It’s not just interior designers…most creatives suck at selling. Some believe it’s the combination of natural “creative” personality traits + a lack of confidence + an inability to set boundaries + an education that virtually ignores the business side of interior design.

In today’s A Well-Designed Business podcast, host LuAnn Nigara & her guest Matthew Finlin, CEO of The Human Potential Academy dive deep into why most interior designers suck at sales :(

Scroll down to learn more:

We’ve got three great interior design business podcasts today.

• A Well-Designed Business - LuAnn Nigara - Power Talk Friday: Matthew Finlin: The Key to Selling with Authenticity and Compassion - 55 min

• Business of Home Podcast - Dennis Scully - Why is Ashley Whittaker leaving design behind? Plus: The Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams brand is acquired - 1 hr

• Interior Design with Kandrac and Kole - Joann Kandrac & Kelly Kole - How Interior Design Affects Real Estate with Guest Kathleen DeWitt Charleston Real Estate Agent - 32 min

A Well-Designed Business - LuAnn Nigara - Power Talk Friday: Matthew Finlin: The Key to Selling with Authenticity and Compassion - 55 min

If you’re a long-time listener of the show, you already know that host LuAnn Nigara was a salesperson basically from birth. Selling is a part of her nature. But for most designers, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Why is that? Why do some of us gravitate toward selling while it sends others into a panic?

LuAnn’s guest today, Matthew Finlin, CEO of The Human Potential Academy, believes he knows—and he’s shedding light on why this happens and what designers can do to bring more assertiveness into the process and close with confidence and compassion.

Pick It Apart

• [2:58] Matthew explains why creatives have a natural resistance toward sales.

• [7:10] Matthew dives into personality traits and their impact on business and relationships.

• [17:48] LuAnn and Matthew discuss why designers struggle to set boundaries and why they need to learn how.

• [32:51] Matthew and LuAnn dive into how our personality traits impact our pricing.

• [36:32] LuAnn and Matthew highlight why confidence matters in pricing and selling. 

LuAnn Nigara and Matthew Finlin's Ah-Ha Moments

• “Compassionate closing is all about recognizing that if you have a product or service that you truly believe is going to benefit this person and change their life positively.” -Matthew

• “You really need one thing to be good at sales. And it's not knowledge, unfortunately. You actually just need confidence.” -Matthew

• “I don't care how wealthy you are wants to overpay. That's the truth. But what I know from all the interviews I've done is that 99% of designers are going to deliver their heart and soul into the project—they just need to convey their value.” -LuAnn

Business of Home Podcast - Dennis Scully - Why is Ashley Whittaker leaving design behind? Plus: The Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams brand is acquired - 1 hr

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus joins host Dennis Scully to discuss the biggest news in the industry, including a new twist in the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams saga, a 1stdibs trend report, and a look at what the latest inflation numbers mean for designers. Later designer Ashley Whittaker explains why she's pivoting to a new career.

Interior Design with Kandrac and Kole - Joann Kandrac & Kelly Kole - How Interior Design Affects Real Estate with Guest Kathleen DeWitt Charleston Real Estate Agent - 32 min

We wholeheartedly believe that a well-designed home not only reflects your personal style but also has a significant financial impact on its sale or rental value. That's why we wanted to share an insightful interview with Kathleen DeWitt, a renowned real estate agent from Charleston, who sheds light on the importance of good design in the local real estate market.

In our conversation with Kathleen, she emphasizes how an aesthetically appealing home can truly make a difference when it comes to attracting potential buyers or tenants. She discusses the positive impacts of thoughtful design choices and how they can set your property apart from the competition.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• A professionally designed home can help a property be more marketable, sell faster and you get your money two-fold in return.

• If something is very well done, a homeowner doesn’t need to panic on how it will present itself. You don’t have to do “vanilla” and worry that a future homeowner won’t like it. Don’t be afraid of navy-blue cabinets or wallpaper.

• A designer can come into a home that is already furnished and can make edits with a space plan, removing or adding objects and give it a special “flare” that just makes it show better!