#83 | How to Balance Creativity and Entrepreneurship in your Interior Design Business with Amber Guyton
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.
Kate Bendewald
My guest today is Amber Guyton, the creative mind behind blessed little bungalow. She's a marketer, Financial Services Advisor turned blogger, influencer interior designer and now collaborator with companies like World Market and Mitchell black, where she recently launched a beautiful line of wallpapers. Her work has been featured on HGTV magazine House Beautiful Forbes Architectural Digest ebony apartment therapy, domino Atlanta homes and lifestyles and many more. Now, based in Atlanta, Georgia, Amber's designs are beautiful color filled homes that she designs exclusively for her clients, both locally and nationwide. My friend you're in for a real treat. Amber is as real as it gets. I love how down to earth she is how authentic she is. And she just has this lovely candor. And I cannot wait for us to get in to the episode, we're going to talk about imposter phenomenon comparison, authenticity, and finding balance when we want to do so much as creative individuals. I will say that there's just a brief moment at the beginning of this episode where I made a mistake, and I her side of the podcast was not being recorded. So I just want to say it might sound just a tiny bit funny, but I'm gonna give you a little backstory real quick before we go live. So you kind of know where we were. But trust me you didn't miss but a minute or so. And so overall, we have one of the best episodes that we've done in a long time and you are really going to benefit I know it. But really, I was asking Amber and I will be sure to link to some of her blog post and past information. So if you really want to get the deep dive on her backstory, you can definitely get your hands on that. But Amber had been sharing with us how she had been working in the marketing sector and in the financial services arena at this lovely cushy corporate job where she had great benefits and life was good but she felt that creative calling she had been doing and blessed little bungalow as a blog for I want to say five almost six years before she finally decided to make a go of it full time and that she did it scared like so many of us do. And then I had just simply asked her what were some of the things that you were doing to once you decided to go full force with this and take that very brave and bold step to leave that corporate job and do this full time what were some of the first things that she started to do so that's right, we'll we're going to pick up at the beginning of this episode. I know you're going to enjoy it. Let's listen to our chat with our friend Amber.
Amber Guyton
So I did my due diligence, got my domain, got my website created and and that professional photos taken of my own house because that's the only thing in that portfolio is is is my own home and we all start somewhere so that So what was on that end? A couple of headshots in the dead heat of San Antonio, Texas. Those were what was on my website back in April on April 4 2016. As
Kate Bendewald
a fellow man, I know what that he felt like it was yes.
Amber Guyton
I felt like it was like the evening it was like golden hour, but it was still hot I had on like this tweed blazer, this tweed, teal color blazer it was. Anyway, I survived. So then, so yeah, then BLB launched in each week, I will just talk a little bit about a different space in my house that I've decluttered or organized or decorated. And over time, eight years of time, but over time, my following continued to grow. And I got my first project was actually one that I gifted it was free to my friends that were having a baby I did their nursery there at the time they lived in Greenville, South Carolina. They've since moved to Austin, but I think they're going to be moving back to the Carolinas soon. But I designed their nursery from afar and ended up flying in and finishing putting all the finishing touches on it. And to this day, it's still on my it's still on my portfolio. If you scroll all the way down. There it is. I should delivery
Kate Bendewald
great way to sort of kick off your business is with a grind, like putting that kind of really generous energy into the world.
Amber Guyton
Yeah, yeah. So it was it was with that project that it began and I think I enjoy kids products products. I enjoy kids projects, kids rooms, playrooms nurseries. And I think people are a little more less nervous about and there was like, oh, yeah, go ahead, do the kids room, you know, like, you can be creative, but it's also like, there's less guardrails. And so it was a fun project. And then from there, there, there were like two local, I call them my first stranger clients that reached out to me in San Antonio. And then I did a bunch of projects like back home and South Carolina and North Carolina and Atlanta, and then it just continued to grow. And so I started out as an E designer, and still pretty much am still an E designer, mu e design hybrid for the local clients. But um, yeah, that's how that's how it looks a little bungalow started. So it was a side hustle, I was doing it on the side of my corporate career. And then after five years, I decided, okay, like, maybe now it's time to take the leap of faith and do this thing for real for real. And my, you know, during the pandemic, a lot of what they call it a great resignation, where a lot of people are just quitting and doing their own thing. And, and so did I. So, I'm in 2021, that summer, I had just moved back to Atlanta, the company I worked for had just IPOs. And it just felt like, Okay, this is a sweet spot, we could stay here. Or we can say, well, if I could just make a third of what I was making and corporate and completely own my time and do what I love. Let's do this, and give yourself a year. And if you hate it, then you can go back. And so, so yeah, that's been my journey.
Kate Bendewald
I want to get into the conversation of authenticity and balance. But I've got to take a quick detour based on what you just said, because there, you're reminding me of a question that I get so often from designers, and that is, you know, how do I know when it's the right time to take the leap? And I think a lot of times people are looking for, well, in some cases we're looking for a concrete answer is something like six months worth of income or an answer like that. And we're, I'm a person and I think this depends on you, as an individual like to think about your guardrails and what you're comfortable with. Some people are more strategic, and some people are more go with their gut or their instinct. And then I guess, maybe a lot more trusting with life. I don't know. So where were you there? Because you obviously come from a finance background, you already shared the your passion for building personal wealth and that sort of thing. And I'm not asking you to give somebody a concrete answer unless you feel like that. But what was your frame of mind as you decided that you were going to leave this predictable career? A predictable, you know, paycheck, so to speak, into this new world where you were really at the home and driving your own income? Walk us through that.
Amber Guyton
So that was a couple of things. I feel like nothing seemed real during the pandemic, right? We're just kind of like floating and surviving each day. So the in that environment like had I gone full time when I first started last little bungalow, I would have failed. I didn't know what I was doing, I still don't know what I'm doing. I was still just figuring it out. I would I wasn't making any money, I wasn't charging enough. I'm still not writing. But I, you know, I was not in a place. Then it year one year 02, year one, and even year three or four, I feel like I was still like, it was like, around year from four to six were the years I felt like I quote unquote, blew up, like, I needed to lay that foundation, like there are certain projects I've had in the last 24 months, I probably would not have landed or have done as well, should I had I not, you know, laid that, that groundwork and just the relationships built in the people I've met. And the mistakes, so many mistakes that I made, like all of it was a part of the journey for a reason. When I think about when I decided to quit and go full time, like granted, I had been building VLB for five years. Um, I could see like, what that p&l looked like in comparison to what my annual salary was, and working in tech. You know, it is so lucrative salary, great benefits, like honestly, the losing the benefits was probably the more terrifying part than the salary. But also, you know, the very next month, there were, I mean, not month, but definitely within a year, tons of layoffs. And you could still see it today we're tech is kind of finicky, because there was a lot of probably over hiring during the pandemic, and now they're kind of shedding. And it's not just tech, it's a lot of industries. So I felt like the timing worked out, like in hindsight, I, you know, bought my new house here in Atlanta right before interest rates spiked, and housing market prices went crazy. So you know, being able to buy a house with bad corporate salary versus as a full time entrepreneur was smart timing. Um, I had heard from other people like, oh, you need to have 12 months of income saved before you quit your job you need to have because if our emergency fund is six months, then then a quit, quit my job. Emergency Fund is 12 months, and I did not have that. No matter how savvy I am, or, honestly, I'm a spender versus a saver. So I was not if I had waited to save 12 months of income. Yeah. I'm not maybe I'm wanting absolutely like clothes, like delete the anthropology and Amazon and target apps off my phone. Because if I see it, I'm gonna buy it. It's it's a problem. Um, but I I had some savings. And like I mentioned, my company had just IPO. So I knew like worst case scenario, you could sell some stopped and figure that out. And then also, um, two years prior, but really three years prior in 2018. I had just finished paying off my consumer debt, like so I had a student loan, I had a car loan, credit cards, like it took two years doing the whole Dave Ramsey thing just like, well, somewhat Dave Ramsey ish. Um, because I can't my credit cards, don't tell. But I, I took two years to pay off like 100 grand of debt. So the only debt I had was this new house I bought. So there were a lot of things that were in my favor. Right, right. So there were a lot of things that were set up in my favor. But did I have the adequate amount of savings I should have had? And did I feel 100%? competent? Confident? Absolutely not. I gave my company a four week notice, because I knew the amount of work that was on me and I wanted to give them time to like, adjust and figure things out and finish some of the projects I had. Um, and they ended up posting my they ended up posting my position like a week later. So that was like, in my mind, I'm like, oh, okay, yeah, you should have quit this job. Like Love the company love the people. But at the end of the day, it's a business so it's time to prioritize yourself, girl. So um, so yeah, there's been many moments, even two weeks after I gave my notice. I was walking with a friend on the Beltline here in Atlanta, and I was just like, I don't know if I did the right thing. And she was just like, Well, can you change your mind? Can you go back? I was like, oh, no, no, no, no ego won't let me tell them My teeth in my mind I have to quit now I already told them. So I already wrote the letter the sob story letter over on the way out like, it's, it's done. So um, so yeah, there were many moments of doubt and still are, there's been times where like, the roller coaster of income is scary and I'm just like, well maybe I should go back and get another job. Maybe I should start obering on the side or something just to feel better. But God is a provider, and I just feel like everything. Um, even if I don't understand it now, like being patient through the anxiety and the rough moments like you really, in entrepreneurship, side hustling, whatever you choose to do, you got to do it scared, like no one is going to, like I felt when I went full time. And when I got certain publications and things, I just like, oh, the imposter syndrome will go away. It doesn't go away. The fear doesn't go away. None of all of that's there. But it's like, how do you keep a positive abundance mindset through those through those tough moments and keep going? I don't even remember what the original question was. But like that, that was how I made the jump to full time because I just felt like, okay, you've done this for five years on the side, it can only go but so far, continuing to be half of your attention. Um, let's, let's see how far this can go.
Kate Bendewald
Right. Yeah, this is so wise, because when I'm here, you say are a couple of things that I think are so potent one is, it's not like you just woke up one day for like, I'm gonna start a blog and quit my job. You, you have been doing it for a very long time, five years, I think you said prior to making this leap. So you had some of that establish a lot of that establish, you also said that you were laying the groundwork, prior to that, in terms of building relationships, right, as an interior designer, and building your network. So you're not, you weren't really starting from ground zero. And I think there's a lot of benefit to doing that just money a sock, right, you could have all the money, you could have a year's worth of income set aside for that grace period while you figure it out. But if you're doing that only and you're not making those connections, or building that foundation, then you're almost just as much at a disadvantage. So doing those things at once. And if you're somebody that needs six or 12 months of income socked away to feel good, and be able to make that move, then do it. Yeah. Or if you're, if you're more of the Go with your gut, reading the signs, knowing what light you up and the potential and the fire in your belly is real, then do that. I'm in a season of trying to do this for myself, but also speak this to my audience. We have a wisdom that lives inside of us if we'll just shut long enough to listen to it. And trust that we have a wisdom inside of us you can go so far there's so often we are always looking to someone or something for a specific answer. And I think that's part of you can call it what you want you can call it your higher power God your gut your instinct all of it, but it lives inside of you and I think Yeah, beautiful story of listening to that while also having a plan and being practical, right
Amber Guyton
right. Yeah, you can be super spontaneous and just like wait for the moment where you feel like it's perfect like to me it was truly just a gut thing a God thing. Okay, if I don't do this now it's not going to happen like it was just like almost like a visceral reaction there because we were like oh, that's something happened at work or you know what, what occurred like like nothing happened. It was just like it honestly it couldn't have been a better situation because my company is on the west coast. I'm not living on the east coast. So I could have like done design work before noon and then login when everyone else gets in at it at while my time nine their time and work the full day. super flexible hours, like unlimited PTO, like everything was in my favor to continue to do have it have my cake and eat it too. And it just felt like maybe you should like That sounds good. But maybe you should just do this and so I can't really explain it and and I just feel like it was just divine timing and and yeah, you Yeah, I'm just I'm just grateful because honestly, I don't know, if I had to, if I waited on myself, for everything to be perfect, it never would have happened.
Kate Bendewald
I often tell the folks that I work with your ducks will never be all in a row. So just get it out of your head. Just get one doc in a row today, okay, this week or this quarter, right? Whatever your focus is, I love that. Now, you mentioned. Yeah. Oh, sorry, I
Amber Guyton
was gonna say and you know, another analogy, like the ducks are kind of just like do like every ever watch, like baby ducks with the mom. Like, they're just kind of doing whatever. But it's like, the movement is what gets them in line, the mama starts moving, so then they that's when they line up. So it's like, you got to be moving. You can't just be stagnant. You can't just be sitting. So, right. So you got to Yeah, it's like, I'm so afraid I'm gonna make a mistake. Well, until you're actually in action until that pressure is on because that was my thing. It's like, Well, this has the workout or I'm gonna have to go back to work and I'm not going back or so I better. I better get to work. I better stay up till 3am I better, you know, but you know, I gotta, I gotta grind this out. I gotta figure this out. And sometimes, like, I'm a procrastinator. I feel like that is. I will I can be a procrastinator. I'll say that. But I feel like that pressure we put on ourselves like, Okay, we did deadlines tomorrow. Like, you know, some sometimes that's what we need to take the leap and and, you know, whatever, whatever works for you for sure.
Kate Bendewald
Yeah. Sounds like you know, yourself really well. You know, I love that you just made the switch from calling yourself a procrastinator to saying I can procrastinate because there's there's an energetic shift there. And I liked that you did that. And I've got to be I've got to work on that myself. Yeah, imposter. I feelings i are syndrome. I read an article in the Harvard Business Review a number of months ago that said, I'm going to use the words imposter phenomenon or impostor feeling because this, I'll send it to you. This article talks about, I think the title of is we have to stop telling women that they have impostor syndrome. And it talks about how women in the workforce for so long, we're never equipped to succeed in the way that men could. And it really goes into this fascinating sort of cultural look at how the imposter syndrome the idea of imposter syndrome, disproportionately affects women over men, Phillip Davis talks about having imposter syndrome. So you talked about, it never really, truly fully goes away. But imposter syndrome says that a person is sick, there's something clinically wrong with them. And that can't go away. So that her idea or her position was let's call it imposter phenomenon, because it truly is a phenomenon that women feel this disproportionately to men. And they've never Well, historically haven't had the same opportunities as men. And I just thought it was really beautiful. But it's all that to say we're talking about the same thing imposter feeling imposter phenomenon, imposter syndrome, whatever you want to call it, how it, it always kind of creeps up. So at you, I heard you say that it took you a long time to actually start to call yourself an interior designer before you could sort of wear that title with pride. So how did you move to a place where you could confidently call yourself an interior designer? And what were some of the things if you could recall that maybe helped you shift your mindset a little bit?
Amber Guyton
Oh, man, so I mean, I still struggle with it. I still, you know, especially just coming from high point, you're seeing all of these incredible people that have teams because it's not even about like, oh, did you go to school for that or not anymore? Right, like, the Joanna Gaines of the world?
Kate Bendewald
Yeah, yeah, it
Amber Guyton
was just like, so many people, they hire, you know, their weaknesses, or they hire those credentials. And they make up for it in that way. But it also feels like sometimes like I went to a show House opening last night and just looking around and thinking about the budgets and the amount of work that was done and the tradesmen and things it's just like, Oh, I could never accomplish this because I don't know what I'm doing. I'm here I was invited but I'm not qualified. Like there's always this conversation in your head about you know, comparison is truly the thief of joy or you're on Instagram scrolling and you're looking at other designers or you're looking at arched digest and thinking okay, what did what did what I didn't know where to begin with this type of structure, etcetera. So it's, there's always going to be something and you saying that you're not enough, but the one thing that helps me and one of my fellow designers and friends timolol, Stewart, she always talks about how you have to be comfortable being a beginner, like being a student, like a forever student, like, if you're okay, with, like, if you've accepted the fact that I don't know, at all, and that I can learn something new every day, and that's going to contribute to my growth, not just my own personal growth, my professional growth, my business, um, there's some there's empowerment in that there was like, Oh, well, I don't know what that is. But I can find out Google is free, YouTube is as well. I can I can get another certificate, I can, you know, get a mentor or shadow people or spend the day with a tradesman and learn this or that, and, and can and will. But everything I want to know, everything I want to do is within reach. And if you have that type of mindset, or allow yourself remind yourself of that every day, it helps those little voices just fizzle out. Um, and so I you know, I'm have a marketing background, I, after I went back to school for my MBA, I was like, I'm done in school, I don't care I'm not, I don't want to be a doctor of nothing. I don't want to see another classroom, I just want to work and build and grow and eventually retire. But I have thought about I have thought about, you know, going back for a certificate or associates or whatever in interior design, but I also think that in this day and age, like my time would better be my time would be better spent continuing to be that visionary, using those business skills to build a firm and scale. And then hiring those people that can draft and create renderings and and do all the things that I can't do, they can do it in their suite. So hire those people pay them, well let them do their best work so that you can do your best work, too. Um, but yeah, like there was a post that someone posted earlier today. And it was just like the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator. And there was a time on my on my Instagram feed that I actually my Instagram profile, I just, I couldn't put an interior designer at had interior stylists, because I felt like that's, but then I realized, Oh, that's a whole nother that's a whole nother actual position. So I'm not a stylist either sides quickly. So yeah, there's always gonna be there's always gonna be some self doubt. And someone that truly does look at me and says, she's not a designer, she just she buys things from retail, and she picks color, like bold paint colors, and she's not knocking down walls. She's a decorator. And if that if that makes them feel, you know, good calling me a decorator, then so be it. But I have to stand up every day and say I'm proud of the work I do. I'm willing to learn more, I make mistakes. I'm human. And this is the career path I've chosen. And you know, you you can't I'm a I'm a natural people pleaser. So I'm saying this, but it truly is really hard because you want to continue to like, feel like, I'm enough I can do this. But when you take a step back and you kind of see like, Hey, girl, you've been your work has been on the cover of a magazine you have had celebrity clients, you have spoken on panels, like how much more validation do you need? Like you're you're good your people love and that not just your work, but they love you. So accept that and and find energy from that. Um, but yeah, all of that is easier said than done. Yeah. Well,
Kate Bendewald
what you've just done I think is really normalize it, you know, you know, here I am talking like fangirling with you. And then oh, it can beautiful talented designer, and, you know, you have collaborations with beautiful wallpapers which we talked about and it and of course, a massive Instagram following and, and all sorts of publications and it's so easy. And one of the things that I've just like you had to remind myself of is that we have if you're going to compare yourself, compare yourself with yourself from you know, instead of comparing yourself with the ampere guidance, or the Kate Bendewald, or whoever else in the world Don't compare yourself where was it a year ago? What did I know? What did I not know then that I know now what am I? What am I proud of. And if you take inventory or take stock of even the tiniest little wins if you need to write them down to sort of be able to reflect back on that, then do it comparing yourself to yourself to your last week or last year is really a much healthier way of getting out of the comparison trap and then it's actually can be productive.
Amber Guyton
And then another thing I learned to, um I avoid impostor syndrome kept me from I point market, a deck and American market that's here in Atlanta, any any industry event, I was just like, I'm not qualified to go, I can't go, I barely got trade certificates over here. Like I can't resolve them. It's like, I'm just like, I can't do it. Um, and then once I finally like, went full time, I was like, Okay, girl, we're doing this, you're a full time interior designer, you're going to these things that full time interior designers go to. And in meeting fellow interior designers, fellow side hustlers and people that did this, on the side to or enthusiast or people that are just like, figuring out, there is so much power and community like, all the all the things that they say like rising tide lifts all boats, and there's enough for everyone and what's for you won't miss you and community over competition, like all of those things are so true. And I can give you so many examples of each. Because once I started embracing my fellow interior designers and influencers and people in this space, it's just been such a joy, it makes like, it makes it feel so much more. Um, you're just so empowered, you're so encouraged, you're so much more motivated, because you're, you're cheering each other along like, I think it was Issa Rae who said, you know, like, don't worry about like, you can network up, but please network, you know, left and right to like that networking horizontally versus vertically like, Oh, do you need this? How can I help you or you don't know how to do this like, that is that is that is what has lifted me up the most in my career, like supporting my peers and finding community, amongst other interior designers. Because when you think when you approach you're like, Oh, well, I'm in competition with this other person, why should I give them my race? Why should I share this resource, it's like that mindset, you're already you're already going downhill. If if you look at it that way, there's so many talented designers out there. And everybody's perfect project or ideal client is not the same. And there are so many people that are like, oh, I want this glam, or I want this 20,000 square foot house. And I want like, that is not necessarily the Restoration Hardware look like that is not my client, that is not my portfolio. So if someone approaches me and wants to work with me, and that's their aesthetic, and their budget, or whatever, I am happy to refer them to someone who's a better fit, because one, I want to support my fellow interior designers. But also, I don't want to be miserable in this project that wasn't a good fit. I don't want this. I don't want this client to have a poor experience, especially if this is the first time they work with an interior designer, like I want to be completely transparent with them and say, I love you, I really appreciate you wanting to work with me. But based on you know what we talked about in the consultation or your questionnaire or whatever, like, I think there is a much better client designer fit for you. And here are five people to start with. Like there's just something that feels so good about that. And not just fellow designers, interior photographers, tradesmen, my wallpaper installer, like, I just want to see us all succeed. Yes,
Kate Bendewald
absolutely. I love that. It's there's this lightness that happens when you feel like you're being authentic to yourself, and what's gonna light you up and recognizing that you're not for everyone and everyone's not for you. But you can still you're not the saying sorry, I'm not the right designer for you. Good luck. You're Yes, but here's some names of here let me send you in the right direction and let me send you give you something to work with. And that's still valuing them as humans and supporting them and I just think it's a really it's an a really abundant way to live. of life.
Amber Guyton
Yeah, I think I think it's so important. And I also think that I'm like, What? What are you losing from that? What are you? What are you gaining from gatekeeping? What are you gaining from, you know, being selfish with that client or like your it's, yeah, you once you come to that realization, if you have a good heart and your morals and values are aligned, and like you just want to support others in the way that you hope to be supported. And so that's how I approach this business. And so far, so good.
Kate Bendewald
I would say it's working out quite nicely. I've never heard what's meant for you won't miss you. But that's one that I just wrote down. And that's a keeper. It's so true. Yes, one of the things that just oozes from you is authenticity, and and listening to you in other podcasts and seeing you and your reels. It's clearly something that's important to you and just being true to yourself being you know, you're I get the sense that you really know who you are pretty well, even though we're all still evolving, you know, and growing hopefully, right? Yes. What are some of the ways that you have allowed yourself to grow to this expansive influencer level, right, while still being true to yourself? Because I'm sure and you just described one scenario I'm sure that you've had to turn away opportunities. So what are what are some of the ways that you try to stay authentic and true to yourself in this good large growth fit? You're experiencing?
Amber Guyton
Um, so I think I call it my business plus little bungalow. First of all, I love bungalows. Like any network that wants to like, just let me design and renovate little bungalows all over Atlanta. Like that is my dream. I just love the big porch and the brick and the columns and the craftsman style details and it just makes me happy. But most bungalows are not more than like 2000 square feet 3000 Max, like they're, they're smaller homes. And there's something about that little and bless like blesses obviously my faith is important to me. But some there's some there's power in being small, there's power in starting small and having a cozy home and, and it there's just so many layers to it. And so, um, one thing that I think that helps, helps me stay grounded, is just remembering where I'm from. Like, I'm still a country, rural girl from South Carolina that has big dreams and is creative and loves her mama, and grew up next to her grandparents farm and likes to tinker and things like her father, like that is who I am I'm just always been super curious and creative. And as far as authenticity goes, like I came in knowing that I didn't know at all like this is a new space for me. I spent 15 years in corporate building something and going on this one path and decided to make a turn so I have to be flexible I have to be transparent about what I don't know I've turned down so many projects that I just felt like I wasn't either wasn't qualified for or sir, I love you and your family but this is a historic home and I want it to be done right and I am not the person for you. That's going to get you there or at least the fastest. You know, like having those honest conversations. And being okay with like, again, like what is for you won't miss you like being okay with saying no and knowing like, because anytime I've stretched myself whether that's beyond my boundaries or red flags with clients, I've ignored or whatever, I always regret it. I regret it every time. I'm either paid like pennies compared to what I should have been paid and I'm stressed and I can't sleep or I'm annoyed or it just it never it like your piece is priceless. And so something that gives me peace is just being completely overly honest about what I believe I'm capable of. It's also like clients that are just like, No, no, no, we don't care. We still want to if you just want to do three spaces right now and then we'll do the rest when you're available. Cool, like, you know, so it's like okay, well Thank you for holding my hand and I'll hold your beard out. Yeah, yeah, to be chosen to be selected because like you're one time is the most intimate. You know, space is where you spend the most time usually bill if, if you include sleep anyway, and where you build memories in your family, and it's such a privilege to be honored, to be invited in someone's home and to design it to really your liking, because like you, you're doing it for them, but it's like, it's really for me, or my husband? Like, no, no, I love this wallpaper. And I'm trying to convince you to love it too. But no, no, you're you're building it, or you're building it around their, their habits and their traditions and culture and what they, how they how safe they want to feel in their own home and all of that. So, um, yeah, it's like, I don't take that for granted. And so I can't go in dishonest. I can't go in telling you something, but not feeling confident in it. Like I have to be who I am. If I don't want, you know, to keep this builder beige wall, I'm gonna tell you, I'm like, Well, you know, it'd be a bigger impact. Like, we don't have to limit ourselves to an accident. While we can do we can paint the whole space like, sure.
Kate Bendewald
Yeah,
Amber Guyton
it's just paint like, Oh, we don't want to put that much work into these cabinets if you're going to refinishing them, if you're just going to tear them out five years, I rather you invest in, you know, the new custom cabinetry, even if that's not today, maybe save and let's revisit that three years. It's important to have all those conversations and I think you gain trust, you gain those bigger projects, those repeat clients, you gain all of that by doing that, that because it's the right thing to do.
Kate Bendewald
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Kate Bendewald
I've just recently had this conversation with somebody who was looking for a half stop measure to get them to where they wanted the like, we're gonna do the one year plan before we do the whatever plan and I was like you call me when you're ready to do the 10 year plan because that's what I'm interested in. And it felt really good to, to be able to say that. And yeah, and I'm staying true to what lights me up, you know, I'm not quick fixes. I have a bathroom right now that needs Remodeling in my house. And I am so tempted to go like put new shower curtains in there or do something to fix it up. And I tell myself, for every dollar you spend putting half measures on those. It's gonna just delay getting you to where you ultimately want to be. So just hold on, keep saving, and do it when you can do it the way you want to do it. And yeah, that's part of the I feel a little silly saying this. But I've actually only recently realized this part of letting clients go. It's not only about their budget or their timeline, which is what it usually is about. But yeah, it's also like, I'm you're not interested in antiques. That's not going to work for me. Right? Absolutely. It's yeah, I'm getting really specific about what is it that you drew, what drew you to my work and are we a good fit in that way? That's a really liberating place to be.
Amber Guyton
Yeah, and it's it's terrifying. Yeah. Because it's like, oh my gosh, I need this project. Well, quote, unquote, me. I need this project. I need to make this money in this quarter. I can't tell These people know they want to work with me what is wrong with me? Well, because they didn't mention color, in their entire questionnaire, all 50 questions or whatever I asked, they didn't mention it once, and they don't like or they don't know what they want. And they're maybe not ready to work with an interior designer, or they don't have that budget. So why am I going to try to figure out how to make this work on $15,000 When I know 50,000 is required in order because otherwise you're, you're setting yourself up for missing the mark, not not achieving, meeting or exceeding their expectations, because they see your beautiful portfolio and what you can do, but they're not giving you all of the ingredients to bake the cake. So it's going to taste like, I don't know, not a cake. So you gotta, you gotta, you gotta have the ingredients. And it's like, how do you? How do you say that without worrying about hurting someone's feelings, or them being offended, because if they if they want to be offended, they will be like, you know, people like, I started out being like, design on a budget, and because I really believe in mixing highs and lows, and everything doesn't have to be off the showroom floor. But you know, what is affordable to one is not what another person thinks is affordable. Like when I talked to a client earlier this year, and she was just like, the pillows, I just can't, I can't pay $200 for pillows on the sofa. And I'm just like, okay, you know, I understand. But know that this $63 pillow or, or $24 pillow from, I love Target but from Target or Wayfarer or whatever, um, you might be replacing that and it's not of yours, or it's not going to be as comfortable or sit like that up with the cute little bunny ears like you like in the pictures like that you see on Pinterest like, you know, you just have to explain it in a way and it's okay to prioritize some things over the other like, maybe you will splurge on the $6,000 sofa. And then you'll go a little cheaper or wait until such and such is on sale to go with it like that rug or or media cabinet like. But those are decisions we need to make together. And you have to you can trust me, you hired me because you trust my eye and you you trust my expertise. So we have to it's okay to explain those things. Because, again, this is very personal. And it's a huge investment for these families. So you want them to feel good about every every decision. Right?
Kate Bendewald
Yeah. And you and I tell my clients, you know, we want to be a good steward of your investment. Yes, I want to address something you mentioned a minute ago, because this is something we recently talked about inside the interior designers business blueprint, which is my membership program that I run. But the phrase that I have come to use, whenever I'm talking to a client whose budget doesn't match their wish list is that it is doesn't matter whether it's $1,000 or a million dollars, it's that is a lot of money. And in my experience, that's gonna go very quickly, given everything that you want to do. And that is just the very first sentence that you could use to start that conversation and say, and then you can move into whatever which is, let's talk about your budget and where we can you get into all of that. But that one sentence, yeah, acknowledges that, that is a lot of money. And and then you just reference back to the wish list. And it's, I think, a very sensitive way to address somebody's budget without it, you know, and still ground yourself in your expertise. But you're right, it might feel uncomfortable to have that conversation, at least the first couple of times you do it, trust me, it gets easier. Yeah, but I'd rather have that moment of uncomfortability than what's going to be more uncomfortable is sitting with them at the design presentation. And you either didn't pull it off because you couldn't fit a square peg in a round hole or you've got a you're presenting something that's out of their budget. And that's gonna be an even harder conversation. So this is
Amber Guyton
yeah, they're gonna be angry. Like, why did you show me this beautiful thing that I can't afford? Exactly.
Kate Bendewald
Exactly. Which you know, is never, never fun. So you Amber, want to round this conversation out with coming back to all of the things that you do. We talked about the fact that you are an interior designer, a blogger, a product creator and influencer, you have so much going on. How do you As a multi passionate, like myself find balance and prevent burnout. And I know that you've pivoted a few times. And so however that might come into this, I'd love to just hear your thoughts on this.
Amber Guyton
Um, I have not felt burnout until I went full time. And the first year was more so because I should have wait, I should have started my waitlist sooner than I did I well a week waitlist, I should have like, someone's ready to work with me now. Okay, well, let me work with them now. Because otherwise, you know, it's like all or nothing. Like, no, no, they want to work with you, they can wait the four months or whatever. And if they can't, that's okay, they can work with someone else. Like, being okay with that, that was something that I struggled with. And then the next year, it was burnout from I would say, some of the wrong clients, um, just projects that were never ending, or, like, really, I struggled with them, because I probably shouldn't have worked with them in from the beginning. And I made compromises, like with myself, or they said they had worked with a designer before. And I asked them, well, why weren't they working with that designer? Again, I like oh, we just want to work go in a different direction. Like, you should have taken the time to do your due diligence girl, you should have investigated, you should have been like, Okay, well, I know such and such interior designer. If it's alright, with you, I'd love to have a conversation with them about their experience. You know, like, that's a really tough conversation to have. But again, if someone's going to be offended, they will be anyway. Um, but like, not doing things like that, and spending so much time with the good or decent clients. So one thing I heard at High Point last weekend. I want to say it was leaving for cheat said, you know, I gotta say No, good. I gotta say no to good. So I can say yes to great. Like, if if you say yes to all the little things that you should have maybe said no to, there's not going to be room for that huge, perfect ideal client and project, there's not going to be room for that TV opportunity for that licensing partnership for, you know, but because you're so distracted and exhausted by all the things you should have said no to. And so I have not achieved balance. I have always been a bit of a workaholic and just feeling like, Okay, let me just get three hours of sleep. And then let me work on this like that at 37 year old 37 years old does not work anymore. It worked when I was in corporate word when I was in college, it doesn't work for me anymore. Like I deserve to sleep, I deserve to not have to scroll on my phone and to take a walk without like, I quit my job to work for myself, why do I not feel like I've reaped any benefits, and I'm working for myself, you know, so I am I am trying to say no more, and doing trying to do a better job of continuing to outsource the egg or outsource the things that I'm not good at things that are taking up time. Yeah, like the things that give me IQ, the things that I'm that someone else can do in their sleep, like, what's the best use of my time, there's this pyramid that someone Oh, man, I can't remember, it's like, like, just imagine a pyramid and at the bottom, I'm gonna have to look it up later and send it to you. But at the bottom, it's like all the things that you can do and do do. And then the next layer is like, all the things that you can do. That maybe someone else can do, I'm probably screwing this up. But the whole point is like the very top should be things that only you can do that you enjoy. And then the things at the bottom, like you're, you're trying to move up into the pyramid so that you're only doing the things that you absolutely love that only you can do like a CEO mindset, like only the CEO can make that decision. Whereas all the things underneath are things that maybe you can do them but someone else can do it better. Or maybe you just don't have time to do it. And you don't necessarily need to be in in the decision maker or in the weeds with that with that task. So I'm trying my best to figure that piece out. I know it's going to be you know, I've always wanted to keep my business small but I know that building a team is something that I feel like the most people the other designers that I've seen that have catapulted or has really like found their freedom and found their sweet spot. It comes with a team that comes with outsourcing things that other people and and I also think that in this moment like, Okay, well, you enjoy client projects that you enjoy. Maybe, as you're getting more partnerships and and influencer opportunities and licensing deals and things, you're enjoying that creative process you're enjoying being in that space being a, I guess, kind of becoming like a personality versus and a talent versus just that interior designer. And so let's stop operating like we were just a blogger and side hustler. Like, how are we approaching decisions? How are we, like your company has evolved, let's find time to start showing up like it has. And so as the pendulum is swinging from 80% client work to, like more client, non client stuff, like what is that going to look like? So I'm figuring out the balance, and the and the the pivot and what that looks like to make and keep Amber happy. Right now I'm figuring out, I'm figuring it out as we speak.
Kate Bendewald
Same say, That's exactly what's happening over here in this world. And you know, what I've come to realize, at least about myself is that I have a strong work ethic, I've been working since I was 14 years old, yet. I'm 41. I can't keep that up. And you're right. That's why we went into these businesses was ideally to have more freedom over our our work schedule, and what we've got on our plate. But the thing that I'm starting to recognize is that I can build in seasons of hustle, but I don't that I can't sustain that. So right now sort of coming into the end of what has been a really big hustle season with me and my team. So I have two girls that work with me regularly. And then I've got some other ancillary folks that I don't talk to every day, but they work for me too. And I geared them up, I said, this is going to be what I want this year to look like. And we're gonna go hard February and March, taper off April and May. But by the time June and July and August rolled around, I want us to be just doing like, not the bare minimum. But I want us to be able to really enjoy our summers and get the work done. And so we're at the end of this hustle season. And girl, I am ready. I'm ready for the summer season. But part of knowing and doing that. And this is where I do get really strategic, but know that the you know, it might not always follow the way that I planned it. Good lord. Like I said pivots my middle name. But what I have, what sustains me is knowing that there's light at the end of the tunnel, knowing that this is for a seasonal workout is you know, I can go ahead and work a little later today. Because I know that I have a vacation coming up or I know that I'm going to take a day off or whatever. For that I'm putting all of this work in to sustain me through the summer so that I can take some time off and be with my kids. So that hustle season mentality has been something that's really given me some some motivation as I as I work through the really tough moments, because there's just so much going on right now. And it's all good stuff. Yeah, built but and then the other thing I was just listening to I love the handsome podcast with Pignataro. And those ladies. But one of the things that tech said was so wise and it was she really values her family, they adopted two kids after really heartbreaking infertility, which she's very public about. And she herself was very, very, very sick. So she now has this beautiful wife and family that they they're so close and she has had to teach herself and I want to say she's in her 50s Just just she's like, I can't believe I'm just figuring this out. But it's like every time just because I can just because I have time in my schedule for something. I don't have to say yes to it. Hearing that it just was so simple. Very powerful and motivating and moving for me. I got I came back from high point and I had like 10 texts from friends that I needed to get back to and I feel very fulfilled in life and my friendship relationships. I don't have a lot of friends but I have deep relationships with my friends. And it was in fashions to concerts to dinner to whatever and I was so excited for all of it, but I didn't get back to any of them. I was like Sorry guys. I'm recovering from a lot of stuff. Just His time traveling do not time traveling. But the there's just been Yeah, gone. And I'm just taking a quick break from any social activities and they were like, great. We'll see you in the summer. And that was both of hearing TIG talk about just because I have time in my schedule doesn't mean I should and I'm not gonna be like, yeah, that forever. But I just need to do a little recovery. I'm learning. Yeah, to be more of an introvert. The older I get no,
Amber Guyton
no, it's so important. It's like, I like just sitting here right now. I'm just like, Okay, once this is over, I have to do this, I have to answer these 83 emails, I need to finish this, I need to do that. I had a date scheduled, I already rescheduled it. So I can do this. And like, there's like, my mind does not stop. So it's like, even when I was flying back from high wind, I was like, Okay, you got this hour on the plane, you can work on this this like, No, you can rest your eyes. Yeah, and not do anything. Actually, actually, you shouldn't do anything, you should just sleep. Um, yeah. So it's to turn it off is is hard, because we guilt ourselves so much about like, like, who sold us this, this, this dream of, or nightmare really of being an entrepreneur. And that means you work 24/7 You know, like, like it, maybe you do, but you don't have to you can you can take care of yourself. And you cannot pour from an empty cup. So those client projects aren't going to be looking as cute. Those employees aren't going to be as is as in love with you. And those are the like, you're not going to be able to be your best self and show up well, if you're exhausted and stressed and over it.
Kate Bendewald
Yeah, it's so true. It's so true. And you can give your friends and your family and your clients the gift of you when you can show up, rested and refreshed. So I love that so much. Well, this has been a pure delight, listening to you, you were wise beyond your years. There, you have so much going on. I'm so excited to just keep an eye on you and see what happens for you in this next season of life and business. We didn't even talk about pivoting so we're gonna have to have you
Amber Guyton
while I'm still figuring it out, I think talk about it and being like, Oh, it's okay to pivot. But I don't have any real world experience. I mean, I don't have any real world what I'm working on right now. It's made like I've pivoted obviously from other careers into interior design, but it's like okay, what do you what do you do when you work so hard to get someplace? And you know, like, you don't get out this isn't what you signed up for. You know, I've I'm figuring that piece out. So hopefully, yes, our next conversation I'll have some gems to drop based on that experience.
Kate Bendewald
Well, let's hold each other to this conversation because I'm also in a season and I think of the same thing and I think it's totally normal. And I and I don't I don't have an answer for that because I'm still on that train with you. But I think this will be something that a lot of people would love to hear about. We're not saying we're going to come back with answers but maybe some experiences and stories to share.
Amber Guyton
Right right take the take the answers have a grain of salt but I love what you talked about with seasons it really like there was this meme I saw the other day is like everything in nature everything in the world shows us that there is a time you know to shed your leaves the rest to be what are in whatever like you know bears hibernate insects, I don't know where the mosquitoes go during the winter but they go somewhere you know everybody like everybody takes a break and like Why Why don't you think that you don't you don't need to take a break like um, yeah, so we're figuring that out in life together. But um, but yes, Sleep Sleep is one thing I have realized that no, you need that you need that more than anything. I went to a stretch session today and they just continue to talk about the same things that you know exercise water sleep, like I feel like that's the cure for everything. Um, and so yeah, we gotta we got to we got to take care of ourselves parents.
Kate Bendewald
Absolutely. Absolutely. Well Amber before you go, could you please share with our audience where can we find you on line?
Amber Guyton
Yeah, so again, my name is Amber Guyton, I can be found at and my firm is blessed little bungalow, and I can be found at blessed little bungalow.com all one word sand for my instagram at Bliss little bungalow tick tock all the things YouTube. So if there's anything I can help with, help you if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me and Brett will Little bungalow.com Fantastic
Kate Bendewald
Ambert thank you so much for your time. Have a wonderful rest of your day. I'll talk to you real soon. Thank
Amber Guyton
you, Kate, thank you so much.
Kate Bendewald
Thank you so much for letting me spend part of this day with you. If you're loving this podcast, please share it with a friend who you think might also love it. Or perhaps you can take just 30 seconds to open your podcast app and leave us a five star rating. And if you have just an extra minute, go ahead and leave a review. This helps me so much and it helps other designers like you to find the podcast. It also adds fuel to my motivation to keep making great episodes just 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 and I'll see you next time.
