Are the stories you're telling yourself holding your interior design business back?

In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m joined by IDBA’s Head Mindset Coach, Valerie Priester, to explore how the stories we create in our minds shape our decisions, confidence, and business success.

Many designers hesitate to pursue bigger opportunities, raise their fees, or change the way they do business, not because they lack the skills, but because they're operating from stories based on fear, doubt, or past experiences. These stories often feel true, even when they aren't.

Together, we discuss where these stories come from, why our brains hold onto them, and how they influence everything from client conversations to pricing decisions. We also share practical ways to recognize limiting beliefs, stop preparing for imaginary problems, and take action with confidence.

If you've ever found yourself thinking, "What if they say no?" or "That won't work for my clients," this episode will help you replace fear-driven stories with empowering beliefs that support your business growth.

In this episode, we cover:

• What your "story" really is
• How fear-based thinking affects business decisions
• Why your brain mistakes repeated thoughts for truth
• Recognizing the "what if" mindset
• Why action builds confidence
• How stories create procrastination
• Common limiting beliefs designers experience
• The importance of staying present with clients
• Replacing fear with a winning mindset
• Building awareness to overcome self-sabotage

Show notes are available at interiordesignbusinessacademy.com
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy

Is the real reason you're underpaid your pricing model, or something much deeper?

In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I wrap up our series on hourly billing versus design fees by exploring the real issue behind getting paid what you're worth: your relationship with money.

Many designers believe switching from hourly billing to design fees will solve their profitability problems. But the truth is, neither pricing model works if you don't have healthy boundaries and the confidence to charge appropriately for your expertise.

In this episode, I discuss how limiting money beliefs affect pricing decisions, why designers often discount their services without realizing it, and how childhood money stories continue to influence business decisions years later.

We also talk about the importance of maintaining boundaries, receiving payment with confidence, creating a healthy exchange of value with clients, and replacing outdated beliefs that keep you underpaid.

If you've been struggling to charge what you're worth, this episode will help you shift your mindset so you can confidently build a profitable design business.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why pricing models alone won't solve undercharging
• How money stories affect your business decisions
• The importance of strong client boundaries
• Why designers discount themselves unnecessarily
• Changing the language you use around money
• Receiving payment with confidence
• Creating a healthy exchange of value
• Recognizing and overcoming scarcity thinking
• Rewriting limiting beliefs from childhood
• Building a mindset that supports being paid what you're worth

Show notes are available at interiordesignbusinessacademy.com
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy

Are you the biggest obstacle standing between your business and the success you want?

In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I explore one of the most important, and often overlooked, factors in building a successful design business: mindset.

Many designers work harder, put in longer hours, and constantly search for new strategies, yet still struggle with inconsistent cash flow, difficult clients, and stalled growth. Often, the problem isn't a lack of talent or opportunity. It's the beliefs, fears, and habits that are keeping them stuck.

In this episode, I break down some of the most common ways designers get in their own way, including feeling "not good enough," letting fear dictate decisions, playing small when opportunities arise, and surrounding themselves with people who reinforce limiting beliefs.

We also discuss how mindset impacts financial success, why your internal dialogue matters, and how changing your expectations can transform the clients, projects, and opportunities you attract.

If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated by the pace of your business growth, this episode will help you identify the invisible barriers holding you back, and show you how to move beyond them.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why mindset impacts business success
• How excuses keep designers stuck
• Overcoming the "I'm not good enough" belief
• Understanding fear versus reality
• Why playing small limits your growth
• Learning to say yes to bigger opportunities
• The connection between beliefs and financial success
• How your environment influences your results
• The power of taking responsibility for your future
• Creating a mindset that attracts better clients

Show notes are available at interiordesignbusinessacademy.com
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy