1117: Best Of Show: Joshua Smith: Sell the Experiences, Not the Commodity

A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

LuAnn Nigara

Business, Design, Arts

4.8 • 786 Ratings

🗓️ 26 August 2025

⏱️ 64 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today With Joshua Smith: Joshua Smith’s journey from interior designer to high-performance coach is one packed with lessons every business owner needs to hear. In this episode, Joshua pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to design a life and business you love—one that’s profitable, sustainable, and in alignment with your values. We talk mindset, boundaries, and the courage to make big changes when your business model isn’t serving you anymore. If you’ve ever felt like you’re running on fumes or chasing the wrong goals, Joshua’s wisdom will inspire you to pause, re-evaluate, and create a plan that actually fuels your success. More About Joshua Smith Joshua graduated from the New York School of Interior Design and started his career in 2012. After Joshua graduated, he joined Steven Gambrel, an influential interior design firm that specialized in high-end residential and commercial commissions worldwide. In 2013, Joshua Smith, Inc. was created and earned national recognition as featured in New York Times, Huffington Post, and Rizzoli’s 2019 book, “On Style”. With projects on both coasts, Joshua Smith Inc, offers full-service residential interior design – and life-changing spaces. Joshua draws on decades of experience transforming functional spaces into inspiring environments that engage the senses and nourish the soul. By cultivating the connections between mind, body, spirit, and space, he helps his clients elevate their experience each day. Connect with Joshua Smith Website Instagram Facebook Blog The “3 fives” routine A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Revel Woods⁠⁠⁠ What’s new with LuAnn Nigara ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Power Talk Friday Tour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Docuseries!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.luannnigara.com/cob⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get The Goodies! For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999! Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here: Book 1: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Audiobook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book 2: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book 3: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with LuAnn Nigara LuAnn’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LuAnn’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Power Talk Friday⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Like Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Tweet Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Listen Here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Other Resources: This podcast supports the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Savvy Giving Design Coalition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about it ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inside Voice - Sign Up!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

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0:00.0	You know, in four plus decades of doing custom window treatments on high-end luxury projects,
0:05.2	I have seen my share of projects go sideways. And you know what it always was down to?
0:12.0	Nobody was leading the job. Everybody was basically pointing fingers. You were supposed to. He was
0:17.9	supposed to. I was supposed to. Okay? And we have the antidote for this.
0:22.5	We have in our Luann University a class called Project Workflow for Construction-Based Design.
0:29.6	Jenny Slingerlin, the owner and principal designer of Black Ink Interior, teaches this class.
0:35.2	And she starts the very first class with who does what? What are the
0:40.0	designer's role? What is the builder's role? What is the architect role? This is so that you know
0:44.7	exactly and understand with clarity, the deliverables that you've got to bring to the table.
0:50.5	And then she moves into teaching you how to create a design spec book that a builder will use and will value.
0:59.3	What's the result of this?
1:01.2	Fewer change orders, fewer communication problems, and you earn a reputation for someone who is trusted and gets called back. Okay. So go over to Luann University.com.
1:15.1	Check out the Jenny's class project workflow for construction-based design. We are in early
1:20.6	bird through August 30th, 2025, and then the cart will close September 5, 2025.
1:29.3	Let's change the way.
1:30.7	This narrative goes.
1:33.4	Be the leader on the next project that you're on. Welcome to a well-designed business.
1:47.4	My name is Luann Nigara, and I'm so glad you found this podcast.
1:51.3	Together with my husband, Vince, and our partner, Bill, we have grown our company Windowworks from the ground up.
1:57.1	So I know and I understand the challenges you face in running your interior design business.
2:03.3	I also know that your talent alone isn't enough to ensure your success. So on this podcast,
2:09.7	we talk about strategies and practical steps to help you grow your business. But make no mistake
	...

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