We recently connected with Simmone Clock and have shared our conversation below.

Simmone, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s talk about social media – do you manage your own or do you have someone or a company that handles it for you? Why did you make the choice you did?

I manage my own social media. I made the decision from the beginning to have my business brand also be my personal brand. I don’t have separate business accounts. Instead, I build off of my personal ones. That is how I can provide the most value and be authentic. Both interior design and real estate are incredibly personal. I am a one woman show and work very closely with my clients. I want people to see who I am and know what they’re getting. And if we’re not a good fit, that’s totally fine and they can determine that before even reaching out to me. I would love to get help with social media someday, it’s a lot of work! But I would have to find someone who really understands me, and I fully trust. I don’t think I’ll ever give up my spontaneous story posting and personally replying to comments and DM’s. It’s a special community to me. I would tell other business owners to add more personality and connection into their social media! Just be yourself, sprinkle in some non-salesy marketing, and the right business will come.

Simmone, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

After getting my bachelor’s degree in interior design, I started in commercial design. I did that for a few years, but I felt that commercial wasn’t the right part of the industry for me. I wanted to be more creative, have less limitations, and feel like I was helping people more. Even though they weren’t hiring, I managed to land a job at my dream residential design firm, and I knew residential design was my calling. Then COVID hit, and it was stripped from me. I found myself unemployed, stuck at home, and feeling hopeless. With the help of my husband, I began to work towards my real estate license and launch a virtual design business. It was a slow start, then suddenly I was getting clients. As COVID restrictions were lifted and people were able to get out of their homes, virtual design quickly evolved into full service interior design. I now specialize in new builds and remodels and offer everything from construction documents and finish selections to furniture and styling. As a realtor, I am able to help clients find the right builder, envision the potential in a fixer upper and get homes market ready to sell. I’m able to provide my expertise, guidance and creativity while keeping their wants and needs in mind to get them results better than they imagined.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson that I had to learn is that you don’t have to, and shouldn’t, say yes to everything. In the beginning, I wanted to be multi-faceted and have something for everyone. I had every level of packages, let clients customize my services and turned away no one. I learned the hard way that some things and some people empty your cup and drive your business backwards. I thought, “I’m making money, so it’s worth it.” But I realized how important my time and happiness are, and that money doesn’t give you that back. Today I’m much more selective about the services I provide and the projects I take on. I will always talk to potential clients, but I am able to see clearly when we are not the right fit and will politely decline. Now I don’t get burned out and I’m able to fully enjoy my job.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I have been underestimated a lot. Because I’m a young woman without a team or tens of years of experience, I sometimes get written off, passed up by more established designers/realtors or simply not taken seriously. It used to drive me crazy, and I always felt like I had to prove myself. But you can see when someone is trying too hard. Once I stopped caring so much and trying to be the business owner I thought I should be, my confidence grew and that speaks for itself. I know that I’m talented and capable. It goes back to being my authentic self and letting the right business come.    

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.homesbysimmone.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simmoneclock/
• Other: Located in Ames, Iowa

Image Credits
Spacecrafting, Skylar Rae Photography, Kyndal Elise Photography