What Every Interior Designer Needs to Hear About Procrastination

Rikaza Shakeer Author

We've all been there. You have this brilliant idea for growing your interior design business – maybe it's launching that online course, starting a design consultation service, or finally creating that signature furniture line you've been dreaming about. But instead of diving in, you find yourself saying those four little words that have killed more dreams than any economic downturn: "I'll start when..."

"I'll start when I have more time." "I'll start when I save enough money." "I'll start when the kids are older." "I'll start when I feel more confident." The list goes on and on, and meanwhile, your competitors are out there taking imperfect action and building the businesses you're still planning.

Here's the hard truth: Perfectionism disguised as preparation is costing you money. Every day you wait for the "perfect" moment is another day your business stays exactly where it is, while opportunity slips through your fingers. The designers who are scaling successfully aren't the ones with perfect plans – they're the ones who started before they felt ready.

The Procrastination Stories We Tell Ourselves

Let's get real about the most common "I'll start when" excuses that are keeping you stuck in neutral while your business dreams collect dust.

#1: "I'll start when I have more time"

This is the big one, isn't it? You're already juggling client projects, vendor meetings, and the million little details that come with running a design business. The idea of adding something new feels impossible.

Here's what successful designers know that you might be missing:

• You don't find time – you make time. Those extra hours aren't going to magically appear. You create them by saying no to less important things and protecting your growth activities like they're paying clients.

• Start small and build momentum. You don't need four hours a day. Fifteen minutes of consistent action beats waiting for the perfect two-hour block that never comes.

• Batch similar tasks together. Instead of scattered efforts, dedicate specific time blocks to growth activities. Monday mornings for marketing, Wednesday afternoons for business development.

#2: "I'll start when I have enough money"

This excuse feels so logical, doesn't it? You need money to make money, right? Wrong. This thinking keeps you trapped in a cycle where you're always waiting for more financial security before taking the very actions that would create that security.

The reality check:

• Most successful business expansions start lean. That online course can be created with the equipment you already have. Your design consultation service needs nothing more than your expertise and a calendar app.

• Revenue-generating activities should fund themselves. If your idea is solid, it should start bringing in money before you've invested heavily. Test, iterate, then scale.

• Waiting costs more than starting. Every month you delay is lost revenue. Even if you only capture a fraction of your potential in the beginning, that's still more than the zero you're making by waiting.

#3: "I'll start when I'm more confident"

Ah, confidence – that elusive feeling we think we need before we can succeed. But here's what nobody tells you: confidence doesn't come before success. It comes from doing the work, making mistakes, learning, and improving. It's built through action, not contemplation.

Consider this:

• Confidence is a byproduct, not a prerequisite. Every designer you admire started as an amateur. They didn't wait to feel ready – they got ready by doing.

• Your expertise is already enough. You've been successfully designing spaces and managing clients. That foundation is solid enough to build on.

• Clients buy solutions, not perfection. Your ideal clients aren't looking for the most polished presenter – they're looking for someone who can solve their problems and transform their spaces.

#4: "I'll start when the market is better"

This one's particularly sneaky because it feels so reasonable. The economy, the housing market, consumer spending – there's always something that makes now seem like the "wrong" time.

But successful designers know:

• There's never a perfect market. Every economic condition creates both challenges and opportunities. Recessions give birth to innovative business models. Boom times reward bold moves.

• Your business timeline doesn't match market cycles. By the time the market is "perfect," you'll have missed months or years of growth. Start building now so you're positioned when conditions improve.

• Niche markets often move independently. Even if the general market is soft, your specific ideal client might be thriving. Luxury renovations, sustainable design, and aging-in-place modifications – different niches have different cycles.

The Power of Imperfect Action

Here's what separates successful interior designers from the perpetual planners: they understand that imperfect action beats perfect inaction every single time. Your first attempt doesn't need to be your best attempt. It just needs to be your first attempt.

Think about it this way:

• Version 1.0 beats Version Never. Your first online consultation will be awkward. Your initial marketing message won't be perfect. So what? You can improve these things, but only after you start.

• The market teaches faster than theory. You can spend months researching and planning, but five actual client interactions will teach you more about what works than any amount of preparation.

• Momentum creates opportunities. When you're in motion, new possibilities reveal themselves. Clients refer other clients. One service leads to another. But none of this happens while you're waiting for the perfect moment.

Long-Term Thinking: Your Competitive Advantage

The designers who are scaling successfully aren't thinking in weeks or months – they're thinking in years. They understand that sustainable growth comes from consistent action over time, not from waiting for perfect conditions.

This long-term perspective changes everything:

• Small actions compound. Fifteen minutes of daily marketing seems insignificant, but over a year, that's 90+ hours of business development. Your competitors who are waiting for bigger blocks of time? They're getting zero.

• Early starts create expertise. The designer who starts their online course business today, even imperfectly, will have years of experience and refinement by the time their competitors finally feel "ready" to begin.

• Time amplifies advantages. Your network grows, your skills improve, and your reputation builds – but only if you start. Every day you wait is a day these advantages aren't accumulating.

Breaking Free From "I'll Start When"

Ready to stop letting perfect be the enemy of profitable? Here's how to break the cycle:

• Replace "when" with "how." Instead of "I'll start when I have more time," ask "How can I make time for this?" The question changes your brain from excuse-making to solution-finding.

• Set imperfect deadlines. Give yourself two weeks to launch something – anything – related to your growth goal. The time pressure forces you to focus on what's essential and skip what's just perfectionism.

• Celebrate messy progress. Your first attempt will be imperfect. Celebrate it anyway. You're now officially in the small percentage of people who do rather than plan.

Conclusion

The interior design industry is full of talented professionals who never reach their full potential because they're waiting for the perfect moment to take action. They're stuck in "I'll start when" mode while their competitors are out there building, learning, and growing through imperfect action.

Your business doesn't need you to be perfect. It needs you to be brave enough to start before you're ready, smart enough to learn as you go, and persistent enough to keep improving. The designers who are scaling successfully aren't the ones who waited for ideal conditions – they're the ones who created success despite imperfect circumstances.

Stop waiting for someday. Someday is a place that doesn't exist on any calendar. Your business growth starts with a decision to begin, not a perfect plan. Make that decision today, take one imperfect action, and watch how quickly "I'll start when" transforms into "I'm glad I started when I did."

If you're interested to see exactly where your business stands? Take our Business Score Assessment to get custom insights into your five pillars and discover which areas will give you the biggest impact when strengthened. It takes just a few minutes, and you'll get a personalized roadmap for scaling your interior design business with confidence.

Thank you for reading ❤️

Categories: : Mindset and Motivation