Creative Genius Podcast: Recent Episodes
Gail Doby & Erin Weir
Gail Doby and Erin Weir interview influential people in the interior design industry, business, and entrepreneurs
In this podcast, Gail and Erin talk about the three P's: policies, processes, and procedures. They're the foundation of a well-run business! If you're listening on your favorite podcast platform, read the full shownotes here: https://gaildoby.com/s6e1-shownotes
In this podcast, Gail and Erin talk about how they are dealing with some transitions taking place within their own company. If you’re listening on your favorite podcast platform, read the full shownotes here: https://gaildoby.com/s5e10-shownotes
In this podcast, Gail and Erin talk with Lee Hershberg, CEO of DesignEdge. They discuss how designers and vendors can connect at his events. If you're listening on your favorite podcast platform, read the full shownotes here: https://gaildoby.com/s5e9-shownotes
In this podcast, Gail talks with Mike Michalowicz, entrepreneur, speaker, and author of several bestselling books about his new revised book. See the full shownotes at: https://gaildoby.com/s5e8-shownotes
In this podcast, Gail speaks with executive coach Tim Fulkerson about leadership and empowering employees to be their best. See the full shownotes at: https://gaildoby.com/s5e7-shownotes
In this podcast, Gail talks with Chris Ramey, an expert on connecting with affluent clients. He speaks about the unique needs of wealthy clients, how to sell to them, and how to brand yourself. See the full shownotes at: https://gaildoby.com/s5e6-shownotes
In this podcast, Gail talks with communications expert Paul Hellman. They discuss attention spans, breaking through the clutter, and being an effective communicator. See the full show notes at: https://gaildoby.com/s5e5-shownotes
In this podcast, Gail talks with executive coach Michael Seelman. Michael discusses psychological safety, fixed mindset vs growth mindset, and the difference between a manager and a leader. See the full show notes at: https://gaildoby.com/s5e3-shownotes
In this podcast, Gail talks with solopreneur and business coach Jeffrey Shaw, author of The Self-Employed Life, host of the Self-Employed Life podcast, and founder of the Self-Employed Business Institute. View the full show notes at: https://gaildoby.com/s5e3-shownotes
In this podcast, interior designer Garrison Hullinger, principal, Garrison Hullinger Interior Design, Portland, Oregon, joins Gail and one of the Boardroom Mastermind groups to talk about trends inside and outside the industry that can affect designers’ businesses.
All work and no rest is a recipe for a meltdown. You owe it to yourself and your business to take some time off now and then to recharge, renew and rebuild your store of resources. That might entail taking care of your physical, mental, emotional, and/or spiritual health. In this podcast, Gail talks with Erin about the sabbatical she took at the end of last year and how it has contributed to her personal and professional growth.
In order to enhance the lives and living spaces of their clients, interior designers need to get to know the insides of their homes and of their personalities. In this podcast, Gail and Erin asked some of their Boardroom Group members to share some of their most memorable work stories.
What dreams do you have for your business? To make more money? Maybe to have better clients, better projects? To grow your staff? Or to diversify into other areas? Whatever your dream, how will you make it come true? It takes planning and then acting and following through on those plans.
In this podcast, Gail and Erin talked with Cody Beal, owner of Cody Beal Interior Design, Salt Lake City, Utah, which provides interior design services for residential, commercial and renovation projects. Cody started working with Gail about a year-and-a-half ago and has seen big improvements in his business since.
With the pandemic affecting so many designers, Gail asked Cody what his biggest challenge has been in the past year or so. Not the pandemic, said Cody, but rather integrating the business processes he has discussed in his work with Gail into his firm in a timely manner. More specifically, he said, getting them integrated to a point where they actually work and you can see the results.
“To really see the benefit of changing your company—putting the rudder in the water, if you will, and turning, and seeing how that can benefit you—takes a little time,” said Cody. The important thing, he added, is to just jump in and do the work, make the changes. “Have faith; it really works.”
However, said Cody, having to adapt because of the pandemic, he and his team have learned that hard things are possible; that we can slow down, take a breath, and re-evaluate what we’re doing; and that we can implement things that we have the faith and the foresight to move forward with and that, in the end, will serve us better.”
“We all have dreams,” said Cody, “but are they just dreams, or are they plans? How do we turn them into plans? How do we achieve those plans?” You have to put your plans into action. After having implemented the plan he worked out with Gail, his revenues increased substantially year-over-year. When Gail reviewed the numbers with him, he was shocked. “I never thought I would make that much money,” he told her.
One of the things that helped Cody to grow his business was accepting that he had something of value to offer his clients. “Interior design,” he offered, “is an art form of living well.” Designers have a higher perspective of how to live that they can provide to their clients. They bring beautiful things to life but also elevate quality of life. They deserve to be compensated well for that.
Cody also talked about what inspires him, how he’s created a positive culture in his firm, and his plans for the future. He recounted two bits of wisdom he got from Gail that have really made a big difference in his business. Listen to the entire podcast to learn what those are.
Mentioned in This Podcast
You can see samples of Cody’s work in the Gallery section of the firm’s website at www.codybeal.com.
Cody mentioned he had found The Morning Miracle routine helpful. You can find out more about it at miraclemorning.com.
Cody also referred to Headway, which provides 15-minute summaries of non-fiction books in written or audio format, available through the Headway app. For more information, go to headway.media.
The book by Dr. Wayne Dryer that Cody referred to is The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-Create Your World Your Way. You can learn more about “the power of intention” on his website at www.drwaynedyer.com/press/power-intention/. The book is available in various formats from book stores and online.
In this podcast, Charles, 9th Earl Spencer talks about storytelling in creating a brand and communicating the value of historic pieces.
When it comes to decisions, there’s no such thing as right or wrong. Yes, in hindsight, some choices may have been better than others. But no decision is ever perfect. In the moment, the best you can hope for is to make a well-informed decision that feels right and feels true. Whatever the outcome, you can learn from it and move on. In this podcast, Gail and Erin talk with Christine Turknett, principal designer, Breathe Design Studio (formerly, Christine Turknett Interiors), Austin, Texas. Christine specializes in modern and contemporary design, drawing from the Danish approach of creating clean, calm and cozy spaces, with an emphasis on well-being.
In this podcast, Gail and Erin talk with interior designer Glenna Stone. Interior design is a second career for Glenna, whose first career was as a consultant to consumer products companies, advising them on supply chain and business process issues. Although design is her true passion, her corporate experience has proved invaluable in running and growing her business.
In this podcast, Gail and Erin talk with award-winning interior designer Valerie Garrett. In addition to offering high-end residential and commercial services, Valerie also has contributed to a number of historic preservation projects in and around Macon.
Taking risks can be scary. Life can be scary. The only way to get to the other side of things as they are is to move past the fear in the belief that something better waits ahead. The rewards can be great. As a bonus, you acquire more resilience and wisdom along the way. In this podcast, Gail and Erin talk with interior designer Ginger Curtis, owner and principal designer, Urbanology Designs, North Richland Hills, Texas. She recently published her first book on design, Beauty by Design, in which she also recounts how she overcame a number of personal challenges and gained the confidence to start her own business.
Like everything else, partnerships have their pros and cons. Partnering with another designer can be a great way to grow your business. However, many business partnerships eventually fizzle out or fail. So what does it take to create a successful business partnership? How do you sustain it? What could a partner bring to your business?
In this podcast Gail and Erin talk with management consulting and marketing wizard Marty Fahnke. In addition to providing strategic and creative direction to the twelve companies he owns, Marty has helped numerous million-plus-dollar companies become multi-million-dollar companies, utilizing a variety of growth strategies.
In this podcast, Gail and Erin discuss the benefits of hiring, when to hire and preparing to hire. Having recently gone through several new hires themselves, they share their insights on how best to determine what kind of employee you need and how to help ensure you select someone who’s a good fit for your business.
In today’s podcast, Gail and Erin relate the brand journey their business has been through over the years. Recently, as they developed a 10-year vision for the business, they realized they would need to re-brand once again to reflect new aspects they are adding and how the business will change.
With so much to see and so much territory to cover, it can be a challenge for weary designers to find a place to roost at High Point Market. Universal Furniture has got you covered, with food, drink, a place to store your stuff, learning events, welcoming staff, and a huge showroom offering something for everyone. In this podcast Gail and Erin chat with Neil Mackenzie, vice president for marketing, Universal Furniture, High Point, North Carolina.
In this podcast, Gail is joined by Nick May, host of the interior design business podcast “The Chaise Lounge”. Do you know how much profit your business is making? Do know what your business is worth? Do you know how much you owe and how much is owed to you? If you don’t know where your numbers are, you could be heading for big trouble.
Great accomplishments begin with grand visions. Give yourself permission to dream big and go for it. The sooner you begin, the sooner your dream will come true. In this podcast, Gail and Erin talk with interior designer Cheryl Stauffer, CEO and principal, Crimson Design Group.
Do you shy away from a new challenge or task, afraid you might make a mistake or not succeed? Don’t block that fear or succumb to it. More than acknowledge it, welcome it. It’s trying to tell you something. In this podcast Gail and Erin talk with interior designer Lori McRae, co-founder and partner, Frederick McRae Ltd.
On today’s podcast, Gail and Erin talk with Marissa Matiyasic, principal, Reflections Interior Design. Marissa set a goal to accomplish her list in 90 days, but ran through it in about two months. “It was kind of a domino effect,” she said. “Once you change one thing it makes sense to just keep going with it.”
On today’s podcast Gail and Erin talk with Vicky Serany, founder and principal designer, Southern Studio Interior Design. The biggest lesson, she said, was to learn to believe in herself. “I wish I had gained more confidence earlier,” she remarked. “If I were to do things differently, I would not hold back.”
Many designers have a hard time thinking of themselves as businesspeople. Taking charge of your business can make all the difference. In today’s podcast Gail and Erin talk with Kim Raymond, owner and principal architect of Kim Raymond Architects & Interiors.
This year, Spring Market, usually held in April, is moving to early June. It won’t be quite the same as the Market you’re used to but more open than Fall Market was last October. Here’s what you need to know to make the best use of your time at Spring Market.
In today’s podcast, Gail and Erin talk about the upcoming release of Gail’s new book, Business Breakthrough, in early April. Drawing on Gail’s years of experience helping hundreds of designers to achieve greater business success, the book has something to offer any interior design business owner, at whatever point they may be in the life of their business.
Running a business without a plan is like taking a trip without an itinerary or a map. How do know where you’re going or when you’ve arrived? More than that, making a plan sets in motion the energies that will bring about the future you’ve planned for.
If you dream of running a million-dollar business, you need to adjust your mindset. On this week's podcast, Gail and Erin sit down with entrepreneur Scott Oldford to discuss his successes and failures, and how to change your approach. “A business will not grow because of strategies and tactics,” said Scott. “A business will grow because the entrepreneur’s mind sees the scenario in a certain way. That is absolutely 100 percent possible to create.”
In today’s podcast, Gail and Erin talk with multi-award-winning designer Lisa Gielincki, principal at Lisa Gielincki Interior Design. Her biggest challenge in growing her business, she recognized, was to get past her image of herself and to believe that she could do more, do bigger, and achieve more.
In today’s podcast, Gail and Erin talk with Karen Wolf, creative principal and owner of KBW Interiors. It was through her work with Gail that Karen gained the confidence to branch out into trends forecasting, an area she had long considered a strength and enjoyed. It has added a new dimension to her business and her life.
On today's podcast, Gail sits down with business author Mike Michalowicz to talk about his new book Fix This First and the art of focusing. Mike tells business leaders to focus on one big challenge and address it before moving onto the next one.
Matthew Tirschwell sits down with Gail Doby to talk about how her teachings helped his business, and more importantly, helped him fall back in love with his business. Several years ago, Matthew felt that his business was just treading water, and now he feels the passion again.
On today's podcast, Gail sits down with Amy Leferink of Interior Impressions to talk about how Gail's teachings helped turn a 1% profit into a 4000% profit. Amy also shares her life lessons for professional success which include enlisting others for help and taking time for self-care.
On today's podcast, Gail Doby speaks with designer Corey Damen Jenkins about how he overcame adversity to become a successful interior designer, how he deals with racial prejudice, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the industry. He says that through his tenacity and hard work, and a bit of good luck, he has found the success he now has.
On today’s podcast, Gail and Erin talk with Bob Burg, consultant, presenter, and author of a number of books on sales, marketing, and influence. The three discuss Bob Burg's philosophy of always giving value to live a fulfilling life and to be more profitable in business. You'll walk away from this episode with success tips for business and being a good influencer.
Were you not able to attend Fall Market 2020 at High Point? Neither were Gail and Erin, but they know some designers who did. In the first episode of Season Two, Gail and Erin let a panel of expert designers discuss their experiences at Fall Market, the insights and trends they noticed, and of course their absolute favorite products. You’ll find out the best trends in upcoming design, but also how the current state of the world has affected furniture shipping.
Gail and Erin talk with organizational psychologist Dr. Benjamin Hardy, creator of the Future Self Program, author of Personality Is Not Permanent and Willpower Doesn’t Work, and a regular contributor to Inc. and Psychology Today. Dr. Hardy’s blogs have been read by over 100 million people and are featured on Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Fortune, CNBC, Cheddar, and many others.
In today’s episode, Gail and Erin talk with Lisa Kahn, lead designer and CEO of Lisa Kahn Designs in Naples, Florida, who specializes in creating peaceful, nurturing sanctuary spaces that harmonize the built environment, the natural world, and the human spirit.
In today’s episode, Gail and Erin discuss adjusting your business model when you see that your current model isn’t working. “You can tell pretty quickly whether your model is working by reviewing the bottom line on your monthly profit and loss statement. If you’re losing money month after month, something is wrong and you have to fix it.” Says Gail.
How do you scale a new business up quickly? How do you find the people you need to make your business grow and succeed? What do you do if things start to go wrong?
In this episode, Gail and Erin talk with designer extraordinaire Garrison Hullinger, founder and principal designer of Garrison Hullinger Interior Design in Portland, Oregon, specializing in residential, commercial, and hospitality design.
Reflecting on their 15 years together, Gail and Erin have come to recognize that major setbacks occur about every seven to eight years. Anticipating disruptions needs to be a part of business planning. “We need to be thinking about the ‘what if’ all the time,” says Gail. “If you’re not that person who’s making contingency plans for your business, then you need someone who can be that person for your team.”
In this episode, Gail and Erin talk with Joshua Kirk, owner and co-founder of Improv Leap, which provides improvisational experiences and workshops for businesses, schools, and community and religious groups to help individuals and teams connect and communicate more effectively.
In today’s episode, Gail and Erin talk about the lessons they’ve learned from dealing with the many ups and downs they’ve experienced in their 15 years of business together. Think of it as a survival guide for your business.
In today’s episode, Gail and Erin talk with innovation guru Chuck Swoboda, Innovator-in-Residence at Marquette University, author of The Innovator’s Spirit: Discover the Mindset to Pursue the Impossible, and host of the “Innovators on Tap” podcast. He is also the founder of Cape Point Advisors, an innovation and technology consultancy; the former chairman and CEO of Cree, where he led the LED revolution; and a contributor to Forbes magazine, writing about the intersection of innovation and leadership.
What does it take to be design superstar? In today’s episode, Gail and Erin talk with multi-award-winning designer Jamie Drake, founder and partner, Drake/Anderson in New York City. Widely admired for his stunning interiors and sophisticated product lines, Jamie is a member of Interior Design magazine’s Interior Design Hall of Fame, ELLE DECOR’s prestigious A-List, and of the exclusive Architectural Digest AD100.
Every business is a journey. You never know where it might lead you or what you might encounter along the way. It helps to have a trusted partner to provide support and counsel. In today’s episode, Gail and Erin relate the many stages their business has gone through and how their long and enduring friendship has supported and strengthened them throughout their journey.