Not too long ago, I was building my design business and kicking off my entrepreneurship journey. Okay, it was almost 10 years ago, so that might be long to some — but it feels like just yesterday, and I’m thrilled by all we’ve accomplished in under a decade.

When I reflect on these past years and on my entry into design and leadership, there are so many lessons that come to mind. Whether you’re a new designer getting started, a seasoned designer looking back on the early days, or simply someone interested in the ins and outs of AKD’s story, read on for a few pieces of advice I’ve gathered along the way.

1. Iron Out Best Practices & Processes

First thing’s first… get your processes into place! I ignored the process discussion early on because I was too busy trying to figure out how to run a business. With that kind of pressure, who has time for processes? I’ve always said I was like a duck — I looked calm on the surface, but my legs were going 100 mph underwater to keep me afloat. I could’ve avoided this with a few efficient process updates. It was not until I really took the time to iron out best practices for every aspect of our business that I had more control of my days and nights. Putting an order of commands in place for each and every piece of the puzzle is one of the most important things I did to run my business smoothly, and I now have a set, strict process for everything from hiring and onboarding a new employee to ordering throw pillows for a client.

2. Seek out connections within the industry

No matter who you are or how talented you are, we all have so much to learn. I was so fortunate to find a mentor within the first two years of starting my business, and she opened my eyes to so many things that I hadn’t thought about before meeting with her. My mentor and I had — and still have — numerous discussions about hiring a team, bookkeeping, letters of agreements and contracts, social media, outsourcing, how to create the best client experience, client installations, and much more. After a few years, I felt like I was able to contribute to the learning aspect by sharing my own experiences and learning moments with her, and now our relationship is mutually beneficial. To this day, we still text or call each other weekly on some aspect of business, and having a go-to person in the industry has helped me grow but also stay grounded as things get hectic here and there. Whether you find a connection organically or through industry networking events, a relationship such as this is an investment worth making.

Tip: Platforms like Intro allow you to find a mentor for one-on-one or ongoing mentorship sessions. I’m available as an Expert on Intro, and I’d love to serve as a resource to you. Learn more here.

3. Build a Network

Though we try, no one person can do it all — which is why I’m eternally grateful to the team of experts I’ve assembled over the years. My first addition to my business was a bookkeeper. A bookkeeper will help you sleep at night! Note: There are several out there that work exclusively with interior designers, which is helpful in such a complicated and detail-oriented business.

While not a person, another invaluable “member” of the AKD team is our project management software, which really helps keep our projects organized. We input all client and vendor information in one place, and then we can input orders for every single line item (who knew one sofa could have up to six different line items!). With so many moving parts in just one project, you won’t regret setting this up.

4. Find Your People

Delegating is hard, but sharing the workload and the joys of your business with a team is invaluable. It may seem like a huge leap of faith, but it’s one of the biggest steps you take as a new business owner and interior designer. Hiring that first person is scary. You’re so afraid that you won’t have enough money to pay them, or that you’re going to go out of business, or that a million different horrible things are going to happen. But the truth is, it is truly freeing!

Once you begin growing your team with designers and experts you trust, you free up so much time to take on more clients, work on business development, explore new sides of your creativity, and so much more. The best piece of advice I was given early on was to hire for the things you are not good at or don’t like doing… hence my bookkeeper.

5. Brag About Yourself

Sharing your work is so important, but it can feel downright unnatural at the beginning. So listen closely: the world needs to see the magic you are making, and social media is an amazing place to do just that. Create dedicated social accounts for your business to add some credibility and authority behind those gorgeous project shots you share, and don’t be shy when spreading the word. If you want to learn more about how much I adore Pinterest specifically and all of its capabilities, I have a whole blog post dedicated to it.

The design industry is filled with moving parts, details, and stressors, so I understand that attempting to build a business on top of that seems like an insurmountable task. I get it — but I’m here to tell you that the view is worth the climb. With the right support system, faith in yourself, and ironclad processes in place, you’ve got this. I look forward to seeing your work on my Instagram feed 😉

Book with me on Intro HERE.