"Finding" a Mentor

Wow!  I feel like time is moving at warp speed these days.  I look up and yet another week has passed.  I guess time really does fly when you're having fun. ☺

Well, it's been super busy over here.  I wrapped up an amazing install this weekend and I can't wait to share the reveal with you guys.  It was a larger project for me, involving several stages of improvements.  We were able to bring it all together on Saturday and the clients absolutely love it! This project was also significant because it was the first with my new team.  I'll introduce them a little later but I'm over the moon to have a little help.

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They're both awesome and super passionate about design.  Honestly, it's likely what separated them from other candidates.  I'm honored to have the opportunity to guide and mentor them in their passion for design.  In chatting with them both on Friday, I later began to think about those who have poured into me along this journey. 

Lately, I've been bombarded with fans and social media followers who are seeking mentors.  While I believe whole-heartily in mentoring, there's only so much time in the day and I'm not able to mentor everyone that asks.

The Balanced Wife- Podcast Link

I try to provide a little advice to those who reach out, but I also think I prefer seeking out a mentor in a much more organic way. 

First of all, mentors should be someone you know or have at least connected with on some level (preferably in person).  A mentoring relationship is, at the end of the day, a relationship like any other.  You need to actually know and like the person you're seeking out to mentor you.  The last thing you need is to end up connected with someone who you don't even like.

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Secondly, no one person can help with everything.  I have mentors in just about every category of life.  I believe in spiritual mentors, relationship mentors, business mentors, etc.  The person I call for Godly counsel may not be the same person I call for design business advice. 

Furthermore, some of my mentors don't even know that I consider them to be mentors and I'm ok with that.  It doesn't have to be a formalized process, where we meet on a pre-determined basis to discuss and solve for life's problems (although it can be).  Sometimes it's nothing more than a relationship with someone you look up to, who you know if you need them, they'll be there with wise advice and guidance. 

The bottom line is don't force it.  I've found that most of my mentoring relationships just developed over time.  It can be a bit overwhelming when a stranger approaches you and asks you to commit to mentoring them.  It's kinda like approaching a stranger and asking them to start a long-term, committed relationship with you.  Awkward!

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Focus less on "finding" a mentor and more on seeking to get to know and surround yourself with those who add value to your life and perhaps those you aspire to be like.  You may just find that finding a mentor is a lot easier than you thought.

"My First Month"

Well I did it! I survived my first month in business full-time.  In fact, I not only survived it, I'd venture to say I thrived in it.  It has been an absolute whirlwind since January 3rd.  I couldn't be more happy...tired, but happy. 

For starters, the clients just keep coming, and for that I couldn't be more grateful.  I'm actually in the midst of pulling plans together for the largest project I've ever completed.  It's a beautiful home with awesome outdoor spaces and this beautiful sunroom.

I can hardly wait to get my hands on this space.  We'll be tackling the sunroom, formal living space, formal dining room, den and library.

We'll also be helping create design plans for a few other spaces as well.  Let's just say I've got my hands full. 

In addition, I'm also working on a One Day Design Plus project at a beautiful retirement village home.  The client has great taste and an affinity for mid century modern.  Yes, please!

We'll be tackling this space and the adjoining sunroom.  For now, here's a peek at where we're going...

As if that weren't enough, I've got even more on my plate. Woohoo!

So, now that I've got one month under my belt, what have I learned over the past 29 days?  We'll here's the down and dirty list of things big and small...

1. Week 1 taught me that I need an IT department.  Technical issues are NOT my thing.  I spent 2 entire days on the phone with Microsoft trying to rectify issues with Office.  Not good!  It's tough when it's just you and you have to wear seventeen hats. In the future, I'm going the outsourcing route for sure!
2. Week 2 taught me that I should NEVER (under NO circumstances) leave home without breakfast and possibly snacks to take along.  I made the mistake of scheduling back-to-back appointments on a day when I skipped breakfast (Bad Dietitian!) and found myself lightheaded and accepting food at a client's home. After finding nourishment, I immediately bought a cooler, a freeze pack and a boatload of snacks that would travel well.  We can't very well create on an empty stomach. 😊
   
3. By Week 3 it was becoming apparent that I needed some help.  If nothing more than to hold the other end of the tape measure, an extra pair of hands was going to be needed.  So, I decided it was time for another design intern.  I had them in the past, but honestly it was difficult to manage them, work, school and the business.  Now however, I have plenty of time to provide direction and gain a little help at the same time.  I posted an announcement and an application and am in final reviews now.  Yay!  I've also hired a virtual bookkeeper.  The financial end of things is SO VERY important and can't afford to mess that part up.  Like I said, I'm all about outsourcing.  Dwell by Cheryl is growing..
   
4. Week 4 confirmed that systems are a must for my personal sanity, so I made a beeline for the office supply store.  Top of the list was a dry erase board. It's the #1 way I keep up with it all.  Yes, I use my fancy planner, but that board is worth its weight in gold.  I'm a visual person so seeing events, appointments, goals, revenue, etc. written out is what works for me.  Also, with so many projects to juggle (alone), I reverted to the system I learned in school (that I said I'd never use); The good ol' client notebook.  I needed more of them, so I stocked up and I'll admit, having everything for a project within reach and organized is pretty awesome. 

They say experience is the best teacher and I can officially confirm...they're right! Cheers to one month down and many more lessons to come (I'm sure)!

Until next time...

When Dreams Become Reality...

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There's something so contradictory about the new year for me.  It evokes strange emotions every year.  On the one hand, I'm excited about the start of the a new year, the chance for a fresh start and the blessing of having survived (and perhaps even thrived) in the previous one.  However, on the other hand, it marks the end of the holiday season, my favorite time of year.  The gifts have all been given, unwrapped and put away, the last few crumbs of yummy sweets are gone and the flickering glow of Christmas lights have now burn out.  It's all a bit...sad.  That is, it usually is.  This year, however, is different.  This year, there is no return to "reality" for me, because THIS is the year, my dream has become my reality.

Funny enough, with all the excitement surrounding my transition to full-time design, I completely forgot that January 1st marked my 5 Year Blog/Business Anniversary!  Five Years!  Five years since I sort of haphazardly said, "What the heck, let's give it a go!"  Five Years?  The thought of doing what I loved as my sole career seemed so far off in the distance I could barely make it out.  But the more time passed, the harder I worked and slowly but surely the dream and the ultimate goal came into view.  In fact, by this time last year, it was crystal clear.  It seemed so close I could almost taste it. And today, it's here.

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Over the past several months, I've been working on a bit of collection of posts, a "how-to" if you will, for making your dream of becoming a designer (or some other BIG dream) a reality.  It began with my thoughts on education.  That post dealt with whether or not I felt it was worth it.  Shortly thereafter, I gave a quick down and dirty tutorial on how to work a full-time career and a design business at the same time.  Then, I addressed notion of purpose.  I even shared my struggle with viewing interior design as worthwhile work. Finally, I shared with the news that I'd be kissing my day job goodbye at the end of the year and walked you through the steps that got me there.  You can revisit them all below.

To School or Not To School

How I Work a Full-Time Career and Operate a Design Business 

When Passion Meets Purpose

Long Time Coming...

Well today, I want to briefly share my thoughts on what to do when your dream becomes your reality. I'll be honest, it's a bit strange when you achieve a goal you've worked so long and hard to reach.  For a goal-oriented overachiever, you immediately feel as if you need a new goal.  Sounds crazy, but it's true.

So what do you do when your dream becomes a reality?

Honestly, I guess I don't really know...yet. What I do know is that for the past five years, I dreamed of nothing more than awaking today and feeling that amazing feeling of being ecstatic that it's the start of a new workweek.  This morning, I experienced that feeling (though I'm writing this the evening before I've experienced it) and it was all I dreamt it would be. (I'm sure of it!)

What I also know is that I'm throwing everything I have into making my new reality a successful and lasting one.  I'm wise enough to know that THIS will be the challenge, to not just "succeed" but to be sustainable.  I've signed on to work with a business coach for this very reason.  Like I said, I'm throwing everything into this.  I guess that's the first thing you should do when your dreams become reality...throw everything you have into winning at it.

I'm also vowing to not give myself any less than I gave my employer for fifteen years.  So every morning, I will get up, I will get dressed, I will report on time and I will work as hard (who am I kidding waaayyy harder) as I did when I worked for someone else.  I will maintain the same type of structure I've become accustom to.  I'll still use Outlook, I'll still schedule conference calls (and show up 3-5 minutes early), I'll return all emails within 24 hours and I'll even observe the 11 corporate holidays each year (only I'll call Christmas, Christmas and Good Friday, Good Friday instead of Winter and Spring Holiday Observances).   Let's face it, this Type-A person needs that type of structure and that's ok.

You see, much of what has gotten me to this point is not just the creative aspects of what I love to do but also (and maybe more importantly) the discipline I've had in doing it.  So, I suppose the second thing  to do when your dreams become reality is to continue what you've done to get there.  Seems pretty logical, right?  If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

It's strange, when you make this sort of pivot in life, everyone has something to say about it.  Thankfully, the response I received was overwhelming encouraging and positive.  However, you still encounter a few closet skeptics along the way.  They ask questions like, "Do you have clients?"  "So, you've gotten to a point where you feel like you can maintain your standard of living?" Now, the smart aleck in me wants to shoot a side eye and respond with a sharp comeback, but I've resisted.  However, the experience of these well-meaning naysayers leads me to my final thought.

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What do you do when your dreams become reality?  You swing for the fences and you let NO ONE stand between you and what God has purposed, planned and predestined for your life.  I get it, not everyone will understand how I could leave the perceived stability of a six-figure job to follow my passion.  The bottom line is, they don't have to.  This is my life and I only get one.  By golly, I'm determined to make it count!

The bottom line is I set the goal, I did my homework, I put in the work, I planned, I saved, I invested and ultimately I did it.  There's nothing left to do now but walk it out.  I intend to do just that.

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Day 1....Let's Do This!

"Long Time Coming..."

Five years ago, seeking a creative outlet, I simultaneously launched a blog and business driven by my desire to create a beautiful home on a modest budget.  Things began with friends and associates requesting my help sprucing up their homes and grew from there.

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Looking to learn as much as possible in the area, I made the decision to enroll in a well-regarded, local residential design program and began chipping away at the coursework for the 36-credit hour program.  You can read more about that decision HERE.

It sounded simple enough but working a full-time career, going to school and managing a business in its infancy was no small feat.  I quickly realized that my weekends, evenings and even most weekday lunch breaks were no longer my own.  It was a huge sacrifice but the more I worked, the better I became and the more I learned.

I started to consume every little morsel of design info and inspiration I could find; attending conferences, reading designer's blogs, studying the great's work.

Design Bloggers Conference 2015

The days, months and years passed and the client list began to spill over.  I quickly had to come to grips with the fact that there was NO way I could manage multiple clients, work full-time and be a straight "A" student and thus the waiting list was born.  At the same time, much to my amazement, I started to get emails from magazine editors about features in local and eventually national publications.

 

 

While the thought was terrifying, it wasn't long before I began to imagine life as a full-time interior designer.

After a little soul searching and prayer, in January 2014 I instituted Project 36.  It was my 36-month plan to transition to full-time entrepreneurship; essentially my exit strategy.  I knew that putting a time limit to things would slowly make the decision more and more real.  It would also hold me accountable to doing what I needed to do to make it possible.  Three years sounded like an eternity, that is until it was 24 months and then 12, 10, 8, and 6.  Yikes!  There's something about setting a goal that makes me work just a little harder and this one was no exception.

With the 3-month mark approaching I began to craft my resignation letter, reviewing the details carefully with my mentor and setting the date for my critical conversation with the boss. I spent the entire week leading up to D-day gorging on motivational videos and podcasts.  Here's my favorite playlist if you're interested.   By the time the day arrived to submit my resignation, I was more than ready.  I was pumped!  It all went off without a hitch and I couldn't have been more grateful.  I offered to work a three month notice, explaining that my final day would be Friday, December 30th.

It was DONE.  I'd actually done it.  I QUIT MY JOB!  Say what?  I thought for sure I'd wake up the next morning in a cold sweat, filled with regret....

I was wrong.  I had a strange peace about it; a good sign that I'd done the right thing.

All that was left to do was inform the parents. THIS, I thought, was by far the largest hurdle.  I decided to wait until the Thanksgiving holiday to tell them face-to-face.  For starters, I knew I needed to wait until there was no turning back or they'd totally influence my decision, even if inadvertently. Secondly, I needed to make sure all of my ducks were in a row so they'd worry just a little bit less.  I'm happy to report that the conversation with smoothly and they were super supportive and totally in my corner. And with that, the goal had finally come to fruition.

To say that this has been an amazing journey would be a gross understatement.  When I launched my business and blog with this post on January 1, 2012, I never dreamt I would be where I am today.  It's kind of crazy to think all of the connections I've made, the people I've met, the opportunities I've had and the fabulous clients I've worked with.  It has been an absolute dream come true.

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I'm often asked by social media followers and aspiring designers how I've been able to do it.  I've written a couple of posts about the subject but it really boils down to two things- Faith and Hard Work.  You see, I believe this is my purpose, but I can't see how it's all going to unfold.  However, I trust that things will work out just as He intends.  Knowing what you need to do and doing it however, are two very different things.  Making my dream a reality has involved some sacrifices-mostly time, money, energy and a little sleep.  The sacrifices didn't seem so bad however, when I weighted them against what I had to gain.  It's what kept me moving in the direction of my goals. 

I'm forever grateful to those who have supported and encouraged me along the way. There were many.  I'm also beyond grateful to those clients who took a chance on me very early on. They were willing to be my guinea pigs and I appreciate them trusting me in the process.  For those that came later, they validated my ability as a new designer and I'm appreciative of them as well.  To the folks who read my blog and follow along on social media, they inspire and encourage me to keep sharing my gift with the world.  It makes the journey so much more fun when you know you've got people cheering you on.

It's been a long time coming and I'm so elated and proud of what I've been able to accomplish.  I stand with tip-toed anticipation of what lies ahead.  I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the best is yet to come.  And for those who might need an interior designer, On January 2, 2017, we are officially FULL ON...

To God be the Glory for the GREAT things He has done.

"When Passion Meets Purpose..."

Pretty much since I first became a homeowner, I've had guests come over and comment on my home.  Most would kindly suggest that I should be decorating for other people. It was a nice compliment, but I'll admit, I shrugged it off at first.  However, after hearing it over and over again, it became harder and harder to ignore.  Slowly but surely, the seeds of entrepreneurship were planted by family and friends and I began to quietly contemplate the option. 

Strangely enough, one of the things that I struggled with the most was this notion of purpose.  If you know me at all, or have been following along here for a while, you know that I'm a religious person.  I view my life as an offering to God and so my life's work, which takes up the majority of my time, is pretty important.  You see, I could wrap my mind around the importance of dietetics. 

I mean, I worked in school foodservice, planning healthy meals for school kids.  Pretty noble, right? 

Then, I transitioned to HR and now work as Director of Diversity and Inclusion helping ensure that we ALL have access to the same opportunities to succeed.  Also pretty noble, right?  However, I just couldn't wrap my mind around the "importance" of making someone's house pretty.  It seemed...well, trivial, unimportant, insignificant, materialistic, pretentious... You get the picture.  Seriously, I really had a hard time with the thought of that being my sole career. 

Thankfully, in January of 2008, I signed up for a new Sunday School class where we'd study Rick Warren's best seller, The Purpose Driven Life.  The timing couldn't have been more perfect.  While it would be three more years before I made a pivot in the direction of my destiny, that class completely opened my eyes to passion and purpose. 

It's been years since I read it, but basically Warren talks about the fact that God has put in each one of us unique gifts (and NEWSFLASH: Not all of them are designed for primary use at the church or on the global mission field).  He urges readers to take note of the things that they lose track of time doing.  The things that you do without prompting.  For me that was creating a welcoming home.  It's what I love.  It's what I've always loved.  In fact, my sophomore year in college, my dorm room was the room they used to tour prospective students.  They'd call to give me a heads up and I'd spruce things up and leave soft music playing when I left for class.  If that wasn't a hint, I don't know what was. 

Fast forward to the early days of Dwell by Cheryl and I quickly began to realize that what I was doing was important.  I started to note the major impact I was making on the lives of the people I began to serve.

 

A couple of clients commented that they use their home in entirely new ways because of the work that I'd done.  They now entertain more, spend time with their family at home more, sleep better, cook more meals at home.  This is BIG stuff y'all!  I began to realize that I wasn't just making rooms pretty, I was changing the lives of those who inhabit them. 

This point was completely solidified by a comment I received from a recent client.  I completed a redesign of her teenage daughter's bedroom.  Shortly thereafter, she told me that every day after she gets home from work, she now heads up to her daughter's room and sits on the settee that I added to the spaces and chats with her about how her day went.  Wow!

Think about that for a minute.  Do you have any idea the impact that will have on a fourteen year old girl for years to come?  Wow! 

I now not only consider what I do to be purposeful, I consider it to be my ministry.  Yes, I love beautiful spaces and I work hard to ensure that the color scheme, the details are just right and the space is well-appointed.  However, what's most important is that I create spaces for my clients that completely change (and improve) their lives at home. In fact, I count it a privilege.

I'm thankful that they trust me with their intimate spaces.  I may have struggled with it at first, but I'm so very grateful that God revealed to me the purpose within my passion. 

"How I Work a Full-Time Career and Operate a Design Business"

I'm often asked how I manage to balance a full-time career and a design business (and until recently school as well).  It's a difficult question to answer.  Honestly, I think for the most part I JUST DO IT.  I set my mind and I just do it. Yes, it's a lot of sacrifices and a lot of work, but ultimately I know it's getting me closer to my goals.  One thing is for sure when I began I was dead set on doing it well.  Today I'm sharing a few tips that have helped me successfully operate in essentially two worlds, simultaneously.

Well, when I first decided to start a business on the side, it really began as a creative outlet and a byproduct of the blog.  While I wasn't exactly doing it for the money I knew that if I was going to be "official" I had to do things right.  You only get one chance to make a first impression and I didn't want potential clients to see anything less than my best, which leads me to my first point.

1.  DON'T operate as if it's your side hustle.

From day one I've worked hard to be viewed as a professional, even when I was a total amateur. Things like investing in professional (amateur) photography, blog/website design, etc. work to create a professional and polished public persona that positions you as a design professional, not a hobbyist.  This is where my perfectionism came in handy.  I mean, you can't have someone coming to a site that's "coming soon" or "under construction".  Not acceptable.  Presenting a professional image that is on par with other industry professionals is critical.  This is likely the single most important thing that I did from the very start and it continues to pay dividends today.

2.  Invest in yourself.

Yes, it was my side hustle but I made early investments in developing professionally in my area of interest.  I followed other designers to help identify the best events, workshops, and conferences to attend.  Again, I didn't wait until I was established, I invested early.  One of the best moves made in this area was the decision to attend the Design Bloggers Conference in LA in 2013.  I flew clear across the country, knowing absolutely no one, to attend what I'd heard was one of the best design conferences at the time.  Best decision EVER!!  I met some of the biggest names in the game and established personal connections and lasting friendships.  The information I learned and probably, more importantly, the networking was priceless.

I also made the decision to go back to school but you can read more about that in a recent post entitled "To School or Not to School...".

3.  Social media levels the playing field. Use it!

Social media is the best money you'll never spend on marketing your small business.  It completely levels the playing field in terms of access and exposure.  Businesses and publication's that may never answer an email or call from you will almost certainly notice you on social media; especially if you're supporting or publicizing their product or brand.  Use this to your advantage.  The key is consistency and this is where most drop the ball.  You need to establish a frequency and stick to it.  We're all creatures of habit and we like when we can count on things and people.  This is particularly important if you don't work full time in the industry of your side hustle.  Social media allows you to live in both worlds at the same time.  I established a pretty regular weekday schedule from the start.  Instagram is my social media of choice and I post before work, during lunch and late in the evenings. This requires some forethought but provides the perception that I'm working in the design world during the day although I'm not.  While Instagram is my favorite, I have a presence on all of the major streams and post regularly (but not as frequently) on those as well.  Remember perception is reality and if you want to run with the big dogs, you've got to get off the porch.  ; )

4.  Steal best practices from the day job.

If you're fortunate to work in a large or well-established company, there are more than few best practices that are likely transferable to your business.  From HR processes, strategy implementation, project planning, communications, sales and even marketing.  There's a reason successful companies are successful.  Take a look at your employer with fresh eyes and think about what practices might work for you and your business.  I do an annual strategy meeting that was born out of an idea from  work.  Additionally, when I have a media appearance, I totally use the process I learned in media training at my company.  (Be sure to keep things ethical of course)  Instead of viewing your day job as a burden, think of all of the transferable skills you've learned and can continue to learn.

5. Use your vacation or PTO wisely.

Seems like a weird tip but you essentially have two careers and just because you have "off" from one, doesn't mean you'll be off from the other.  Early on, I realized that PTO days were design biz gold.  They allowed me to attend conferences, make media appearances, prep for installs, etc.  Yep, that meant I had to sacrifice real days off but it was worth it to be able to have time to do what I really wanted to do.  So think before you play hooky on a random Monday.  You may need that day for an awesome opportunity that happens during regular business hours.

The bottom line is to do both you've got to be able to balance.  It's a delicate balance, but it's totally doable.  My goal has always been to operate with excellence in both roles. My name is on both and I want to ensure that my employer and my business get my very best.

Lest I give the impression that it's easy, I should probably state that this is HARD.  It takes up a lot of time and is likely not sustainable forever.  At some point, you're going to have to make a choice.  However, having real experience running your own gig just may help make that choice a lot easier.