#81 | Real Talk about Managing Anxiety and Growing your Interior Design Business with Christina Canales
Welcome to the Designers Oasis podcast. I'm your host, Kate Bendewald. If you're tired of one-size-fits-all all advice to running your interior design business, you're in the right place. Join me each week as we dive into topics to help you run a thriving interior design business. Without the hustle. We'll talk about the business of design, but also mindset and mental health because I know when you thrive, so will your life and business. It wasn't that long ago that I stepped away from my corporate interior design job to build my own design business so that I could realize my own creative dreams, have more time with the people I love, and serve my clients at the highest level, while making more money than I ever could have working for someone else. It wasn't always easy, and I made my share of mistakes along the way. Fast forward to today. And I've learned a thing or two. Since then I've built multiple six-figure interior design businesses on authentic word-of-mouth referrals with many repeat clients. And I want to share it all with you the ambitious, inspired, and I get it occasionally overwhelmed interior designer who shares this dream of transforming lives through the art of interior design, You can do this. Thank you for letting me spend part of this day with you. Let's get to it.
Christina Canales
Yay, I'm so excited. So excited to catch up with you. And really talk about some of the things that we discussed earlier. And then kind of what you guys, you know, asked me like what I wanted to talk about. So yeah, I'm just so thankful to be here. And yay, I'm excited. I'm excited for what you do. And hopefully some of the things that I've done can help others.
Kate Bendewald
Oh, my Lord, You've done so much. And we're gonna get right into it today. So I just a little backstory for our listeners, we share a photographer Jeff Jones, who is a dear friend of both, because he's he's been a guest on the podcast episode, excuse me on the podcast bouquet words. But I'll be sure to link to his episodes because it was one of our most popular episodes. But um, yeah, and then you and I also have a mutual friend Whitney, and Whitney Walker, Farrington lane, shout out to her. She's also been a guest. And she's just lovely. And so somehow you guys all got connected, you all live in the Austin area. And now I'm jealous, I want to move back.
Christina Canales
Next, and then me and you connected because I was working on a project in Denver, and Jeff was shooting a project for me there and was mentioning that he was shooting a project for you as well. And then I was like, oh, I need to talk to her because I need some help with some things as far as like finding vendor relationships. So anyways, you were super helpful and kind. And I'm so glad that we got to connect that way.
Kate Bendewald
Yeah, I love it too. I find that it's so helpful when you have a community of designers that you can have sort of a back channel of conversations with by text or whatever it's like, where's the vendor for this? Like, who's your favorite? Go to for XY and Z and because otherwise this industry can feel very isolating. It can feel very
Christina Canales
lonely and overwhelming. It's like, oh, let me call these 10 Different carpenters. And let me just go through the list and I don't have a reference for their work or you know, so it's always great to talk to other individuals in the industry that can say hey, this person's great call them um, so anyways, that's how me and you connect that and I felt really grateful for that. Yeah,
Kate Bendewald
well, and I instantly fell in love with you and hearing your story and hearing about what you're doing. So why don't we take a little let's back up a little bit. I want to hear. Can you tell our listeners because it It's it's really neat how you came into this industry. And to give us a little backstory because you work with your husband, you guys, a branding agency, and I just want I just want to hear the full story. Yeah, give it to us.
Christina Canales
So Jose and I met, we will have been married for almost 20 years next week. So we met in college, we're both really into design and art. He his background is graphic design. And so he went into the ad world really got started there. I was a teacher, you know, just trying to pay the bills. And finally, when he was ready to quit and start his own company, I was also at the point where I was ready to quit my job. We had just had our first baby. And so yeah, he quit, he started his own thing. And through that process, I'm at home with a baby. And I'm just to be honest, I was really bored. And I was ready to like, do some work, like, what can I do? And so I started dabbling in design. And so yeah, I got my first like, really big opportunity with my cousin, who's Sarah Ortega. She owns Sarah Oh, which is a jewelry designer at a jewelry store in the Denver area. And she said, you know, she was starting her own store. And she said, I don't have much money. But if I could fly you up, could you just tell me, like, Let's spend the weekend, tell me where everything needs to go. And she had just got out a building, I believe it was a bike store. So I mean, it needed like,
Kate Bendewald
I'll hold the phone for a second, because I have seen the interior shots that Jeff did for this store. That was your first project.
Christina Canales
So that was not so rewind. So we did a round one of that store. And then we just updated it this last year. So that was my first like project. And through that my husband and his team who have, you know, their design studio, their branding, meaning they help build brands and tell their stories. They did Sara OHS logo and packaging systems and things of that sort. And so it was kind of like this joint venture that we were working on together. And over time, we started taking on those types of projects. And sometimes we would work together, sometimes we wouldn't. There's times where I'm doing residential projects. So I always say I am not a one trick pony. We like to do a little bit of everything. But our start really was, it really got started with working on that project together, but also to building our office. So we found a property and Austin has two acres, and we decided, hey, we'll build our office on the back part of the property. And over time, then we'll build our house in the front, and we call it the compound, the compound will serve as a way for clients to really see how we do design, plus how we live it out. So it's all encompassing, our team comes to work Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, they're in the office, but they're on the back part of the property. And so anyways, with all that said, we just we just started getting our hands, you know, into whatever we thought was fun. And when we started working together.
Kate Bendewald
That is such a refreshing approach to hear sort of the, you know, this idea that you just really jumped in with.
Christina Canales
It wasn't linear by any means. It was just like, sure that sounds fun. And I had always wanted to do design, but I'll be really honest, I feel like to do design. You either have to have money to get started to do it. Because it is such a long endeavor of trying to figure out well, first of all, you gotta find the clients that have the money. You have to stick with that process sometimes, you know, a project can take up to two years. So it's like, it's so hard. So you know, we we just got our hands wet and started just going and and figuring it out. We built our home together. And I think that really was like a time where we realized oh my gosh, we really do love working together. I think that's mostly a deal breaker for a couple and when they have to build us together but it was like oh no, this much fun. So
Kate Bendewald
you can always have I want to hear more about that. Do y'all have sort of roles that you play that are complementary? to each other, or is there are there areas where you overlap? Or how does how do you guys sort of make that work?
Christina Canales
Yeah. So it just depends. And I think we approach every project with a new set of eyes. And we for sure have our lanes like Jose's team. Their lane is branding. They're, they're wonderful at concepting and creating palettes and making sure that the brand really speaks to who the client is or what the client is trying to convey. I'm not trying to go in there and tell them fonts, and I don't I don't, I don't know that stuff. But I will tell you, you know, what kind of furniture or fabric or how to source I think that's really what I have in the fire with them is like, I'm really good at sourcing. And I I really just chalked it up to I'm addicted I guess to Instagram and following everybody's life and be honest, that is my husband was laughing at me the other night, I was like scrolling through celebrities, Instagram, and he goes, you don't even look at celebrities, all you're doing is scrolling in and looking at their furniture and screenshotting it I'm like, Yeah, that's that's all I do. Because I'm trying to figure out who's the designer there? Or what piece that is. So yeah, I feel like we definitely have our lanes, but we have no problems helping each other out. And especially when we're doing branding and interiors, it's a constant conversation in the office. And especially with colors and making sure that we're really trying to tell the story that matches what the client wants, you know?
Kate Bendewald
Yeah. So are you focusing on residential and commercial both? or figuring that out? Where are you with that, because it is they are very different animals, if for being honest,
Christina Canales
they are very different animals. You know, we were doing both I will say I am finding so my husband's our our website, it's very focused heavily on, you know, the branding piece, and then it has my interior section. So we are working on a new website for interiors. So he'll still hold the interiors on our like Canalis unco site, however, I'm going to make it a little bit more honed in. So especially for residential projects, because I want to really speak to those types of projects as well. I do like residential. I do. There's parts of commercial that I enjoy. For the most part with clients, they they are quicker to make decisions because they have something that needs to open. So it seems like that can be a little bit more refreshing. Were to me residential. It's personal. It's their space. And I feel like sometimes it can take a longer time or in decisiveness with Are you sure? And it's like, yes, we are sure. So like a restaurant, they're like, Okay, great. Like, I gotta make profit, you know, so it's easier. So it's just each one's different. And commercial, there's like a particular project that I'm working on right now that I think when it's all said and done, it will be two years. And so there's that longevity where you every day have to get up and be like, I am in it for. So for me for those long projects, I do like a visioning exercise for myself, that really helps get me to the end. I will. Yeah, so I'll just like meditate on the final product. And I already in my head, like run a script in my head with like the photographer, probably Jeff if he's available. And I already am thinking about all the shots, the shot list, and that makes me happy. And so if I can think about that, and really, like hone in on those thoughts. I feel like these longer projects kind of get me through, and I'm like, okay, like, Okay, we're gonna finish it, and it's going to be beautiful. Yeah, it's just, you know, it's a long process, sometimes.
Kate Bendewald
100% And I think that what you're talking about is so it's so important because in my mind, you can really achieve two things like you're talking about it from the sense of, Well, when you're in that sort of messy middle of a project, right? and which is usually after design and as construction is happening. That is what can help you sort of stay focused and get motivated to just keep showing up. Right. But I do think that using that same exercise can make you a better designer, right? Because if you're thinking about the photography and the shots, from the very beginning, you're going to be a better designer, because you're going to be thinking about, what are those moments that are really going to stand out? What are the trends? What is the the just thinking of residential terms like this is the backdrop to your life? Like, right? We still needed Instagrammable moments somewhere, we still need to have sightlines that makes sense. We need to have, you know, spaces that are grounding. And if you're thinking about the shortlist, and how that is going to play out, then yeah, the earliest stages, you're you're going to be designing be a better designer and I, I've, I've seen your work. It's outstanding. It's absolutely beautiful.
Christina Canales
Thank you. Yeah, I think I think that's, like I said, I think that's the main thing that I just like fixate on to get myself through these longer projects, like yours through that, it really does help me envision how the clients going to use it, because that's the thing with commercial, you do have to think through the the 100 ways that a client will use the space or damage the space because it is commercial. So you're thinking through all those things as well. So I feel like it gives me just a better a better vision for that space.
Kate Bendewald
Absolutely, absolutely. Well, I want to jump into talking about something that you and I've talked about personally or privately before, and that is just really about the life of a business owner. What goes on in our heads when we're having our quiet moments, right. So you're a mom, you've got two kids.
Christina Canales
I have two kids yesterday, I have an 11 year old and I have a six year old and they go to two different schools. One is home part time as she is homeschooled. And so I have someone that comes in to homeschool her. Like I said, our office is in the back part of our property. The compound. So I feel like there are a lot of balls in the air. And a lot of juggling, and then you know to be to be frank with you. I really hadn't taken our business serious. In the past as far as or the interiors, I would just do two to three projects a year. I mean, I took it serious as far as the work I did. But as far as building a model for growing our business, I didn't give much thought to it because I was in the throes of parenthood and then COVID and building a home and building our office. And so last year, my husband approached me, it was in September, it was sorry, September of 2022. And he said, Hey, I really think we need to like build this thing. And really bridge the gap with interiors and branding. And so that's kind of, you know, where we we started, and really tried to get a team on board to help support me. And so yeah, the life of, you know, working, having a business, but there's two separate entities to it. Yeah, it's, it's a lot. I'll say,
Kate Bendewald
I'll say, right, I'm, I'm going to screw this up. But there was an Instagram post I saw recently. And it said something to the effect of like, what do you need to be a good business owner? It's like a dash of delusion and a sprinkle of like, I knew I was gonna delusion. Like ignorance or, you know, and because there's so much of like, you don't know what you don't know, going into something. And as much as I hate that phrase, because it is trite. It still in place. I think what's really cool though, is like you sounds like you and your husband. There was this pivotal moment where you sort of are like, Okay, well, we survived a pandemic, our marriage is thriving to have after Bill, building a custom home. We're raising two children, right, that's a lot to carry at once, but there was this like opening where you guys said Okay, so now We probably have some bandwidth to put our energy behind this in a bigger way that we haven't in the past. What does that look like? Sounds like that meant some support for you, Christina, is that right? Can you be more specific around that? Because I think there's, there's someone listening right now for a fact, who see themselves in your shoes that they have been. I know, because I talked to hundreds of designers, they are oftentimes when they come to me at this moment in time, where they're sort of past some big milestones in their lives. And they finally have some bandwidth, and they're ready to take this business seriously, as sometimes not sure where to start there. And so I know, it'll be different for everybody, but walk us through what were some of those practical things that you and your husband decided on in order to put some gas behind this thing?
Christina Canales
So the first thing we did was we talked about my weaknesses. So where am I not proficient? And where am I weak. And I say this time and time again, you do not need to be the smartest person in the room, you just don't. But you better surround yourself with the people that know better than you where you're weak. And so I have no problems. Being honest about that. I don't do CAD, I don't do SketchUp, I will not do those things. And the reason being is by the time I learn it, I will have taken away from what I'm actually really good at. And so there's no shame in that. So I think the first thing is we outlined where I was deficient. And we outlined where he was deficient. And luckily for us, we were already looking for a program director for our for the studio, not the interiors part, but for the overall studio to help with new business. So we were already in that process. And so we had talked to that person saying, Hey, if you were to come on with us, we also need to help build out an interiors department. This was second
Kate Bendewald
just to get some clarity. So you were already in the process of hiring someone that could help with business development. So keeping that pipeline full? Correct? Yeah.
Christina Canales
And we wanted someone who had a background in advertising sense. That's my husband's, like realm, right. And we wanted someone who had expertise, who had who had been in the ad world who knew what they were doing. So yes, we went after someone who had lots of experience, and in part that could balance and help out with these two things in our business. So that was already kind of in the works. We're looking we're looking, and obviously like, I don't know, like I said, CAD SketchUp. So then we just put out, like, I hate to say put out an ad, but essentially, you just put out fillers. And we got tons of candidates. And we were able to find someone who did all the things that I don't want to do or can't do. And it's been such a great fit to work with someone who can talk, the architectural talk. These commercial projects do require us to work with architects. And there are certain systems in place with these architects or even their systems when we're working with the construction team. And this person was familiar with the language was familiar with all the types of things that she would need to do. So she really like her focus is on that. So then I don't have to be like, I don't know how to respond to that. I might really know how to respond to it if it was in my language. Sure. Just like, you know, they'll be like, Oh, look at bulletin five. The RFI needs xy. I'm like, okay, just tell me what you want. You just needed a new lighting plan. Great. It's actually quite funny. And I'm just being honest, like, I think for the longest time, I thought, oh my gosh, every designer has to know all these things. And you don't, you just need to make sure that you surround yourself with other people that are better in those areas. So you can excel at what you're good at. So, so yeah, so we have Tatianna and she has been such a huge help to our lives and creating certain systems. She has some expertise that clearly I don't have she also came from a wonderful interior designer in New York City. So she just had a lot of things at play that we needed.
Kate Bendewald
Yeah. Oh, I love that. So you've got this program director who's helping you with business development and your processes
Christina Canales
and, and making sure like, are you really documenting your time, like I cannot stress this, even though I suck at this, you have to document your time, we used heart, we use harvest. And I can go through I can see where I am under over and I can then say, touchdown, I cannot have you drawing anymore for this particular client. Like, we're, you know, we got two hours left of work, and I need to save it for field observation or whatever. So I think if you don't document those things, then how do you price your next your next big project? You don't know what you don't know. So if you don't document, you will, you won't have an idea. And so I will say that was really hard starting out last year, because there were a few projects that we bid it completely wrong. Completely wrong. Because we didn't have anything to go off of where a year in, we have plenty to go off of now. And man, it's it's a game changer. Also, I didn't realize how much I was undervaluing my time. Yeah, say more about that. Yeah. So, you know, sometimes I will be 21 emails in just trying to order some fabric. And people were like, how is that even possible? Well, it's a custom fabric, it's dyed, it's made in Belgium, the you know, they don't know if they're actually going to be able to make 55 yards of this. So, you know, I'm just, it's going back and forth. And so you just spend so much time when it's custom. And that's why we like custom. That's why we always are gravitating towards the most beautiful pictures, because they were the ones that have, you know, the 21 emails for that one piece of fabric that's going on that sofa. And the next, you know, picture I post, I need to say like, you know, 10 hours and to plaster, you know, what's it called samples or, you know, 12 hours with hardware, it's like, you don't see it in the picture. But then the hours are there.
Kate Bendewald
Yes. And I think that that is you're speaking to something that is important to me, I, I've always advocated for for tracking your time, and not just tracking your time overall, for a project, but incrementally knowing like, what did certain types of tasks take for you to do for the very reason that you say, so that you can be better at creating scope for your next project. And I'm in the throes of thinking about this right now. Because I'm getting ready, we're doing a CEO corner coming up, that is all about, you know, confidence in your services. And so one of the things I'm talking about is like, it doesn't matter how you charge whether it's flat fee, or hourly, or hybrid, which is what I've I love to use, you still have to understand your time, you know, and projects aren't priced out just on time alone. It there's a lot there's a matrix of information that goes into that, you know, thinking about the project location, how does that going to impact time thinking about, you know, the nuances of the client, or the the level of detail the level of customization. And so when I get designers who are like, Well, how long should it take to do a set of drawings? And I'm like, that's like saying, How long should labor and delivery take
Christina Canales
all dependent on your client, it's all dependent on your vision for the space, level of expertise and experience. So many things I will say in harvest, that's the time tracking app that we use. We have it for each client like it will be project management, mood board, client presentation, observation, like we have all these different sections. So then at the end of the project, you can kind of see, okay, this is where we are overspending our time and the great example was we had a huge, huge residential project this year, we bid the project Luckily, the program director was so adamant about the hours spent and the amount that we needed for this project. I was like, Oh, I don't know that so much. I just don't know. Oh, my gosh, we used it. We used it and more. Because once again, the client that we were working with had gotten rid of her contractor during the project And so there were times where we were acting as villains and having to create drawing sets within a day or two for cabinetry detail, or let's get rid of this closet, it was a new build. So it was like, let's get rid of this closet, let's now make this a station for the iPads and, you know, like a built in. So it was coming up with these ideas on the fly and having to produce drawings. So the next person that she hired could could fulfill the standard. I say all that because we went over and we went over in hours with going to site visits, we were doing maybe three site visits a week. Well, when you lose a contractor, that's what happens. And so we could easily pull up and we could show her like, yeah, we're spending all of our hours in site visits. This is why we are where we are. And she appreciated it. Like she's like, Oh my God, it's right there. It's not like I'm just like, Oh, I think this or maybe it's it's there. It's right here. So
Kate Bendewald
absolutely. Yeah. And you can't you can't argue with with that. For sure. What has been for you the most surprising thing about running your own interior design business that you didn't maybe see, or or I know I'm putting on the spot here. But you know, is Is there something specific that either that you you've loved about it or you were unprepared for but what has been one of the biggest surprises jumping into this the way that you have?
Christina Canales
Yeah, I think the biggest surprise for me would be I didn't I don't think I realized how much I would enjoy working with my husband and his team. I have always just, I'm an introvert. And I really struggle with probably working with others because I've never had to. So I think it really does surprise me when he gets off of work, meaning we walk from our studio inside the house. And we still want to talk about the projects we're working on or the things that we're excited about. The thing with Jose and I were both Dreamers. And I think that's where we really connect. And I think that's what's exciting about having a business. But it's also so scary. I think I you know, I've discussed with you like I really struggle with anxiety, like it's pretty bad. And it can feel debilitating. But luckily, it's so helpful to have a partner, like my husband, who knows that about me. And he's just like, Christina, let's like refocus, let's like, you know, we're working on the same type of thing. So it's nice to have someone in your corner, I think I think that's been the biggest surprise for me is seeing my husband in my corner for me. And I know that sounds maybe sounds cheesy, or I don't know, I feel like he understands what I'm going through. And I feel like if I was doing it by myself, he might be like, I don't understand why you're so stressed out. I mean, you know, he sees it firsthand. Like, oh, my gosh, this isn't what. And that's the thing, too, I don't think I realized the level of just how intricate and how challenging it can be to balance. You know, finding the beautiful things, purchasing the beautiful things, making sure install happens seamlessly making sure the client feels good about the project. Essentially, you are like a fairy waving a wand and trying to get it to abracadabra, you know, to just come together. And I think sometimes I feel that pressure feels very, I don't know if it's isolating or it just feels it feels like a lot. And at that time, I just have to remember like, I'm not doing brain surgery on anybody. So nobody's dying today. It's just design. Like, there's always a solution, you know?
Kate Bendewald
Well, first of all, I want to say thank you so much for being so candid about struggling with anxiety. We this is a podcast where we have talked a lot about mental health. And I've talked about my own experiences with anxiety and attention deficit. And so we have an audience that really has told us that they appreciate that because they have felt like that's not something that we talk about a lot. And, you know, it's we take our work so personally as creatives, you know, and it's hard and I don't I don't have an answer to us, but I just know that I've experienced this similar feeling and shoe where it's like I fucking care a lot about the work that I do. And I want my clients to be over the moon right He was carrying deeply and I want it to be beautiful. And I want it to get published. And I want to have gorgeous photography. So we, it does feel like there's a lot at stake. But there's something that you just said that I think is such a good, important reminder that at the end of the day, we can we can get to all of those things. But sometimes we were having that moment of like panic or anxiety, or like things feel like the wheels are coming off, or whatever the case might be, that a little bit of perspective can really help pull you out of that, that at the end of the day, this is not brain surgery, nobody is nobody's gonna die. Nobody died from this. You know, like, asking yourself like, I've had to ask myself, in many situations, what's the worst thing that could happen? Right? And the worst thing that can happen most of the time, ain't that that.
Christina Canales
Also? Yeah. And it probably won't happen. I just read something else that really helped me and I meditated it, I meditated on it this morning and prayed through it. And that was if you can allow yourself to think of the worst case scenario, you also need to allow yourself to think of the best case scenario. And so I'm like, Okay, I'm going to start doing that, because that is so important to really fixate on. Especially if you're going down, you know, the tunnel of like, oh, gosh, this might happen. That's it. It's like, okay, but what if all of that doesn't happen? And then, then what you really want happens, and it's really amazing. So I think you have to allow yourself, if you're going to go down that hole, you have to also give yourself an out and think of the most like the best possible solution. I think that was something I was thinking about today. Like, think about all the things that I thought worst case scenario. And let's think through the positive. And you know, I have in the past, I've had some hard things happen. And guess what? I'm alive, and I'm still doing just fine. And they all they all got, you know, result was fine. It's fine. Yeah,
Kate Bendewald
I know. It worst, it's a headache. It's so true. I was just chatting with a friend who lives here. She's an interior designer, and she had a phone call coming up with a client who in her 70s air quotes here was upset over some side tables that came in and they weren't the right size. And she had knots in her stomach. She was so nervous about this conversation. And I just said to her Honey, listen. The story you're telling yourself right now is that she's angry with you. You don't know that you're this is just a perception that you're creating. So many times we fill in the gaps as I think Brene Brown really drove off as we fill in the gaps of what we think is happening. And usually when we fill those gaps in with our lack of knowledge, but with just making assumptions, it's so much worse than it's actually going to be and it she
Christina Canales
it's just bullshit. That's what we thought.
Kate Bendewald
And she and I think you don't know that. But you know how to handle it no matter what, this is not a big deal. We're talking about side tables here. There are warm, they're much bigger problems. And if she's really, really, really mad about this, there's a character question that you guys can trust at that point. But all you have to do is figure out what's actually going on and get them replaced. If you need to pay for a restocking fee, then do it. That's why we're you have markups, right? So that we have some cushion. Well just go ahead. The cotton she called me she was like, oh my god, she wasn't even mad. I'm like, I know. No reason I know is because I was her. I found her in my own situations where I got myself into a knot over something that wasn't nearly as big of a deal as what I thought and everything is fixable. And but but it is we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. And feelings of anxiety and impostor can creep in and overwhelm us. So how do you when you start to feel that come up, like whether it's impostor or whether it's anxiety that you're like, doing things right or getting hitting the marks that you want to be hitting? What's the conversation that you have with yourself to unwind?
Christina Canales
I would like when I go down the dark tunnel. I feel like for me, like, like, I'll be honest, like the last few weeks have been very high anxiety for me. And I think the best thing I do is I just talk about it. I'm just really honest. And I told my husband this is where I'm at mentally I might be chucked out. I'm so sorry. I just try to approach everything with authenticity. It's actually one of our pillars and our brand. Like it's a core value. It's a pillar for us. And so I just try to be honest, I don't want to be fake. I don't want to pretend like I have it together. I just, you know, I just say like, this is where I'm at mentally, I might need to go on a walk. One of the things I do is I'm also a ceramicist. And I love pottery. It's actually where I feel like, it's the only time that I am always living in time, it's the only it's the only space where I don't feel like I'm living in time, I get so lost in what I'm doing. And I feel like no one's judging me. And I just, I end up creating, in my opinion, like beautiful things. And one of the things because I have been struggling with anxiety, this, you know, for the past couple of weeks, my, my husband was like, I need you to go back to pottery because I haven't been doing it for like the past six months, because I've just been so busy with work. So he like, watched me call and book an appointment to go back to the studio. So he was just like he bounced. You know, he's like, I need you to get back and lovely. And so yeah, so I think for me, you know, and also I walk you know, I, we have a treadmill, behind our house, I go on walks, I pray and yeah, I just, I think that really does reground me, and sometimes it doesn't. And sometimes it's just a season and I just have to get through it.
Kate Bendewald
Yeah, yeah. I love the idea of normalizing this. Because, you know, it is I think it's the default thing that we go to when we're experiencing that, at least for me is that this isn't normal. But this is like there's something wrong with me if I'm having this, these like anxious feelings. My husband is the opposite where like, I almost wish he would get a little anxiety about something he just is unfazed by stuff. And I love that about him because he is my rock when those things happen. It's almost like a tinge of gelatin like really not, doesn't like freak you out. I'm and, and so I, I've just recently started to be able to get to a place where I can say to myself, like, wait a second, there's nothing wrong with you. Now, we're not humans, I don't think are equipped to deal with the amount of inputs that we have on a daily basis, whether it's, you know, thinking about technology, thinking about the expectations for how much we're supposed to get done in a day, or timelines or raising a family are having to deal with, you know, the unexpected. I told you, before we got on live, I had this unexpected thing happen yesterday, and it derailed my entire day. And honestly, a year ago, I would have fallen into victim mentality that that's happened to me. And now I can go through that experience and just say, You know what, this is life, this is happening. And it's nobody's fault. There's nothing that can be done, it's normal. And we're just going to pick it all back up the rest of the week, it's only Monday have the rest of the week to figure it out. And just totally readjust expectations. And that, along with meditation, yoga, walking, those are my those are my
Christina Canales
yoga tools.
Kate Bendewald
In my toolkit that I love the because even this morning, as I was getting ready to sit down and to get ready for these podcasts, I could still feel like the anxiety lingering from yesterday from like, Okay, I didn't get all the prep work done that I wanted to do for these episodes. And I am getting ready to start a couple of conversations. And I'm sitting here at my desk. And I just felt the call to go sit in my chair and I was like you cannot do another thing until you go sit your ass in that chair. And you spend 20 minutes meditating. And that is what it took in order for me to get my head back on straight so like, I I just think that as we as our world gets more complex, and we have more and more demands on us, yeah, that anxiety, although I don't think everyone experiences it, I do think more and more people experience it and it's normal, and that we have to readjust our expectations in terms of what we're expected to do. In order to be more resilient and find whatever tools you Have that worked best for you to turn to in those moments so that you can keep going I, as creatives I know, Christina, you'll understand this that that is one of the biggest zappers of creativity is that fear and anxiety and imposter. You cannot get into flow state, you cannot get into deep creative thinking when you're experiencing fear and anxiety and overwhelm. For sure.
Christina Canales
I'm on
Kate Bendewald
stuff. That's what we're, that's what we want to be. We just want to flow. Yeah.
Christina Canales
Love it. Oh, my gosh.
Kate Bendewald
Well, your husband Tell me his name. Again.
Christina Canales
His name is Jose.
Kate Bendewald
I'm sorry. He sounds delightful. We all need to Jose in our lives, whether that's whether that's your spouse, or a best friend or mentor, but I just I love that you're
Christina Canales
coming, though. You know, it's been a long time coming. You know, like that he's delightful. I'm just, just if he's listening, I just have to. I don't want him to think that he is just perfect.
Kate Bendewald
We will we won't tell him. Yeah, it I think it speaks to the importance of having, you know, one of the things you and I've talked about before was like how lonely this industry can feel.
Christina Canales
Yeah, and I think you I think that, to me, has been something I struggle with is. And I think because I am an introvert, like reaching out to people feel so awkward. I also am not good at text message or like, like through Instagram and stuff like that. I'm very literal. So I read stuff. And I'm like, what did they mean by that? But like conversation, if I just like called someone it feels natural, I can hear their intonation and, and things of that sort. But yeah, I can I sometimes I'm like, I don't know who to ask for this. Like, who? Who can I reach out to. And so it is so so so, so, so important. And it's unfortunate that I am just now getting to that point where I am reaching out to people I should have been doing it years ago, because my path would have had, I think way more success and a lot more ease if I had more community around me to support me. And so I just saw you do that now? Yes, I am. And I just want to encourage people, yes, it feels awkward to reach out to another designer. And who cares? Like, who cares what they think about you? And that's where I'm at. I don't care anymore. So there's that
Kate Bendewald
tell tau, or our audience what you did last year, because I got such a kick out of it. Because this is about like what you're talking about is reaching outside of your comfort zone and doing something that feels a little maybe unnatural for you. But you did a little mind check with yourself last year, can you share what that was?
Christina Canales
About the NFL did? Yeah. So for the last, I don't know, 1012 years, I write down a word that I'm going to focus on for the year. And then I write down my spiritual goals, physical goals, emotional goals, just all the things I write them down, and I write down what I want. And then I write down a sentence to meditate on in my head while and I keep it at my mirror. So when I'm brushing my teeth, I can look at it. So I was tired of feeling. I think you touched on this a while ago, just a few minutes ago, like victim like this happened to me. So I decided to fixate on a word, I say fixate because I really did fixate on it. And that was I was going to live an unaffected life. And I was going to do it for one year and see how it changed my mindset. Holy cow, I cannot tell you how much happier I was. I know for a while like I reached out to this person, they didn't get back to me. Not offended. Like I wasn't meant for that person at that time. And so that's how I see it. Like we weren't meant to work together on this or maybe I wasn't meant to be invited to this. And it's not personal. It's just like okay, I was meant for something else. And when you rephrase it, it has so much power. So for me an offended has has really helped shape me and then this year is to live a non judgmental life. I think as interior designers, we are a little bit judgmental, because we're always asked assessing a situation, we want it to be better. And so I just want to apply that non judgmental aspect across the board to everything, just about our person. And obviously, you know, when I'm around people, I don't want them to feel like I, I expect something from them or need them to change. I need him themselves, you know?
Kate Bendewald
I hope that same feeling of non judgment you're extending to yourself, because that's, that's such a reflection when we're judging others, it's sometimes a reflection of our own judgment of ourselves.
Christina Canales
And what I think too, it goes back to what I was saying, it's that authenticity piece, like when you're authentic, you don't have to be judgmental. You're just letting people see you for who you are. And so I think, for me, that's where I go back to is, it's kind of like, Yes, I'm fixating or focusing, meditating, praying through not being a judgmental person. But what that looks like for my life means I need to be more authentic with people. And so yeah, I am I do need help sometimes, because I have anxiety and I need some support here. And that's okay. You know,
Kate Bendewald
yes. 100% Oh, my gosh, Christina, this has been such a refreshing conversation. And I,
Christina Canales
I love your energy, and you're always just Oh, no, for really, you just I love I keep it real. It's so nice and refreshing. It really is.
Kate Bendewald
Well, you I, I feel the exact same way about you. And I and I have to be totally honest, you know, I, when you and I first talked, it was last October. And October last year was just like a wild month, there was just something big every week for like four weeks straight and traveling. And I was just like a mess. And including we did three photoshoots in three days, Jeff. And Jeff said, oh, yeah, my friend is looking for somebody in Denver. And I was a little bit like, I don't have time for that. Like, what am I doing? Like, this is a friend asking like, of course I'm going to so as a given me your number. I'm going to call her and I am so glad that I got out on my own. Because I instantly was like, Who is she? She's a lovely daughter, and let's be friends. And you are. And of course you're from Austin. So I feel that connection with you. And I can't wait to get down to the Austin area again. I'm talking Fulton to
Christina Canales
Denver sometime soon, and I'll reach out because I need to go to lunch, or dinner or drink or all other things.
Kate Bendewald
Oh, beautiful. Well, we'll make sure to link to everything in your world in our show notes. But before I'll go share with our listeners where they can find you online and on Instagram and wherever else you might show up.
Christina Canales
Okay, so I mean, you were This to me is the hardest question that you've asked me the whole
Kate Bendewald
spell it out. You got this. I'm
Christina Canales
not even kidding you. I had to write it down. Because I love you so much. I introverted me is like, just anyone really going to look like who cares?
Kate Bendewald
Do they're gonna be like, Yeah, girl.
Christina Canales
Okay, so let's see, where am I on Instagram? I'm sorry, I'm just laughing. Okay. Canalis and CO interiors is on Instagram. And then we're working on my new website, which will be Canalis and CO interiors are just Canalis ko interiors. And I'm so sorry. You're just like, probably love the
Kate Bendewald
best. You're so delightful. Funny, I'm cracking up. I'm obsessed.
Christina Canales
And then my husband's website, which is essentially our website because it shares my work is Canalis and CO cool. It's just a lot to get my head let's be. Let's give yourself a break. And I don't know.
Kate Bendewald
Oh, you guys. Well, I run two businesses too. So I see myself I mean myself coming and going, but you got this. You nailed it. You nailed it, Christina. Okay. Last Last question. Before we go and this I'm totally throwing you on the spot. Is there anything that you're reading right now that you are really loving fiction or nonfiction or even audio book that has been really fun for you?
Christina Canales
Okay, so here's the deal. I do audiobooks all the time, because my kids are at two different schools. I live and breathe by. Just I need like a place to escape to I'm driving. And these are the books that I read last year but one of my favorites was it didn't start with you. Have you heard of that one? With? So it's basically how we react to people in old familiar ways of the past, and it talks about how there are certain behaviors that are passed down genetically through us. And anyway, they're really helped me see some things that I have in me that have been passed down generations generations. A lot of times you feel guilty, like, why am I like this? It's like, Well, this has been a saying a reoccurring thing within your family for decades or generations, and really go through that. So yeah, that's a great book.
Christina Canales
To all these. And then, yeah, what is it,
Christina Canales
I have one more, this one chance, give me kid, I don't care. This one really did change my whole life. I read this one in September of 2022. And this one's called Breaking the Habit of being yourself. And it can feel a little, you know, a little too much at times. But the takeaway is, you have the ability to control your mind and what you put in it. And coming back to the things that we've said, it really just helps me create a good script for going into trying to build out our interiors program.
Kate Bendewald
I love this so much. I am going to be shortly.
Christina Canales
What are you waiting? What do you own? Like, I know that's what I do. Like.
Kate Bendewald
I've got a few books that I've got in the queue that I'm listening to right now. And I don't I usually make a habit of like, okay, one at a time, one book at a time. I'm a I do all of my fiction on paper in hardback, but I do all everything else in the audible. What am I reading right now? I've got God, I should have this like, dedicated. Ah, oh, yeah. Okay, the wind without pitching Manifesto by Blair ends. It's a sales psychology book. And it really is about taking back the control of your sales process. But doing it in a real client centric way. So really the only way to get to understanding a client's desired future state requires deep questioning and listening. And we oftentimes failed to do that deep questioning and listening and make a lot of assumptions, which puts us in an inferior position to be able to take a client to the next step with you, but without pitching. So for anybody who like bristles at sales, I think that's a really good book. Oh, the gap in the game by Dr. Excuse me, Dan Sullivan. Okay, is another one. And I have two more in here, but I haven't started them. So I can't speak to them. But the gap, the gap in the game is a fantastic book. And that is essentially switching your mindset between where you want to go and where you are, and really focusing on how much you've already achieved. And what you already have to work with. Other than what is deficient, right, yeah, sometimes we need to understand deficiencies so that we could fill the gap, kind of like you were talking about earlier. But that there's a lot of momentum behind recognizing what you already have. And we've already come from. I love
Christina Canales
that. And I think that's that's so helpful. I did an exercise with the team a few weeks ago, I just like, showed them visuals of like where I want us to go I picked up interior designers that do similar things. And so I said like this is look at like what they're working on. This is where they're at. And then I discussed all the things that we've just accomplished in one year. And it was just like that. I'm really happy and proud of us. And even just coming on this podcast, I was able to sit through and be like, Oh, I did this. This is Oh, I just I just never talked about it, you know? And so it does help you realize, okay, yeah, there is momentum and it's good to talk about that. And
Kate Bendewald
Absolutely. Oh my gosh, I love book recommendations. Yours are great. I'm gonna be sure to add them to the show notes. Christina, you are Joe light and I really hope that we will can have you back here again someday. You guys go follow her on Instagram. She's got some just beautiful work and fun to follow. And thank you so much for sharing your date with
Christina Canales
press to connect in Denver or Austin.
Kate Bendewald
I would love that. All right. Take care of Christina. Bye.
Christina Canales
Bye.
Kate Bendewald
Hey, friend, thank you so much for letting me spend a part of this day with you. I'm so passionate about helping designers like you. And I believe in a rising tide that when one of us does well we all do better. So if you share this attitude of abundance ends with me. I want you to do just one little thing. Please share this episode with someone using might love it. And if you're feeling extra generous today, go ahead and take just 30 seconds to open your podcast app and leave us a five star rating and review. It's free for you to do and it helps me to be able to keep making more episodes and resources for you. However you choose to help, please No, I appreciate you so very much. Thank you, my friend. Have a wonderful rest of your day. I'll see you soon.
