Starting your own business—especially as a first-time entrepreneur—can feel like navigating in the dark. No roadmap, no guarantees, just you, your ideas, and a whole lot of trial and error.

As a two-time business owner, I’ve been through it all: the unnecessary investments, the branding that came too early, the fear of charging too much, and the game-changing decisions that led to real success.

In this post, I’m sharing the most important lessons I’ve learned—the ones that will save you time, money, and stress as you build your business. You’ll learn:

• What your number #1 focus should be from day one

• The investment most new designers are excited to make, but SHOULDN’T (yet)

• The single most important hire I made early on that changed everything

• How to trust yourself and take fast action—even when you’re scared

• The one thing you must define before making any big decisions in your business

If you’re launching or growing your design business and want to build it the right way from the start, this is for you. Read the full post based on my experience working in the luxury services industry since 2007. Join The DTS Files today.

Why ‘Charge Your Worth’ Is the Worst Pricing Advice Ever

If you’ve ever been told to “charge what you’re worth,” I need you to throw that advice straight into the trash.

Here’s why: Your worth is priceless—but pricing your services? That requires actual strategy.

In this article, I’ll share:

• The biggest pricing mistakes designers make (and how they’re costing you thousands).

• The real factors that determine pricing (hint: it’s both art and science).

• The simple yet powerful shift that makes it easy to confidently present high-end proposals.

• What to track to ensure your pricing is backed by data, not emotions.

If you want to stop second-guessing your prices and start charging rates that reflect the real value of your work, join The DTS Files to unlock the full post.

What I Learned from My Summer Slowdown—And How It Made My Business More Profitable

When I started my business, I thought success meant saying yes to everything, working 24/7, and pushing through burnout. Over time, I learned that real success comes from strategic decisions—like intentionally slowing down.

Every year, I step back, reduce my client load, increase my profitability, and focus on big-picture growth. And every year, it reinforces what I already know: working less (when done right) doesn’t hurt your business—it makes it stronger.

Inside The DTS Files, I’m sharing:

• How reducing my 1:1 client work actually made me more profitable.

• Why I restructured my services—and what I learned in the process.

• The business strategy behind stepping away (and why more designers should do it).

• How I used this time to increase my audience, refine my marketing, and make my company more scalable.

If you’re serious about building a business that works for you (not the other way around), this is a must-read. Join The DTS Files for my full breakdown.

As business owners, we spend so much time figuring out what to do that we rarely stop to think about what we should stop doing. Over the years, I’ve refined my process, grown my team, and built a successful business that serves both my clients and my life. And a huge part of that? Letting go of things that don’t serve me, my business, or my time.

In this post, I’m sharing the 12 things I don’t do in my business—things that have helped me scale efficiently, maintain strong boundaries, and create a client experience that’s both profitable and sustainable.

• Why I never let a prospect book a call before screening them (and why you shouldn’t either).

• The one thing I do not subscribe to, follow, or consume—and how it’s helped me grow faster.

• How I structure my availability to avoid burnout and keep my brain fresh for deep, strategic work.

If you’re feeling stretched too thin, overcommitted, or like your business is running you instead of the other way around, this post will show you the small (but powerful) shifts you can make to take back control.

Join The DTS Files to read the full article now.

The Best Gift You Can Give Yourself as a Business Owner This Holiday Season

As an interior designer, come holiday season time, you’re probably deep in client gifting—but what about you? What if, instead of just focusing on giving to others, you gave yourself the gift of time, clarity, and efficiency?

High-performing business owners know that success isn’t just about working harder—it’s about working smarter. In this article, I’m sharing the strategic ways I (and my most successful clients) use this time of year to reset, refine, and invest in our businesses so that next year runs smoother, faster, and more profitably—without burnout.

• Discover the simple but powerful CEO ritual that keeps my business on track year-round.

• Learn how to structure your slow season so you come back refreshed instead of buried in catch-up work.

• Get an inside look at the exact systems and tools I rely on to save hours every week—so I can spend more time with my family (without things falling apart behind the scenes).

Ready to take control of your business before the new year? Join The DTS Files and access the full post.

How I became a two time business owner in the luxury services industry.

Join The DTS Files to learn more.