Episodes

When you think of leaders you admire, those who really make a difference, what traits stand out for you? Probably not being dictatorial, single-minded, disdainful or aloof. We want our leaders to be strong, but wherein does the real strength of leadership lie? In this podcast, Gail along with members of her Boardroom Group glean some insights into how to become a more effective leader courtesy of Tim Fulkerson, executive coach and member of the Leadership Coach Group. Tim has coached hundreds o...

Many interior designers aspire to provide their services to highly affluent clients. But do you know who they are and how to find them? More importantly, perhaps, do you know what they want to know about you? The answer may surprise you. In this podcast, Gail talks with Chris Ramey, president and co-founder of Affluent Insights, considered one of the leading experts on best practices to serve the affluent. Chris is also president of The Home Trust, which assists the affluent in finding extraord...

Do you ever get the feeling that you’re talking but nobody’s listening? You’re not alone. It happens all the time to all of us. It takes two to communicate. With some effort and finesse, we can improve the odds that others will pay attention to what we’re saying. In this podcast Gail talks with communications expert Paul Hellman, consultant, columnist and author of several books, including You’ve Got 8 Seconds: Communications Secrets for a Distracted World. Through his firm, Express Potential, ...

Our potential is unlimited. But sometimes we need help to get beyond whatever is holding us back from expanding our potential. That’s when a coach can be a great help, providing a different perspective and guiding us onto a new path. In this podcast, Gail talks with executive coach Michael Seelman, CEO of the Leadership Coach Group. Over two decades, Michael served in leadership roles at the White House, FBI, U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. As an execut...

Do you put as much work into yourself as you do your business? As a solopreneur or entrepreneur, you are your business. This means that your business can only grow if you grow with it. 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. Jeff had a highly successful photography studio for many years before adding “self-employment coach” to his r...

Your business doesn’t operate in a vacuum. Changes and developments in your community take place every day that could impact how your business fares in the months or years ahead. Certain indicators can help you spot them so you can prepare to respond, guarding against setbacks or seizing new opportunities. Making time regularly to look at the big picture will give you more control and confidence to deal with whatever tomorrow may bring. In this podcast, interior designer Garrison Hullinger, prin...

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. Gail explained that her decision to take a sabbatical was the resul...

Stories. Do we have stories! 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. That can lead to uncovering some unexpected things. Embarrassments and awkward encounters are occupational hazards of sorts, and discretion is a professional requisite. In this podcast, Gail and Erin asked some of their Boardroom Group members to share some of their most memorable work stories. The result was...

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 ...

Brands endure because they deliver what they promise. What about your brand? Does it truly reflect what is authentic about you and your work? Does it have integrity? Don’t try to guess what clients want. Be true to yourself, show them who you are, and let them decide. In this podcast Gail’s guest is Charles Edward Maurice Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer. He is a historian, journalist, broadcaster, and member of the British aristocratic Spencer family, which traces its noble lineage back 19 generation...

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. 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 specializ...

The success, growth and profitability of any business ride on the three E’s: efficiency, effectiveness and execution. For that, you need to have the right processes in place so everyone on the team knows what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. When processes are ignored, go awry, or fail to keep up with the changing business environment, something can—and often does—go wrong. In this podcast, Gail and Erin talk with interior designer Glenna Stone, founder and principal, Glenna Stone Interi...

From the moment we come into this world, we are moving toward the future. The present is a springboard to the next stage in our development. Our success as designers and as business owners is rooted in our continuous personal and professional growth, which prepares us for the next level of achievement. Envisioning what that next level is pulls us toward the future and shows us the path that will lead us there. In this podcast, Gail and Erin talk with award-winning interior designer Valerie Garr...

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 whic...

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 interior designers Christi Barbour and Christi Spangle, co-founders and partners, Barbour Spangle Design, High Point, Nor...

What if you could double your revenue without increasing your marketing, networking or cold calling? Sound too good to be true? It might be more doable than you imagine. You just have to think differently about your business. In this podcast Gail and Erin talk with management consulting and marketing wizard Marty Fahncke. 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 ...

Welcome! We’re so excited to be launching the fourth season of the Creative Genius Podcast. Thanks for joining us. Hiring an employee is a big step for any business but a necessary one if you want your business to grow. Done properly, adding to your team can be a game-changer, for you and the employee. 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 bes...

Businesses must change to survive. Over time, the brand you began your business with will no longer reflect the business you have today or the business you want to have in the future. That’s when it’s time for a brand makeover. 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 t...

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. Recently promoted from director of marketing, a ...

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. In this podcast, Gail is joined by Nick May, host of the interior design business podcast “The Chaise Lounge” and founder of Walls by Design in Denver, Colorado. Today it’s Nick who’s asking the questions and Gail’s who’s providing the answers as they discuss Gail’s new ...

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, Columbus, Ohio, offering residential and commercial design services. The daughter of two Mennonite missionaries, she has made it a point to integrate philanthropy and a giving spirit into her firm’s culture and operations...

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., Grand Cayman Islands. Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, the firm offers architecture and interior design services for corporate, retail and select residential projec...

Little tweaks can snowball into major changes. Make one improvement and you begin to notice other areas that need attention. As they accumulate, your business will run more smoothly, so you can get more done with less stress and strife. On today’s podcast, Gail and Erin talk with Marissa Matiyasic, principal, Reflections Interior Design, Cleveland Heights, Ohio. When just a few years out of design school, Marissa was offered the option to buy the business from her first employer, who was lookin...

What’s keeping you from growing your business and realizing your dreams? Often it’s not a lack of skills or knowledge or resources that holds us back but a lack of confidence in ourselves. Believe in yourself and your abilities and go for it. You can do it. On today’s podcast Gail and Erin talk with Vicky Serany, founder and principal designer, Southern Studio Interior Design in Cary, North Carolina. Her projects span the East Coast, and she is particularly known for her expertise in the creati...