<![CDATA[Design Success - Donna Jones - Blog]]>Tue, 03 Dec 2019 01:12:15 +1300EditMySite<![CDATA[I don’t want to do it on my own anymore!]]>Wed, 01 Aug 2018 21:30:00 GMThttps://www.designsuccess.co.nz/blog/i-dont-want-to-do-it-on-my-own-anymoreDo you love working for yourself yet you feel alone at times? You’d love to have someone to bounce ideas off, give you a boost when your feeling low, or simply be able to share your celebrations with? I know that there’s many of you out there feeling like this because for many years I was the same.

While it’s great being your own boss and having the freedom to work for yourself being a business owner can at times be very lonely. You're at that point where you can’t afford to have staff, but there’s so much too do! After years of managing on my own, working long hours as the clients increased and spending too much time often trying to do something technical that could have taken an expert a fraction of the time I decided it was time to get a team.
My biggest fear was sharing my profit’s. I had worked hard building my business, making it more profitable. I didn’t really want to pay someone else to do stuff that really I thought I SHOULD be doing myself. Here’s what’s interesting. I actually make more money now than I did before I had a team. It’s simply that I am now concentrating on working with my Ideal Clients all of the time and my team do all of the tasks that I definitely shouldn’t. Outsourcing has been one the best decisions I made. My team consists of VA’s (Virtual Assistants working from their own home assisting in my technical and administration tasks) a PA that works with me in the office liasing with suppliers and clients, looking after my administration like Quotes, Newsletters and Social Media. A bookkeeper and accountant to take care of all the money stuff. I work less now than I have ever and my business run’s smoothly with a better bottom line. 

If you aren’t yet at the point of outsourcing what I encourage you to do is have a strategy that clearly defines what tasks would be the first to outsource when your business becomes too much for one person. If you are already overwhelmed and working more hours than you would like here is a great tool that will give you some ideas on what you should or could be outsourcing. 
]]><![CDATA[Are you attracting your Ideal Clients?]]>Sun, 01 Jul 2018 21:07:07 GMThttps://www.designsuccess.co.nz/blog/are-you-attracting-your-ideal-clientsFor many years as my business grew I felt I needed to say yes to every client that contacted me. Other than making me incredibly stretched trying to do everything in my business it also meant that many of these clients weren’t really ideal.

Now let’s just take a few steps back and look at why I did this. Firstly I had a fear that if I said NO they would go away and choose another designer therefore I would loose a client and then I may have no work. Secondly there’s the people pleaser that wants to make sure that everyone is looked after, and while this client maybe out of your area or it isn’t work that you enjoy you say YES just so you don’t feel bad. What’s the point in that right! 
Picture
What I know now is that I make MORE money working with LESS clients and I love the work that I do. Is this something you would love too?

It’s important to take the time to work out who your Ideal Client is. If we don’t know who they are HOW can we help them, how can we market to them, and how can we have a steady flow of them. Spend the time finding out what you LOVE to do, because when we are doing what we love each day it’s not work, we find it easy. Understand who needs your help and then map out services that reach out to these people.

Then most importantly make sure your marketing channels like social media, monthly newsletters and your website are speaking the right language that is going to attract these people to you. What challenges do you help them overcome, how can you make their life easier, what can you provide that they can’t do our source themselves. 

If you don’t know WHO these Ideal Clients are then you are going to continue to attract more of what you DON"T want. 

Find out more on how the Design Success Program can show you step by step ways to improve all aspects of your business so you can spend more time working on the projects you really love. 
]]><![CDATA[Why I now love the Tax Man]]>Thu, 07 Jun 2018 19:10:01 GMThttps://www.designsuccess.co.nz/blog/why-i-now-love-the-tax-manAfter numerous years of feeling the fear each time my accountant emailed me for the tax information she required I can finally celebrate why I now love the Tax Man.

For those of you who have followed my journey you will know the huge money transformation I have made. Those new to my community let me share briefly how much I have changed.

​It wasn’t that long ago that I would spend everything I had. Put money aside for the likes of GST and Tax - ah NO definitely not! Money flowed easily into my account but I didn’t seem to be able to keep it there. I had this money just calling to me to be spent. It wasn’t like I really needed the items either, I recklessly spent money with no regard for what the money maybe needed for in the future. Back then I was lucky my husband would loan me the money or I would have being paying interest on the money owed.
Picture
How have I changed, what have I done that has made me able to celebrate paying my tax or GST? I have invested in myself, I have taken courses, The Lucky Bitch Bootcamp and joined Kate Northrup’s Money Challenge and on a daily basis paid attention to the money that flows in or out of my account. Something I honestly never showed much interest in. I signed up to Xero  and took responsibility for understanding my accounts. I set financial target’s and tracked where my profits were coming from, I was grateful for the great paying clients I had and for the money that flowed easily into my account’s.

I am proud of how I have changed. I celebrate that my earnings have increased therefore the money I am paying the Tax Man continues to grow. It’s a positive part of doing business. I no longer feel fear when I get the accountant’s email, the money is there ready and waiting.

How are you going with your money goals? I’d love to hear your challenges and celebrations.

If you need help with building a business that gives you the Financial freedom to work the hours you want click here to find out more on the Design Success Program.
]]><![CDATA[Is The Timing Ever Right?]]>Tue, 28 Jun 2016 01:07:56 GMThttps://www.designsuccess.co.nz/blog/is-the-timing-ever-rightA lot of Interior Designers have asked me “How did you know when the time was right to launch your Interior Design business?”
 
Well basically there is no right or wrong answer. There will always be a need for Interior Designers and the sooner you establish yourself  the better.  More and more homeowners are seeking out professional services ensuring they make informed decisions.
 
If you are fully committed to your business, and you have reached the point where you are tired of:

  1. Being unhappy or unfulfilled in what you currently do
  2. You are done working for someone and following their rules
  3. Dreaming it’s happening and it’s still not your reality
  4. Waiting for the RIGHT time – because will there ever be one!
 
The women I work with have made up their minds, there is no going back – they are going to be successful and they are 100% committed. There is no failure!
 
Because when  you make a stand, when you decide that you won’t settle for what you currently have, that you are ready for better, then it’s easy – it just is! Although it may not seem like it sometimes, when you are doing what you love or are passionate then it no longer feels like work.
 
When it’s hard, when you don’t know what to do next – when you are stuck and when there’s no support  - this is when it gets confronting.
 
But if knowing you can be supported, knowing that you don’t have to do it on your own and believing that it IS possible are all options then what do you have to lose?
 
I say DO IT, go for it, take that next step.
 
There are too many people that get to the end of their working lives and wish, wish they had done things differently.  Don’t be THAT person.
 
What I do suggest you do is ask yourself these things:
 
  1. Am I 100% committed?
  2. Can I do this on my own?
  3. Is failure an option?
  4. Have I got a plan?
  5. And lastly, Am I passionate?
 
When you have commitment, support, a no fail attitude, a plan in place and are completely passionate about what you do I can only see SUCCESS for you.
 
Need support to make this happen then book a FREE strategy call to chat about how my Design Success Program can help you accelerate your business, or get that one you are passionate about started. Email me donna@designsuccess.co.nz

]]><![CDATA[What The FOMO!!!!]]>Tue, 01 Mar 2016 05:50:23 GMThttps://www.designsuccess.co.nz/blog/what-the-fomoPicture
Now you won’t find it in the Collins dictionary but it came from a good source of mine who mentioned she suffered from this condition she called FOMO. Me being me didn’t ask what it was at the time, however weeks later I finally clicked!!!
 
Holy moly – it’s a Fear Of Missing Out!!!
 
So you can only imagine my relief… To know that it’s real, AND that there’s a name for it. So I feel it’s only fair that I share this with you so you can check if this is a condition perhaps that’s been getting in the way of your business and life.
 
Perhaps it’s created busy NESS not productivity, it’s made you overwhelmed not in control, and you have felt guilty when you should have looked after your own health and happiness.
 
What I now know is this…
 
If we don’t look after US first then everything else suffers. For many years I was a YES girl. No not that yes girl, but the one who went to everything, was always available if someone needed an extra hand, made sure everyone else was happy before myself. But in the end I was the one who suffered. Lack of sleep, over-committed, feeling stressed trying to keep the peace.
 
After too many years of being this YES girl now was time to make some changes. Great changes, new rules (maybe not the right word here, maybe boundaries is better) and start making them work for ME. So I could be the best version of myself.
 
I am a social butterfly and I find with all the events and invitations I receive I don’t want to miss out (FOMO) so I say yes to them all – well not anymore .
 
So these are my Five NEW boundaries:
 
  1. Only two nights out per week (school nights– weekends not included)
  2. Put myself first regardless – otherwise who suffers the consequences
  3.  Be available to friends and family for support however let others step in when possible – you’ve got to train them slowly!
  4. Be kind to yourself – this is a biggy and one I have to continually practice
 
WOW – feels great doesn’t it. Knowing that it’s ok to say NO and you won’t hurt anyone’s feeling, realizing that you don’t have to solve every situation, that someone else can do it, or just making sure that your own health and happiness is a high priority means that the amazing person that is YOU can truly shine.
]]><![CDATA[For the LOVE of Money]]>Mon, 01 Feb 2016 02:36:42 GMThttps://www.designsuccess.co.nz/blog/for-the-love-of-money
Head over to my channel watch more of my helpful You Tube videos.
I have always LOVED money. I loved earning it, I loved spending it, I loved sharing it.

But... There was one thing I had never done,  shown it respect.

Pretty much the minute it had come into my account I would be thinking of how I could spend it. Now you may think …”all nice for Donna she has plenty of money!” Right! But that’s not the case at all. I’m going to be totally honest with you here. GULP (hard for me to fess up and say this as I am still embarrassed that this is how I have acted in the past!)

Only a few short years ago I used to spend all my income from my business AHHHH! really I did. Now I was in the fortunate position to have not been the main income earner for the family so I had a husband to bail me out. I’ll tell you he wasn’t too happy about it at the time and he’s a pretty easy going guy too!

What I did was reckless. I had not put aside money for GST, my tax, unforeseen bills, just no buffer at all. When this happened I thought oh well, Pete will bail me out. He had done so many times over the years, just small things, like spending before I actually had the money in my account. NO RESPECT FOR MONEY!

BUT... This time it was a pretty big bill. I felt sick about my money situation, actually I felt like I had really stuffed up. Because, this wasn’t the first time as I mentioned. Since I was a child I had pretty much had everything I wanted. Not because I had parents with a lot of money, but because I had loving, caring parents who only wanted the best for me. I had grown up with so much LOVE and generosity surrounding me I never really wanted for anything. This then carried over into my wonderful marriage. I married an amazing husband who has always been totally supportive but when it came to money I thought he was TIGHT. I had been used to spending or buying what ever I wanted and the more he told me I couldn’t have things the more I wanted them. So I would get them anyway and wait for the telling off. NO RESPECT FOR MONEY!

It wasn’t until I started working with my business mentor Catherine Newton that I started to realise I had some very limiting beliefs around money. What’s exciting and it’s what I want to share with you is that I now know I can change these beliefs for more positive ones.  SHOW RESPECT FOR MONEY So… I have implemented some great rituals around money and I would love to share them with you. Here is what I have now put into my daily practise:
  • I appreciate my money and respect it
  • I look at my bank account each morning and I am grateful for all the money I have in my account
  • I think consciously about every purchase that I make. NO unnecessary spending i.e. : buying new clothes when do I REALLY need them.
  • I always keep cash in my wallet

It’s very empowering knowing that I have changed the way I think about my MONEY. As my bank balance continues to grow I RESPECT it more and more.
Design Success was created to show other Interior Designers that you too can turn that dream into a reality, you can create that lifestyle you desire. Whether you are an interior designer just starting out or you have been in the industry for years my programs and workshops are full of content that will take you from overwhelm, frustration or just been stuck in your same old ways that aren’t getting the results you want to confidence and success. Click here to find out more
]]>