Developing a CEO Mindset
Developing a CEO Mindset can help change that and enable you to scale your business successfully. If you’re an interior designer struggling to grow your business beyond “just me,” this one’s for you. Maybe you’ve landed your dream project, but feel overwhelmed managing it solo. Or perhaps you have a small team, but everything still runs through you: approvals, client emails, sourcing, all of it. If you’re nodding your head, you might be stuck in what Julie Sellers of Elevated Outcomes calls “the bottleneck.”
Julie joined Laurie Laizure on a recent episode of the To-The-Trade podcast, and let’s just say this episode is your business therapy session. Julie’s firm acts like a fractional C-suite for creative businesses, helping interior designers build financially sustainable companies with clear systems, empowered teams, and serious profit.
Having a CEO Mindset allows you to shift from being overwhelmed to becoming a strategic leader in your field.
Here are just a few takeaways that every design pro needs to hear.
Scaling Isn’t Just Hiring. It’s Delegating with Intention
Julie broke down a prominent misconception: growing a team isn’t enough. You actually have to let go of parts of the business. Easier said than done when it’s your name on the door, right? Julie makes a crucial distinction between delegation (passing off tasks) and transference (passing on responsibility and decision-making).
That’s the difference between “my assistant sources fabric” and “my associate handles this project start to finish, and the client is thrilled.”
If you’re touching every decision, you haven’t scaled. You’ve just multiplied your inbox.
Designers Deserve Profit, Not Just Praise
The episode dives into the harsh reality: 90% of interior designers don’t feel on track for retirement. Over half earn under $100,000 per year, which is less than a living wage in many metro areas. Designers pour their hearts into their work, but often feel like the finances don’t add up.
Julie doesn’t sugarcoat it. “If you don’t make a profit, it’s not a business, it’s a hobby.” And yet, she sees talented, booked-out designers who have no idea what their profit margins actually are.
The solution? Start with what she calls “real revenue,” meaning what’s left after you subtract pass-through costs like furnishings and contractors. From there, establish a clear salary for yourself and a profit line. No more swirling everything into one bank account and hoping for the best.
Financial Transparency Builds Trust
Here’s a truth bomb Laurie dropped: most designers don’t include pricing information on their websites. And it’s hurting your business.
Consumers can find car prices, wedding planner packages, and luxury travel costs online. But not design fees? Julie and Laurie agree that providing prospective clients with ballpark ranges, whether through case studies or investment guides, helps build trust and filter out poor-fit leads.
Being upfront about money isn’t just smart, it’s service.
Ego Isn’t the Enemy. It Just Needs Balance
A designer’s ego can be a superpower. It gives you the confidence to pitch big ideas, take creative risks, and lead a team. But when ego gets in the way of asking for help, understanding finances, or accepting honest feedback, it becomes a roadblock.
Julie’s advice? Let the confidence you have in your design work extend to the business side. You can be both a creative visionary and a savvy CEO.
Know Your Numbers, Know Your Worth
Whether you’re thinking about hiring, raising your fees, or saving for retirement, this episode gives you a blueprint. Julie Sellers offers real talk, actionable frameworks, and a mission to help women build businesses that last.
And here’s the good news: Elevated Outcomes works with designers virtually so that you can access their team of high-level strategists from anywhere. If you’re ready to grow from solopreneur to CEO, this might be your next best step.
Julie Sellers, business strategist and founder of @ellevatedoutcomes, leads a high-level advisory firm for creative entrepreneurs, providing CFO- and CEO-level insights to solopreneurs and small teams.