EP 172 | Best Business Books for Interior Designers with Emma Navajas – PLUS Bonus Spanish Episode

May 25, 2020

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Looking for the best business books to help grow your interior design business?

In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by Business of Design® member Emma Navajas to share recommended reading for interior designers who want to strengthen their business skills, improve communication, and develop a more confident mindset.

With so many business and self-help books available, it can be difficult to know where to start. Emma highlights some of her favorite books for creative professionals across key areas including business strategy, negotiation, etiquette, and personal growth.

As a bonus, Emma repeats her recommendations in Spanish for the Business of Design® Spanish-speaking audience.

In this episode, we learn:
• Emma’s favorite business books for interior designers and creative entrepreneurs
• Which books help strengthen negotiation and communication skills
• Why etiquette and professionalism still matter in today’s business environment
• How mindset and personal development influence business success
• Why continuous learning helps interior designers stay competitive and confident
• How reading the right books can improve leadership, client relationships, and profitability
• Why investing in personal growth creates stronger and more resilient interior design businesses

 

Design Intervention

You can’t be all things to all people. You can’t fulfill everyone’s needs. You can’t be liked by everyone. You can only really be one thing to a small group of important people—your best clients, your ideal clients, your niche. Focus on creating the best possible service and experience for them, delivering on their needs, and alleviating their unique pain points. This will create a stellar service that perfectly serves a group of loyal, enthusiastic clients, which will in turn lead to a mature, prosperous business.

 

Take Aways

BUSINESS | “The E-Myth” by Michael E. Gerber, “The Pumpkin Plan” by Mike Michalowicz, and “Profit First” by Mike Michalowicz.

NEGOTIATION SKILLS | “Getting to Yes” by Roger Fisher and William Ury, and “Never Split the Difference” by Chris Voss and Michael Kramer.

ETIQUETTE | “Emily Post’s Etiquette: Manners for Today” by Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning, and “Poised for Success” by Jaqueline Whitmore.

MIND SET | “How Rich People Think” and “177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class”, both by Steve Siebold.

 

Before starting her own interior design firm, Emma was a Ph.D. student at one of the top Epidemiology programs in the country, where she fastidiously researched infectious diseases and women’s cancer.

Two years into the program, she realized that, while her academic work was venerable and vital, her true passion lay in creating unforgettable homes that inspire, revive, and delight us. Emma had always admired the refined and luxurious homes in her hometowns of Orange County, CA and Barcelona, Spain, and had long dreamt of creating remarkable spaces of her own.

So, she decided to put her health, happiness, and sanity first, and withdrew from her program. She went on to receive the proper training (which, among other things, included countless hours of Business of Design courses!) and created her own interior design firm.

Her dynamic background uniquely positions her as a true expert in the needs and wishes of high-achieving, prosperous individuals, and she draws great joy from creating beautiful homes that reflect the phenomenal achievements and lifestyles of Atlanta’s high-profile clientele.

Emma has been a member of Business of Design™ for several months now, and has been absolutely loving the BOD™ Bootcamp series and the subsequent Recovery series. Business of Design™ has been an incredibly important—if not the most important— asset to her developing her business in a profitable, mature way, and she can’t wait to see the updated content that BOD has planned for the summer.

www.emmaelizabethinteriors.com

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Legal Disclosure | This podcast is for educational purposes only and provides general business advice for interior designers and design professionals. It is not intended as individual legal, accounting, or professional guidance. Kimberley Seldon and Business of Design® make no guarantees regarding accuracy and are not liable for how information is used. Strategies shared may not apply to every situation—listeners should seek qualified legal, financial, or professional advice before making business decisions. References and resources mentioned may change over time.

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