Feeling Out of Control in Your Business? You Have a Lot More Control Than You Think.

Jan 6

When you’re hit with the unexpected, it’s natural to spiral downward and feel out of control and hopeless.

As a former wedding planner, I had to plan for the unexpected and also have a plan FOR handling the unexpected. Often the unexpected things I planned for (wine spilling on the bride’s dress, someone not rsvp’ing and then showing up anyway, fake eyelashes falling off, etc.) were never the things that actually happened (like how could I have planned for the wild goose that knocked over the chuppah, or the kitchen fire, or the cake table being invaded by ants, or the bridesmaid’s chiffon dress getting TAPED together and shredded before the ceremony ← PS: my brides never knew any of these things happened).

If I’ve learned one thing in life and business, mindset is everything. As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.”

So if you ever feel like aspects of your interior design business are completely out of your control and you’re ready to say “byeeee” and burn the whole thing down, I’d encourage you to think about what you actually do have control over, and then focus on that and that alone.

In each of the examples below, I’ll share:

Some common challenges designers truly have zero control over, and
What you actually can control in each situation.

Here goes!

You can’t control how many people inquire to work with you.

But you can control:

How consistent you are on your marketing platforms
The quality of your blog posts, social media posts, newsletter posts, and website messaging
The language you use in your marketing that speaks directly to your ideal clients
The marketing platform you choose to double down on
The call to action you make in every post
The ease of connecting with you once someone is ready

You can’t control the algorithm on any social media platform.

But you can control:

Choosing a platform you own (like your email) as your main marketing platform rather than social media
Creating something of value potential clients will sign up to receive (so they get added to your email list)
Whether or not it makes sense to continue posting on the platforms that keep changing, or whether you should switch things up a bit (example, if Instagram reels aren’t your thing, guess what: Carousel posts are, and always have been, HUGE)
Having a monthly process to review your marketing analytics to make sure you know what’s working and what’s not

You can’t control clients who behave badly.

But you can control:

Your potential client screening process
Whether you take a discovery call with a prospect or not
Whether you send a contract to a prospect who is showing red flags
Setting clear expectations upfront before a prospect becomes a client
The termination policy you have in your contract and enforcing it consistently

You can’t control the client’s design style.

But you can control:

Showing only the types of projects you want more of in your portfolio
Your design discovery process
How you present your objections to clients in a productive and neutral way
Whether you take on a project or not if the design style is not in line with your aesthetic

You can’t control long lead times.

But you can control:

Getting set up with trade accounts that offer quick shipping and have in-stock items
Building a relationship with your reps so you have a direct line of communication when something goes awry
Sourcing items that are in stock or have quicker turnaround times
Letting clients know to approve items quickly to avoid a requoting fee (in the event an item goes out of stock or lead time increases and you need to select a new item)

You can’t control tough contractors.

But you can control:

Whether you will or won’t take a project with a contractor you know is difficult or has poor workmanship
The steps you take to find reputable contractors in your area and build up your trade list
The quality of information and level of detail you provide to the contractor so they have everything they need to perform their role
What your company can be contracted and paid to do as it relates to the contractor’s work and communications (i.e., Will you do weekly site visits? Will you handle all communication with the contractor? Will you get bids?)
How you protect your team against a contractor who displays rude or crude behavior

You can’t control your annual revenue.

But you can control:

How you bill your projects
Tracking your hours
Reviewing your numbers after each project and making adjustments
Your hourly rate, project minimums, and pricing methods
Your product markup
What you spend your time on
Who you hire to help you grow your business (if outsourcing CAD saves you 5 hours a week and you can now design one additional room/month, talk about a smart investment)
The level of detail you put into documenting each scope of work to protect you and your team
Whether you stick to your contract and scope or let the client take over

You can’t control your team.

But you can control:

The quality of your internal processes and the level of detail you provide to your team so they always know what is expected
Your hiring process and how you vet potential candidates
The information you include in your company guidebook that lays out your policy on how things should be handled, from customer service to claims
Whether you hire employees who need training vs. skilled subcontractors

You can’t control installations taking forever.

But you can control:

How many installations you’ll do on a project
How you will bill for installations
Whether you or your team will be on-site for every.single.delivery (if the client wants items delivered as they arrive) or whether the client needs to manage that
Having a plan for your installation day so your client still gets that “big reveal” moment (even if everything came in phases)

Obviously, we can't make money fall out of thin air, or have dream clients with unicorn projects appear out of nowhere.

But there is SO MUCH we can control, and the people who believe that are the ones who become the most successful.

And it all comes down to 1) not being the victim (you’re the boss-it’s your job to figure out how to take back control!) and 2) consistency.

Consistently showing up where your clients hang out.
Consistently asking them to do the thing you want them to do (sign up for your email, fill out your inquiry form, DM with their questions, etc.)
Consistently following your processes.
Consistently sticking to your boundaries.
Consistently photographing your projects and posting your best work online.
Consistently reviewing what’s working and not working and giving yourself grace to change direction.
Consistently making decisions around what works best for YOU first, then the business.
Consistently delegating.

And once you consistently do all those things, I would bet you’ll start to see all the other things that are “out of control” start to feel waaaaay more in control.

Here are a few more things you can control:

who you attract
who you accept into your business
the type of work you will do
the quality of your projects
your design timelines
your price
your boundaries
who you hire
your online presence
your attitude
what you spend your time on
what you say no tof

If you’d like additional resources for getting help with the things you can control, our Year End Playbook showcases eleven industry experts (copywriters, brand designers, course writers, bookkeepers, marketing consultants, and more) and their best tips for putting your best business foot forward. Grab it here.