We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alyssa Daly a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alyssa, appreciate you joining us today. Do you take vacations? Why or why not?

Yes. I go on one large trip and at least two to three smaller trips a year. I bring my laptop with me. I can work remotely most of the time. I make sure to let the clients know before I start their project, when my vacations are for the year and how I will handle their project while I am away. I do my best to prepare the clients from the beginning and come with a plan to reach the end goal which is a newly remodeled, home, office, etc. Planning out your projects is key!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was raised in a creative entrepreneurial family. Many of my family members have businesses and they are artists. I had a gut instinct at fifteen that I wanted to be an Interior Designer. Art school was my favorite place. I could be whoever I wanted to be there and express myself fully without the worry of any judgement because I was surrounded by other vulnerable artists learning about themselves as well. My overall business goal is to help anyone I can feel better and more like themselves at home or at their place of work. I spend many hours up front learning about them so I can make sure all of their spaces really benefit and work with their everyday routines. I want people to know that I am genuinely on their team, ready to dive in and learn about them so I can create something beautiful and meaningful for them.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The most challenging lesson I have had to unlearn is recognizing that numerous personal or project-related issues presented by clients lie beyond the scope of my professional responsibilities. While fostering a strong financial and emotional rapport is essential for enabling meaningful life changes, clients frequently raise a diverse array of concerns. In my written proposals, I clearly delineate the areas within my responsibility and those that fall outside my professional purview. Securing signed agreements that confirm their acceptance of these proposals and reinforcing the established boundaries has proven to be an effective strategy in managing numerous challenging projects.

Have you ever had to pivot?

One area where I faced challenges was securing appropriate compensation commensurate with the value of my services. I identified a need to build greater resilience in this aspect and took steps to address it. To gain insight into why I was undervaluing my worth, I engaged two coaches to help me explore the root causes of my pricing decisions. The necessary change had to come from within—I needed to cease undervaluing my talents and begin asserting their true value.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.designsdaly.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designsdaly/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DesignsDaly/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-daly-958a7276/

Image Credits

Brendan Daly