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Have you ever had that moment when you decided to say YES to an interior design job that scares you because it was bigger than any you’ve ever taken on before? Then you started to panic because you got the job and now you don’t know what you are actually going to do?
I can almost guarantee that if it hasn’t happened yet, it will, and if it has, it’s bound to happen again! Trust me, I have been a business coach to interior designers for a while now, and I know.
It also happened to me when I started out as an art and accessory consultant in the interior design world! I started having home art parties. Then one day, an interior designer walked into my home and said,
“Can you bring that piece of artwork to my client’s house?”
And I said, “Yes!”
When I was there, they said, “Can you get it framed?”
And I said, “Yes! I can get it framed”
BTW…..I knew nothing about framing but I went quickly to a local framer and I learned what I needed to learn to complete that job.
BE CONFIDENT IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING!
I want to remind you that most of your success or lack of, is about the confidence that you portray when you are at an initial consultation or over the phone. When you are giving a consultation, it’s very easy to blow it if you don’t have confidence in yourself or your process.
So, what do you do to help your confidence along?
One, you’ve got to pump yourself up! I don’t care if it’s a song that you listen to or if you do the power pose for two minutes to get your brain chemicals working in your favor and feeling good about yourself. Remind yourself of a past job that came out amazing and that the client LOVED, read past testimonials from happy clients, do anything you have to do to get your confidence up. Call your best friend or greatest supporter to get your mindset in the right place!
LEARN NEW THINGS!
I ran to a frame specialist, right away to teach me everything that he could teach me about framing watercolors, including matting and glass options. I learned and that’s what I want you to do. Having confidence in yourself and your ability to make the time to absorb, learn and implement is key. If you have to, get a mentor, a buddy, hire or barter with an expert and stretch yourself if it’s in an area where you know your lack of knowledge is holding you back.
Also, just a little side note, you can always extend the time frame of the project as well. Of course, you will want to do that at the time the contract or letter of agreement is being signed. But, consider doing that to account for the learning curve you very well may need!
If it’s something that you don’t want to do, it’s not your specialty, that’s okay, too. You can just say, “Not my specialty! I’m going to refer you to someone else.”
I wanted to give you guys a little boost. I said yes to framing, I said yes to all the work. And I pulled in the people that I needed to teach me everything I needed to know. I did the same even when I started as a business coach to interior designers. Yeah, those first, six months, I made less than nothing. I was dishing out a ton of money to learn from other coaches how to start up an online coaching business, become known, increase my following what I needed to learn, create offers that people needed, and more. I had to hire people to teach me the technology and sometimes do it for me. It is all part of growing a business.
Sometimes you have to take a hit financially in the beginning when you’re up leveling or when you’re starting out, in order to learn. But you know, you do a big learning push, and then you’re going to make the money back over and over again.
PUSH FEAR OFF A CLIFF! YOU’VE GOT THE HELP YOU NEED
If anyone out there feels afraid to say, “Yes” to any jobs, I’m telling you there are plenty of people out there to help you. There are communities and Facebook groups where all the coaches, your friends, and your mentors hang out! Take advantage of their support and advice!
I’m here to say, “Say yes to the next job that scares you a little bit.” Because when you stretch yourself through the fear, you’re going to learn so much and it’ll take you to the next level.
Overwhelmed growing your business and need help? You don’t have to figure it out all alone anymore. Sign up for a business strategy call and I’ll help you make decisions on the next steps for you and your business.
Hop into my private FB group The Interior Design Business Forum here to get my daily inspiration, lessons, thoughts of the day and let the community help you become an actionable entrepreneur!!
