Interior Redesign for Highest Profits

The Direction of Laying Wood Flooring

2006-09-27T11:05:00.000-07:00

QUESTION
I have a client who wants to install hardwood flooring and was asking my advice on the correct direction. Is there a rule of thumb regarding which direction to lay the planks? One rule I’ve heard is that it should be laid the opposite direction of the traffic pattern. But that may be different in different rooms.

ANSWER
Direction Matters According to One Flooring Installer - The normal method for installing hardwood strip flooring is to lay the boards perpendicular to the floor joists. The boards can be installed parallel to the joists, but an extra layer of sub-floor plywood must be added.

Taking Full Advantage of Every Situation

2006-09-12T14:49:00.000-07:00

Sometimes people who study redesign with me don't include home staging services as part of their business. I think this is a mistake.

The two businesses are closely related and fit hand and glove together.

In every home sale, there are two opportunities for redesign services. The seller is moving into a new home as well as the buyer. Both of them are bringing their existing furnishings into a new space.

So there are two more opportunities to be hired as a redesigner that can come from providing home staging services first.

Stagers who don't offer redesign services also make a mistake.

I don't know about you, but I'm going to follow the money. Fortunately for you, I offer courses and tutorials in both businesses, so you can learn to do both simultaneously. Don't miss out.

Coordinating Art with Rug

2006-09-08T22:42:00.000-07:00

QUESTION
My client has found a beautiful rug that is 5x7 that has a soft neutral background with about 7 flowers the size of your hand in muted colors. The picture she likes to put over the love seat is a European scene with two very small sailboats, a rock wall in the foreground with a vine of muted red flowers which are about the color of the brick fireplace. What do you think about a picture with this scene with the rug I described? Is there a good rule for choosing pictures and rugs that work well together?

ANSWER

Rules:
1) Colors must blend and harmonize with everything else in the room;
2) Size of art must be appropriate for the wall (proportion);
3) Size and format of picture must be appropriate over the loveseat (scale).

Remember your 2/3rds rule I gave you.

Otherwise you can mix anything together, so long as the colors fit and you get a good feeling. I'm not one who requires some hard fast style and no other in the same room. Just have a good mix if you're breaking style.

Price Testing

2006-09-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

Whatever you think is your best-selling price probably isn't the best. It's almost impossible to predict what price will sell the best for you.

That's because it has to do with the psychological image a client receives about your service and where you live and in connection with your competition.

To demonstrate how minute the differences can be, a $19 items has been known to outpull a $17 price by as much as 300 percent. On the other hand, a $69 price has been known to outpull a $79 price by twice the number.

We tend to think cheaper is better, but even that isn't the case in every situation.

In another example, a $495 price outproduced a $295 price by 3 times and it outproduced a $395 price by 1.5 times.

The only way to make sure you are not restricting yourself on price is to test.

Sometimes the best price is higher; sometimes it's lower. If you don't test it, you'll never know.

Fan Decks and Paint Companies

2006-09-03T20:28:00.000-07:00

QUESTION
I have a question regarding picking out a color fan deck:

There are many color fan decks on the market and in your color trends ebook you
recommend the fan deck from Devoe. In interior design classes they reccommend
the pantone colors though.

If I am going to do color consultations I would like to give the client a color
chip or color number/description in order to reproduce. Is that possible by
working with a Devoe fan deck or any other fan deck or does it need to be
pantone colors?

ANSWER
The Devoe fan deck with the two color keys is no longer available.

I would pick a fan deck of a popular paint most likely near your client's home: Behr is rated #1 at Home Depot. You can go with them, Dunn Edwards, Glidden, etc. They're all good and the fan decks are pretty similar. Pantone color system is great, but then you still have the problem of matching their swatch to actual paint colors. Tricky.

You can swing thru a Home Depot or other paint section and take a couple of small swatches from every color to have to give out as samples. I'd only try to work with one company, however, otherwise it can really become a nightmare to keep up.

Redesign for the 21st Century

2006-09-01T09:27:00.000-07:00

It used to be that the appropriate distance from a sofa to the TV was about 8-9 feet (from the back of the sofa, that is). But times are a-changing.

Nowadays redesigners are more likely to encounter big screen TVs and the viewing distance must be greater.

So now a good redesigner should be pulling that sofa back to about 10-12 feet, maybe even further if the TV is really huge.

This creates an abnormally large distance between the seating arrangement and the TV and the whole look of a room can start to break down if there is no unity.

So how do you compensate?

Well, one way is to place a large area rug between the sofa and TV, leaving a 1-2 foot "border" in front of the TV. This helps connect the seating arrangement to the TV visually. Some ottomans on the floor will help expand the whole seating arrangement closer to the TV without impairing the vision of the screen when seated on the sofa because they are usually lower than the coffee table.

As you adapt to these giant screen TVs, remember that it's still important to try to create a cohesive "unit" between the sofa, other seating, the coffee table and the TV.

The Need to Compartmentalize the Home

2006-08-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

I read an article in the paper this weekend where the writer claimed that the reason we compartmentalize our homes is because we, unlike people in other countries, have "learned to expect houses to be built with special compartments".

With all due respect to the writer, this is just not true.

From the dawn of creation, people of all cultures have sought, in varying degrees, to organize their surroundings. It's not particularly something we are taught to do as children either.

Some of us grew up being encouraged to keep our rooms clean and orderly. Some of us grew up in utter chaos. But there is something in our psyche that requires us to function in an orderly manner or allow us to function in any manner.

My partner is a neat "freak". Everything has to be in its proper place or he feels totally ill at ease. I like things orderly, but am much more likely to have a messy desk than he is. In fact, he cannot tolerate a mess of any kind.

It is our ingrown need to organize our lives that compels us to compartmentalize things and it plays out in our clothing, our purses, our briefcases, our rooms, our offices and our homes.

It is not a 21st or 20th century phenomenon at all.

I'm sure there were cavewomen who designated certain parts of the cave for sleeping and other parts for eating and cooking.

The writer goes on to say, "homes before the 18th century, particularly in Europe, had no special definitions. Beds and tables were set up according to immediate need. . . . From our cultural education, we create visible as well as invisible territorial markers."

It's not cultural. It's human.

The Japanese, and other cultures who live in small spaces, are keenly aware of the need to compartmentalize their homes, and do so quite ingeniously. So it clearly is not some need borne out of our large spacious homes here in the West.

Putting furniture and accessories in their proper place is the function of an interior redesigner. It is what the business is based on.

If you need training in this area, might I suggest you get Decor Secrets Revealed, an electronic book of 25 chapters devoted solely to the subject of the proper arrangement of furniture and accessories in a room. It will teach you what you need to know and help you compartmentalize your furnishings in the proper manner, whether in live in a large or small home.

Hot Areas of the Country for Redesign and Staging

2006-08-25T07:09:00.000-07:00

QUESTION
Do you know of states that are ideal for this type of business and service? I am needing to relocate and am open to going where I'd make the best money. Thanks for your suggestions.

ANSWER
California, Florida, New York and some of the other northern states are hot pockets right now. You can check out the popularity by visiting our International Staging and Redesign Directory and going to each state to see how many listings are in that state. That might give you some clue as to local popularity.

But the thing is, if you go to an area where it is more well known, you
have less educating you need to do. That is a plus, but you'll likely encounter some competition. But if you move to virgin territory, you might find getting press coverage much easier. So each has its benefits and its drawbacks.

But no one's experience will be the same as yours. From that perspective, it doesn't matter where you go or where you live, whose there ahead of your or if you are all alone.

Cultural differences can also play a factor. If you are in a strong cultural area other than caucasian, you will find different attitudes than in caucasian areas. Some cultures are more receptive to redesign (and staging) than others.

One Giant Key to Interior Redesign Success

2006-08-24T20:26:00.000-07:00

I participated in a 4-way teleconference today hosted by one of the internet's largest, most prestigious companies. As a successful entrepreneur, they wanted to interview me on how I built my business and turned it into a success.

Before it was my turn, another entrepreneur was interviewed. When asked by the host how he was, however, his response was "Ok. I'm doing ok." I was shocked. I had fully expected him to answer with great enthusiasm, yet his response was mild to the point of making me wonder if something was wrong.

I therefore resolved that when I was asked how I was doing, that my response would be one of total excitement and positive statements. Alas, I didn't get asked the question.

But it made me think about how important one's attitude is and how much it contributes to one's success or failure.

Sometimes we fall into the trap of wearing our feelings on our sleeves, so to speak, in the mistaken belief that we should be "fully honest" at all times. I know I sometimes have to fight that battle myself.

But you can't afford to operate without enthusiasm. No one wants to work with or hire someone who is mildly enthused, or heaven forbid, depressed. So guard how you come across to people in a conversation, whether in person or over the phone. You will be judged by the level of your own positive statements, the tone of your voice and so much more.

Practice talking enthusiastically, even though you might not be feeling that way. You'd be surprised at how it will help your business and even pull you out of the negative state you are in at the time.

Interior Redesign and Home Staging

2006-08-16T14:45:00.000-07:00

Since interior redesign and home staging are so closely related, you're crazy if you're not offering both services simultaneously. They both feed into each other.

Every person who sells a home, if they are moving locally, will be moving into a new space. They will be taking their old furnishings with them to the new space.

If they needed the services of a home stager on the front end, chances are HUGE that they will need the services of a redesigner on the back end.

People who have used your services as a redesigner at some point, will likely call you to come stage their home if and when they decide to sell it. Then they will want you to come redesign the new home after that.

So smart professionals are doing both businesses at the same time.

I have the only online, fully developed course that thoroughly teaches you how to build your own home staging and redesign business and intelligently incorporate the two together for the highese potential profits.

Visit: Diamond Staging and Redesign Course

Get your business started now while there is very little competition. You won't be sorry.

Displaying Good Leadership in Redesign

2006-08-08T12:53:00.000-07:00

There are different kinds of leaders.

1) Those that lead by verbal dictate.
2) Those that lead by example.

While I'm perfectly at ease in a verbal exchange about my business and industry, I much prefer to lead by example.

When you consider that most people learn by visual stimuli, then you recognize the importance of placing something visual in front of them. Few people learn just by hearing. Why do you think every teacher you ever had made you take notes?

By writing down the concepts and by visually looking at what you wrote, your retention level was at its strongest.

So why is it that so many business people depend on auditory instruction to promote their businesses and to direct their employees?

Great CEOs and leaders should be able to build their company's product or deliver its service from the ground floor up.

That's just one of the reasons, when you call me, you will most likely find me answering the phone rather than a staff person. I want all of my clients and students to know that I'm accessible and willing to participate personally in their success or the resolution of problems.

Lead by example.

Giving a Talk to a Large Group

2006-08-04T08:52:00.000-07:00

QUESTION
I'm giving a talk at our local civic center and am not sure which type of media would work best for a larger audience.

I have your set of cds for the computer, but no way of stopping it and discussing each phase. What do you recommend? I have a TV and dvd player, but no Powerpoint program for a computer (plus I think the screen is too small for the audience). Help!

ANSWER
Well, the powerpoint slides we offer would have really helped you out. If you have powerpoint, you can create your own. Not hard to do.

Otherwise, if you have a screen to use, you could rent an overhead projector. Need room to be dark. You make full size sheets of what you want to show and have them converted to "overlays" (image is transferred to a type of clear plastic). Kinkos can do them for you. You place the overlays on the bed of the projector and it magnifies the image onto the screen for you. It's the old fashioned way.

Apart from that, then use oversized props in your talk to illustrate. You could create a "living room" setting on stage behind you. You didn't say whether your talk is about staging or redesign, but at least you'd have something to use to illustrate a point or two.

Feng Shui and Interior Redesign

2006-07-31T14:29:00.000-07:00

QUESTION
I'm not acquainted with many concepts of Feng Shui, but from what I understand of the concepts that drive the philosophy, I believe you may find it often conflicts with standard American interior design, which is driven entirely by the architectural features of a room, the room's usage, the scale and proportion of elements in the room and the even distribution of color.

ANSWER
You may find some rooms will blend together nicely with the two philosophies and there will be others that are in conflict, so you'll have to choose which one is best for your client. If a client really insists on Feng Shui philosophy first and foremost, go that way. If not, go with American design because not everyone will relate or agree with the FS philosophy.

You'll have to play it by ear, I'm afraid.

International Interior Redesign Directory

2006-07-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

Announcing!

The International Home Staging and Interior Redesign Directory

Advertising and promoting your business are key elements to building and sustaining a business. The International Staging and Redesign Directory is set up to send you highly targeted inquiries. If you have a website, you can list it in the directory. The listing will help your own website rankings, as well as prove to the world that you are a legitimate staging or design professional.

To join the directory, visit:
Join Directory

To visit the directory, go to:
The International Staging and Redesign Directory

Get your business listed in the fastest growing, most prestigious international directory for home stagers and interior redesigners and designers.

If you aren't being found, you're losing business.

Tell them I sent you.

Cheers!

5 Affirmations for Interior Redesigners

2006-07-25T18:52:00.000-07:00

1) It is I and I alone who am responsible for the values that I hold. It is I and I alone who am responsible for the decisions I make and the actions I take.

2) I trust my judgment and my abilities. I give myself permission to take calculated risks in my interior redesign business and in my life.

3) I am totally capable of achieving whatever goals I set for myself today, this week, this month and this year.

4) I am special. There is no one on earth quite like me. I am a worthy person, kind hearted and valuable.

5) Since I am totally in control of how I react to life, my thoughts, my emotions and my actions, I steadfastly am determined to direct my full being to improve my life: my work, my relationships, my health.

Redesign Self-Worth and Self-Trust

2006-07-19T19:06:00.000-07:00

Do you believe you deserve to be happy? Do you believe you deserve to be successful? Many people just don't believe they deserve good things in life.

Case in point. The battered woman who never leaves her husband or boyfriend. Deep down she feels she deserves to be mistreated. She thinks being hit and bruised and knocked around is normal, and certainly doesn't expect life to be any different.

That belief is housed in a very poor sense of self-worth.

Do you trust yourself? Are you a positive person? Do you work hard? Are you responsible? Do you test your limits while staying in control all the time?

If you answered "no", this is an indication of a lack of "self trust". To be successful in life, you have to value yourself and you have to believe in yourself.

While all of us go through moments of self doubt, and sometimes get caught up in comparing ourselves to others, we cannot afford to undervalue ourselves and question our abilities and common sense. If we do that, we will never rise up to great heights.

Elevator Speech for Interior Redesigners

2006-07-16T16:52:00.000-07:00

Do you have a concise elevator speech?

An elevator speech is a descriptive statement that tells anyone in a nutshell exactly what you do for a living. It should be something that you can say quickly, say in the time it takes to go from the 10th floor to the lst floor in a high rise building.

Most business people, and certainly interior redesign entrepreneurs, struggle with what to say about what they have to offer. I don't know if it's the time pressure of saying something quickly or what, but they become tongue tied and stammer out something rather useless.

To develop a good elevator speech, sit down quietly and write down your thoughts.

Try to place yourself in someone else's shoes who knows nothing about interior redesign and what it has to offer.

Eliminate all the business jargon. People don't listen to it anyway.

Create a 2-3 sentence paragraph that describes what you have to offer that would be of benefit to them.

Now boil it down to a more concise statement.

Then boil it down even further.

Try it out on a few people and then ask them what they understood you to say.

If there is a wide difference between what they "think" you said and what you "actually" said, you have more work to do.

Control Who Criticizes You

2006-07-12T18:33:00.000-07:00

You've begun your interior redesign business. You're excited. You've got your training under your belt.

Then along comes a distant relative who makes a critical, unsupported comment about you and your business. You go into an instant slump.

Did you know it takes about 15 compliments to overcome one criticism in your life?

Why do we seem to internalize the negative comments so much deeper than the compliments we get? I don't know the answer to that, but I do know that we can control how we react to what people say.

If you find there is a person in your life who is continually bringing you down with a constant barrage of criticism, remove yourself from their presence. You must control, as best you can, the number and level of critical people who can have a negative effect on you.

Life is too short to be made miserable by people who are not supportive of you.

Self Talk for Interior Redesigners

2006-07-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

All the while you are reading this post, you are talking to yourself. Not out loud, but your inner mind is always active and speaking to you. It's called "self talk".

Self talk can be destructive or constructive.

It can validate a fine performance or it can cause you to place blame, either on yourself, someone else or something.

Do you find yourself minimizing an achievement with statements like, "Oh, it wasn't that good" or "Well, I was really lucky . . . "? You might think you're just being humble, but perhaps that is negative self talk at work robbing you of the ability to feel a real sense of achievement.

Or perhaps when things aren't going well, do you find yourself saying, "Well, it's not me! It's them!"?

Both of these situations are destructive self talk at work. It is a pattern of making excuses, and if you don't accept responsibility for your accomplishments AND your failures, you can't change them or overcome them or accept your true value.

You've got to recognize that your self talk needs an adjustment. When you hear yourself making these kinds of excuses, note them and discard them. Each time you do, you will begin changing how you think and how you speak to yourself. Very quickly you will not only see yourself achieving at new and greater heights, but the people around you will begin to react more positively toward you too.

Dispelling Destructive Beliefs

2006-07-07T07:49:00.000-07:00

BELIEF #1
You don't have the ability to control how you feel about something or someone. Life is filled with external forces that happen and you are merely a victim of these circumstances. So when something goes wrong, you have a right to shut down and quit.

BELIEF #2
You can't help your behaviour because it is controlled by the child in you, the child of your past. It is not really you who made that decision, but it is the little girl in you or the little boy in you who made the decision, and you are at a loss as to how to control yourself.

I know a 64 year old man who never accepts responsibility for his own actions and decisions. He lives his life going to therapy where his counselor feeds and fosters his belief that he is controlled by the "little boy" inside him who is compulsive, hurt and angry.

Consequently, when he makes a poor decision (which seems to happen quite frequently), it's never his fault. It's the fault of the "little boy". God forbid the "old man" should ever take responsibility for himself.

One cannot go through life blaming other people, most certainly the young child we used to be a long time ago. We must accept responsibility for who we are and the choices we make as adults.

As Dr. Phil says so often, "You can't change the things about yourself you're not willing to own."

As an interior redesigner, you must take responsibility for your decisions and choices. To do anything less is to be unprofessional. You do have the ability to control how you react to what life brings you, even if you don't have the ability to control what happens.

Never give up.
Accept yourself as an adult.
Take responsibility for your actions and words.

Your Own Worst Enemy

2006-07-05T13:49:00.000-07:00

A recent house guest would have been actually very likeable were it not for the fact that she was too outspoken with her opinions, crossed over basic etiquette lines by discussing issues that were too personal and actually offensive to her hosts.

It is a classic case of becoming one's own worst enemy.

When you are at a client's home, don't enter into discussions of a personal nature with your client. Keep the conversations on business.

You want to bond with your client professionally, but you don't want to join into any conversation that includes gossip, derogative statements about relatives or members of the family - yours or theirs.

Don't become your own worst enemy. Your reputation is at stake.

Keep a Positive Attitude

2006-07-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

Women are more prone to compare themselves with other women. It is a none fact that we tend to compete with each other on a personal level, whereas men tend to compete with other men on a task level.

So what do you see when you look in the mirror?

Do you see a redesigner who is professional looking?
Do you see a redesigner who smiles?
Do you see a redesigner who is caring and loving?
Do you see a redesigner whose hair, makeup and clothing is suitable for her body style?

While you may be unhappy with some aspects of your personal appearance, never forget that you are your own worst enemy. No one but you (or perhaps a spouse) will see you stepping out of the shower or bath.

So no one else will be judging you in the raw. Only you.

So lighten up. Give yourself a break. Work on the aspects that need work and don't worry about the ones you can't do anything about.

Getting the Courage to Speak Out

2006-07-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

COMMENT FROM AUSTRALIA
Thought I would share something with you. After our last communication I decided to try and start believing in my knowledge and talents. Attending a dinner last night ( which I never usually do) I started talking about what I planned to do with my business. On discussing the psychology of buyers and the concept of redesign i was shocked to hear that no one knew of how it all worked and was pleased to realise that I had much more knowledge than the normal person on the subject. Quoting lots of info from what I have learnt from your courses (although I made out it was just my general knowledge) I realised that I do have the knowledge and talent to make this a bona fida business.

So feeling a little more confident and looking forward to completing the courses and 'getting on with it'

Thanks again, Jill

RESPONSE FROM USA
Ha, ha, ha. You make me laugh. Good girl. See how easy it was? Most of our fears are based on unreality, not fact. One you voice what you're learning to someone, it is yours forever. We usually retain far more than we realize, so it then surprises us when we are able to relate more than we thought we could. Proud of you.
Stay in touch.

How Do You Feel About Yourself?

2006-06-28T13:42:00.000-07:00

Everyone has opinions. Everyone makes value judgments.

But not all opinions and judgments are valid. Does that stop anyone from voicing them? Of course not.

So it is imperative that you understand that there is no opinion and no judgment that has more value or validity than your own. This is very important to your growth and development.

Every minute you are awake, you are speaking to yourself within your own mind. It's called self-talk.

The most important conversations you will ever engage in are the ones held in the privacy of your own mind. What you tell yourself about you and the world is what you will believe. What you believe about yourself is what you will bring into your life.

I've always believed and told myself that I could virtually do anything I wanted. While it took time to develop myself, my thoughts, feelings, talents, education and expertise, I always inherently knew one day I would be a huge success.

Gratefully that time has arrived for me.

Without a strong belief in yourself, you will find it impossible to reach the pinnacle of success, no matter how much you want it and no matter how long you strive.

Building Your Self Esteem

2006-06-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

Self esteem refers to how you genuinely and deeply feel about yourself.

Your personal self esteem is at the root of all of your behaviour. Always has been; always will be. So if you feel positive feelings about yourself, you will affect your life in a positive manner. But if you have negative feelings about yourself, you will affect your life in a negative manner.

Since you can never ever get away from yourself, doesn't it make good sense to become your own best friend? Doesn't it make good sense to continuously feed into your subsconscious and conscious mind good thoughts about yourself?

People who constantly speak negatively about themselves are people with poor self images. The very fact that they speak the negative all the time brings negative results. The negative results reinforce their negatives thoughts and words.

So it's like a vicious circle.

Break the vicious circle by making a commitment to speak only kindly about yourself, your life and other people. Practice it for 21 days. By the end of that time, you should have broken the cycle. Only then can really good things start to come your way on a regular basis - especially into your interior redesign business.

What you put out in life is what you get back. Remember that.

Winning Attitudes for Redesigners

2006-06-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

Our talents and looks and other assets are not equal.

But we have been created with a priceless value. More value than we realize and more value than we could ever utilize in one lifetime.

The playing field may not be level. One person may have had a better opportunity for education, another had a more supportive home life, one may be more beautiful, another is smarter.

Regardless of what life has given you, you have been created with the qualities of a champion.

You were born a champion. But after that you may have turned yourself into a loser by the choices you have made, the perceptions you have about yourself, and the way you have reacted to life.

In other words, if you find yourself a loser right now, you got there by how you have chosen to perceive the world and your place in it and you have lost (or misplaced) your belief in your basic value.

Change how you perceive yourself and you will change your circumstances.

Impressing Others

2006-06-24T15:45:00.000-07:00

How many braggadocio people do you know?

Do they irritate you?

I'm totally amazed at the number of people there are, who go on these reality shows or interview shows, and look right at the camera and just go off on themselves. I can't quite figure out if they believe that bragging is just a means of showing confidence for the show, or whether these people actually live their daily lives with such arrogant talk.

I've decided it's the latter of the two.

In reality, bragging is an indication of a poor self image. Bragging is not what self confident people do.

Well, I think I'll make an exception in the case of Donald Trump. Here's a guy who is obviously talented, wealthy and wise, yet he has built a career out of tooting his own horn. Certain personalities can get away with that kind of thing. Bragging has actually made Trump famous. But then, with your last name being "Trump", how can you not be a little arrogant?

For the rest of us, however, bragging is not an asset.

In reality, the LESS you try to impress, the more impressive you ARE.

We all get faced, from time to time, with the temptation to put ourselves up on a pedestal. But, in most cases, it should be avoided at all cost.

Wait and let other people sing your praises. It will mean far more to you when it happens and the positive effect will be far more beneficial to you than if you throw it out there yourself.

Criticism and It's Effects

2006-06-23T11:24:00.000-07:00

From time to time I receive some pretty harsh criticism. Don't always know why. Don't care why.

Criticism is easy to dish out. And it usually comes from people who feel inadequate or who are jealous. By being critical, they feel better about themselves.

But it's a false attitude of superiority.

Critics are usually failures. And they are usually failures at the very thing they claim to be superior in. Strange.

They don't recognize that there is a difference between offering a helpful suggestion and making a criticism. They throw the dart because it "feels better". And when there is a reaction they didn't expect, they claim it was just "constructive criticism".

There is no such thing. Criticism is criticism. And it is especially brutal in writing because what is in written format takes on a life of its own.

Before you run out and criticize something or someone, ask yourself how you would react if you were on the receiving end. Think about the ramifications, if any, you might encounter if your comments are perceived as rude, uncaring or disrespectful.

Then ask yourself, "Is it worth it to me to vent on this person? What might I lose in the process?"

Becoming a Huge Success

2006-06-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

Last night I watched this week's segment of "So You Think You Can Dance". Wow, what talent these young people have.

But I was blown away by the last couple to perform for the night. They both were exquisite and the judges were on their feet applauding at the end. Everyone went crazy.

So what made their performance so outstanding, to the point where Nigel said they were the new couple to beat? Had their technical skills risen to a much higher level than their other competitors? While technically they were excellent, that is not what made the difference.

The difference was their personal emotions while dancing. Both dancers were totally immersed in the emotion of the dance, the story, the song, the message.

Earlier in the competition, one of the female dancers was told that she looked like she was scared and that her smile was merely a mask to cover her true feelings. Contrast her "plastic smile" to the facial expressions and emotions of the last couple. There was no comparison.

You see you can't fake it.

Either you have the deep emotional connection or you don't.

What you show to the world on the outside is merely a reflection of how you feel on the inside. Anything else is a mask.

Fall in love with what you do and the world will feel that love and want to be part of it.

Interior Redesign: Going the Distance

2006-06-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

Gold medalist, Mary Lou Retton, was the first American to score a perfect "10" in gymnastics vaulting at the Olympic games, this despite a serious injury just weeks before.

After she scored the perfect ten she could have stopped and won the competition. But she decided to take the second optional vault.

If she made a mistake, had a slip, had a slight distraction or any minor error, under the tough rules, she would lose her first ten and lose it all.

But she went for it anyway.

Champions don't operate by fear of failure.

They are willing to pay the price - the full price - for success.

You might not be old enough to have seen it. I was.

Mary Lou took the second vault and again scored a perfect 10.

Why the risk? If one has worked, and worked, and worked on their "game", it becomes second nature. Quitting is not an option. Failure is not an option.

Managing an Interior Redesign Business

2006-06-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

You usually have to wear many hats as an interior redesigner. You are the designer, the marketer, the promoter, the accountant, the mover, the transporter, the janitor.

One thing is certain. To be ultimately successful, you have to take all of these "positions" and mold them into a unified force driven toward one goal. You have to take all that you are, and work your strengths.

You need to work smart and minimize your risks.

That's what I love about redesign. You can be very creative in a client's home, yet your risks are very, very low.

If you fail to direct all of your efforts into one cohesive path, however, it will be because you are not fully committed. This is one of the key components for anyone who wants to succeed.

Sometimes it might require a "moment of truth" in your life. Whether it is recognized as a moment of truth or not, it happens for everyone. It's that moment in time when you see clearly the path you want to take, and you either get motivated or you don't.

A moment of truth can be any event, good or bad, positive or negative. It's that moment when you have a chance to seize the opportunity and make the commitment.

Interior Redesign Success Thinking

2006-06-17T17:42:00.000-07:00

There are no rewards out there for anything if you don't try to achieve them. And age should never be a barrier to one's full participation in life.

When I was in my late twenties, I had worked for a number of bosses I did not respect. So I eventually decided to strike out on my own with a typography and graphic design/printing business.

I'll admit it was a big scarey. I had no financial backing. No business background. No formal training in typography, design or printing, though I had been a secretary for many years.

I had a dream.

And I had the tenacity to work hard and never give up.

I didn't start my online business (Decorate-Redecorate.Com) until late in my fifties. While my contemporaries are thinking about retirement and grandchildren, I attended a Saturday class learning HTML and taking training via the internet in marketing an online business.

I have never let age be a factor - not when I was young and certainly not now when I am older.

If you're young, you'll get older and wiser. If you're old, you'll get older, but you won't be put out to pasture to leave this world as an unproductive participant.

So go for it. Live a full life. Participate to the fullest. You won't regret it.

Interior Redesign: Managing Competition

2006-06-16T06:23:00.000-07:00

To more or lesser degrees, who isn't tempted from time to time to compare themselves against other people. The happiest people in life are those that refuse to compete against others.

Two days ago I watched an episode of Dr. Phil. Two of his guests were a pair of twins, somewhere in their late twenties or thirties. Both were quite beautiful physically and well spoken.

But all of their lives they had been competing against each other. Competing over beauty, athletics, weight, boyfriends, work, education and on and on. One twin in particular just thrived on beating her sister, spoke arrogantly and didn't seem to have a clue how she was being viewed by Dr. Phil or the audience.

How utterly sad.

The other twin wanted to end the competition but was at a loss as to how to get out of it. She had deliberately chosen not to ever have children because she did not want to compete with her sister over whose children were the cutest, smartest, etc.

I wanted to hug the second one and slap the first one.

Your success should be measured against your personal growth, your willingness to do your best and your own unique skills and goals. It should never be measured against another person, whether your twin or a total stranger.

Interior Redesign Commitments

2006-06-15T11:10:00.000-07:00

Gail Devers, an Olympic Gold Medalist in track and field, began having acute physical problems in 1988, her final year at UCLA. She had migraine headaches, partial blindness, memory loss, sleep loss, fluxuating weight and convulsions.

In 1990 she was diagnosed with Grave's disease, a thyroid condition, which could have resulted in cancer. Undergoing radiation and chemotherapy, Gail had so much pain she couldn't walk. She was borderline in need of foot amputation to save her life.

In 1991 her therapy was changed and she began to improve. While the rest of us would have just been happy to be alive, Gail was not satisfied.

While other athletes were training on the track all around her, Gail trained on a stationary bike. Within one month, wearing sweat socks only, she was able to walk around the track.

A few months later she was running. A year later she was at the Barcelona Olympics.

And at those Games, she won the Gold medal in the 100-meter dash!

What a testimony of the agony of defeat and the thrill of victory. What unbelievable commitment to one's goals!

What is your commitment to your business success?

Failing at Interior Redesign

2006-06-14T14:19:00.000-07:00

Failing at business is nothing new. It happens all the time. Interior redesign is no exception.

As good as my tutorials and courses are, I still have people who take the training with great enthusiam and I never hear from them again. While there are a myriad of goals that a person might have, and while timing sometimes plays a part, why do people fail to achieve their hopes and dreams?

Failed attempts are a part of the road to success. The failed attempts are merely attempts which brought successful people to the point where they succeed.

You see there are people who have tenacity and drive. There are people without that.

Then there's rejection. Failure usually brings out feelings of rejection and guilt. Often people interpret their failures as peer rejection or a loved one's disapproval.

Failure is merely that an idea didn't work. Or the process of creating the idea didn't work. Or the means to market the idea didn't work.

Clearly something didn't work out as planned, but it is wrong to view that as rejection by any one.

It is right to turn the idea over in your mind, look for ways to improve the idea, look for ways to to improve the processes or the marketing of the idea. And then give it time.

Gerald Fralick found himself flipping hamburgers in 1962, earning minimum wage. He decided to make a "career change" toward selling life insurance (which by the way is very difficult).

Twelve years later, after he had sold over $50,000,000 worth of policies, he was asked how he had become successful. He replied, "It was because I thought that's what you did when you had failed at everything else."

Making a career change is one thing. But maybe you just need to take a closer look at you, how you present yourself, your services, the benefits you're offering, your target market, your advertising message and methods.

It's a lot easier to improve what you're doing than to make a startling career change. But then no one should stick to flipping hamburgers for life.

Winning at Interior Redesign #4

2006-06-12T12:08:00.000-07:00

The best incentive in the world for staying focused on your business is to enjoy what you're doing. When you enjoy what you do, you naturally will invest more time and energy into the tasks you must accomplish.

But that's not all. When you enjoy what you do, you will speak about it more enthusiastically. That enthusiam will spill over to the people you are talking to. They will become enthusiastic too.

That enthusiam will lead to you being hired by them or by someone they refer to you.

No one wants to hire someone who is disillusioned.

Years ago I was conducting weekly training sessions. One of my students chronically arrived depressed. I can't imagine anyone wanting to hire her because even I didn't want to be around her.

If you're depressed for any reason and you have an appointment, postpone the appointment until you feel happy and positive again. Believe me, it's not in your best interest (nor your client's) for you to arrive depressed and negative. You can't hide it. Don't think you can. People will pick up on your inner feelings and it will affect them.

Are You Right for Interior Redesign?

2006-06-09T16:43:00.000-07:00

Have you ever measured how you feel about what you're presently doing?

Decades ago I was stiffled in a secretarial job for 5 years. I was appreciated verbally at times, but my paycheck sure didn't reflect that appreciation. The longer I stayed on the job, the less money I made because of inflation and the rising cost of living.

I finally had had enough! I looked closely at the talents I had, what I enjoyed, borrowed some money and struck out on my own. I won't say there haven't been some critical ups and downs, particularly in the financial realm in the early years. I had never owned a business before and there was a large learning curve.

But I hung in there because life took on new meaning now that I was doing something I thoroughly loved. No longer did I start dreading Mondays on Sunday afternoons. No longer was I dying for Friday at 5:00 PM.

No longer did my work feel like work. I just loved what I did.

Interior redesign is such a creative business, with absolutely very little risk, and so easy to get into. Isn't it time you discovered what you love to do - and then just do it?

Building Interior Redesign Business

2006-06-05T12:17:00.000-07:00

Ever ride a bicycle? Or how about a skateboard?

It only takes one ride to figure out that if you don't keep pedaling, you'll soon stop. Or if you don't keep pushing the board along with one foot, you'll soon stop.

Coasting will only get you a little way.

The same is true in business. If you land a great appointment, that will give you a big thrill for the moment and no doubt increase your confidence. And you might even be able to coast for a short time off of that achievement.

But eventually you'll be out of work if you don't keep marketing your services and products to potential clients. This is the on-going, daily, methodical part of your business.

If you are spending all of your time "managing" your business and very little time is spent in "marketing" our business, you will be out of business soon.

You've got to keep pedaling.

Succeeding at Interior Redesign

2006-06-04T00:11:00.000-07:00

Hard work isn't enough in and by itself. Sure it's important. All businesses take hard work to achieve success. But more is required.

You've got to be tenacious.

Many people who decide to start a business begin with unrealistic expectations. They think projects and income will magically appear just because they "hang out a shingle". All too often they quit long before their new business has a chance.

First you need to get educated. Then you need to jump in and get your feet wet. You might not be so good at first, but perfection comes with excersing your skills.

But a lasting business requires a solid plan of action: a strategy. The strategy will be made up of many different tactics, procedures and methods.

When those are in place, it just takes time.

You've got to set your mind to the task, steer your course, never look back (except to measure your progress), and be tenacious.

Winning at Interior Redesign #3

2006-05-30T17:29:00.000-07:00

We all make mistakes. Every last one of us.

It's a foregone conclusion that you will make mistakes in life and in business. It happens to us all. But one of the reasons that separates successful people from unsuccessful people is their ability to learn from their mistakes.

If you push your failures and mistakes under a rug and ignore them, you will miss out on a great opportunity to stay on track.

Try to look at life as a series of "lessons". Some will be good lessons; some will be bad lessons. But whether good or bad, they are both part of the process of getting you to your goals - if you let them.

I've made plenty of mistakes or poor judgment calls in my business career. I have deep regrets about many choices. But one thing is certain: I always, always learned from my mistakes. As a result my business is far better today than it was last week or last month of last year.

Analyze every error you make. Decide what you will do differently in the future. Expand. Improve. Make clear. Test.

And lastly. Don't beat yourself up. When you always try to make the best decisions with what you know at the time, then don't beat yourself up afterwards. You will grow and learn and develop, trust me. Don't be so hard on yourself.

Working Hard for your Redesign Business

2006-05-23T22:40:00.000-07:00

It's harder to stay focused and in the trenches in work than it was in athletics.

When I was competing in track and field and basketball in my youth, there usually were other students, parents, teachers or coaches there to cheer me on. So it was easy to get "pumped up" and get my adrenaline flowing.

The same was true when I played drums for a women's trio, when I gave great speeches, taught classes, acted in plays. There was always an audience to impress and get approval from.

But in business there often is no one to cheer you on, except for your family. Much of your success goes unnoticed. If you don't have deep, abiding goals to keep you steering your course in the right direction, you will likely fail.

So surround yourself with good mentors - people who know how to be successful who can act sort of as your cheer squad. Go to them for advice.

Write down your accomplishments and now and again treat yourself to a reward.

Winning at Interior Redesign #2

2006-05-19T11:50:00.000-07:00

Everyone needs to feel secure - to a point. I often have people contact me about training and they say, "I don't know enough yet. I want to learn more first before I start."

Man, when I think back over some of the first redesigns I did two decades ago, I would probably be mortified at what I did. I just jumped in and started doing it. No one was doing this kind of design back then - no one.

There wasn't any training I could take. The internet hadn't been invented yet.

Sometimes waiting is just an excuse to mask the fact that you're just plain scared.

So tuck your fears into your pocket and get out there and do it anyway. You will learn and grow and get better with experience and time.

If you wait until you think you know enough, you will never get started at all.

Winning at Interior Redesign #1

2006-05-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

Achieving maximum success in your business depends on achieving mini-goals along the way.

You can achieve any goal you set, but you first have to break it down into a series of sub-goals. Each small goal you achieve should advance you, day by day, into achieving the larger goal.

First define your major goal and do it in writing. It then takes on the same impact of a legal contract.

Second, outline your goal in the form of steps. This way it becomes more focused in your mind, is less intimidating and more easily achieved.

Third, set goals that can be achieved in 90 days. It becomes a quarterly goal. Financial reports are usually generated quarterly. So it makes sense to set your goals according to the same time frame.

Fourth, claim your goal as your own. In 90 days you will own it, but only if you claim it now.

Interior Redesign Marketing Strategy #4

2006-05-17T11:41:00.000-07:00

A marketing approach or a selling method that is common to other industrys might be completely unique to yours in your area. In a sense, using a strategy that is refreshing and new in your area can become like a "holy grail" to you.

If you are the first (or only) one to utilize a strategy in your area, it can have the impact of an explosion. But you have to understand it first, recognize its worth and then incorporate it into your tactics and strategies.

Sometimes you have to look outside your own industry to find innovative approaches. Bring them over and adapt them and you may find your phone ringing off the hook.

Redesign Marketing Strategy #3

2006-05-12T10:12:00.000-07:00

Would it surprise you to know that 40% of all businesses generate 100% of their business from referrals?

Unfortunately 30% of them don't get a single referral in a week.

As a consultant, a large amount of your business should be coming from referrals - people who know you and think you are talented with a worthy service or product.

But it doesn't happen automatically.

You have to have a referral generating system in place. By that I mean, you have to have some method that regularly works on your behalf to garner referrals.

When you put that in place, there is no reason why you can't generate dozens of referrals every month and that will sustain you just by itself.

Redesign Marketing Strategy #2

2006-05-10T08:50:00.000-07:00

If you ask the wrong question, you'll get a wrong answer.

Most people ask themselves, "What do I have to say to get people to buy from me?"

Instead, ask yourself, "What do I have to give?" "What benefit can I offer them?"
"What value do I have to share with them?"

You must create and offer value to your clients. There is no place for sales gimmicks. I hate it when I get interrupted by someone calling me and saying, "This isn't a sales call . . . or I'm conducting a survey . . ." Please.

Don't waste my time.

Of what value is it to me to participate in their survey? I'm too busy for that kind of stuff.

So look at your talents and figure out what you have to offer them that will be valuable them. Forget about what's in it for you. That's how you build a successful business.

Redesign Marketing Strategy #1

2006-05-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

It's important to continually fall in love with your client.

Is your devotion misplaced? Instead of falling in love with the money you're making, fall in love with your clients. Instead of falling in love with your product or service, fall in love with your clients.

All truely great entrepreneurs share this one trait.

They habitually and repeatedly fall in love with their clients and treat their clients as valued and revered friends. They look for ways to bring an enhanced advantage, a protection, a benefit or value into the lives of their clients.

When you know your client is in need of a specific accessory, call them or drop them a line about that fabulous accessory store that's going out of business. It let's them know you're looking out for them.

Mother's Day and Values Shared

2006-05-02T10:01:00.000-07:00

My mother is 90 years old, living in a foreign country all alone. As Mother's Day approaches I naturally think of her and the values she has shared with me throughout my life. This short movie encompasses many of those values. I thought it would be meaningful to you, especially at this time of year.

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May You Be Blessed
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Five More Mistakes to Avoid in Redesign

2006-05-01T10:37:00.000-07:00

1) Cutting prices to solve the problem instead of finding out what's wrong.
2) Failing to make doing business with you fun, easy and appealing.
3) Not giving enough to customers.
4) Quiting too early
5) Not targeting the right market.

Look for ways each day to make small improvements to what you're doing. Over time you'll see the greater benefits.

Are You Entrepreneurial Material?

2006-04-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

Here's one way to know if you're cut out to be an interior redesign entrepreneur:

1. Are you a jack-of-all-trades? Or do you have a gifting in color, design, arrangement techniques? Do you thrive on learning something new and mastering it?

When you own your own business, you have to figure things out on your own, unlike working for someone else. You have to market your skills, decide what to charge, send out advertising, fix your own equipment problems and so forth.

You have to do your own bookkeeping, find the training and technical support you need, even be your own janitor at first. Entrepreneurs wear many hats at first.

You can outsource many tasks but that gets expensive and at first you probably won't want to do that. But you can learn a lot on your own about bookkeeping, computer technology, marketing, management.

Community colleges and libraries are great inexpensive or free sources for additional training. Keep a book by your bed and read a chapter or part of one each night before you turn the lights out.

Turn off the TV an hour early and read or listen to CDs or tapes. Take what you learn and apply it to your venture. Take time out to just relax and think. Take a walk with a friend and brain storm ideas.

The training and support is out there.

Tips on Hanging Art Without Nails or Hooks

2006-04-27T10:13:00.000-07:00

QUESTION
A client of mine wants to hang 12" x 16" art on a wall without making holes in the wall. My client also wants to keep the art work flush with the wall (no leans).

ANSWER
12x16 isn't going to be that heavy. Only two choices as far as I know.

Adhesive: double sided adhesive tape made for keeping pictures aligned. You can
buy it at most hardware stores. It's about 1/8" thick, however, when you go
to remove the picture after time, it may damage the wall and leave some residue
behind. Should not be used on walls that get direct sunlight as, over time, the
adhesive material might become brittle and dry and that wouldn't be too good.

Suspend art from the ceiling using clear plastic cord or thread. Can get this at jewelry making bead companies or also at fabric and craft supply stores.

For more training on hanging art, see Secret Art of Hanging Art.

Avoid Common Business Mistakes

2006-04-25T10:40:00.000-07:00

Five common business mistakes redesigners make:

1) Failing to test the key elements of their advertising.
2) Running institutional advertising campaigns.
3) Not differentiating themselves from the competition enough.
4) Not developing a back-end service or product.
5) Failing to understand their client's needs and desires.

Try approaching people in different ways. Develop 3 "elevator speeches". Note which one seems to attract more interest.

Flyers and ads in the paper generally don't work. People hire designers by referrals and getting to know you personally.

Figure out what makes you special - different - unique - better than your competition.

Do you have a reason to keep in contact with clients? A back end product or service will give you that reason. For training in how to do that, we've covered it thoroughly in Advanced Redesign.

Put yourself in your client's shoes. How would you feel if someone approached you? What would you think of them? Of what they offered you? Talk to people and ask them questions. This is the best way to get to know their needs and desires. Ask.

Interior Redesign Class

2006-04-24T10:56:00.000-07:00

What do I think about interior redesign classes?

I'm sure there are some that are very good, but I've also heard some horror stories.

Facts related to me in the past include: 1) instructors arguing in front of the class all week; 2) students fighting over furniture and accessories to be used in the room they were assigned; 3) few, if any, hand outs given to go home with; 4) teachers getting angry during the critique sessions following a redesign; 5) students not getting along with each other during the redesign.

Avoid potential problems by studying at home at your pace.

Tutorials and Courses Make More Sense

Window Treatment Tricks

2006-04-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

QUESTION
I have short windows in my home, they have mini blinds on them and I want to put valances up. Any idea which style to use to make the windows look not so wide?

========================

ANSWER
Well, any time you have horizontal lines going across the window it will look wider and not taller. The horizontal line of the valance, plus the horizontal lines of the blinds all contribute to this.

If you can't change the blinds for verticals or shades and if you must have the valance, try to put vertical lines in the valance. You didn't say how tall the valance will be.

You can also hang faux drapery panels down the outer edges of the window, coming from under the valance on each side. This will add a strong vertical line and counteract the impact of the horizontal lines. They will also reduce the width of the window automatically. Run the fabric from top of window to the floor.

Interior Redesign Training

2006-04-19T14:36:00.000-07:00

One of the best ways to network your business is to throw a party in your home. Not only will your guests see and experience the way your furnishings are placed in your home, it is a natural place to casually mention you're in the redesign business.

Use my musical slideshow to demonstrate what redesign has done for other people. Show it to any guests who indicate an interest in what you do.

It's a low key way to market yourself and your talents.

For details on how to get the musical slideshow, visit:

Networking at Parties.

Linen Source Commercial Accounts

2006-04-18T10:04:00.000-07:00

I like some of the spring bedroom ensembles in the Linen Source catalog. They do have a commercial account division, which when you register will give you 10% off on orders over $1000, and an additional 5% for those who qualify. On approved credit, they will set you up for a net-30 account.

While this discount helps, you'd still have to upcharge your product to make a reasonable profit selling this to your clients. You should know that discounts of 40-50% are more the standard. But if your client buys enough at one time, you could still make a small profit.

Linen Source

Interior Redesign School or Not?

2006-04-13T10:13:00.000-07:00

Looking for a way to push your business to the top and get all you can get out of it? Oftentime we look for some "secret" strategy that no one else knows. Some magic formula, when all the time the best strategy is staring us in the face.

People who show people better solutions are those that rise to the top in their profession. They are:

* People who make people more revenue.
* People who make people's lives happier, richer, healthier, more content.
* People who show people better ways to do things.
* People who liberate the lives of others.

Do you have to go to an interior redesign school to learn how to be helpful? Certainly not. Does it take a home staging seminar to teach you how to put the other person first? Hopefully not.

Click here to continue . . .

Using Marketing Postcards Effectively

2006-04-11T20:46:00.000-07:00

Professionally printed postcards are a good way to reach potential clients in the offline world. They are not expensive to mail out and easy to use.

Most recipients will at least turn the card over, and even if they don't, your message (albeit brief) will be on the back beside their name.

Postcard messages are most effective when kept brief and to the point. Don't cram too much copy on to the front or the back.

You only have a second or two to grab attention.

Ask the prospect to call you. Or ask them to request a free report from you.

Give them some benefit to contact you.

You can rent lists from mailing house companies and specific the kind of target market you want to reach.

We have some postcards all ready printed which you can order if you don't want to create your own. For more information, here's the link.

Marketing with Postcards

Interior Redesign Industry Specialist

2006-04-10T12:11:00.000-07:00

I often get asked about the Interior Redesign Industry Specialist designation. I am not affiliated with this organization for several very good reasons, many because of reports I have received from others that have been part of those organizations and for my own personal reasons as well.

First, it is totally unnecessary to belong to this organization (or any organization). It has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on a redesigner's success or failure. I have never belonged to any association or organization and it hasn't stopped my success one iota.

Second, I wish to remain autonomous. As an independent business entrepreneur, I don't let other people tell me how to run my business. You shouldn't either. Once you join an organization, they sometimes feel they have the right to curtail your business and you have to conduct business according to their policies or you have to leave the organization. Sorry, not for me.

Third, I've never ever joined any business organization, paying their hefty yearly dues. That's another reason why I don't even belong to the Better Business Bureau. I run a totally ethical business, honor all of my promises, give the most extensive information on the internet on redesign and staging, give away tons of free tips and more.

Put your clients first. Make them happy.

Save your money. You don't need organizations for success. Too many people join them and are disappointed because they think membership is some kind of magic wand. It's not.

Ignoring the Focal Point

2006-04-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

I couldn't believe it when I entered my client's multi-million dollar home, decorated by another designer, and found that the two chaise lounge chairs had been placed with their backs to the fireplace.

This just didn't work.

Even my client's knew they were unhappy with the arrangement but didn't know how to fix it.

Do you know what to do? Check back tomorrow to see what I did.

Tenacity Pays Off - Or Does It?

2006-04-07T09:01:00.000-07:00

I had a dream last night that a young man (friend of my son) had approached me about a donation to his cause. I said yes, but forgot. He reminded me. I forgot again. He reminded me again, I forgot again.

I don't know why I kept forgetting in the dream, but you know how dreams go.

Eventually it got to be annoying having him contact me and the relationship (in the dream) became strained, to say the least. Finally I refused to make a donation and he said he never wanted to see me again, where upon I woke up and rolled over and went back to sleep.

I probably had the dream because I'm in the midst of buying my daughter a new car. The salesman became a little too aggressive and I had to tell him to back off, even though I did appreciate his zeal and tenacity. He had become kind of a nuisance because some aspects to the sale were out of my ability to control.

Realize there is a fine line between being responsive to your prospect's needs and becoming a pest. You will win some and lose some. Don't become a pest in the process. You will not only lose the prospect, but any referrals that might have come your way.

On the other hand, you do have to follow up on leads and be responsive or you will lose the prospect and any referrals that might have come too.

You just need to do a great job of "listening" to what they tell you and act accordingly. When in doubt, ask the prospect what type of follow up they would like to see you give. Then everyone is happy.

Simplicity is the Key

2006-04-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

Don't overdo your redesigns. Just because a client has a ton of stuff in a room, that doesn't mean you should use it all, even if you have room.

Help your client weed out some of the lesser important furniture and accessories. Use what is most functional first. Then add to that.

A good redesigner knows when to stop - when enough is enough.

Always remember, too much of a good thing is simply "too much".

Not Enough Redesigners Use the Outdoors

2006-04-04T11:27:00.000-07:00

I have to admit I'm guilty of this.

Don't forget to look into your client's yard to see if there are any cuttings you can make to create an instant arrangement to fill an empty spot.

Use cuttings on a mantle.
Use cuttings on a coffee table.
Use cuttings on an end table.
Use cuttings on a night stand in the bedroom.

Nothing is quite as sweet as fresh cut flowers. It just invites you to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Best of all - they're free to your client.

What are Realistic Costs for Redesign Business?

2006-04-03T14:23:00.000-07:00

QUESTION
What in your estimation is the cost to be fully prepared to start this business, meaning how many of your training aides and tools are really necessary to run the business properly without being excessive?

ANSWER
As I said above, I don't put anything in there that is fluff. There's a gal in the East that puts in a painting fan deck, pencils, a note pad and garbage like that. My most expensive program is $934.95 plus S/H, I believe (Diamond). Sounds like a lot, but you're loaded with everything you need, except for the basic home staging tutorial, if you want to do that business too. But you can buy that separately.

My last full redesign day I got paid $1000, so you see it would probably only take you 1-3 paid appointments to pay for all of your training and all of the tools of the trade. That's also the beauty of my program. I offer you everything in Diamond on an individual basis, so you can start small, for as little as $100 (basic redesign training ebook) and add more training gradually.

Unless you have a degree in design, however, you should definitely add the following: Decor Secrets Revealed, Where There's a Wall - There's a Way, and Arrange Your Stuff.For a good bird's eye view, check out this page:

Options for Redesign Training

Client Purchases at Redesign Appointment

2006-04-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

I recently sent two clients out to purchase more accessories, giving them a rough list of the types of things I needed to complete the decor.

I was surprised at how few things they actually returned with and I realized that what seems so easy for me to accomplish is not that way for other people, particularly for those with no design training.

Perhaps they felt hesitant fearing I would not approve of their selections. I don't know, but I have realized that I shouldn't expect too much from them on that day.

So you may need to schedule a second appointment in some situations and know that you won't get great "after" pictures until you have a chance to come back when there is more on the premises for you to work with.

For those of you who don't mind offering a "buying service", you can even come prepared with the types of accessories most people fail to have.

Interior Redesign Comparison Sheet

2006-03-31T13:24:00.000-08:00

QUESTION
Which book do you recommend for getting started for the career minded?

ANSWER
Well, that's difficult to answer because I don't know what you already know and what you don't and I don't know your resources. I'm sure you know it takes some money to get a business off the ground. I don't include anything in my package deals that is fluff like my competitors.

Diamond Redesign is the best overall value because it gives you ALL of the training I offer and ALL of the tools of the trade, plus you save on shipping and get the guaranteed certification. Gold is good too and is popular because it is less money than Diamond. It just doesn't have all of the tools of the trade, but does give you all of the training in business and design, just like Diamond.

Silver gives you strictly all of the training. No tools of the trade. Believe me, you want the tools if you're serious. They make the job soooo much easier and show you to be a true professional too.

I just made a easier comparison page that might be helpful.

Comparison Sheet of Our Programs

Frequently Asked Questions: Interior Redesign Business

2006-03-30T08:32:00.000-08:00

QUESTION
You mention that there are three licenses that I would need to obtain. Does this mean additional training and additional cost?

ANSWER
No aditional training, but some minor costs: ie you need a business license. I pay about $85 per year for my license. If you sell products (not just services), you need a resale license. Sometimes there are deposits required by your state.

QUESTION
Do stagers/redesigners need to purchase insurance before working in someone's home?

ANSWER
It is recommended, but I'm sure plenty of people don't have coverage.

QUESTION
Has anyone that you know of been sued?

ANSWER
I know of no one who has been sued.

Which makes more money?

2006-03-28T17:21:00.000-08:00

QUESTION
I have been reading your websites for the past couple days (www.decorate-redecorate.com), and love what I've been reading. I was considering signing up for an expensive Staging Program (approx. $4,300 for a 3 day + another 3 day)until last night when I came across your information. Now I will probably order the new GOLD Staging program you offer. However, I am not clear on what interior redecorating is, and would like to understand the difference between that and staging before I choose the training. Do you use any new furniture, window treatments, etc. when redecorating, or do you "redecorate" only with what the client already has? Do you think there is more money in Staging or Re-decorating?

ANSWER
Interior redesign is the process of arranging furniture and accessories that the client already owns who is planning to stay in the home, not move.

Home staging differs because it is for people moving and the focus is quite different.

People are making good money in both types of businesses and I feel you would be smart to do both, not one or the other.

We have tailored the training so that if you buy Gold Staging, all you need to do is also buy "Rearrange It" and you'll have the top training for both businesses (there is some business/marketing overlap, but the actual processes of doing both businesses remains quite different.

You could also buy the Diamond Redesign course, and then just add "Home Staging for Profit" and it will give you virtually the same thing. I hope this makes sense.

Do both businesses. That's my advice.

Home staging might be more your bread and butter, but redesign is more creative. But each person's experience is different so it's impossible to predict what yours will be.

Bedroom Decorating Tips

2006-03-28T03:58:00.000-08:00

The bedroom should be more than a resting place. It should also be a place to fulfill your fantasies. That makes it quite personal because that will be different for everyone. You may want your bedroom to resemble the tomb of a pharaoh (I don't, but you might), an Arabian tent, a country retreat, or as austere as an ecclesiastical chamber (again, not for me).

Of all the rooms in your home, the bedroom is the most private. Not many eyes cast their view of it. It is the one room you are entitled to have complete, undisturbed and total privacy. Often the master bedroom is large enough to handle a seating arrangement, and some even host fireplaces and large screen TVs.

But amidst all this originality, there are a few basic elements one will find or generally chose to place in one's bedroom. They are: a bed and bed frame,end tables, chests, a chair and ottoman, a desk (if there is room), a soft, warm floor covering, awindow treatment that coordinates with the style of the room, lamps and, of course, accessories. Of course, the decisions are wide and varied and deeply personal.

More on Bedroom Decorating

Publicity for Your Redesign Business

2006-03-28T03:53:00.000-08:00

What are you doing to gain free publicity for your redesign business?

There are 3 basic ingredients you should have.

1) Your one page news story. After you write every sentence, ask yourself this question: "So what?" If you can't answer that question with a meaningful answer, rewrite the sentence, because your sentence will be boring.

2) Create a brief paragraph about you that in some way establishes your credibility in the business. You'll want to include this at the bottom of your news release.

3) Create a list of questions you can give to a reporter so that you can guide the reporter to ask you the things you want to answer. The reporter will appreciate it and will more than likely ask you the questions you want. Be prepared with your answers to those questions.

Sheffield School of Interior Design

2006-03-24T11:11:00.000-08:00

QUESTION
I have just completed the Sheffield school of Interior Design program and loved it. How does your program in design compare to theirs. I am really interested in your redesign program and would not need all the design background stuff (ie color theory, etc). Which one of your programs would be best suited for me??

ANSWER
It depends on your goals, actually.

I offer both Redesign and Home Staging in basic training tutorials (ebook or printed versions).
Rearrange It (redesign) covers a little of home staging, but focuses mainly on redesign, setting up business, marketing, promotions, etc.

Home Staging for Profit covers only staging business and parts are very similar to Rearrange It, because some marketing, organization and promotional stuff is the same for every business one earth.

Advanced Redesign covers advanced stuff for both businesses, but maybe more for redesign than staging, hence the name.

Then there are nifty tools of the trade I highly recommend and use myself.

Don't know anything about Sheffield, though they have been around a long time. I have periodically had interior designers tell me they learned more from me on arrangement of furniture, however, than they did in all their formal design training, but I couldn't tell you where they studied. So I cannot help you compare what I teach with what you already know. One gal in Florida said she didn't learn anything new in Decor Secrets Revealed, but was reminded of several things she had forgotten about and she had been a full service designer for many years. So it is different for everyone.

Promotional Stickers

2006-03-23T17:30:00.000-08:00

Today I received a nice card from a mortgage broker with a sticker on the envelope flap and again on the inside of the card holding his business card in place. I've substituted mine for his to show you.

The sticker says, "Oh, by the way, I'm never too busy for your referrals."

You could, of course, have your sticker say anything you want.

A quick search on the web will bring up loads of label/sticker companies that will be happy to make a custom stickers or labels for you.

Interior Redesign at It's Best

2006-03-22T08:36:00.000-08:00

Saturday I redesigned a large Tuscan home (3 stories) in Long Beach for a couple who had torn down the former home and built the new home. They had hired the designer associated with their architect. However, the designer had an attitude. He wanted to express HIS "statement" and not their personality.

After firing the designer, the home owner sought out someone to come and hang up her art and place her accessories. She contacted a local college with a design department.

The woman who came to look over the project quoted her a $40,000 fee.

Then she found me. I did the entire project in one day for $1000. She will have me back in a month to finish the 2nd and 3rd floor. She is so excited, she has already gotten me another client, with more on the way. That's what redesign is all about!

I'll be posting pictures of the project soon at:

Decorate-Redecorate.Com

Interior Redesign Training

2006-03-21T00:05:00.000-08:00

There are many people who offer interior redesign training. But not all trainers are alike.

Some say you can only learn in a seminar or class setting.

If this were true, you wouldn't find so many online classes being developed by major colleges and universities.

For the most comprehensive training, and the most affordable, you owe it to yourself to investigate your options.

I offer many options. Which is right for you? Well, that depends on your goals.

http://www.decorate-redecorate.com