management be the key to creating the business and life you want? If you feel like you're always running out of time or struggling to get t...

141. Running Toward vs Running From: The Mindset Behind Your Goals

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the idea of pursuing a vision for your business? Setting your vision and pursuing it boldly can feel daunting, especial...

140. Create Your Vision and Pursue it Boldly (CEO Summer School)

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you stuck trying to figure out what your business vision should look like? Maybe you know what you want but are unsure how to take act...

139. Deciding Which Strategies Are Best for Your Business

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If there is no right way to grow your interior design business, how do you know what to do next? In this episode, I dive into how to identi...

138. No Right Way to Grow Your Business (CEO Summer School)

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you stuck thinking there's a "right way" to grow your business? Maybe you're trying to follow best practices or copying strategies you'v...

137. CEO Summer School: What I Know for Sure

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you ready to slow down this summer, but still feel like you should be making progress in your business? Maybe you want to give yourself m...

136. Reimagine the Way You Work: A Personal Update

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is there a part of your business you're feeling pulled to rethink or do differently? Maybe it's something you've outgrown or a new vision that...

135. Falling off the Wagon: How to Recommit without Guilt

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever started a new habit or routine, only to suddenly find yourself completely off track? That moment when you realize you've "fallen ...

134. Burnout Prevention: How to Stop Overfunctioning

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you constantly swooping in to save the day, taking on excessive responsibility, and feeling like you're the only one who can do things right...

133. Confrontation or Communication? Navigating Difficult Conversations

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you struggle to have difficult conversations with clients, contractors, or team members? I've been coaching on this topic a lot lately, and it...

132. Decision Debt: A Framework for Better Decision-Making

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you drowning in unmade decisions? I call this "decision debt" – the accumulation of postponed choices that drain your energy and keep you st...

131. How to Thrive When Things Feel Uncertain

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is uncertainty in the design industry keeping you up at night? With economic shifts, political changes, and market fluctuations, it's easy to feel ...

130. Pep Talk: Give Yourself What You Need

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you been ignoring your own needs while taking care of everyone else's? In this special pep talk episode, I explore the powerful practice of ide...

129. Boundary Mistakes: 4 Common Pitfalls

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever found yourself feeling exhausted, resentful, or frustrated with clients, contractors, or even team members? If so, you're likely experi...

128. Hustle vs Hard Work: The Critical Difference

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you constantly chasing the next goal, pushing yourself to the limit, and feeling like you can never quite catch up? In today's episode, I'm diving...

127. How Design Retreats Can Help You Grow Your Business with Jennifer Davis

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you been feeling stuck in your interior design business lately? Are you ready to level up but unsure of the next steps to take? Attending a profe...

126. How to Stop Doing Things Last Minute: 5 Tips to Take Control

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As interior designers, we often juggle multiple projects and deadlines, making it easy to fall into the trap of putting things off until the eleventh ...

125. Prepare Your Business for Summer Now

12 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If the thought of a break brings up a ton of fears and worries, it's time to start planning now to ensure your interior design business is set up for ...

Start Here: Welcome to The Interior Design Business CEO Podcast

07 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I'm an award winning interior designer and a master certified life and business coach. I created this podcast to help designers go from stressed and o...

124. Fear of Wasting Time: Why Withholding Effort Holds You Back

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I dive into the dreaded fear of wasting time and energy and explore why it's not actually possible to waste your time if you have the...

123. Nancy Ganzekaufer & Desi Share 6 Ways to Leverage Your Time to Increase Your Profit

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I'm joined by fellow interior design business coach Nancy Ganzekaufer for a collaborative conversation about six actionable strategies to make the mos...

122. 3 Game-Changing Routines Every Interior Design CEO Needs

19 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I'm sharing the essential habits and practices that have been game-changers for both myself and my clients in creating an interior design business tha...

121. Negative Thought Spirals: 5 Ways to Stay Calm and Focused

12 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I'm diving into how to recognize when you're caught in a negative thought spiral and practical strategies to break free from it. By learning to manage...

120. Choosing New Design Business Opportunities Without Overload

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I share a powerful process for systematically assessing new opportunities and invitations. By asking yourself a series of key questions, you can gain ...

119. Taking the Leap: Risk & Reward When You Invest

29 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I dive deep into the concept of risk tolerance and how it impacts your ability to achieve your biggest goals as an interior design bu...

118. Enough Chances to Succeed: Staying Committed to Pursuing Your Goals

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I share my personal experience of setting and achieving a challenging goal last year - doing a headstand in yoga. Through this lens, ...

117. Scaling Through Meaningful Relationships with Blue Pencil Collective

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered what it takes to build a successful interior design business through meaningful relationships? In this episode, I sit down with...

116. 3 Essential Things to Focus On in Q1 for Your Interior Design Business

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I'm sharing the three most impactful things you can focus on in quarter one to gain traction and build momentum in your business. By constraining your...

115. Follow Through on Your Goals: Self Accountability Strategies for Interior Designers

01 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you struggle with follow-through and honoring commitments to yourself in your interior design business? You're not alone. Self-accountability is an...

114. Empowering Beliefs and Powerful Questions to Reach Your 2025 Goals

25 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

At the heart of building a practice you truly love—one that supports you creatively, financially, and personally—is the ability to make thoughtful...

113. Overcome Goal Aversion to Reach Your Full Potential

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Goal aversion can manifest in various ways, some obvious and others more subtle. It might look like telling yourself you're not a goal person, doubtin...

112. Progress Goals vs Outcome Goals: Staying Motivated and on Track with Your Goals

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I share a powerful strategy that will help you stay motivated, accountable, and on track throughout the entire journey: leveraging both progress goals...

111. 5 Key Ingredients to Make 2025 Your Best Year Yet

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As we wrap up the current year and look ahead to the next, now is the perfect time to reflect on what worked well, what didn't, and what you want to c...

110. Defining Enough

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As we come to the close of another year and begin thinking about goal setting for 2025, knowing what enough means for you is vital for creating the ki...

109. Uplevel Your Brand Messaging & Positioning: Copywriting for Interior Designers with Deb Mitchell

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I sit down with brand strategist and copywriter for interior designers, Deb Mitchell, to discuss how powerful messaging can transform your interior de...

108. Break Free from the Productivity Trap: A New Perspective on Getting It Done

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As interior designers, it's easy to get caught up in the idea that more is always better. Whether it's working on client projects or moving the ball o...

107. Designing for Good: Charitable Giving Strategies for Interior Designers with Mark Ostrom

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Ostrom, the founder, executive director, and creative director of Joy Collaborative: a nonprofit located here in...

106. Project Panic: Navigate Hiccups While Staying Calm

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I answer a question from a listener who struggles with staying calm and collected when project issues arise. We often absorb the stre...

105. Pivot with Purpose: Should You Revise Your Year End Goals?

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You probably set yourself an annual financial goal back at the beginning of 2024, and here we are, coming into the final months of the year. Are you o...

104. Eliminate Business Bloat with "All Killer, No Filler"

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As CEOs of our businesses, we are constantly faced with decisions about what to keep, what to let go, and what to bring in. But without a clear framew...

103. How to Optimize Your Team's Performance, Productivity, and Profitability

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you have part-time or full-time team members, it's crucial to ensure that their roles and responsibilities align with your company's goals. If...

102. Fear of Rejection (& How to Overcome It)

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you holding back in your interior design business due to a fear of rejection? You're not alone. As a designer, putting yourself and your creative ...

101. Growing a Successful Design Business: Lessons from Campbell Minister

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, I'm joined by my former client and incredibly talented designer, Campbell Minister, as she lets us in on her journey from overwhelmed desig...

100. 100 Episodes Later: Top Lessons from Podcasting for Interior Designers

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As I celebrate the 100th episode of the show, there are important lessons I've learned from this incredible journey of creating what has become a well...

99. What's Next (CEO Summer School Lessons)

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We've covered a lot of ground over the past CEO Summer School episodes – from trading good for great to overcoming Someday Syndrome. Now it's time t...

98. How to Increase Your Confidence in Your Interior Design Business

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There are two distinct types of confidence that you can leverage in your interior design business to help it grow and also get out of your own way whe...

97. You at Your Best (CEO Summer School)

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Being an interior design entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart. Between managing client relationships, juggling multiple projects, and chasing bi...

96. Becoming Your Future Self: A Leadership Journey

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Leading with your future self is all about focusing on where you're going, rather than where you've been. By setting intentions and taking action in a...

95. Business Blind Spots (CEO Summer School)

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I share examples of common blind spots and provide strategies to help you proactively identify what might be getting in your way. By ...

94. Beyond Later: How to Overcome Procrastination

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How are you delaying the daily tasks you just don't want to get to? Where in your life or business are you prone to saying, "I'll do it later?"   If ...

93. Someday Syndrome (CEO Summer School)

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you are currently delaying the results you want to see and the interior design business CEO you want to become, you're not alone. We all engage in ...

92. Reframing Your Reality

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last week, we discussed how feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place in your business is primarily a mental habit. The lens through which you vie...

91. Rocks & Hard Places (CEO Summer School)

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you know what you want to achieve next but only see two different yet equally undesirable options, you might be stuck in rock-and-a-hard-place thin...

90. More Ease in Business Growth

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As your business grows, you will continually cycle through periods of comfort and discomfort. Increasing your capacity for discomfort is an ever-evolv...

89. Are You Willing? (CEO Summer School)

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When you think about where you want your business and life to be one year from now, what do you need to be willing to do and feel to make your vision ...

88. A New Approach to Work-Life Balance

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, I'm revisiting the concept of creating Your Life and Business Vision. This is an essential piece of goal-setting and business planning beca...

87. Trading Good for Great (CEO Summer School)

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the first episode of our CEO Summer School series! If you could wave a magic wand, what would great look and feel like in your business one...

86. Hitting the Reset Button in Life and Business

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Whether it's a client falling through, a key employee leaving, or receiving a health diagnosis, those big life-shaking moments are opportunities to re...

85. CEO Summer School Is in Session

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Summer tends to be an exceptionally busy time for all of us. Your schedule is probably all over the place, you might be taking time off from work, and...

84. Quality Questions for a Better Business

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you've ever wondered why the mindset aspect of my work is so critical in my sessions with clients, this topic exemplifies exactly why. Your brain i...

83. Calendar Stressing You Out? It's Time to Uncommit

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The lessons we're taught around productivity often center around being more committed or disciplined to our goals and business vision. However, I'm ta...

82. Pep Talk: Control Enthusiasts

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A love of control is a tendency that is especially prevalent in the interior design industry. But the truth is, we can't control everything. So it's t...

81. Quantity Creates Quality

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you're prone to overthinking, over-planning, over-perfecting, or over-tweaking aspects of your interior design business, this is a must-listen epis...

80. Create Your Summer Slow Down

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Just like the seasons change around us, we experience different seasons of our lives and businesses. Those periods of change must be acknowledged beca...

79. The Evolution of a Designer CEO with Client Heather Peterson

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Heather Peterson runs a small boutique interior design firm based in Minneapolis, working with clients across the country. As a self-trained designer,...

78. Competing Desires

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week's topic of competing desires is one that applies to you, regardless of the stage of business you're in. Each year and each season of life wi...

77. PR for Interior Designers: The What, Why, and How with Molly Schoneveld

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Molly Schoneveld is a brand strategist, publicist, and the founder of The Storied Group: a luxury PR firm that specializes in representing designers ...

76. Best Case Scenarios

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you often find yourself spiraling in worst-case scenarios? The truth is we are wired to consider all the possible worst-case scenarios. This is how...

75. Quarterly Review: 4 Questions for Maximum Impact

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Every quarter is an opportunity to make new decisions based on what you've learned during the last quarter, and being strategic about your planning pr...

74. ROE (Return on Energy) is the New ROI (Return on Investment)

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The acronym ROI (Return on Investment) is typically used in the business world, and the process of examining whether or not your investments are provi...

73. The Magic of a 90-Day Plan

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you don't currently have a supportive plan that's going to move you in the direction of your goals over the next quarter, there has never been a be...

72. Why You Should Set Low Expectations

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What is it that you consistently say you want to do but aren't taking action on? How might the expectations you've set for yourself and your business ...

71. Transitions in Your Calendar: A Secret Time Thief

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you're switching locations, activity types, or even the roles that you perform in your day-to-day life, these are transition points that you m...

70. Your Role as Designer CEO: Ready for Your Next Evolution?

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I recently read Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul by Howard Schultz, which got me thinking deeply about the mindset re...