Finding Your Niche: The Proof is in the Pudding

Solo Ep 4 Transcript

[00:00:19] I love how Sally came to it through the memo library and the vendor side. My buddy, Jason started design through the retail angle coming from a totally different career. And then Julie, who started the traditional and academic way of graduate school and working for a commercial interior design firm. So I was reflecting on these episodes and I hope they are inspiring you to move forward in your design career.

[00:01:09] Through those first few years. And I was just thinking, I wanted to remind you, there are so many ups and downs and left and right turns that you do not need to obsess about everything being perfectly set up. When you start, you're going to change your logo. I think we changed ours four times. You're going to update your website.

[00:01:59] [00:02:00] Getting caught up in the, Ooh, could I perfect this a little bit more and change this? It ends up slowing down the process entirely. So if you're just starting out or in the beginning of your design journey, my advice would be perfectionism is the enemy of good and that you just need to get started and you will evolve and get better and change.

[00:02:48] Instead of resting on our laurels for our 20th anniversary, my team and I have decided to branch out and reach more people. And that's through our online education and this podcast. And they sort of support each other. My hope is that this podcast will give you the inside scoop and behind the scenes on how everyone found their way.

[00:03:28] And if there's something that you, the listener would like us to discuss and peel back the curtain on, I'd love for you to send me a note, just slide into my DMS on Instagram at Liz Levin interiors. I'm always there. I'm happy to answer questions. I love the connection with new people that's happening over there.

[00:04:06] I just want to share the love. You never know what comes from random connection. I am so excited that I had a recent collaboration. Opportunity. And again, it goes back to helping my students in this online course that we've been working so hard on, but a fellow designer and former interior photographer is.

[00:04:51] So we need to take awesome pictures to show them what we can do. Proof is in the pudding and you need some great photos. And for most of us starting out, hiring a great professional photographer is a little bit beyond our reach. price wise. It's expensive. I should say it's an investment and it's an important investment, but it's not one that everyone can do every other month to showcase the work that they're doing.

[00:05:40] And is it worth it in terms of the return? Do you really need it for Instagram and all of that? And I do believe that professional photos are super important. But for those of you starting out, this iPhone mini course is an amazing way to leverage the superpowers of your smartphone. [00:06:00] And, um, she's teaching about lighting and angles and really, really gets results for her.

[00:06:30] So they can connect you with that other person that can help you out. Another way we want to help people out and expand our reach. As we've really bolstered our e design department. I found that as my business became more established, it was harder to take on some of those smaller projects that didn't meet our engagement retainer minimum.

[00:07:15] Hire as big a team as we'd become. And so our e design department has really come through and opened up opportunities for us to meet even more people and work on some of those wonderful projects that maybe were one room or a refresh, or I just see a little wallpaper and paint. And so we've been really excited to expand that as well.

[00:07:57] I am learning as I go on this [00:08:00] podcast adventure, having that imposter syndrome majorly, and I really appreciate the support that I've been getting from you all and messages. It's great, but I want to make sure it's useful too, because what's the point if it's not creating some helpful information out there?

[00:08:41] I could read people well, I understood what they liked after seeing their homes and getting to know them, and I was able to create what they wanted. That's wonderful. The only downside to that is you end up trying to be a jack of all trades and please everyone without clearly saying or defining who you are and what your style is, what kind of aesthetic you want to create for people.

[00:09:32] Tell me what you need, I need the work, I'll figure it out. I will figure you out and I'll make it beautiful. And I had a lot of successful projects that way. And I took probably 10 or more years to really feel confident about being out in front, describing my. Look, my approach, my point of view in design.

[00:10:20] But, um, a lot of people do have that traditional, timeless, classic home. They want, they have a desire to have that timeless. And I thought coming out with a lot of pattern and color, and I have more of an eclectic look where I like to mix time periods, styles, that that would be off putting. In fact, one time I overheard a potential client who received advice from a friend who said, well, you know, Liz is really known for a lot of color and pattern.

[00:11:14] I would go in and I would say it's like a psychologist's meeting appointment. An intake session, I would call it. You're going to lay down on the couch and tell me everything about you and your home and your life. And I am going to weave that into a beautiful interior design plan. I would meet someone that would say, don't push me too far in that direction.

[00:11:52] And the more I share, the more it attracts those ideal client matches, people that really like what I'm doing and what I'm [00:12:00] drawn to anyway. Those projects really sing because we are, we and the client are really into the same exciting design elements. Color, pattern. I have designed brands who have That aesthetic on the total opposite end of the spectrum where it's neutral and it's rustic and it's beautiful and I think they were smart to get in front of that early and say, This is who I am.

[00:12:42] Is it colorful? Is it neutral? And then go for it. Double down on it. Put that message out in the world. This is what you like doing. It's better to attract those clients that are a perfect match than trying to do something you don't love just to win the job. And what I found is that when you prioritize and cherry pick those projects that really align with your aesthetic, they turn out better.

[00:13:38] I really felt the pressure to take on most projects that came my way. I did not want to turn something down and miss out on an opportunity or something to keep my team busy, but. As I became more established and was able to be more choosy and selective about those projects, I found that the ones that really aligned with me and I felt that [00:14:00] connection and real excitement, which felt like a privilege because, you know, this is my full time career.

[00:14:37] So starting out, don't be afraid. To tell the world who you are and what kind of work you like to do, you're going to get those dreamboat clients, those ideal client matches earlier, which will then like the snowball at the top of the mountain, gain momentum and get bigger and bigger and attract more of those great clients that you love so much and projects that you can't wait to get out of bed and work on.

[00:15:29] And as always follow your bliss. I'll see you in the next episode. Thanks for listening.