1 00:00:00,500 --> 00:00:05,000 Hello and welcome to episode 35 of design cures podcast. 2 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:09,600 I'm your host and Mentor Rebecca Ward this week on the podcast we 3 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:13,100 are talking about CEO mindset. What is it? 4 00:00:13,100 --> 00:00:16,400 And why do you need to have it or manage it? 5 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,100 Or what if you're just going to work for someone else? 6 00:00:19,100 --> 00:00:22,700 So we answer all of those questions in the episode today. 7 00:00:23,100 --> 00:00:25,900 And before we get into that, I want to remind you the you might 8 00:00:25,900 --> 00:00:28,200 want my download of the three things. 9 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:31,100 I wish I had known before I started My career in interior 10 00:00:31,100 --> 00:00:33,900 design. So you can go to the show notes 11 00:00:33,900 --> 00:00:36,300 and click on that link and get the download. 12 00:00:36,500 --> 00:00:38,700 We also have a download available for you. 13 00:00:38,700 --> 00:00:43,400 If you are trying to decide, if interior design is your career, 14 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:46,900 you can download the roadmap to becoming an interior designer. 15 00:00:46,900 --> 00:00:49,000 And I'll show you all the steps along the way. 16 00:00:49,500 --> 00:00:53,300 And you can also go back to podcast number 23, where I 17 00:00:53,308 --> 00:00:58,100 talked about that a little more in detail, so as we are getting, 18 00:00:58,100 --> 00:01:01,600 you nowhere episode 35. Now, And so there's a lot of 19 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:05,500 good information if you go back in the episodes I highly 20 00:01:05,500 --> 00:01:07,100 recommend. Even if you're just going to 21 00:01:07,100 --> 00:01:10,800 start out at episode 1, where I even talk about an intro to 22 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,300 Interior Design what it is, and how I got on the path to 23 00:01:14,300 --> 00:01:17,200 Interior Design as a great place to start. 24 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:21,000 So you might want to start there or you might want to start here 25 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:22,900 and work backwards. If you haven't been listening 26 00:01:22,900 --> 00:01:25,500 along, but I think all of them are great and you're going to 27 00:01:25,500 --> 00:01:27,100 get something out of each episode. 28 00:01:27,300 --> 00:01:29,800 Alright, now, let's get into CEO. 29 00:01:29,900 --> 00:01:36,400 Set. You're now listening to design, 30 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:40,500 curious a place where you creative one are here to learn 31 00:01:40,500 --> 00:01:43,600 about what it really is. Like, to be an interior designer 32 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:48,200 and I'm your host and Mentor Rebecca, Ward, if you're worried 33 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,900 about how to succeed in a creative career, if you're ready 34 00:01:51,900 --> 00:01:55,000 to learn your next steps to become an Interior Designer. 35 00:01:55,700 --> 00:01:59,200 And if you want the satisfaction of doing something you love 36 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,200 every day, you are in the right place. 37 00:02:02,500 --> 00:02:06,000 Grab a coffee, a notebook. And Let's dig into today's 38 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,900 episode. Okay. 39 00:02:08,900 --> 00:02:13,100 CEO mindset. Let's get some definitions in 40 00:02:13,100 --> 00:02:17,400 place because because I know you guys are just curious about the 41 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,600 career and you might not even be even familiar. 42 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:26,600 What CEO is CEO stands for chief executive officer? 43 00:02:27,500 --> 00:02:31,900 It is the highest position in a business, the top dog, I guess 44 00:02:31,900 --> 00:02:35,900 you could say it's where the buck stops and you know could be 45 00:02:35,900 --> 00:02:42,300 president of the company but CEO is pretty common term and one 46 00:02:42,300 --> 00:02:47,300 that is tossed around even for solopreneurs entrepreneurs. 47 00:02:47,500 --> 00:02:51,600 And so, what we are talking about today is the CEO mindset 48 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:57,400 and the definition of a CEO mindset, would be a set of 49 00:02:57,700 --> 00:03:02,900 psychological traits, which form the makings of a successful 50 00:03:02,900 --> 00:03:05,800 business leader. And those might include 51 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:09,600 confidence resilience. Or ambition. 52 00:03:10,100 --> 00:03:16,400 So why do you need to have a CEO mindset and today, I guess I'm 53 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,800 speaking more for people who are thinking about going into 54 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:23,700 business for themselves as an interior designer, and if you're 55 00:03:23,700 --> 00:03:26,700 just starting out in the career, you might be working for 56 00:03:26,700 --> 00:03:29,500 someone. It's good to understand what 57 00:03:29,500 --> 00:03:33,800 your CEO is thinking about. But also you might think about 58 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:35,900 going out on your own someday, maybe you're just getting 59 00:03:35,900 --> 00:03:39,000 experience working for someone so it's good to be Mindful of 60 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,200 this. Okay, so the reason why this 61 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:45,800 comes up a lot and I've noticed it a lot in coaching programs 62 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:51,500 and podcast that I listen to is because when a designer gets 63 00:03:51,500 --> 00:03:55,400 into their own business, they are doing it. 64 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,700 Because and I've talked about this before because they love 65 00:03:59,700 --> 00:04:02,200 the craft, they want to be a designer. 66 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:03,800 They want to have the autonomy. Maybe. 67 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:10,100 And so they are thinking mainly about Doing the design work but 68 00:04:10,100 --> 00:04:13,700 when your own your own business, someone has to do all the 69 00:04:13,700 --> 00:04:16,800 business part of it. And it's likely going to be 70 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:18,200 used. Someone needs to make those 71 00:04:18,500 --> 00:04:21,500 decisions, someone needs to organize it, someone needs to 72 00:04:22,100 --> 00:04:25,900 think about The Branding in the messaging and processes and 73 00:04:25,900 --> 00:04:30,500 procedures the finances, tracking expenses, and making 74 00:04:30,500 --> 00:04:33,800 sure your income exceeds your expenses. 75 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:37,800 So that is typically not the fun part for designers. 76 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:42,500 If you remember back in episode 32, if Andrea libres, she talked 77 00:04:42,500 --> 00:04:47,700 about coaching a designer who really did not want to be pinned 78 00:04:47,700 --> 00:04:49,600 down by processes and procedures. 79 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:53,400 She said, every client every project is different, I don't 80 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:58,400 need methods and really Andrea wasn't able to help that person 81 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:01,700 because if you're running a business it has to have 82 00:05:01,700 --> 00:05:05,300 structure. And I am not naturally a 83 00:05:05,300 --> 00:05:07,700 structured person. I would say I enjoy it. 84 00:05:07,700 --> 00:05:10,900 I definitely Enjoy, but setting it up myself. 85 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:16,900 It's not my forte. Now, I do love business, I love 86 00:05:16,900 --> 00:05:21,000 being an entrepreneur. I Love Thinking creatively about 87 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:25,800 new ideas, I could do for my business new offerings, how I 88 00:05:25,808 --> 00:05:29,700 can make the client experience better, but when it comes to 89 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:36,300 spreadsheets tracking finances, but keeping all of that 90 00:05:36,300 --> 00:05:39,900 processes and procedures. Painting everything that is not 91 00:05:39,900 --> 00:05:46,400 for me so knowing that I definitely have delegated it and 92 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,400 out sourced it to my employees. Now I didn't always have 93 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:55,700 employees, I worked for the first several years by myself, I 94 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:59,900 would occasionally have interns and that was helpful to have 95 00:05:59,900 --> 00:06:04,400 just someone else to work with to have them filing papers or 96 00:06:04,700 --> 00:06:07,300 whatever running get samples and things like that. 97 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:10,200 So interns were Ice. And then I hired someone 98 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:14,800 part-time and then I hired her full-time and eventually was 99 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:18,500 able to start delegating tasks. That were not my favorite. 100 00:06:18,500 --> 00:06:22,100 That maybe my employee was much more suited for. 101 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:26,500 That's when I first started having to think about being the 102 00:06:26,500 --> 00:06:30,600 CEO of my company, I'm actually in a position of leadership and, 103 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:34,200 you know, I'll jump in here and say that you are in a position 104 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:38,600 of leadership even if you are a solopreneur because As of the 105 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:43,500 way that our job in industry is set up that we have to work with 106 00:06:43,500 --> 00:06:47,000 a lot of other trades. People, there's many people that 107 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:51,400 come into our quote-unquote team and so you are managing those 108 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:55,800 people for your project on your client's behalf and so you are a 109 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,500 leader, whether you have employees or not. 110 00:06:58,900 --> 00:07:01,000 So going back when I had employed. 111 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:05,100 So I learn very slowly because like I said before, I didn't 112 00:07:05,100 --> 00:07:08,000 have coaching right away, how to be a good. 113 00:07:08,300 --> 00:07:10,300 Learned how to delegate and it is hard. 114 00:07:10,300 --> 00:07:14,700 It is hard to let go and I even let go of the designing process, 115 00:07:14,700 --> 00:07:18,000 which I found that was fine for me as long as we did it 116 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:21,200 collaboratively. I still got enjoyment out of it. 117 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:23,600 I didn't have to be the one actually drafting up the floor 118 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,000 plan. I could just come in and talk 119 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,200 about it with them and then they could draft it for me. 120 00:07:28,300 --> 00:07:32,600 So, learning to delegate is challenging because you're not 121 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:39,800 really letting go of control, but you also are, So you're not 122 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:42,500 not losing control of the project are not losing control 123 00:07:42,500 --> 00:07:46,700 of the design, because ultimately your names on the 124 00:07:46,707 --> 00:07:50,400 door, right? And so you have full control 125 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:54,600 over it and but it is really good for you and for your team, 126 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:59,400 if you can let them have some autonomy in the design process 127 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,100 and in the tasks that you've given them. 128 00:08:02,100 --> 00:08:05,400 So learning how to be a good leader, is a part of that CEO 129 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:08,000 mindset and just understanding that you are a leader. 130 00:08:08,300 --> 00:08:12,400 You need to be caring for your team, whether that is in house 131 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:18,200 or if that is contracted virtual, you need to make sure 132 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:20,500 that you are checking in with them. 133 00:08:20,500 --> 00:08:24,300 Just even on a personal level, sending them gifts on occasion 134 00:08:24,300 --> 00:08:28,500 and celebrating milestones. And when they've done a good job 135 00:08:28,700 --> 00:08:33,200 because that really goes a long way for you and for them to help 136 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:36,200 the projects, run, better help the team work together, much 137 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:38,700 better. One thing is is as we're 138 00:08:38,700 --> 00:08:41,100 thinking about all of the business things that you need to 139 00:08:41,100 --> 00:08:44,900 be doing as a business owner, some designers have gone the 140 00:08:44,900 --> 00:08:48,900 route of having a partner in the business so say that you're like 141 00:08:48,900 --> 00:08:53,100 no I really just want to be on my computer drafting all day. 142 00:08:53,300 --> 00:08:56,200 Our I really just want to be out pulling samples all day. 143 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:58,800 I want to be face-to-face with the clients. 144 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,300 That's what I love about design. And that's what I want my 145 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:05,900 business to be like, then. Perhaps you bring in a partner 146 00:09:05,900 --> 00:09:10,300 who really excels more At running the business side and 147 00:09:10,300 --> 00:09:13,600 you can then split the profits of the business. 148 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:15,800 They can do what they're good at. 149 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:20,700 You can do what you enjoy and that is another way for having a 150 00:09:20,700 --> 00:09:23,900 company of your own, but not actually having to do all of the 151 00:09:23,900 --> 00:09:26,300 more business managerial side of it. 152 00:09:26,300 --> 00:09:31,100 As a CEO, you'll still or, as partner of the company, you'll 153 00:09:31,100 --> 00:09:34,700 still have decisions to make about the direction of the 154 00:09:34,700 --> 00:09:36,600 company and things like that if you want. 155 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:39,600 But it's definitely a levy. Hated by bringing in a partner 156 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:41,000 so that might be something for you. 157 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:45,000 And another thing I'll bring up that I learned from Kimberly 158 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:50,300 Selden who is going to be on the podcast next week is that even 159 00:09:50,300 --> 00:09:56,000 if you are a solopreneur speak to the public and to your 160 00:09:56,000 --> 00:10:02,200 clients in a plural form. So because they as a business we 161 00:10:02,300 --> 00:10:08,000 do this, this is our policy and in order to help you kind of 162 00:10:08,300 --> 00:10:13,700 have more conviction and saying that is a plural because you has 163 00:10:13,700 --> 00:10:19,400 the company is an entity is also understanding that your contract 164 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:23,900 she'll say, is, is really your partner is the backbone and 165 00:10:23,900 --> 00:10:26,300 you'll be like talking to a client and they'll be 166 00:10:26,300 --> 00:10:29,600 complaining about having added Freight fees, or something that 167 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,800 and you say, well, our policy is and can see it's here in the 168 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:37,100 contract is that we charge you for Freight fees and so that's 169 00:10:37,100 --> 00:10:40,300 really something that Can back you up and that you can really 170 00:10:40,300 --> 00:10:43,900 have confidence saying we, which helps you kind of get into the 171 00:10:43,900 --> 00:10:46,600 CEO mindset. When we kept seeing our company, 172 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:50,500 we do this, we do that really well, kind of elevate your 173 00:10:50,500 --> 00:10:56,100 mindset to be thinking about it on a more global scale rather 174 00:10:56,100 --> 00:10:58,500 than just you as the worker in the company. 175 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:03,600 And I'm not going to get too much into the employee side of 176 00:11:03,700 --> 00:11:07,400 companies, because I know most people listening to this podcast 177 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:10,400 are Starting out and they're not even thinking about having 178 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:14,900 employees right off the bat. But you will probably want to 179 00:11:14,900 --> 00:11:16,600 consider delegating a few things. 180 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:20,400 So, if you can delegate even drafting or 3D rendering 181 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:25,800 Services, you can delegate your social media content creation 182 00:11:26,100 --> 00:11:30,200 can delegate measuring the house or anything, really. 183 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:33,900 You can delegate can bring someone in and or hire someone 184 00:11:33,900 --> 00:11:36,200 virtually. And so, that is a way to really 185 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:39,900 help you grow as well. So you wouldn't think about your 186 00:11:39,900 --> 00:11:43,400 company it and it should grow over time and you're not going 187 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:47,500 to want to stay small forever. You want to stay manageable so 188 00:11:47,900 --> 00:11:51,300 you can do that by delegating things to other people. 189 00:11:58,300 --> 00:12:01,800 So there you have it, CEO mindset, hope you have a better 190 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:08,700 idea of what it is, why you need it and start practicing saying 191 00:12:08,700 --> 00:12:12,600 we if you own your own business, just a lot of good food for 192 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:15,200 thought there, as you're considering going into the 193 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:18,900 career and, you know, working for someone else and then maybe 194 00:12:18,900 --> 00:12:20,900 eventually getting your own business. 195 00:12:20,900 --> 00:12:24,700 So don't forget, we have my design Mentor, my membership 196 00:12:24,700 --> 00:12:30,100 program that you can join. And Monthly coaching calls with 197 00:12:30,100 --> 00:12:35,100 me as well as there's 12 topic career guides in there that you 198 00:12:35,100 --> 00:12:38,700 can download and work your way through to explore all of the 199 00:12:38,700 --> 00:12:42,700 different topics that you might need to face as you're getting 200 00:12:42,700 --> 00:12:45,600 into the career. There's also a business starter 201 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:49,400 kit available for purchase inside of that program so that 202 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,100 sounds like something that you might want to do. 203 00:12:51,100 --> 00:12:54,800 Go ahead and check it out on our website under my design Mentor. 204 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:59,600 Like I said, next week, we have Kimberly Selden my coach from 205 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:03,000 business of design on the podcast and she's going to talk 206 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:06,900 about her story, but she is definitely a proponent of this 207 00:13:07,300 --> 00:13:11,200 CEO mindset in your business, because you have to take control 208 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:16,300 of what's happening and work on your business as well as in your 209 00:13:16,300 --> 00:13:18,700 business. We can all get the satisfaction 210 00:13:18,700 --> 00:13:22,100 of being designers but we also have to have a business that 211 00:13:22,100 --> 00:13:25,300 runs well or else we will no longer be in business. 212 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:29,800 So we'll get all of her. Well, With of information next 213 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:32,100 week is so excited to talk with her. 214 00:13:32,500 --> 00:13:38,000 So stay tuned for that and until then stay creative, thanks for 215 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:40,200 listening. If you loved this episode, 216 00:13:40,300 --> 00:13:42,000 please leave a rating and a review. 217 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:44,400 This helps me reach other curious creatives. 218 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:48,000 Like you, if you have a topic request or would like to contact 219 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:52,800 me, simply head over to my website, our Ward design.com or 220 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:56,800 email me at podcast at our Ward design.com.