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.
Welcome back to the podcast everyone. I'm so happy you're here today, because I have one of the nicest guys I've ever met on the show today. And you might be familiar with him because he also hosts an interior design business podcast, I have Rick Campos with the design biz Survival Guide podcast. He also hosts retreats, He's launching a new platform for education for designers, and it's just an overall great supporter of our community. So, Rick, thank you so much for being here.
Rick Campos 1:18
Michelle, thank you so much for having me. I'm very excited to be a part of your podcast. Congratulations. By the way, it's, it's kind of cool to be on the other side of the microphone. So let's do this.
Michelle Lynne 1:28
I'm excited. I'm excited.
And let's just dive right in. But let's first understand who you are and where you came from. So you you started in the design industry. And you have evolved and done a little bit of a pivot.
Rick Campos 1:42
Yeah, for sure. For sure. So I started in the design industry about 15 years ago, right out of design school, I knew immediately in design school that I wanted to launch my own design business, which I did in 2007. And I ran my own small design business for a few years, some things were happening in 2007 2008. But I managed to keep my head above water. And I learned a lot about the business of design. A few years into that I partnered with another design professional, where I spent about seven years, and we worked in the high end luxury market. So it was really incredible experience. And I really, really enjoyed it, I always say it's kind of like the the job that most designers would kill for. And I learned a lot there as well. But one of the most important things that I learned there is that I kind of wasn't in the right place. So I knew I was in the right industry, but I just wasn't doing the right thing. And so my current business design bid Survival Guide, really kind of came out of necessity, I had to sit down and ask myself, you know, what is it about the business that you really, really like, because I didn't want to leave the industry. I just didn't want to do what I was doing anymore. And so
Michelle Lynne 2:57
the actual design itself is not what you were waking up passionate for. Yeah, you
Rick Campos 3:03
know, the design was fun running the business was more fun, and more interesting, and definitely more
Michelle Lynne 3:08
is one of the reasons why we're friends.
Rick Campos 3:13
You know, that part was really more interesting to me than everything else. To be very honest with you, the clients really kind of burned me out as well. At that month, a lot of the clients are kind of like times 10.
Michelle Lynne 3:25
You know, yeah, because you were doing like super duper high end luxury.
Rick Campos 3:29
Yeah. And I mean, clients at every level, you know, can be a challenge. But I really think that, at that caliber of design and dealing with that caliber of client, you really got to have some seriously thick skin. And I learned some things about myself and I have pretty thick skin. But at the end of the day, I just wasn't feeling good about it. So I knew that I didn't want to leave the industry, but I had to figure out how I can stay in the industry and eliminate the clients from the, from the from the equation.
Michelle Lynne 4:02
That makes sense. It is it's a lot of work, just juggling all the personalities and all of the different demands and necessities and so forth, just in any level of design, the personal interaction. And that's funny that you say that, because I love building a beautiful room as much as I love building a beautiful business. But I'm the same way personally, like I don't want to interact with the clients for that long and for that level of detail. So, you know, it's funny, it's like, everything's great except for the clients.
Rick Campos 4:35
And so things really cut out for it. And oh
Michelle Lynne 4:37
my gosh, my designers are amazing. Like they can't imagine doing anything any differently and they they don't like the business of the business. So you know, I'm blessed and in both respects. So now with the design biz Survival Guide, what is the what's your favorite part of the job?
Rick Campos 4:58
Well, my favorite part about this Time to survival guide is that a I'm kind of control of my own. I'm in control of my own business, which I absolutely love. And I'm able to apply so many of the things that I learned over the years, but probably the very best thing about my new business format is that I'm able to help people. And so I'm able to support the design community, I'm able to help fellow designers through my consulting services, I'm able to inspire and inform other designers through the podcast. And you know, I'm able to really help design professionals make major changes and pivots in their life and career through our retreats. So, to me, this is far more fulfilling than my very best day as a designer,
Michelle Lynne 5:43
lifting others is a beautiful way to end the day when you know, you've impacted somebody's life and the direct trajectory of their business. 100%. That's exciting. So, which is which leads us to a really simple question is, why is what you do important to interior designers? Like why? Why?
Why?
Rick Campos 6:09
I'll tell you why. Well, I think that the reason that what I provide is so important to interior designers and the design community is because having been there, I know what it's like, you know, what it's like, and probably many people that are listening, know what it's like to not have that resource to not have that mentor, to not have that sounding board. And, you know, as a design professional, it's challenging enough. But as a entrepreneur and a business owner, it's even more challenging. And so I think it's important that the design industry has resources like mine, and yours, to help support fellow designers and kind of inform them, I try not to use the word educate too much. That's what design school is for. That's what college is for. But I really focus on informing inspiring and empowering design professionals.
Michelle Lynne 7:04
I love that. And I think that that's you know, our listeners might say, Well, Michelle, you're a quote unquote, interior design business coach, Rick is an interior design business coach, like why are you guys on and supporting each other. And I think that leads to one of the key tenants that you and I really believe in, and that is community over competition. So this industry is sometimes so secretive and so harsh, because there's such a scarcity mentality, maybe. But the interior designers that we teach, and like, I'm still a practicing interior designer with my firm, they're not our competition, like you're not my competition, we are elevating, together, like, let's talk a little bit about that, like, the shared belief that we have in regards to the community of our industry. Absolutely.
Rick Campos 8:05
I think that's why you and I will be best friends forever is because we truly do share that belief. And we are
Michelle Lynne 8:11
one of the nicest guys ever.
Rick Campos 8:17
But really, the fact that you that we share that, you know, that vision, that understanding, and we really honor it, you know, the community over competition really is the entire foundation for design bid Survival Guide. It's what prompted the podcast. It's what prompted the the other services that are available on the platform is really just to kind of support that message. And you're right. Yeah, you and I kind of do the same thing, but not really. And there has to be more than you and I there has to be hundreds of us there has to be 1000s of bugs, because you and I cannot service the entire design community. And every designer has different needs, and is inspired in different ways. And so just like, you know, there's hundreds, if not 1000s of designers in every city, there needs to be hundreds, if not 1000s of us to support our design communities. So you know, and I still hear it all the time. And I always try to dispel it. You know, you were one of the most important speakers at my most recent retreat, yet you and I seem to do something so similar. And it's not about, you know, hey, if I invite Michelle, to my retreat to speak to my attendees, are they going to hire her instead of me? It's really about me saying, Listen, there's more out there than just me. And I want to share and expose you to everything that's out there, including Michelle, and everyone else that's doing it and I'll continue to do that. Yeah,
Michelle Lynne 9:44
and I think that that
translates it. I'm hoping that what we see is this group that's emerging of thought leaders and educators and influencers and so forth in the design industry on the Business side will take that mentality and trickle it down into the designers that we have the the honor of leading, so if somebody's listening to us as, as, as leaders in this industry from the business side, I hope that this audience hears that it should trickle down into the design community directly. Designer to designer, you are not competition, you might offer the same if not similar services. But it's completely different personality. It's a completely different experience. I'm friends with interior designers around town, and they're not gonna hire her because they want to hire me, they're not gonna hire me because they want to hire her because of different personalities. Same thing for us. So the whole competitiveness or cattiness within the industry, in some in some pockets, I think is hopefully going to trickle this to stop, like, let's let's, let's put an end to this. Let's build each other up. Let's focus on community over competition, because nobody understands this business, like somebody who's in the business. That's right. That's so true. Like, my husband doesn't understand it, your husband doesn't understand that. It's like, this is not something you can go home and grouch about, and they really get it.
Rick Campos 11:23
Right, right, we really need this as a design community, because no one gets us better than us. And, you know, I totally agree that, that the the industry has always been plagued with this level of secrecy. And but I'm happy to report that my observation over at least the last 10 years that I've really been paying attention, that really has been kind of going away, and the rise of this design community has really kind of begun. And more and more designers are really into helping each other and sharing information. Because, I mean, at the end of the day, there are no secrets and secrets in this industry. I mean, we all do it differently. I always say that we're not competitors, we're allies. And you know, there's a designer out there for every client, and every business is different. So why not talk about it? And why not compare notes and, and help each other? You know, save each other from some of the, you know, the heartache associated with running your own business.
Michelle Lynne 12:24
Yeah, it's not for the faint of heart. Like if anybody would have told me how hard it was when I first started my business. I don't know if I would have had the balls to do it. But I am glad to hear that your observation over the last 10 years is that, you know, the rising tide lifts all boats. I think Kennedy said that a long time ago. But I'm I'm sure a lot of it has to do with your podcast and your thought leadership and the changes that you've impacted with the individuals that you've worked with. 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 are 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 shownotes give them a call today. All right. So before we get to the next little segment of this podcast, what are three pieces of advice that you would want to leave our listeners with?
Rick Campos 13:56
Just three.
Michelle Lynne 14:00
We're trying to keep this short and sweet.
Rick Campos 14:02
All right, if I have to narrow it down to just three. Now I would definitely say my first piece of advice to everyone that's listening is to to explore, explore the industry, explore all of the different facets associated with design and the business of design. And really kind of know what's out there. Don't pigeonhole yourself into something that you learned in design school, or that everyone around you is telling you that design should be so I would definitely say I love that or Yeah. And then and then my next piece of advice would be to not settle. You know, don't settle. That learning that lesson is really what prompted the development of design, Mr. Baba guide, and has put me on my current course. And a lot of times we don't realize that we're settling until we're such a mess. And you really have to look inward and understand like how did I get here?
Michelle Lynne 14:58
It's like a bad relationship.
Rick Campos 14:59
I know exactly started off really nice. He was, he was cool. Like a bad marriage, I'm telling you, and I felt like when I was evaluating, you know, where I was in life and why I was there, I'm like, Rick, Dude, you just are just totally settling right now. Like, where's the fire. So you know, don't settle, don't lose that fire. And then I guess my final pieces of advice would be to, to pay it forward. I mean, these experiences are relatable to everyone in life and business. And I really feel strongly that as you learn these lessons, it's important to share and help other people because you're not alone, we are not alone. And so you know, no matter where you're at in your business, and where you're at in life, and how or how good it is, or how bad it is, you know, it's definitely relatable to the people around you. And, you know, I encourage everyone to pay it forward by sharing those experiences and helping other people learn from them.
Michelle Lynne 15:56
Oh, I love that. So explore, like, basically be nosy. And just get out there and see what lights your fire, don't settle. And we also I think, don't I'm going to kind of dovetail on that is you don't have to do what everybody else is doing. Like don't settle, follow your own passion in your own direction, whether it's a an aesthetic, or the or like, your branding, or whatever the case may be, if you just want to specialize in interior design for yachts, like doesn't mean that you have to do homes. Right. So I think that's more applicable in your market than in mine. Texas has very few yachts available, and then also pay it forward. And I love that I
think that that is so true. The
think living is giving you or giving is living, you can turn it around either way, it's just such a way to find some additional fulfillment and paying it forward could be sharing our experiences. But it could also be sharing our talents and donating our time, to individuals who don't have the benefit of hiring a luxury designer, there's there's all sorts of different places around every city, I'm sure that can benefit from a couple of hours of interior design genius. So I love that. All right, check now. Um, you know, I'd love to talk about all things business and development related. But I also like to have a little bit of fun. So what I'm creating in this podcast is going to be a little segment called Rapid Fire and it's q&a format to get to know to know you a little bit better. So nothing's off the table and feel free if you want to hit back. I'm I'm game. But let's just let's just let's just shoot from the hip. Let me ask you, are you left handed or right handed?
Rick Campos 17:49
I am right handed.
Michelle Lynne 17:51
What is your favorite book?
Rick Campos 17:52
My favorite book? Oh my gosh, probably anything by Simon Sinek.
Michelle Lynne 17:56
Oh, yeah, yes. Okay. Red or white wine?
Rick Campos 18:01
Red wine only? Only?
Michelle Lynne 18:08
Yeah, that's true.
What about Prosecco?
Rick Campos 18:09
Nothing. bubbly.
Michelle Lynne 18:11
Okay, good to know, beach or mountains.
Rick Campos 18:15
Definitely mountains. I'm at the beach now. So I'm over it. And I'm looking forward to a transition and I see mountains in my future. Oh,
Michelle Lynne 18:22
we're gonna have to talk offline about that. Do you have a consistent morning routine? Um,
Rick Campos 18:30
I used to, and then COVID screwed it all up. But I'm trying to get back. I'm trying to get back into it. And I'm constantly evaluating other other leaders routines to see if I can maybe enhance my own. But you know, I do get up in the morning. I work out every morning. I used to go to my gym every morning. That was the first one there at 5am. But now that it's closed, I have kind of like a home routine that I've been slacking on. But yeah, I basically get up. I'm an early riser. And I work out and early. Early. I'm usually about 430 or five.
Michelle Lynne 19:04
So I could be texting you from Texas and you would be awake. Oh, absolutely.
Rick Campos 19:07
Absolutely. Like, you know, don't even don't even bother after 9pm Because I'm sound asleep. So
Michelle Lynne 19:14
oh my gosh, yes. I understand that completely. Oh, how fun. So if you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Rick Campos 19:22
A superpower. Oh, my gosh. That's a tough one. Probably. Gosh, I mean, back when I was designing, I would say it would be you know, the ability to read people's minds. So I'd really know what their budget was. But I don't have to worry about that so much anymore. As superpower. I don't know. I'm not sure if I can really pick one. That's all right, ours. I'll
Michelle Lynne 19:46
just get I'll just get your cape anyway. All right. Well, Rick, thank you so much for being on the show today. I know. I know. I'm certain that our audience is loved everything that you've shared. Will you share how people can find you, how can they connect with you also, like you just launched this, this member vault that I'm so excited about, and you've got this course coming up with your books, and so, so tell us all about that. So
Rick Campos 20:16
there's all kinds of great ways to find me and reach out to me, probably the best and most accessible way is, you know, through my website, which is designed biz survival guide.com. Everything that you need to know about me is on there, you have direct access to the podcast, you're able to navigate through the website and learn about the retreat, which is our awesome two day retreat in Palm Springs. It's happening again, this October in Palm Springs. And then you can also learn about my consulting. And that's where you can sign up for our newest extension of the platform, which is a member Vault, which is basically a pay to play monthly subscription. And that's where we load it up with all kinds of cool additional resources. Behind the scenes, podcasts, episodes, things that you don't hear on the podcast, we have a super cool book club. We do virtual roundtables, all kinds of fun stuff. So everything you really need to know about me is on there. And then of course, on Instagram, for your daily inspiration. And it's designed to survival guide.
Michelle Lynne 21:09
Yeah, gotta love the gram. Yeah, for sure. So and then, and maybe we'll be on clubhouse soon, too.
Rick Campos 21:15
We gotta try that. Yeah,
Michelle Lynne 21:17
yeah, yeah. So we'll talk about that after this too. Okay, then I will make sure that all those details are listed in the show notes for our audience to reference. And for those of you who can benefit from even more resources surrounding the business of running your interior design business, don't hesitate to join the growing community on Facebook, private group,
it's called the I D. Biz Launchpad.
It's the interior designers business Launchpad. I get in there weekly, and give you a little bit of training. So until next time, 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 and 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
