Is Your Design Studio Still Working for You?
How to Spot Misalignment Before Burnout Hits
Episode 122
In this solo episode, I’m sharing something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately: What happens when the business you worked so hard to build no longer fits the life you want to live? After my recent conversation with Shelley Boyd (Episode 121), I felt compelled to explore what it really means to reassess, realign, and sometimes reimagine your interior design business—especially when burnout creeps in quietly. If you've ever wondered, “Is this still working for me?”, I hope this episode gives you space to reflect and permission to pivot.
Hope you enjoy the episode
Beth xx
After stepping away from my studio for a few weeks, I came back with a realisation: I had built something successful on the surface… but it didn’t feel right underneath.
In this episode, I’m sharing the honest truth about what happens when the systems, structures, and identity you've built around your business no longer feel aligned. It’s something I see so often with interior designers — especially those who’ve grown quickly or have been running their studio for a few years. What once felt exciting starts to feel heavy, but we don’t always know why.
Here’s what I unpack in this episode
How to recognise when your business is out of alignment
I explore the subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs that your business may no longer be serving you in the way it once did. It’s not always dramatic — sometimes it’s a quiet exhaustion, a resistance to the work you used to enjoy, or a creeping sense of disconnect between the life you want and the way you’re working.
Why doing more isn’t the solution when you’re feeling off-track
When things feel wrong, our instinct is often to fix it with more: more structure, more marketing, more effort. But what if the answer isn’t to add, but to pause and subtract? I share how this mindset shows up for designers and what to do instead.
The difference between systems that support you — and ones that trap you
Not all systems are helpful. I talk about how well-meaning systems can become cages if they’re built around outdated priorities or other people’s expectations. This is where we zoom out and ask: What am I actually designing my business around?
The power of asking: “What do I want now?”
One of the biggest shifts I discuss is allowing yourself to grow and change — and letting your business evolve with you. I explore the emotional work of loosening your grip, rewriting your definition of success, and reimagining what your next season could look like.
How I guide designers through this in a Health Check
If this episode resonates, it’s likely you’re in a transition season. I support designers in this exact space through the Health Check, where we review your current business, uncover the friction points, and rebuild around your strengths, vision, and energy — not someone else’s template.
How your business model and service delivery can evolve (and still be successful)
I talk about letting go of what no longer fits, and how you can explore new offers, partnerships, or delivery models that feel lighter, more aligned, and more creatively fulfilling. You don’t need to burn it all down — but you may need to open a window and let some fresh air in.
Why this conversation matters right now
So many designers are quietly questioning if the business they’ve built is still the right fit. This episode is a reminder that you’re not failing — you’re evolving. And your business can, too.