88: 5 Hard Truths That Changed My Design Business in 2025 (And What You Need to Know Before Next Year)
SHOW NOTES:
In this episode of The McClain Method Podcast, John McClain asks: are you running a beautiful design business that feels chaotic behind the scenes? This year-end reflection episode is for interior designers who are ready to work smarter, not harder.
In this episode, I'm sharing 5 business lessons that transformed my interior design business in 2025 and the practical strategies you can implement right now to build a more profitable, sustainable design firm.
WHAT INTERIOR DESIGNERS WILL LEARN:
LESSON 1: Business Pivots for Interior Designers Why scaling back on design projects actually grew my business. Learn how to identify what you're doing out of habit vs. alignment, and why reinvention is strategic CEO thinking.
LESSON 2: Rest as a Business Strategy for Creatives How a 2-month sabbatical brought more clarity than years of hustling. Discover the "do later" list method that reduces overwhelm and protects your creative energy.
LESSON 3: Using AI in Your Interior Design Business Best practices for AI tools without losing your brand voice. Why starting with pen and paper matters, and how to blend AI efficiency with authentic communication.
LESSON 4: Delegation Strategies for Design Business Owners Master "diligent delegating" for team members and AI tools. Learn why poor results usually mean unclear instructions, and how to onboard effectively for better outputs.
LESSON 5: Sustainable Growth for Interior Designers Why quarterly goals beat yearly overwhelm. Redefine growth beyond revenue with systems, pricing clarity, client boundaries, and business confidence all count.
FREE BUSINESS PLANNING TOOL FOR DESIGNERS: Download my Start, Stop, Continue Guide—the quarterly reflection framework I use to stay aligned and profitable. 👉 https://www.mcclainmethod.com/free-download-startstopcontinue
KEYWORDS: interior design business, business coaching for designers, pricing strategies, design business systems, work-life balance for creatives, CEO mindset, sustainable business growth
Connect: Instagram @themcclainmethod |
Design feels natural. Business doesn’t. And that is frustrating.
Design Success Academy was created to help interior designers finally feel confident running the business side of their work.
Inside the program, you’ll learn how to price with clarity, create simple systems, position yourself professionally, and build a business that actually supports your creativity.
👉 Learn more: https://www.mcclainmethod.com/dsa
🌟 For all things John and The McClain Method, head to: www.mcclainmethod.com https://mcclainmethod.com/ for information on coaching, memberships, & more!
📕 Order a signed copy of John's book: The Designer Within (or purchase anywhere books are sold!) https://johnmcclaindesign.com/designerwithin
Connect With John!
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@mcclainjohn
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themcclainmethod
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mcclainmethod
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejohnmcclain/
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