122. From Jobby to Design Firm; The Business of Building Your Business

In this episode I am thrilled to introduce you to Katie Decker Erickson, a powerhouse in the world of interior design and business.  Katie  has not only earned her MBA but has spent nearly two decades building a multi-million dollar interior design firm that operates in over 20 states and she is sharing with us what things have been the most helpful for her as she has built her business.  In our conversation, Katie  shares her fearless approach to starting her design business. She emphasizes the importance of not succumbing to the fear of perfection and how overthinking can lead to analysis paralysis. Drawing from her own experience, Katie  highlights the value of taking action, even if it means starting with just a cardboard box and a few fan decks (which is exactly what she did starting out).  We delve into the challenges of striving for perfection and the wisdom behind the 80/20 rule—acknowledging that achieving 80% success is often enough to call it a win. Katie's perspective on starting before you feel ready is a testament to her entrepreneurial spirit and a lesson for anyone hesitating to take the first step. On your journey as a business owner it is important that you learn to embrace imperfection and how a "Done is better than perfect" attitude is key for being able to get things done in business. It’s  important to learn through action, tweaking, and iterating along the way. Everyone starts somewhere, and the key is to get started. We touch on the significance of building a strong team, with Katie crediting her team for the exponential growth of her firm. And talk about how important team, processes and systems are to being a CEO that is not needed in the daily ins and outs of your business. Thank you for tuning into this episode, I hope I encouraged you to take action, build your team and systems and that you are inspired by listening to Katie’s journey and know that it is possible for you with the right mindset and support!    Meet our guest Katie Decker-Erickson: Katie began her career in commercial color consulting as a part-time passion project in 2007. Today, her company, Color Works has grown into a multi-million dollar commercial design company, currently operating in over 20 states nationwide, with a fully remote team of more than a dozen individuals. Katie is known for her business acumen (having grown 1500% in a single year), passion for teaching others (with 18 years teaching undergraduate courses), devotion to her two young daughters, and commitment to women/s empowerment both personally and professionally.    Connect with Katie here:  Website:  https://colorworks.coach  LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/deckerkatie/ IG:  https://www.instagram.com/colorworks.coach/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colorworkscoaching  Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ColorfulConversations   Podcast Website and Resources: Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery   Text BESTIE to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.   SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business. Stay in touch with Michelle Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/  Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad  Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide   Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact   A Podcast Launch Bestie production