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

Alright, Janet thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

I’ve taken a lot of risks in my life, and looking back I don’t regret any of them. I believe that truly great things are on the other side of risk. As you get older you are able to discern when a situation no longer serves you. But taking risks was never easy for me. Fear is a powerful emotion, that can really prevent us from being our best selves. For me, leaving a salaried, safe job, with benefits and retirement, and going out and branding my own business was a huge risk. And scary. I wish I could say I bravely took the leap, but I didn’t. I had a lot of anxiety, and doubted myself a lot. My job was going in a direction that didn’t inspire me, and I knew that the timing was perfect to leave and start my own design business, and do things my way. My fear motivated me to learn, reach out for help, hustle, and have the mind set that success was the only option. I believe when you treat people with kindness and respect, you’re business practices are ethical, you have drive and do whatever it takes to complete a project, it will pay off and you will be successful. There are peaks and valleys for sure, but over time you see steady, consistent growth. Its an incredible feeling to build your own business, form close relationships with clients, and be able to support yourself.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I was fortunate to be raised by very free-spirited parents, who exposed me to a lot growing up. I was born in California, raised in Melbourne, Australia, and spent most of my adult life in Cincinnati, OH. I joined the Peace Corp after I graduated from college, and served in Sierra Leone, West Africa. My mother was an artist, and I remember as a child she was always dragging me to art galleries, antique shows, and art museums. I’m sure I complained, but I ended up enjoying the outings with her. No matter where we lived, or how broke we were, mom always made our homes beautiful. She would pick wildflowers and make arrangements, display her paintings and pottery, and created lovely vignettes wherever you looked. I soon became more aware of my environment, and recognized how beauty, even displayed in a simple way, can affect your mood. I enjoyed arranging furniture, moving throw pillows around, and creating my own designs. Interior design has always been inside of me. I realized as an adult, not everyone has that passion, or ability to put a room together. I am so flattered when my clients reach out to me, asking for help in a room, or a whole house. You have to make yourself vulnerable to invite a stranger into your home, to see how you live, and allow them to design your personal space. I’m flattered by that, and don’t take it for granted. I genuinely enjoy people, getting to know them, and learning how they live and what inspires them. Making rooms functional and beautiful is the most satisfying feeling. I love to problem solve, so when clients have design dilemmas, awkward spaces, or specific needs, I get to solve those problems and give them back a room that makes sense. Using as much of the clients existing furnishings and décor is important to me. I like to source locally, support local artists and plant nurseries. New items are usually needed to complete the space, but I prefer a more eco-friendly approach to design. Reupholster existing furniture if you can, source at flea markets, antique shops and thrift shops. My tag line is reuse, repurpose, reimagine. On reveal day I get to show the client the finished space. It is the best day of the job! Seeing how people get emotional, and respond to their new space, never gets old. Its what inspires me, and motivates me.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

My business has grown slowly, but steadily over the years. I really believe that taking the time to establish a good rapport with your clients is key. Even if the project doesn’t go as planned, make it clear that you care, and that you will solve any problem as the project moves forward. Communicate clearly and consistently with your client, and make sure they are always aware of next steps. Taking the time to build that trust is a great cushion if a problem arises. Learn to be a good listener. In general people don’t expect perfection, but they do need honesty, to feel valued, and to feel heard. By the end of the project they will see how talented you are, and that you can handle all situations. Because of that, they will likely invite you back to work for them again. Don’t let the relationship end when the project ends. If you see a piece of artwork, an unusual item that the client collects, or some décor that fits their style, reach out to them. By keeping you on their radar, they will think of you if they have another project, or refer you to a friend. Most of my business is repeat clients and referrals. When you do get a referral, be sure to thank that person who made the referral.

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

One of the down sides to having your own business, is that you can’t take paid time off when there is a family situation. I lost my dad 3 years ago, and my mother 6 months ago. I had to keep working, taking minimal time off. They needed a lot of care at the end of their life, and there never seemed to be enough time in the day to balance all of life’s demands. I learned the importance of reaching out to people close to me, and utilizing resources that were available to me. I had to be in tune with myself, and prioritize. Managing grief, and running a business can be overwhelming. The one day at a time approach, that we all learned during COVID, is key. That was a time that I realized how important it is to ask for help, be gentle with yourself, and manage your time appropriately. Putting the needs of loved ones, and spending time with them is always the first priority.
You then slowly get back into your work routine, and learn to grieve when it hits you, and then move forward doing what you love.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rustyfigredesign.com
• Instagram: rustyfigredesign
• Facebook: Rusty Fig Redesign, LLC
• Other: Houzz – Rusty Fig Redesign, LLC