meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design  Business Podcast

593: Debbie Mathews: Systems for Stress-Free Growth

A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

LuAnn Nigara

Business, Arts, Design

4.9810 Ratings

🗓️ 22 September 2020

⏱️ 65 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn’s guest today is Debbie Mathews of Debbie Mathews Antiques and Designs, LLC, and Debbie will be walking us through easily implementable, effective systems to take care of all those tiny details so that we have the time to focus on the big things in our business. Debbie revamped her growing business to ensure she and her team are less stressed while consistently providing their clients with an A+ experience. Be sure to listen and see if some of her ideas will help you be more productive and less stressed, too! Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Debbie Mathews Antiques and Designs, LLC is a full-service interior design firm that specializes in high-end residential projects. From new construction to simple refreshes, their goal is to realize each room’s greatest potential. With a keen focus to detail, their team works collaboratively with clients to navigate through the many decisions involved with high-quality, custom design work. Clients repeatedly tell them that their diverse experience, infectious energy, and unparalleled service make the process efficient and enjoyable. Debbie’s passion for beautiful things, paired with her love of antiques and timeless architecture, gives each of their interiors a sense of history and purpose. She is uniquely recognized for her hallmark design aesthetic of anchoring a room with timeless antiques and layering in more contemporary furniture and accessories. Her 30+ years of experience buying and selling fine antiques has proven to be a design distinction often unmatched. Because of this dedication to timeless and classic elements of design, her projects always reflect charm, warmth, and curated beauty. Debbie Mathews Antiques and Designs, LLC welcomes the opportunity to showcase their mantra to you: Timeless. Collected. Beautiful. Show Highlights: “As my business grows, it does not mean that my plate gets larger.” Growing pains forced Debbie to take a look at what was on her plate, and what could be delegated. The biggest gift Debbie ever gave herself was when she outsourced her bookkeeping and accounting services. Debbie discusses the project management software that she has implemented to streamline her work. After 30 years of being in business, Debbie starts tracking her metrics. Being proactive rather than reactive has been Debbie’s focus over the last year. Debbie learned from reading LuAnn’s books, The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action and A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts, plus the classic The E-Myth. “The Daily Checklist” is something Debbie and her team members use each day and it gives them all confidence that the office administration can get done if Debbie needs to be away from work. What is covered in their weekly and monthly meetings. Debbie is a new member of EO - The Entrepreneur Organization, and she shares how impactful it has been for her. How to set a really good rhythm to the week, set expectations with the team, and let everyone consistently plan by time-blocking. Client meetings involve a designer that takes minutes for a comprehensive summary of the entire visit, which are later turned over to the client for confirmation that everyone is on the same page. You only have one chance to make a good first impression on a client, and these steps that Debbie has implemented has given her confidence that she will. Connect with Debbie! Debbie’s Website Debbie’s Instagram Debbie’s Facebook Debbie’s Pinterest Debbie’s Email Links : LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021 Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates! Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business? LuAnn Nigara COB Design-Build For Profit - Kicking Off September 23, 2020! With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors Investment: $2195 Register Now! Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits - Kicking Off September 23, 2020! With Desi Creswell Investment: $2195 Register Now! LuAnn University The Profit Is In The Numbers The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang Coming September 2020! Early Bird Registration Sept 4 - Sept 20 Classes: Sept 22 - Sept 24 Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies! 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 Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts LuAnn’s Website LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review! LuAnn’s Blog Power Talk Friday A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors: FREE Trial! A One-Stop Shop to Keep Everything Organized! Check Out Their Client Portal and Time Tracking Features! My Doma Studio: A Well Designed Business

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Are you looking to build an exceptional team? Our hiring toolkit bundle at Luannigara.com

0:06.6

forward slash store is your comprehensive source for success. Craft compelling job descriptions,

0:13.8

know the right interview questions to ask, and implement a thorough evaluation process so you

0:19.0

get the right person. These were developed in collaboration

0:22.0

with my cousin Eileen Hahn and based on her 40 years of experience in building exceptional

0:27.2

teams, plus my insights from 1,000 plus interviews, our toolkits are tested and proven. Whether you're

0:35.0

scaling from 1 to 3 or from three to ten or from ten to

0:38.5

twenty, the hiring toolkit bundle provides the guidance that you can use to plan your

0:44.5

hiring strategy effectively. Go to Luannigara.com forward slash store and invest in your success

0:51.7

by investing in the success of your team.

1:06.9

Welcome to a well-designed business. My name is Luann Nigara, and I I'm so glad you found this podcast. Together with my husband Vince and our partner, Bill, we have grown our company Window Works from the ground up, so I know and I understand the challenges you face in running your interior design business. I also know that your talent alone isn't enough to ensure your success.

1:30.1

So on this podcast, we talk about strategies and practical steps to help you grow your business.

1:36.5

But make no mistake about it, we have our share of fun here too, mix in with those aha moments

1:42.0

that I love so much. This isn't fluff. Nobody has time for that.

1:46.4

Whether you are a new interior designer or a season designer, I am here to help you create and to

1:52.3

manage the kind of interior design firm that you dream of. It's straight talk and it's action. Are you

1:58.3

ready? Let's get started.

2:05.7

Hi, welcome to a well-designed business.

2:13.0

Today's show, Debbie Matthews, is going to walk us through how she has implemented effective systems so that she can take care of all those little itty, bitty details that we all have in our

2:20.3

business that take our focus away from the big things in our business.

2:24.2

Now, don't get me wrong, she's got some systems for the big things too, but the aha for me

2:29.0

was those little itty-bitty ones.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from LuAnn Nigara, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of LuAnn Nigara and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.