I will be presenting at the upcoming Rocky Mountain Designers’ Market at the Denver Design District!  If you plan on attending the Market, or are an interior designer in the Denver area, please come see me for this free event on Wednesday, May 12th at 4 pm at the Grange showroom.

My presentation will cover how a blog can be a great way to better build your brand, to attract your ideal client, and to ultimately help your bottom line.

Special thanks to Grange and the Grange showroom in Denver for inviting me to speak.

Of course, martinis will be served.

For more information on registering for the Rocky Mountain Designer’s Market, click here.

The to-do list can be a daunting document.  For every one item you check off, you probably add two.  For many of us, it is far longer than the number of hours that we each have in our days.  The question then is: “how can we set up a strategy to prioritize the to-do list so that you are best utilizing your time”?  Think about ROI (return on investment) as your ROT (return on time).

Too Familiar?

Here is a new system that we created within our company.  I suggest that everyone have the same 3 categories across the team, but that the prioritization is role-specific.

Determine your 3 categories that all of your actions fall under (or should fall under).  In our company, I determined the following as our 3 categories:

1. Revenue producing:  an item on the to-do list that will bring money into the company
2. Service-related:  an item on the to-do list that will make our members or clients lives and businesses better
3. Brand awareness and networking: actions that will help build our brand throughout the industry and beyond

Based on your list, prioritize your categories.  My particular role in our company is bringing in new business and also long-term strategy.  If my role was to service our clients and members more directly, I would prioritize the categories differently.  Therefore, my category prioritization is as follows:

1. Revenue production
2. Brand awareness, strategy, and networking
3. Service

Determine some examples of what each category would entail.  For example, I would use the following examples for our company:

1. Revenue production: sales calls, creating letters of agreement, invoicing, etc.  For your firm, this might also be billable hours or creating proposals.
2. Brand awareness, strategy, and networking:  arranging presentations at design centers, writing blog posts, staying connected with my professional network, etc.
3. Service:  adding functionality to the website that would improve the client experience, monthly member calls, etc.

A few more ideas:

• Establish a “D” category.  There will naturally be things that fall into the “Other” category.  We call those category “D” items.  These will still need to get done but in the prioritization exercise, they will be the items that are least important to your business.
• Every time you add something to your to-do list, make sure that you put a letter next to it or color code it.  This will show you where you need to be prioritizing and what items can be downgraded.

For more great techniques to work smarter, I suggest Gina Trapani’s columns at FastCompany.com. What systems do you use to prioritize your laundry list of to-dos?

It’s no surprise that the dirty martini, a symbol of refined revelry and exceptional taste, is also Gibson Design Management’s chosen symbol for a reward of member excellence. Each month, the Dirty Martini award will be presented to one of our members, honoring the innovative, devoted and impressive achievements of the people we are so fortunate to work with.  What better way is there to applaud a job well done than by unwinding with a cocktail? Plus, we’re sure this month’s recipient—Vicky Serany of Southern Studio Interior Design— will be in need of a martini after all her hard work!

Vicky Serany

Vicky is a standout in the interior design industry, successfully applying creativity and ingenuity to every project she is involved with.  Most recently, Vicky has been asked to speak at the Southern Living Magazine’s Custom Builder Conference as an expert in the homebuilding industry. Brent Warren, manager of the program, had this to say about Vicky’s participation in their annual conference:

“Her knowledge of the homebuilding industry, impeccable tastes, enthusiasm, and thoughtful systems for managing the selection process, for both custom builders and homeowners, have proven to be invaluable tools for our organization.”

In response to this (well-deserved!) compliment, Vicky commented: “Some of the finest builders in the South are members of this unique program. It’s personally and professionally rewarding to help homeowners and builders transform dreams into reality.”

Gibson Design Management would once again like to congratulate Vicky of Southern Studio for being an exemplar of hard work and enthusiasm! Cheers!

Sometimes, receiving confirmation that you’re taking the right steps for your business is all it takes to push you ahead even further.  Success is closely linked to communication, which is why it can be particularly advantageous to talk to someone, ask questions, and discuss any possible ideas you hope to incorporate into your business structure.  This is exactly where Martha Kirkpatrick, Director, Member Services comes in for our Gibson Design Management members.  Martha provides immeasurable assistance to clients through monthly “sounding board” calls, where she lends an ear and her thoughts, helping members sort through any inquiries or ideas regarding their business’ success.

This is a service offered to all members (and included in the price of monthly membership!), and one that has played a particularly important role within our clients’ businesses—allowing clients to fine-tune new ventures, determine how to effectively use their Gibson Design Management membership, and mold personalized strategies for branding, marketing, expansion and more.  Here’s what members have said about the importance of conversation and sounding board calls:

“I think of Gibson Design Management as a very capable employee that I have on call at all times. Whether it’s product sourcing, CAD drawings or advice that I need, Gibson is always there to save me!” — Marlene Oliphant, Marlene Oliphant Designs LLC

“I love working with Gibson Design Management!  Although technically a solo-entrepreneur, I have a team of knowledge, support and creativity on my side at all times.  Monthly member calls with Martha remind me that I never need to “go it alone”!” – Sarah Devaney-O’Neil, Storibook Designs, Inc.

“The monthly mentor calls with Martha Kirkpatrick have been very helpful.  Martha always immediately finds the answers to my questions and reports back to me within 24 hours, if not sooner.  I know that in Martha I have someone to go to if I ever have a question or a need and that it will be taken care of.” — Randy Trainor, C. Randolph Trainor, LLC

“For the past several months, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in monthly coaching calls with Martha Kirkpatrick.  As the owner of a small interior design firm, I have found the calls to be both productive and motivating. Martha has listened to challenges and helped brainstorm solutions for a variety of business topics. These calls have become, without a doubt, one of the greatest benefits of my membership with Gibson Design Management.” — Vicky Serany, Southern Studio Interior Design

If you are a Gibson Design Management member and have not yet taken advantage of the sounding board calls, please email Martha to schedule.  If you are not a member, and you would like to find out more about becoming a member, please email Alexandra Gibson.

Happy Spring!

After a snowy and (seemingly) endless winter, spring has finally arrived in full force: the sun is out, flowers are blooming, and jackets are becoming a distant memory.  Nature’s happy perseverance is definitely something to celebrate.  So, in the spirit of spring, the GDM team has answered some questions about what we’re looking forward to most this season:

1. How will you spend time outdoors this spring?

Martha Enjoying a View of the Rockies

Riding my horse.  We’ve had so much snow this winter that he’s gotten fat…him not me.
-Alexandra Gibson, President/CEO

My husband and I love to take late spring motorcycle rides through the Colorado Rockies, experiencing the beautiful scenery coming to life after a long winter.
–Martha Kirkpatrick, Director, Member Services

I can’t wait to bike from Rosslyn to Old Town Alexandria with my friends. The Mt. Vernon Trail is right along the Potomac – a gorgeous ride to gorgeous Old Town!
-Amanda Butterworth, Director, Creative Services

Walking to the Charlottesville City Market on Saturday mornings for Shenandoah Joe’s iced coffee, running outside, and reading poolside.
-Lolly Rush, Senior Associate, Member Services

Doing homework in a bikini on my back porch to upset my crotchety neighbor and his 20 feral cats.
-Isabel Lampton, Intern

Grilling outside with friends on spring evenings, watching UVA lacrosse games at Klockner Stadium, and wishing I had a puppy to walk.
-Jessye Aibel, Social Media Intern

A View of D.C. from the Mt. Vernon Trail

2. What are your favorite warm weather treats?

Happy hour on the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville.
-Alexandra

Hot fudge sundaes delivered by car-hop at the local Sonic burger joint; a cold, crisp Pinot Grigio on the deck at the Platte River Grille; grilled shrimp tacos on my back patio.
-Martha

A Pitcher of Homemade Sangria

Now that it’s warm out, I cannot wait to sit outside with my friends and a pitcher of sangria. Whether it is homemade or out at a happy hour, a glass of ice cold sangria always hits the spot.
-Amanda

Arch’s Frozen Yogurt is a must for warm weather and Slurpees from 7-11.
-Lolly

Curry and wine outside at Monsoon.
-Isabel

Chocolate milkshakes, homemade peanut butter banana smoothies, and margaritas from Continental Divide.
-Jessye

3. This spring, what song makes you want to drive with your windows down?

One of my favorite songs— The Killers “All These Things That I’ve Done.”
-Alexandra

“Beautiful Day” by U2.  Awaiting their June 12^th concert in Denver with breathless anticipation.
-Martha

An oldie but a goodie, I love blasting Third Eye Blind’s “Semi-Charmed Life” when I’m driving with the windows down!
-Amanda

“Cruisin’ Together”—Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis.
-Lolly

Anything not by Justin Bieber.
-Isabel

Tom Petty’s Greatest Hits CD; it reminds me of cruising around with my dad during childhood summers!
-Jessye

4. What’s your favorite spring color to wear?

Turquoise on the Runways | Spring & Summer 2010

Turquoise- Pantone’s 2010 color of the year!  I look forward to sporting it with a better tan.
-Alexandra

Orange!  One of the happiest, most vibrant colors I know.
-Martha

Turquoise!
-Amanda

White pants (after Easter of course,) with my new favorite color charcoal gray.
-Lolly

White! But not while eating aforementioned curry…
-Isabel

Yellow! It’s sunny and cheerful, which is how I’m always feeling in the spring.
-Jessye