Good Will to All

10 Goal Setting Mistakes Most Interior Designers Make

It’s that time again, when most of us are thinking about setting goals for 2011...and most of us won’t accomplish them. Why is that?

We get excited and create amazing resolutions or goals, and within days, we stop working on what we know we want to do, but do we really truly want to achieve those goals?

If you don’t have a Goal Journal, go purchase one a blank journal at the office supply or bookstore. That’s your first step to goal achievement in 2011.

Why don’t we accomplish our goals? Let’s look at some of the top reasons:

1. We set too many goals. It’s like going to a buffet. If you mounds of food and put it all on your plate, you’ll eat too much, and yet, not get the nutrients you need. Or, you’ll eat a small portion and waste the rest. Why do we do this? We want to make some significant changes, but we don’t have a realistic expectation about how long things will take. So...when you set those goals for yourself, be sure to include a time estimate for each of the goals to be completed. Realistically, you can only do one thing at a time. Focus is the key to success. Strategies:

• Set 1 - 3 goals per month at the most
• Estimate time to be completed
• Set an end date for completion

2. We fight our own subconscious belief systems. We may not believe we’re worthy of the success that reaching that goal will mean. If your internal beliefs aren’t in synch with the goals that you’ve set, you’ll self-sabotage and then feel even worse that you didn’t accomplish your goals. When you set goals, identify the beliefs you must have to achieve those goals. Strategies:

• Evaluate whether your real true core belief about yourself is aligned with the beliefs you must have to accomplish those goals.
• Identify what steps you must take to change your beliefs that you are worthy of those goals and release those negative beliefs.
• Define what it would mean emotionally to you to accomplish those goals. Would you feel confident and proud?

3. We don’t write down the steps and resources we need to achieve those goals. Just writing down a goal without the steps almost ensures that we are writing down a dream and not a goal. Strategies:

• Write one goal per page in your new Goal Journal.
• Write the step required right before you achieve that goal.
• Keep working backwards until you have the first step identified.
• Immediately put those steps on your calendar based on your time estimates and end date.
• Focus on achieving the steps and not the end result.
• Celebrate your accomplishments frequently.

4. We’re not accountable to others or to ourselves. It’s easy to let ourselves not follow through. We’re too busy, too tired, too frustrated. Strategies:

• Identify your excuses and exorcise them. You either have excuses or results. Which one do you choose?
• Get into a mastermind group and make that a requirement, that every week, you set accountability and you at least get a friendly kick if you don’t get the task done.
• Remember that if you don’t take the accountability to yourself seriously, you’ll get less accomplished.
• Don’t make a goal or promise to yourself unless you’re willing to keep it.

5. We set goals that don’t mean anything to us personally. If you’re doing something to please others, you’re likely to disappoint yourself. Strategies:

• Only set goals that you are committed to do because they fit with your personal values. If they don’t fit your personal values, then don’t commit to them.
• Setting a goal to lose weight because we want to be more attractive to our mate or prospective partner won’t keep us on task.
  
• Do it for yourself because you want to feel healthy, sexy and attractive.

6.We don’t cut expenses quickly enough. If your goals are financial, and you’re not on track to achieve your financial target, it’s important to make changes. Avoiding the problems won’t make them go away. None of us expected the economy to crash so completely, and if you’re still doing the same things you were a few years ago, you could save some money on non-essentials. If you can overcome your own resistance to change, fears and concerns, you’ll be even stronger as a person and as a business owner. Now it’s important to find your resourcefulness and determination to succeed in spite of it. Strategies:

• Cut non-essential expenses.
• Use outsourcing instead of adding employees and the associate overhead.
• Bundle your phone and Internet services.
• Cut out subscriptions. Go to the library or bookstore to browse.
• Invest in leverage for exponential success – software, education and marketing Don’t cut your marketing or education budgets.
• Keep your expenses low even when business returns to a more normal level.
  

7. We don’t have time and resource contingencies built in. Life happens and when we don’t account for the fact that we get colds or the flu, or others need our help with something, or we need an extra cushion in case of emergencies, then we get frustrated and give up on a goal because we didn’t allow for that time. Strategies:

• Allow twice as long to accomplish your goal and twice as much money.
• Determine your Plan B or Plan C just in case. If you don’t get 6 new clients, what will you do? How will you achieve your revenue goals?
• Set up reserves in your business to help you cover shortfalls.
• Think about additional resources you can draw on to meet your adjusted goals when you’re not on track to achieve them on time and within the budget you set.

8. We don’t remind ourselves about our goals often enough. How much is enough? Strategies:

• Create a collage with pictures of how you’ll feel when you achieve your goal and what it looks like.
• If you’re shooting for a dollar goal for your business, create a picture or add color to the graphics of the dollar figure, and add that to your collage. Include pictures of your family so you connect the earning of the money with what it will do for your family and for yourself.
• Include pictures of the rewards. Will you give yourself a day at the spa, or a massage. We think in pictures, so use pictures to motivate yourself and connect with the emotions you’ll feel when you achieve what you desire.
• Look at these pictures and reminders every day, and be sure to include them on your computer screen or in your Goal Journal (that you’re going out to buy today) so you can see what it is you want to achieve and can measure your progress.
• You can also scan in a collage of goal achievement pictures and use it as a screen-saver on your computer.

9. Don’t look at goals as a heavy burden. Add rewards for accomplishment. Strategies:

• Take a break, have coffee with a friend, go to the museum for a few hours, take a walk, put extra earnings in a separate fund to purchase a small reward like a great picture frame or massage.
• Write down what you’re grateful for in your Goal Journal and do it frequently. That in itself is a great reward for small accomplishments.
• A long journey begins with a single step.
• Take the first step.

10.We feel like a failure if we have setbacks along the way and it can tempt us to give up. Strategies:

• When setbacks arise, take a detour. Each setback is feedback, and it means we need to take in what we experienced and think about what we learned from it. It’s not a reflection of our character.
• Be your own best teacher. We all learn more from our mistakes more than our successes. Discover the root cause of your setbacks, and how you can avoid the same challenge in the future so you don’t repeat the mistakes.
• Use your Goal Journal to record your setbacks so you can figure out how you can overcome them.
• Record your progress.

You are worthy of great accomplishments and recognition for who you are. Remember that it is more important to do things because they make you feel good than it is to get recognition by others. It’s good for your soul to feel that you’re worthy and wonderful the way you are.

About Gail Doby, ASID: Gail is a business shortcut for designers who want to create a more profitable and passion-filled business. She is Chief Vision Officer of Design Success University. Join her on Facebook or LinkedIn and - join the LinkedIn Design Success University group.

Does attending a webinar intimidate you?

We use the latest technology to help our clients learn how to use our software, whether it's the graphic design program Studio or our QuickBooks & Quoting program. Minutes Matter offers free monthly webinars for which you can register quickly and easily. Look for an email or check our website and blog for links to the various presentations.

Once you click on the link to register giving only your name and email address, you'll receive a confirmation email. When you use the link from one of our emails, you can "auto-register" by simply clicking, there's nothing to fill out. If you don't see the confirmation, check your spam or junk mailbox.

On the day of the webinar, you'll receive a reminder.

At least ten minutes before, click on the blue hyperlink in the email and wait for the GoToWebinar software to download. This takes less than a minute. Then you're in the meeting site. You can decide whether to listen to the presentation through your computer's speakers (this is called VoIP - Voice over Internet Protocol) or by calling in on your telephone which may be a toll call depending on your long distance service.



Your computer monitor will display the presenter's screen and you will be able to watch in the comfort of your office or home as the demonstration takes place live.

Because we have so many attendees, we have everyone muted to prevent feedback from background noise. We still want you to participate, so use the Question box on your Attendee Panel to type in your questions. One of our organizers will respond and if your question needs clarification, the presenter will demonstrate on screen.

We hope this brief explanation of how a webinar works will alleviate any fears you may have and you will join us for an informative, fact-filled seminar.

See you on line!

Studio Live! December Webinar

We invite you to join us Wednesday, December 8 at 1 PM Eastern for our Studio Live! Webinar which will focus on the Media Room. In addition to some inspiring ideas for creating elevation renderings of a Home Theater and learning how to design to scale on a photo (working around a pool table!), you'll also receive a white paper on media room suggestions and specifications.

Log on early to watch our slide show and plan to stay for the entire presentation to be eligible for the gift certificates drawing!

Click here to register:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/777235624

For the well-organized among us:
If you use Microsoft Outlook Calendar, click on the link after your register to add the Webinar to your calendar, or choose one of the other calendar options.

Here’s how to add the Webinar or any event in your Google calendar “automatically” and make sure you have the details right.

1. Click on the link in the email that says “Add to your Outlook calendar”.

2. Select “Save File” and save it to your desktop. In this case, the file is webinar.ics.

3. Go to your Google calendar and find the “Add” link. Look for it on the bottom right of the “Other Calendar” section on the left side of the screen.

4. Select “Import Calendar”.

5. Select the appropriate file (the one you just downloaded) and click the Import button.

6. You’re done! The event will now appear on your calendar.

The whole process takes less than a minute, and you have all the info accurately placed on your calendar.

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we gather together with family and friends and count our blessings, here's an educational site to entertain the children (and the adults!) and learn about what really happened on that "first" Thanksgiving nearly 400 years ago:
http://www.plimoth.org/education/olc/intro.html

The Spa Bath - Tomorrow's Studio Live! Webinar

We hope you will be able to join us for this month's Studio Live! webinar, Wednesday, November 17 at 1 PM Eastern. The first fifteen minutes will be devoted to demonstrating some of the tools and functions of Studio for new users, then the next 60 minutes will focus on the Spa Bath - creating an elevation rendering of a tub alcove and a vanity wall. We'll also show how easy it to design directly on a photo of your client's bath, to scale!

We'll have time for questions at the end, so plan to stay for that segment and the gift certificates drawing!

If the day or time is already booked on your calendar, register anyway and you will receive an email with a link to watch the recorded video of the webinar. All registrants also receive a free Studio template!

Click this link to register - it just takes a few seconds to provide your name and email address:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/728893729

November/December Article in Drapery & Design Professional Magazine

My article in the November/December issue of Drapery & Design Professional discusses one of my favorite topics Cloud Computing. At the first of this year, we made an announcement that Minutes Matter had moved to the Clouds. In the issue of this magazine, I discuss taking client presentations to the "Clouds."

Don't stop reading now! If you're wondering what in the world is Cloud Computing, read my entire article the advantages for businesses are amazing. We love living in the Clouds more and more everyday.

The Drapery & Design Professional magazine

If you aren't already subscribed to this magazine, I definitely recommend it. Drapery & Design Professional covers everything from technology to fabrication techniques. A subscription to the magazine and access to the CHF online forum Membership is only at $48 per year. Add their webinar package and your total would only be $95 per year.

See you in the Clouds!

Enhance your Computer Skills!

We have recently completed recording our popular Elevate Course in a new format. There are four different segments which enable viewers to choose only the topics which interest them.

If you need the basics, start with Computer Components. Is your computer sluggish or you think you may have a virus? Go to Security and Maintenance. Want to know more about navigating the 'net? The Internet segment demonstrates shortcuts and bookmarking tips as well as how to set up a personalized email signature. Do you lose files and/or have trouble organizing them? Check out Computer Filing System. This course is geared toward Windows Vista and 7 operating systems, but XP owners will benefit also.

Whether you are a novice or a more experienced user, you'll definitely feel more comfortable with your computer after watching these videos.

click here to purchase:
https://minutes.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp?view=4&i=p283&navicat=11&navisubcat=41&naviprod=283

Your input is important to us!

If you've attended a Studio webinar recently, please spend a few minutes to complete our survey. Submissions are anonymous, but you can add your name if you'd like us to contact you.

click here:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dEMxNVBvZmczRkkwQ2RoMjNKV0YxWFE6MQ#gid=0

We're interested in learning about your webinar experience and what you think we can do to make it better.

To view FAQ culled from previous webinars and answers, please visit The Lounge, our interactive forum on our website http://www.minutesmatterstudio.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=36

Thanks for your help!

Trick or Treat!

click here to register:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/576363528

This month we will surprise you with a trick, a tip, a technique for every day of the month! Door prizes and a free template too!

Party at High Point Market!

Are you going to High Point Market next week? If so, you're invited our party Sunday at 4:00PM. Mike & Katy Garrett will be demonstrating new and exciting software that has just launched. During the presentation, you'll see how using Connexion and Studio Online will make a difference in your company's future.

Place: Market Square, room 272
Date: Sunday, October 17th
Time: 4:00PM - 8:00PM
Menu: Pasta dishes, bread, dessert, wine, beer and soft drinks
Cost: Free
RSVP: Email party@minutesmatter.com
Door Prizes:

• Connexion gift certificates
• Minutes Matter gift certificates
• Jackie Von Tobel Design Directory Books

High Point Market is providing everyone with a powerful new tool called MyMarket to help everyone connect with fellow attendee, exhibitors, schedule meetings, find events. You can add all the vendors you want to visit, seminars, and any events you want to attend. You can access this information right from your iPhone, Droid, Blackberry, etc. If you have a smart phone you have got to sign up for this fabulous tool.

Click here to sign up

What is CONNEXION? CONNEXION is a collaboration software that will allow designers, installers, fabricators and clients to communicate by logging into one central location. What's Studio Online? You will be able to access Studio anywhere, anytime, any computer. Studio Online will be available as a monthly subscription. For those of you that already own Studio you will be able to subscribe at a discount. You have to see it to believe it!

You can enter/upload image files, documents, renderings or any file that pertains to a client job right to CONNEXION. Your sub-contractors can login and enter prices and notes on services they are providing. You have total access control for all sub-contractors. Since you're entering information into ONE database you'll have the peace of mind of knowing that you are viewing the most up-to-date information in regards your client's job.

You will be able to use Studio on an iPad or any platform for that matter. Look how great a rendering looks on an iPad! I'm so excited, I just ordered my iPad. I can't wait to be able to take it on client appointments. It's powerful, small and lightweight; the only other thing we need is CONNEXION.

Enter measurements right on the iPad and those measurements will populate the client file in CONNEXION. Are you visualizing a work order filled with actual measurements? Wow, I think I am in love. Looks like Minutes Matter Measuring Forms will be moving to the clouds.

I have lightly touched on a couple of the features available in CONNEXION. Want to see it for yourself? Join us in High Point, you'll be glad you did. Email your RSVP to party@minutesmatter.com

CONNEXION ~ October Webinars

Join us October 1st or October 29th at 3pm EST for our next CONNEXION Software Webinar - the next generation of business management software for the design and fabrication professional. It's collaboration software that allows designers, installers and fabricators to communicate from within one online system. See what others are calling "The best thing that has happened to the design and fabrication in years!"

• Click here to register for the October 1st CONNEXION Webinar
• Click here to register for the October 29th CONNEXION Webinar

Well, here it is ~ Studio is moving to the Clouds with CONNEXION and that is just the beginning. Studio will soon be available online. What does that mean? You will be able to access Studio anywhere, anytime, any computer. Studio Online will be available as a monthly subscription. We will be announcing more details in the upcoming months. For those of you that already own Studio you will be able to subscribe at a discount.

You can enter/upload everything in regards to a client job to CONNEXION. Your sub-contractors can login and enter prices and notes on the services they are providing. You have total access control for all sub-contractors. Since you're entering information into ONE database you'll have the peace of mind of knowing that you are viewing the most up-to-date information regarding your client's job.

Your subscription to CONNEXION includes two free logins.

Now you can use Studio on an iPad or any platform for that matter. Look how great a rendering looks on an iPad! I'm so excited, I just ordered my iPad. I can't wait to be able to take it on client appointments. It's powerful, small and lightweight; the only other thing we need is CONNEXION.

Enter measurements right on the iPad and those measurements will populate the client file inCONNEXION. Are you visualizing a work order filled with actual measurements? Wow, I think I am in love.

Join us October 1st or October 29th at 3pm EST for our next CONNEXION Software Webinar - the next generation of business management software for the design and fabrication professional. See what others are calling "The best thing that has happened to the design and fabrication in years!"

• Click here to register for the October 1st CONNEXION Webinar
• Click here to register for the October 29th CONNEXION Webinar

Windows of Opportunity ~ WCAA Atlanta Chapter Event

The WCAA Atlanta Chapter hosted Windows of Opportunity which was a vendor round table event. There were six different vendors and approximately 70 attendees. All attendees were divided into six groups. Vendors prepared a 45 minute talk and repeated that talk six times. The attendees loved the small groups, they felt free to fully participate in the sessions.


One of the chapters member created these fabulous fresh floral arrangements. The arrangements were very unusual and the design allowed for conversation during lunch.


Tracie Bresnahan, is the current President of the WCAA Atlanta Chapter.


The guys from Menagerie, discussed corona and unique hardware solutions.


Susan from the Rowley Company discussed the new issues with the roman shade guidelines and shared some solutions.


That's me! I discussed lots of new and innovative marketing solutions.


Sandy and Terri from United Supply.


Katy and Mike Garrett from Connexion discussed how Connexion their new In-the-Cloud software can help designers, fabricators, installers and client communicate in one central location.


Greenhouse Fabrics discussed new fabrics and color trends.

Several of the members recommended that we eat at Seasons 52. So after the event, Mike, Katy and I headed out to Season's 52 which is a restaurant that serves fabulously fresh and healthy food. None of their dishes have over 450 calories. One of our favorite things was the Grilled Steak and Cremini Mushroom Flatbread; I think we should have ordered two of those instead of one for appetizers.

Gearing up for the Holiday Season

We hope you'll plan to attend our September webinar Studio Live! This month's theme - "Is your [client's] home ready for the holidays?" - will focus on the dining room and provide you with some ideas on how to interest your clients in getting started on a decorating plan for the upcoming holiday season.

Are you considering purchasing design software to add that above-and-beyond service level to your business? Do you already own Studio and want to learn more about how to make it work for you? Join us on Wednesday, September 15 at 1 PM Eastern and be inspired!

Click here to register:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/849805113
Should your plans change or that date isn't convenient for you, register anyway to receive an email with a link to watch the recording of the webinar.

We'll have a couple of door prizes for those who can attend "live" and a special free template. Log on early and watch our slide show of 150+ elevation drawings and floor plans for even more inspiration!

A Drastic Change . . .

Recently Owen and Casey decided to make a major change in their life. Before you guys get scared, Owen and Casey will still be a big part of Minutes Matter. In May, they attended a weekend event, Outback America, which compelled them to make changes in their live. Some of the changes have led them to sell their house and move to the inner city of Huntsville, AL to be apart of the Lincoln Village Ministry. Several years ago, a few people and the city of Huntsville decided to get involved and help rebuild this neighborhood. Owen and Casey feel God has called them to use their talents in new and unique ways. As you know, one of Casey's gifts is art and another is her love for kids. Owen is gifted in technology and loves working with teens. For years, they have been heavily involved with the youth group at Twickenham Church of Christ and their house has always been a revolving door for the teens.

This type of ministry is not new. Do a search and you'll probably be surprised to find there is one of these ministries near you. We have one in Nashville area called The Front Porch Ministry.



Since this is such a drastic change, most (if not all) of their furniture will need to be sold with their house. The house they are moving into is approximately a third of the size of their current home. They are planning to use some of their profit to purchase furniture that will be more multi-functional for their new smaller space. Here's a glimpse of the Lincoln house, you can see they have some work that needs to be done.

This brings me to my reason for this blog:



Last week, as I was doing my morning reading, I happened to notice a contest sponsored by CB2 which happens to be one of Casey's favorite stores. In fact, we purchased several items from CB2 for our new Minutes Matter booth at High Point Furniture Market: wall mounted magazine rack, lamp, and table. The $10,000 CB2 gift card is what attracted me to investigate the rules of this contest. I thought to myself, someone is going to win this contest, why not Owen and Casey and my two precious granddaughters! If they win, they would be able spend the money they would have spent on new furniture on other things in their new surroundings. Believe me, there's a lot to do.

What I would like for you guys to do is vote for our booth at High Point. The entire $10,000 gift card will be used for furniture and storage in the new home. We would love to be one of the top 50 vote-getters to become a finalist. We have appropriately named the entry The Drastic Change, because we felt like this name was fitting for our new High Point space as well as their new life.

Please tell all of your friends and family to vote and help Owen, Casey, Maddie (9) and Morgan (5). The girls have big hearts and always want to help others but most of all want to please God. However, they are feeling a bit of apprehension in leaving their house and friends. Owen and Casey are very fortunate to have families that are extremely supportive. Both Jerry & I and John & Penny Kester (Casey's parents), told them we'll do whatever is needed to help them get the house ready. Owen's brother & his wife (Lee & Leah Green) and Casey's sister & her husband (Carrie & Ricky Jones) will also be helping a great deal.

Click here to vote for "The Drastic Change"
(but most importantly please keep this new adventure in your prayers!)

It's not too late to register!

We had a fantastic response to last night's webinar. One attendee commented,

Thank you so much for the wonderful webinar. It answered many of my questions and helped me feel as though it's possible to become much more comfortable and facile in my use of the computer.

If you would like to register for the second "seating" tomorrow at 1 PM, click on this link:
https://minutes.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp?view=4&i=p283&navicat=11&navisubcat=43&naviprod=283
And should your plans change or you can't make it on Thursday, register anyway and you'll receive a video recording of the course along with the white paper and icons folder.

And did we mention...

...that there will be a drawing at the end of the presentation for an amazing door prize?

An Apple iPad!

Computer Savvy Course

Ask yourself these questions:

* Do you have to click more than once to visit a vendor's website?
* Do you click Start to open a software program?
* Does your Desktop contain items older than three weeks?
* Do you believe you must file all jpegs in My Pictures/Pictures folder?
* Do you spend too much time locating a file?
* Are there times when you're frustrated by the computer?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then this class is for you! We've made it easy to become computer savvy. Simply join this 90-minute course, to explore and learn the many features of your computer, from the Desktop to the Libraries, the mouse to the keyboard and customizing your Internet browser; you're going to love that one! Special attention will be given to topics such as creating folders and organizing files - learn about file types, how to open, copy, find, delete, and rename them. Shortcuts or hot keys, mouse tricks and clicks, screen captures, quick launch toolbar, system tray and task manager, all the tools and functions you may not know exist - these are the areas you'll master once you've attended this course. Don't miss the chance to learn how to get your computer organized!

While Microsoft Vista and Windows 7 systems will be displayed, XP users can benefit from the instruction also.


* Every person who registers (even if you don't attend live) will receive an email with a link to the recorded course which can be viewed anytime.



Click here to register for Tuesday, August 17 @ 8 PM EDT:
https://minutes.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp?view=4&i=p103&navicat=11&navisubcat=43&naviprod=103

Click here to register for Thursday, August 19 @ 1 PM EDT: https://minutes.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp?view=4&i=p283&navicart=11&navisubcat=43&naviprod=103

Connexion ~ It's new, it's amazing and it's for every design business!

On Friday August 6th, we were finally able to make our big announcement. Deb Barrett, with Window Fashions hosted the launch webinar for CONNEXION. CONNEXION is a collaboration software that allows designers, installers, fabricators and clients communicate by accessing one software.

Well, here it is ~ Studio is moving to the Clouds with CONNEXION and that is just the beginning. Studio will now be available online. What does that mean? You will be able to access Studio anywhere, anytime, any computer. Studio Online will be available as a monthly subscription. We will be announcing more details in the upcoming months. For those of you that already own Studio you will be able to subscribe at a discount.

You can enter/upload everything in regards to a client job to CONNEXION. Your sub-contractors can login and enter prices and notes on the services they are providing. You have total access control for all sub-contractors. Since you're entering information into ONE database you'll have the peace of mind of knowing that you are viewing the most up-to-date information regarding your client's job.

Your subscription to CONNEXION includes two free logins.
Now you can use Studio on an iPad or any platform for that matter. Look how great a rendering looks on an iPad! I'm so excited, I just ordered my iPad. I can't wait to be able to take it on client appointments. It's powerful, small and lightweight; the only other thing we need is CONNEXION.

Enter measurements right on the iPad and those measurements will populate the client file in CONNEXION. Are you visualizing a work order filled with actual measurements? Wow, I think I am in love.

I have just discussed a couple of the features available in CONNEXION. Want to see it for yourself? Katy and Mike with CONNEXION are hosting a FREE webinar so you can see the power and possibilities on Friday August 20th at 3:00 PM EST. Click on one of the links below to register for the day that works with your schedule.

Friday, August 20th, 3pm EST

Friday, Sept 10th, 3pm EST

My Latest Article in Drapery & Design Professional Magazine

My article in the July/August issue of Drapery & Design Professional discusses one of my favorite topics Cloud Computing. At the first of this year, we made an announcement that Minutes Matter had moved to the Clouds. Once the ezine was published, I received numerous inquiries about Cloud Computing. In the issue of this magazine, I discuss the subject in much more detail.

Don't stop reading now! If you're wondering what in the world is Cloud Computing, read my entire article the advantages for businesses are amazing. We love living in the Clouds more and more everyday.

The Drapery & Design Professional magazine

If you aren't already subscribed to this magazine, I definitely recommend it. Drapery & Design Professional covers everything from technology to fabrication techniques. A subscription to the magazine and access to the CHF online forum Membership is only at $48 per year. Add their webinar package and your total would only be $95 per year.

See you in the Clouds!

I was so excited this morning when I received an email from one of my clients. "I can't wait to get my statement this month for my checking account. I can't wait to reconcile!" Made me laugh and feel proud all at once. I was proud of her for learning a new skill and proud that I could be a part of leading her there.

The key to reconciling any statement in less than 3 minutes in QuickBooks is too QuickBooks set up properly at the beginning and entering transactions as you go. When the statement arrives you don't dread it, you can actually get excited about how easy it will be!

I love to put the time I start in the upper left hand corner of the statement and the finish time in the upper right. I always try to beat my time from the month before. I know, its silly, but it makes a dull task more fun.

Let me know if I can help you streamline your accounting tasks with some QuickBooks training time.

Update for Studio 3.0 is Ready to Install

We wanted our Studio users to be the first to know that we have just released an important update for all Studio 3.0 users. EVERYONE needs to install this new update as soon as possible; the update addresses a couple of issues (you know those cute little bugs that can make software do funny things.) We are happy to report that all of those little bugs have been contained and Studio is running better than ever! See the list below:

• You can now click on an .mms file and Studio will open
• You can import image formats other than jpg i.e., bmp, gif, png, etc.
• Straight lines are now rendering correctly
• Layers box has been fixed to display the correct layer information
• Page margins are now adjustable via the page setup dialog
• Page scale is now copied when a page is duplicated
  

Didn't receive a notification that a Studio update was available? When you open Studio you should see a pop-up alerting you that there is an update available. If you didn't receive this notification, click on the link below to install the update.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/886451/Studio/MMStudio_3.2.3_Setup.exe

Mac users with Parallels or VMFusion: If you didn't receive an update notification or only use the internet on the Mac side of your computer, you can use the alternate download link above to download a setup file to your Mac side. Once the setup file has downloaded then copy the setup file to your Windows side and double click on the blue Setup icon to begin the installation on the Windows side.

Confirm that you have the new build date of 07/04/2010. To confirm build date > Open Studio > click on Options (upper right corner next to the ?) > click About MMStudio > (Build 7/4/2010) is displayed at the top. Any modules you have purchased will be displayed below the build date.

If for some reason your build date is NOT 7/4/2010, you will need to uninstall your current version of Studio and then click on the download link in this email (above) to install the new version. To uninstall Studio > click Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs > scroll down to locate Minutes Matter Studio > highlight and click Remove.

Time Triage Tips - Part II

Continued...

6. Taming Your Inner Demons – many of our members had some AHA moments during one session we did on Planning for Profit. It is critical that you find out if it is you that is stopping you from being successful. If you are insecure around affluent people, or you are a people-pleaser, it is important to ask yourself if your insecurity is causing you to miss your goals. If so, this is one of the biggest leverage points you need to work on. I have learned over the years that if something is making me nervous or I am procrastinating about something, either it isn’t a strength, I am fighting something internal, or it is an opportunity to grow and become more skilled. You should always feel a little stress right before you learn something new. Sometimes it helps to think about the benefit of doing the thing you are avoiding, and doing it in spite of the feelings of discomfort. If you aren’t feeling discomfort or fear, you’re probably not pushing yourself enough.

7. Business Dashboard & Drivers – you need a Business Dashboard with 5 – 7 key metrics or measures for your business. How many clients do you need? What is the lifetime value of your client and how do you increase it? What other measures are important in your business? Profit?
Marketing and sales are the key drivers of your business. Period. If you don’t like marketing and sales, you really need to ask yourself if you really want to run your own business. If you are an established business, about 1 – 2 hours of each day should be devoted to marketing without fail even when you’re busy. If you are new to business, or the economy has impacted your revenue, spend as many hours as you can on the highest leverage activities for marketing. What are they?

• If you really WOW your clients, you’ll easily get great referrals. This should be your number one focus of your business. If you aren’t getting this response, you’re slowing down your referral stream. Go back to your current clients and ask what “WOW” means to them. Think outside of the box, act and then ask for referrals and testimonials. One out of two existing clients may opt for a new offer from you. This is your easiest route to more business because they know, like and trust you.
• If you have clients whose projects have been finished for awhile, you are likely to activate one out of three of those clients, so this is your second best way of getting business. Ask these previous clients what they liked about working with you, what they’d like to be different and then think about an offer you can make to get them to do business with you again.
• Referrals from people that are doing business with the people you want to do business with. The best way to get referrals is to give referrals. Ask the question that Bob Burg, The Go-Giver, suggests – “How would I know who would be a great referral for you?” Start there and give, give, give. Be the hub of giving in your marketplace and you’ll get lots more business.
• Niche – be as clear, concise and narrow as possible with the description of your niche and services. Phrase them as benefits that your client receives.
• Ideal Client – have a complete profile developed for the perfect client for you. It should include their demographic (income, age, marital status, etc.), psychographic (interests, educational level, hobbies, values, etc.), and technographic profile (computer savvy, text messaging, social media, email, etc.)
• Brand – make sure your brand is consistent throughout all mediums that you use to market – messaging, website, blog, social media, cards, stationery, PR, advertising, etc. It should be authentically you so that if someone sees anything from your firm, they say, “Oh, that’s so you.”
• Brand message – what is it you do uniquely that no one else does. Your brand messaging should be focused on what you do for the client instead of what you do as an activity to serve them. This is where many designers go wrong.
• Keep current with new marketing standards. If you’re not keeping up with technology for marketing using online social media resources, you will be seen to be “out of touch” and “out of date.” Be sure that this is part of your marketing focus. Always be learning! This includes LinkedIn, Facebook Fan Pages, a blog, Twitter and YouTube. These are the fab 5 of the online world right now.

8. Measure Your Progress - once you create your dashboard, it is important to measure your progress. Review your dashboard daily. Create one for your personal life, too.

9. Awareness and Improvement – being aware of yourself and your emotions is vital. Your emotions drive your activities. If you aren’t clear on what is working and what isn’t, it is time to ask yourself more questions. Is this activity a driver? Is it something I can improve? Do I
want to improve? If I don’t do this, what will happen? It’s up to you to find the core motivation to get over your own hurdles. Keep a journal and ask yourself at the end of the day what you learned. What would you do differently? What will you start doing? What will you stop doing? What will you do more of? What will you do less of? (You can use these questions for employee reviews, too.) Awareness truly is the key to change.

10. Identify Your Constraints – this is probably the biggest AHA I had in the last few years. My business coach, Rich Schefren, talks about this. If you take some time to really focus and think about your life and your business, what is it that is really stopping you from achieving everything you want in life? Is it internal? Is it external? Is there another way to look at it? What caused the constraint or bottleneck? Why? Why else? What could you do to remove it? If you were to remove it, what would happen in your life and your business? How would things be different? Why would that be important? Who can help you get there? Just remember to look at this question as if there were no time, money or resource constraints. Once you get clarity on the constraint, then ask these questions, “How can I remove this constraint?” and “How can I get the resources?” There isn’t just one constraint…there are many, but focus on the biggest one first, and then the next and the next. Just think about a river with a beaver dam, if you remove the logs, the water flows freely. If you do this one exercise, you will be amazed at what happens in your life.

Be sure to let me know how this helps you at info@designsuccessu.com.

I’ve been amazed in my own life and business at how much I’ve accomplished since improving my knowledge and skills through classes, coaching and masterminds. Invest in yourself and no one can take that away from you. My personal goals are growing every day, and the more I learn the more I want to learn. Surround yourself with people who know more than you do, and who are more successful. Your success is directly linked to the people with whom you surround yourself.

Here’s one final thought and that is about leverage. You have a choice, and that is to invest in the best you can afford in terms of services, products, education or tools. You can’t afford not to do this. You only cry once when you pay for quality. Are you worth it?

If you’d like to learn more how to get more clients, work less and enjoy your interior design business more, be sure to request Design Success University’s Interior Design Fee & Salary Survey eBook - $49 Value with our compliments. We’ll also add you to our complimentary weekly newsletter, IDEAS that is full of educational and inspirational articles plus a calendar of upcoming events.

10 Time Triage Tips - Part I

One of the common themes I hear from interior designers is their feeling of being overwhelmed and “busy” especially when business is really good which we all hope it will be in the near future. This is the perfect time to really think about your business and plan for a more successful future.

The important question to ask yourself is, “Am I Busy or Am I Productive?” We’ve been talking about this in our Business Mastery Membership Monthly Mentor sessions, but I want to extract some key ideas for you to consider.

1. Laser Clarity – this is really the key to time control because you’re really not controlling time, you’re controlling yourself. If you aren’t clear about why you’re doing something and how it will get you to your goals, you’re wasting time. Once you’re clear, the path is direct and inevitable. It absolutely must be tied into your emotions, values and reason why or you’ll find yourself sabotaging your results. Your goals must be specific, measurable and written with a date for completing. The quality of your life depends on the quality of your questions. (paraphrased and author unknown) Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Why are you doing what you are doing?
• What is success to you?
• What are the measures of success to you?
• Does your business align with your values?
• Are you enjoying it?
• What specifically do you like about the business?
• What specifically do you love doing?
• What specifically don’t you like about the business?
• What specifically don’t you love doing?
• What specifically would you like to learn?
• Are you happy?
• Are you achieving what you want?

2. Fanatical Planning, Laser Focus & Lockdown (Debbie Green's great word!)

• A goal without a written plan is just a dream. I don’t remember who said that, but it is true.
• You can only do one thing at a time. The more projects you start at the same time, the longer it will take you to complete all of them. Multi-tasking is deadly to achieving your goals. Focus on the biggest and most important things first. Start with the end in mind and write down the step that needs to be done prior to achieving the major goal, and then the step before that, etc. Schedule your time.
• Identify your 2 – 4 most productive hours of the day. Are you a lark (early) or owl (late)? Always schedule your work on the drivers of your business during these hours. Be ruthlessly protective of this time and do what Debbie Green with Minutes Matter Solutions, Inc. calls “lock-down.” Turn off the phone, instant messaging, close the door, totally focus on the projects that will do the most for your business first. If you have trouble starting, just write down the smallest step you can take to get started.
• You have to know how much time things take, and if you don’t you can’t manage your time. Start logging for a few days how much time you spend on different activities. If you’re spending two hours on email and answering your phone per day, you’re being reactive vs. proactive. Control this and start becoming aware of how long things take to do. As soon as you know how long things take, find ways to do them more efficiently. Always look for the elegant solution.

3. Creative Chunks – do similar things at the same time. If you are writing blog posts, do those all at one time on a specific day and time and do a month’s worth. Every time you shift from one task to another, you lose as much as 20 minutes just getting into the rhythm of the project. That’s why it is so important to have laser focus. Use a kitchen timer to keep you on schedule. Take complete mental breaks (maximum of 90 minutes on one project before a break) and do something to rest your mind like taking a walk, etc.

4. Systematize & Streamline – parts of this business are fairly routine. Document the routines completely so you can delegate or outsource them. Your time as the owner of the business should be spent on the five drivers for your business – sales & marketing, project planning & oversight, client relationships, systemization and joint ventures. If you were to focus your time on these five drivers alone, you would achieve more in less time and make more money…what could you do with the extra time and money? Use that to power through the documentation and systemization process so you can assign the work that doesn’t require your creativitity and skill sets.

5.Improve Your Strengths & Outsource or Delegate Your Weaknesses – I just learned this a few years ago, and it was really eye-opening to me. Keep this in mind if you have kids, too. If you have particular strengths, focus on improving those if they are the key drivers of your business. Find a coach, or find the best person you can to be a mentor to you to teach you the best practices. It will save you incredible amounts of time, money and wasted effort. This is also known as modeling. Everything that is not a strength, don’t do and don’t try to improve. It is extremely freeing to give up trying to improve things that aren’t playing to your strengths.

Watch for Part II soon...

If you’d like to learn more how to get more clients, work less and enjoy your interior design business more, be sure to request Design Success University’s Interior Design Fee & Salary Survey eBook - $49 Value with our compliments. We’ll also add you to our complimentary weekly newsletter, IDEAS that is full of educational and inspirational articles plus a calendar of upcoming events.

What sets your business apart?

Please join us for our June webinar showcasing Studio 3.0 this coming Wednesday the 9th at 1 PM Eastern. You will learn how quickly and easily you can design directly on a photo or create elevation renderings that will help your business outshine the competition. This month's focus is on angles - windows and walls - and will feature designs for children's rooms.

Log on early to watch our 150+ slide show of Studio drawings - bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, baths, kitchens, and more, with a special section on relaxing retreats in honor of Father's Day!

Here's the link to click to register:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/774706761

If you've never joined a webinar before, what are you waiting for??!! It's easy. After you register, you'll receive an email confirmation. Then on the day of the webinar, another reminder will appear in your mailbox. Click on the link in the email, and follow the prompts; wait a minute while the software downloads to your computer. Once you are in the meeting you can decide whether to listen through your computer's speakers (make sure you adjust the volume using the audio settings on the webinar panel) or you can call in on your telephone.

Before the webinar, jot down any questions you might have using Word or Wordpad. Then during the webinar, copy and paste the text into the Question Box on your attendee panel. One of our Studio panelists will type in an answer or read the question to me so that I can demonstrate whatever you want to see.

This month we are giving away three (3!) $50 gift certificates so be sure to stay till the end of the presentation.

We know life happens and you can't always attend as planned. Don't worry, all our webinars are recorded (barring lightning storms and power outages) and you'll be able to watch the video by clicking on a link in the email you'll receive after the webinar.

Contact me with any question you might have..... mmstudiocoach@aol.com