Michelle Lynne 0:02
Welcome to design for the creative mind, a podcast for interior designers and creative entrepreneurs to run their business with purpose, efficiency and passion. Because, well, every design is different, the process should remain the same. Prepare yourself for some good conversations with amazing guests, a dash of Jesus and a touch of the woowoo. And probably a swear word or two. If you're ready to stop trading your time for money and enjoy your interior design business. You are in the right place. I'm your host, Michelle Lynn.
All right. Hello. Hello. Welcome back to the podcast, everybody. I am so excited that you're here. Although I know I say that every single time. But I mean, this podcast has been so much fun for me. I didn't have any idea what I was doing when I started. But today, like I am just so excited to introduce to you Kelly fedline. Yes, the Kelley red line. If you haven't heard from her about her Kelly is an entrepreneur at heart. But she's a designer through and through. She actually established Kelly gridline design in 2017, and has learned the importance of flexibility not only in design, but business planning and goals. And the almost four years she's been in business, her focus has changed from primarily interior design, to virtual design assistants and renderings. And now she's training fellow creatives in the art of professionally presenting and documenting their projects, which I've been following just kind of from the from the sidelines and watching Kelly grow this business. And I'm just so tickled to introduce her to you guys. So welcome, Kelly. I'm so glad you're here.
Kelly Fridline 1:49
Thanks for having me, Michelle. I'm excited to be here. Yeah.
Michelle Lynne 1:53
Do I sound like do I sound like a girl crush? Like, I just love watching your business grow. It's been so much fun. I'm flattered
Kelly Fridline 2:01
that you've been watching it, it really means a lot. Well,
Michelle Lynne 2:05
it's I love talking business. And I love just watching other women succeed. And this is just such a crazy time to be in business. And so I'm I'm excited to introduce you and your services and the platform of different solutions that you offer to interior designers.
Kelly Fridline 2:22
Well, I'm excited to share him with you. So yeah, so wait, let's chat.
Michelle Lynne 2:28
Let's go. So I guess you've been in business for a little over four years. I'm doing the math, right? What made you decide to take the plunge and start your own business, instead of like working for other designers, architecture firms, and so forth.
Kelly Fridline 2:44
So I had so when I graduated from my graduate program, so I have a Master's of architecture from Savannah College of Art and Design. And when I graduated from there in 2011, I immediately got a job actually, I didn't immediately get a job. I had actually started a program in London, England with NYU. And that ended up not working out, I ended up getting two weeks in and realizing it was redoing my second year of architecture school. So I left London got a job at Historic Preservation firm. And then I worked at an architecture firm in Saratoga. And I had gone through I obviously graduated towards the beautiful middle of the recession. So it was right when it was probably not the best time to graduate. So I learned a lot about how to hustle and make sure that your presentations were amazing, so that you wanted to get hired, right. So then I married an army officer. And we moved to Belton, Texas, where I lived for three years. And during two of those years, I worked for a design build company in temple. And I learned a ton a ton it was almost like not undoing but relearning the industry because they hired me since I had the formal background and the owners did not. They hired me to kind of bring their their drawings and elevate the design process a little bit. But I also did a lot of the interior design work. And during that time, I also realized I love this design work and I liked doing it myself. And eventually I got up the nerve after working on a project virtually I was helping family friends. I know everyone's like, don't do that without actually just probably not enough. And I worked on a house addition for friends in Michigan while I was in Texas, and that really elevated my skills in anyone who knows me in Chief Architect because I really had to put this entire set together completely on my own and virtually so I had only been in the house twice at that point in time wanting to take measurements and one we were just happened to be be up there. So I went and double checked things. But it gave me the, basically the nudge to go out on my own. And since then, I've really started working in the interior design industry. And I found that within that there's not only a big disconnect between kind of architects and Arca speak, and interior designers, but a lot of interior designers are still kind of grasping the technical side of things and the present side of things. And especially in the last year and a half, the virtual side has exploded, because so many of us are now working from home. And even if you're working in office, I guarantee most of us are tailoring our presentations to something digital. Yeah,
Michelle Lynne 5:53
it's amazing how there's been such a huge pivot. Huge, and there's so many opportunities to and so many, so many solutions for us to provide to our clients digitally, so that they can implement our visions as well. Or we can implement it together as needed. So you've, you've kind of niched to more of the virtual design. Now, versus like a full service interior design firm. What would you say? Are some of the benefits that you have found in like really drilling down? Because I joke that the riches are in the niches. But what's your experience? Ben? It absolutely
Kelly Fridline 6:34
is. So when I first started, I was all over the place. I was working on a restaurant in Belton I was trying to take on local, more of a traditional route of interior design, which again, my background is architectures. So when it comes to furnishings, I was looking at what the heck is a double rub, which I'm sure there are interiors that are so like, oh my gosh, I can't believe she was looking at it. But again, my background is more of, hey, let's move a wall. Let's design a house. Let's pick the actual finishing stuff sorts of things. And that's where I was really confused. And I jumped on a call with another business coach Nancy Higgins a Kafir. And she basically like gave me this whole spiel of why are you doing all this narrow your focus, and after a few sessions of me bawling, because I was so lost, and so overwhelmed. She said, You're good at Chief Architect focus on that. And I started training. And I remember the first year it was so slow, like trying to get clients coming in to train them. And then eventually, within less than a year, it exploded. And the year I basically was on and off maternity leave, which was COVID, most of my income was all training and online consultations. And it was really a savings, grace, and it's niche me into again, that virtual realm. Well, and I love hearing that
Michelle Lynne 8:03
Nancy pushed you in that respect, because she'll be on the podcast, I don't know if it'd be before or after we released this. But I think that having a good business coach is somebody who can see the best in you when you're just so overwhelmed and can't see the forest through the trees. And, and just encourages you to go in the direction that is easy to see from outside. And who would imagine virtual digital. Well,
Kelly Fridline 8:30
it's so funny too, because I when I mentor virtual assistants and other people that are more service providers to interior designers, a lot of homeowners say hey, why don't you start teaching people your niche? And they're like, Oh, why I don't want them to take my work. I one thing that Nancy did a great job at kind of breaking me out of that mindset is, you know, you're going to elevate yourself by teaching others. And there have been times where I'm training interior designers, and I'm learning from them in a software that I'm training them in, because they'll ask a question like, Oh, no one's asked that before. Let's just see where we go. And it's just
Michelle Lynne 9:11
I know, I love it. I, I learned stuff on all of our trainings from other designers. And it's just like, the same thing is, you know what, there is so much business for all of us. And I think what you're doing elevates the industry. What Nancy is doing elevates the industry, what we're doing here at design for the creative mind elevates the industry, why can't we all succeed? And yeah, I'm, I'm the same way open book, just let's get out there and talk about it. And I think that that's why, you know, when when I first started my business, and was reaching out to other designers asking, like, how do you do this? How do you do that? Nobody really answered very much. And I think it's because nobody knows what the hell they're doing. And they're afraid to admit it because we're all supposed to look like we have our shoes is all together. I think
Kelly Fridline 9:59
that And I think there's that level, that traditional level from design school where it's like, don't look at my stuff. And it's that kind of competitive feel. I'm being compared to you and I have worked my butt off trying to set this up. So why am I going to, you know, make it so that you have to work your butt off and learn the same lessons as I do. And I remember that a lot. Yeah, and I was, I was actually amazed when I first started in this industry and went out on my own. I invested in IV before they got bought out, like very early on. And they had a Facebook group. And it was the first Facebook group that was interior design based in professional that I joined. And what I loved about that was how collaborative it was. Because I was anticipating from having been in a more masculine side of the industry. I was like, oh, it's all women, it's going to be really Catty, it's gonna be like being in middle school again. And it was the opposite. It was, it was actually I've actually found. And you know, if there's architects listen to this, I'm really sorry, but I actually found in the architecture realm, it's much more cutthroat, much less collaborative in the sense of, hey, I'm here to support you. I think they're a little bit more old school. Versus I'm finding that the interior design, even with like their presentations, and being on Instagram and social media, it tends to be a little bit more progressive. Hey, this is where this is going. And we've got to do it now.
Michelle Lynne 11:31
It's because women should run the country, like women should run the world, right?
Kelly Fridline 11:37
Obviously,
Michelle Lynne 11:40
just by this difference between male and female, Interior Design and Architecture side. Yeah, no, but I agree. It's nice to see that more people are talking about. I know this. I don't know that. You know, like you just saying you didn't know what double rubs were? Yeah, I get it. How I didn't even know what a memo. Like, what's the term memo? It's a sample piece of fabric. Okay, that's fine. But we all have to start somewhere. And to be able to say that, yeah, it is hard, I think encourages younger designers. And I don't mean younger in age, I just mean younger and experienced in the industry. Let me interrupt myself to take a quick moment to thank satin off Insurance Agency for sponsoring this episode of The designed for the creative mind podcast, their support and understanding of the interior design, decorating and home staging industries is unrivaled. Satin off understands what our businesses do, and they provide insurance that lets me sleep at night. Yep, this is the firm that I use. And they will do the same for your sleep habits. And your business too. They're more than an insurance agency, they're an extension of my business, they take care of the worry, because they are the experts, which allows me and my team breathing room to do what we do best design beautiful spaces, you can find their contact information below in the show notes, give them a call today. So with that, how did you or when did you recognize the need the coaching and mentoring that you do for virtual virtual design side of the industry?
Kelly Fridline 13:16
Well, a lot of it started with I ended up connecting with another virtual design assistant on a pretty major project. And she had actually been in the industry for I think, I think it was like six or seven years at that point in time strictly as a virtual design assistant. And she had had some pretty major clients. But I was amazed because she didn't have a contract of any case, or she was charging significantly less than what I was and she hadn't raised her rate in those five years. And, and to me, it was, hey, you have a design degree. You have some pretty amazing clients. Why are you charging so little for this? And while I was getting to know her and becoming very close to her, I I was still getting coached by Nancy and it was kind of a pay it forward sort of thing where I was getting myself built up. And then I would chat to her about it, and would this other VDA and would bounce things off of each other and, and I saw her business completely take off significantly from what it had been before. And then I started I got to Inuk got to know a another aspiring rendering artist and I just I remember reaching out to her and say, What are you doing your stuff is beautiful. You need to be charging more book a training session with me you should be using Chief Architect like all this stuff, and I remember her being and that was when I was preparing to go on maternity leave too. And I think she was charging $30 Now Center at that time, and she was posting on all these groups that she was doing $30 an hour. This isn't the original one, this is the second EDA, and I just was like, This is insane. You're not, you're not in a third world country, you know, you're trying to pay bills, and she's located in Connecticut, I'm like, you don't live in a cheap area. And so she booked a session with me, because my thought was, hey, I'll have you do my chief architect work and whatever, while I'm on maternity leave. And during that time period, I started mentoring her, and it was more of a Hey, am I going to be able to help someone so that when I do come back, I can start doing this on a full level. And now in less than 18 months, she is now one of the top charging virtual design assistants. And it's close to hitting six figures this year,
Michelle Lynne 15:55
girl, I got goosebumps hearing that it's just, I love I mean, props to you for just like taking somebody under your wing and helping them succeed. It's just that it is
Kelly Fridline 16:07
probably the greatest feelings, it's, you know, and that's one of the things I love about the training as well for that I do with Chief Architect is I not only train, a lot of it comes down to consulting, too. So there's, there's interior designers that say, Hey, I need to know, Chief Architect, but I'm also doing a kitchen and bath project. And there is just not quite my niche, but I don't want to miss out on it. So then they'll book a training session with me. And we'll just walk through the space planning and go over all of that. And it just feels really good to know that I'm helping designers, whether they're a designer to designers or present providers, or they're the end users working with a client, right?
Michelle Lynne 16:48
That's so amazing. And it's so needed in the industry. You know, it's like, they might not need a full time, a full full on coach, or full on program. But having that ability to take your design knowledge and give it to them for that project as you walk them through it. Not only are you helping them succeed in that project, and the client gets the best result, but you're propelling their career. And that's just such a such a blessing, such a blessing in the fact that you're not afraid to talk about money, because it's like, oh,
Kelly Fridline 17:18
no, I'm like, No, there is there are colleagues of mine that are very set on, you know, within the virtual industry that are very set on telling people, you know, based off your experience, you should only be charging this to me it's pay what how much are your bills? And how much do you need to make to make sure that your business stays open, and to make it actually be profitable, because you're not being go, don't cut your ear off, actually make some money. And so I put together like a whole calculator sort of thing. At one point in time that I send to my VDA mentees, and I say, Hey, do this calculation, you know, based off of everything that you fill out for yourself plus your personal stuff. So whether you're married or you're not married, what do you need to make? And then, you know, you can either divide it so that you can figure out how many hours you need to work based off of how much you're thinking you want to pay by hourly versus, hey, how many if you work 20 hours a week, let's say how much do you need to charge? And I think that's a mindset that a lot of people forget. And there's a book called Profit First as well. My
Michelle Lynne 18:31
savings?
Kelly Fridline 18:32
Yeah, to me, it's like when I hear somebody who say that they're charging less than $50 an hour, and I'm sure there's interior designers that are like, I can't afford to hire someone who's charging less than that. Okay, but could you pay your bills off of $25 an hour or $30? In the United States? Could you pay your bills, if you're getting, if you are technically only paying yourself $15 an hour,
Michelle Lynne 18:54
and you're not working 4550 6080 hours a week, it's like you have to have a quality of life. Good. That's what I mean. It's like you'd have to work 80 hours a week in order to make ends meet and in a general sense, and then be able to put and then have to buffer. Like, what happens if COVID hits again, you know, and the whole world shuts down for a month or two, the whole I mean, just in a year or two, but
Kelly Fridline 19:19
it is you know, it's crazy. We
Michelle Lynne 19:21
had a couple months of less work. But yeah, and Profit First is amazing. I'm working on getting somebody from with a good strong profit, first knowledge to be a master coach in my ascension after the interior design business bakery because you have to get your arms around your financials. And once you have your foundation, then you keep tweaking it and understanding how to manage your money. Your money is your numbers are what tells you a lot of your decisions. Should I go left or right. Well, the numbers will tell you should I invest in this advertisement? When it's just such a, like a foreign factor to designers, I
Kelly Fridline 19:57
think I think the main thing is is a lot I have designers and virtual service providers that I found have a tendency to, especially when they're first starting out, and you have so little money coming in potentially, right, is understanding what an investment is. And they're so scared to spend money. And it's like, well, you have to spend money to make money. I remember when I sat down for that initial 15 minute consult with Nancy, and I'm sure you have clients that do the same thing, Michelle, and she did her pitch, at the very end of that 15 minutes, she was like, Okay, this is what you can do. This is how you can work with me. And I just remember being like, there's no way in hell I can afford working this. But there is that little bug in my head, there is just my conscience said, You'll figure it out. Just you and I also kept thinking, my husband's gonna kill me if he finds how much out finds out how much is my income?
Michelle Lynne 20:52
I hear that a lot. But she was
Kelly Fridline 20:55
absolutely right. She's like, you just need to raise your rate to this. I think I was charging $65 an hour at that point in time. She's like, you have a Master's of architecture, you finished all your hours? Like, do you understand what your value is? And yeah, within the first month, I can afford her just by doing what she said.
Michelle Lynne 21:14
Right? Yes, yeah. And it's so it's so simple. But I think also people have to be given permission. Right? Yeah. And especially, you know, we're joking that women should rule the world. But oftentimes, it's because we don't have the confidence to raise our rates until somebody says, raise your damn rates. And then you might go kicking and screaming, but because your coach is making you do it, that
Kelly Fridline 21:36
well it didn't it, it was I was still kicking and screaming. And it actually was I raised my rate. And then I she kept saying, Keep going raise it again, and a few months, and I was really apprehensive. And I had a designer who has since passed away, reached out to me on Facebook, she was a pretty well known designer. And she said, you know, what do you charge and I told her, I think I charge $75 An hour like I, you know, I couldn't get up the gut base to raise more. And when she said, wow, that's super reasonable. And like, if someone's telling me my rate is super reasonable, that it's too reasonable.
Michelle Lynne 22:09
And I think it's because you help designers make money. It's an investment, it's not an expense, because that's the way I look at an investment is like, if you're going to spend this money, like you did on your coach, Nancy, if you're gonna spend the money, she's not an expense because she's helping you make money. Right here services help interior designers make money.
Kelly Fridline 22:34
Exactly, I tell my my mentees that I work with I said, you have to remember that technically, you are a luxury service of a luxury service, because an interior designer can hire in house if they want to, right. But this gives them the ability to work with somebody and get some of their processes in place. And that's what you your knowledge is doing. Before they make that in house investment. You're not under their umbrella, you're under your own umbrella, there are certain things that come into play about working virtually for other people.
Michelle Lynne 23:04
So with that, what services are you offering? Or what options do designers have to use you and your mentees? Like, if I were to lose Debian Megan, you know, God forbid, because they are the backbone of the business. And I had to do all the design myself, like, how could I use you? How can I outsource? Because half the time people are afraid that they lose control? Right? So
Kelly Fridline 23:30
the way that I work right is I offer virtual design assistant in consulting directly. That's my service. I also mentor virtual design assistance and rendering artists and anyone who's trying to niche into the virtual service to service provider. And the way that that would work is they just reach out to them. At this point, we are actually, depending on when this launches, we're actually launching a it's called liaise for interior design, it's going to be a directory for interior designers to find their virtual business partner. So whether that's a virtual design assistant, someone who specializes in sourcing a virtual bookkeeper, we've we're working on that entire list so that there's that one place, there's no more asking and all these Facebook groups, hey, does anybody do this and you get 50 rendering artists posting the same images over and over again. But the way that you would work and my services would be virtual design assistance directly through me rendering artists, design consulting, I also have through the virtual design mentor.com. We also have trainings, so whether it's training and software, or one on one mentoring with myself about how to get yourself set up as a virtual industry partner, or dubsado. We have a dibs on Auto guru to help you with that SketchUp. We also have courses we just added a interior designer course, teaching interior designers and rendering artists how to use N scape with SketchUp.
Michelle Lynne 25:18
And I've never heard of that. I honestly
Kelly Fridline 25:20
hadn't either. Until one of my virtual design assistant mentees started posting a bunch of her renderings. And I was like, This is insane. And she told me about Maria and Maria's work is gorgeous,
Michelle Lynne 25:33
huh? Yeah, that's, that's half the fun of being the host of this podcast. I always learned something fun. Did noodling around on your website, like, I've never heard of this. It's beautiful. I love that. Y'all, this podcast episode was made possible in part by foyer, a lightning fast interior design software that creates photorealistic renderings. I'm not kidding, you can barely tell that it's not a real room. So why leave your beautiful designs up to the imagination of your client, when you can show them what their space is going to look like? You will sign more clients and get more approvals with the software. It's powered by artificial intelligence, and a whole vouch for its ease. Because if I can do it, anybody can. Because you all know that my design team are the ones who do all the work. Find them in the show notes. So how are you getting your clients? Like? Are you finding that your networking is bringing people to you? Are they finding you searching like, wearing it's a mix.
Kelly Fridline 26:42
So ironically, a lot of my clients come through my Kelly for line design website. And that's SEO related. I've written a ton of blogs, and I hired a copywriter who helped me during downtimes by writing blogs for me when I'm like, I just don't know anything about this, but it needs to be on here, just go for it. Otherwise it is it 100% Is networking, whether it is being on a coaching group with other designers, whether it is making sure I'm present in Facebook groups, I'm available to chat, or I'm in a people are in my Facebook group, or I've been on webinars I have made sure I at the beginning of COVID, I did a basically an intro to E design with the E design tribe founders. And that brought a lot of people forward as well. It's the key is put yourself out there. And I think the thing was the virtual side of things, there's so many people who work behind their computer and don't really do client facing as much, they tend to be very introverted. And it's very hard for them to say, Oh, well, let me you know, let me break out of that comfort zone. And that's where one of the things I've really done is I've presented networking group for virtually based and digitally based designers and service providers. And that way they get to know each other. And I think that's so much more valuable in many cases than a lot of times a one on one is because they learn that they're not alone. Yes, the community, the community, and it's, Hey, yeah, you'll be in a zoom call with six other people. And five of them will all offer the same service as you but you all have different skill sets and different specialties. So since that, those people who are on those initial networking calls with me and groups, their businesses have exploded because they have six other people that are rooting for them. And if somebody asks, and they're busy, hey, here's someone who can take that on. And it's so important.
Michelle Lynne 29:00
That's one of my biggest hats. I don't know when your soapbox right now is, you know what? A rising tide lifts all lifts all ships, lifts all boats. And I love seeing in my free Facebook group, as well as in my paid group, just the encouragement that people give. And I joke like, you don't want just me as your coach, you want the group and you want the community because I don't know it all. This dynamic of all of these other women and some men that are coming together to answer each other's questions is like, exponentially valuable compared to just hiring a single coach, which don't get me wrong. I think it's fabulous. But I'm not even hardly taking on one on one anymore because I see the value in others.
Kelly Fridline 29:47
Right. And that's one of the things I found with the networking side of things and doing the Zoom calls to with the groups is for those who are really uncomfortable in front of the camera. It gets I'm a little bit more comfortable. I'll see when they first join, they'll be really quiet and they'll they'll not be sure how to talk. And then within a few meetings, they are just chatting it up, there's so much more comfortable, they're a little bit more open to doing something like a podcast or a webinar, or, or, in many cases, I'll have them doing like tidbit Tuesday's or something in my group.
Michelle Lynne 30:21
Oh, I love that. And nobody understands our business like other designers or other PDAs. Right. I don't understand the challenges that you have as a VDA. But other videos understand that for those of you don't know what VDI stands for, that's Virtual Design Assistant. Well, just like I found two
Kelly Fridline 30:40
the other reason I did it was I was one of the first people who I think really kind of came out and said, This is what I am, this is what I'm doing. And and there were many more before me, I guarantee it. But I think it just happened to be at the right place at the right time four years ago. And um, where was I going with? It's like one of those things where it's like Mom Brain.
Michelle Lynne 31:07
That's my next question.
Kelly Fridline 31:10
But I think that it's, I
Michelle Lynne 31:13
totally lost it that's come back to it. We were talking about networking, the value of networking, and how it's nice to see other people who understand our who understand our challenges, and who understand just the day to day grind. But speaking of day to day grind can't remember shit sometimes, because your mom, how do you find that work life balance? Oh, your office is at your house, your kids? It's just like, how
Kelly Fridline 31:39
Oh, my office is now in what would have been the formal living room. So it's, it doesn't even have a door to it. I'm looking at my dining room table right now. And I'm thinking like, people are supposed to come over for Thanksgiving. And I don't want them to have to look back at my computer. But Okay, anyways, work life balance comes down to prioritizing, you know, I, I have wanted to be an architect, since I think I was in fifth or sixth grade. For a long time. Before that it was a historic, you know, it was a history major and archaeologists. That's why it was gonna go into historic preservation. And it's just, I knew what I wanted to do. And I remember being in college and saying, I love rendering, I loved drawing. So I don't even think I fully learned AutoCAD until I was a junior. So my third out of five years of architecture school. And so most of everything I was doing was all completely hand drafted. I eventually took a Revit class. And that helped to but I loved it. And I remember having a professor saying, learn how to do this, because it's going to be something that not very many people are going to know how to do in the future. And I had this vision. I know this is crazy. But I had this vision in my head of what it'd be like to be working in a career. And I said, you know, I want to be able to sit at a desk and I want to be able to draw and do pretty renderings and do some design work. But my hope is that I can work from home and still see my kids and not be gone all the time. And especially after working at an architecture firm where it's you have to Bill 45 hours a week. And there'd be midnight to 2am mornings at an office that I looked 45 minutes away. I said I can't do this isn't won't be sustainable when I have a family. And so now I have an almost two year old son, which that in and of itself. I'm so thankful I work from home because it took us three years to conceive Him. And we went through the IUI process, and being able to make up my own schedule. And you know, if I needed to me being pregnant and being a business owner, it can be tough, but then at the same time, it's like I can go take a nap
Michelle Lynne 33:59
later. Yes, yes, yes.
Kelly Fridline 34:05
Yeah, we just started him at Montessori school before we had a nanny. But I think the key is my husband is a stickler too. He says Leo's home from school. It's four o'clock, you need to unplug now, and whether I jump back in after he goes to bed, we make sure that we're both present. And we're both available for him while he's home. And we did that as much as possible when we had a nanny and he was home as well. And I can tell you, I did training sessions. When Luckily I had some pretty amazing designers during like the height of the quarantine, but I would have him on my hip and I'm like, move it to the left to like just I am so thankful. That's when I am so thankful that I started motherhood in interior design industry where I had so many amazing women and fellow moms and As my colleagues,
Michelle Lynne 35:00
yes, I think we everybody understands there's not judgment. And if there is, then they're not your clients anyway. Exactly. Yeah. And I love the fact that you and your husband are on board with saying, Okay, kids home, work is done. Now your mom and you just shipped your hat and it's hard. But it's the same thing. Like, I'm on my phone all damn day, Instagram check and emails, whatever the case may be if I'm not sitting at my desk, but it's still, as soon as Genevieve comes home phones down, like if you need me, sorry, I probably won't see it until tomorrow morning at 630.
Kelly Fridline 35:34
And it is so hard but my husband works for Ford and so he has a for some reason as a much easier time. Disconnecting than I do versus myself. I'm like, but but because it's that creative brain when you get into the groove. It's how do I turn it off? My brain is working on it right now. But yeah, he's he's very good at yelling to me from our failure.
Michelle Lynne 36:01
Yes, Dr. Just here. It's a good problem to have. That means he's got a lot of business and things are working. So okay, so Kelly, I'm not sure if you know, but so obviously, I'd love to talk about all things business. But I like to have a little bit of fun too. So this next segment, we're going to keep it short, just in honor of everybody's time who's listening. It's a rapid fire q&a. Nothing is off the table. And it's just so that our guests can get to know you a little bit better. It's a little bit of fun. So okay, roles start off easy. Any or outie belly button.
Kelly Fridline 36:38
Any except for when I was pregnant. Straight across the board.
Michelle Lynne 36:44
Just pops right out. Beach or mountains. What's the last movie you watched?
Kelly Fridline 36:51
Mom Brain? Um, I don't remember. But it was probably two nights ago.
Michelle Lynne 36:58
I was just talking to my husband was like, I don't even remember last night. And it's not because I had too much wine. It's just because it all kind of runs together after a while.
Kelly Fridline 37:06
I think it was logon my husband wanted us to rewatch logon. I've never heard I think is a marvel. It's got the werewolf. I don't know it. Um, yeah, it's watching movies. And he's like, we've watched this three times and like, oh, remember?
Michelle Lynne 37:25
You're a cheap date. When was the last time you laughed until you almost peed yourself?
Kelly Fridline 37:30
Oh, gosh. Probably last night with my son. Those raspberries on that belly button. Just make both of us laugh.
Michelle Lynne 37:40
That's so fun. And little kid laughter is the best. Dog. Are you a dog or cat person?
Kelly Fridline 37:46
I am a dog person. I wouldn't mind a cat but my husband's is hell no.
Michelle Lynne 37:54
You have to be a special breed of person. Well, I probably know this answer. When was the last time you took a nap? yesterday? Yeah, I am shocked at how many times I asked that question people like I don't nap. Like how do you how do you survive without at least a 15 minute nap here and there? Better?
Kelly Fridline 38:10
Try at least? Yes. While he's at school?
Michelle Lynne 38:15
Yeah. cake or pie? Hi. Yeah. And last one is if there was anything else in the world that you could do other than what you're doing today professionally? What would it be?
Kelly Fridline 38:30
Or is it this is what I've been wanting to do. I
Michelle Lynne 38:33
love that. I feel the same way too. And it's just such a nice feeling to be able to say this is where I'm supposed to be. Yeah. Okay, so thank you for being on the show. And I know that after this amazing conversation, our audience is gonna want to know how do they find you. So tell everybody listening, how they can connect with you.
Kelly Fridline 38:52
They can connect with me in multiple places. So I have a business group or Facebook group called presentation by design, it is free, they just have to request to join. I also have a few websites and businesses so they can reach me at Kelly for line design.com That's if you want to hire me as a consultant. Or if you're interested in training or courses or mentorship, they can go to the virtual or not that it's virtual design mentor.com And then if they're interested in our directory, which we'll be launching in November or if they're a virtual design assistant or virtual business partner, they can join before we launch it and so that they can be added to the directory from the start. And that is liaise for interior design.com which is Li A I S E liaise like liaison.
Michelle Lynne 39:48
Perfect, and we will have all of this in the show notes too. In case I can't remember how to spell the A's. Yeah. Oh, that's so exciting. I will make sure that they're all in the show notes. And I think you guys To follow Kelly, I mean, you're doing amazing things. And I'm so excited for you and I just can't watch to just skulk in the back and watch you grow continually.
Kelly Fridline 40:09
I'm so excited that you had me on here. I really appreciate it, Michelle, and I hope I really can personally connect with a lot of your listeners soon. Absolutely.
Michelle Lynne 40:19
Yeah, I'm a huge advocate of outsourcing as much as you possibly can. And therefore, you're just just a fresh breath of air. So for those of you who can benefit from even more work, more resources surrounding the business of running your interior design business, join our growing community on Facebook private group, it's called the interior designers business Launchpad. We'll have that information in the show notes as well. And depending on when we air this, which should be relatively soon, we are having our interior design business success summit in Dallas, November 10 11th, and 12. So don't forget to leave a review wherever you're catching this podcast and come check us all out. Until the next podcast. We'll see you soon. Hey, y'all. If you love the show and find it useful, I would really appreciate it if you would share with your friends and followers. And if you like what you're hearing, want to put a face with the name and get even more business advice. Then join me in my Facebook group, the interior designers business launch pad. Yeah, I know it's Facebook, but just come on in for the training and then leave without scrolling your feet. It's fine. I promise you'll enjoy it. And finally, I hear it's good for business to get ratings on your podcast. So please drop yours on whatever platform you use to listen to this. We're all about community over competition. So let's work on elevating our industry, one designer at a time. See you next time.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
