EP 442 | From Hustle to Sustainability: How Interior Designers Avoid Burnout with Kimberley Seldon

August 19, 2025

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Burnout doesn’t always arrive as a dramatic breaking point. Sometimes it shows up quietly—in the middle of a beautiful project, a full calendar, and a business that looks successful from the outside. In this candid solo episode, Kimberley Seldon shares her personal burnout moment and the pivotal shifts that helped her move from hustle to sustainability.

Kimberley opens up about the emotional cost of chronic over-commitment, saying yes past capacity, and slowly losing the creative spark that drew her to design in the first place. She walks through the practical, often uncomfortable decisions required to reclaim energy, redefine capacity, and restructure a business so it supports—not drains—the person running it.

If you’re exhausted, overbooked, or quietly wondering how long you can keep going at this pace, this episode offers clarity, permission, and a path forward.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

  • Why burnout doesn’t always look like a breakdown—and often hides in “successful” businesses
  • How sustainable change often begins with one small but bold decision
  • Why defining and honoring your true capacity is a strategic business move
  • How raising your rates can reduce workload while increasing revenue
  • Why a signature process saves time, builds confidence, and improves the client experience
  • Why protecting your energy isn’t selfish—it’s essential for creativity and long-term success

 

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Business of Design® has helped thousands of design professionals around the world build successful, profitable design businesses by providing the industry’s best business training. Created by practicing interior design professional, Kimberley Seldon, the systems and strategies you’ll learn through BOD™ Programs have been streamlined over a successful 30-year career managing real projects, clients, and trades.

Let us be part of your success.

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Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Aquavato!

Aquavato is a trade-focused plumbing showroom in Toronto designed to support interior designers with expert product guidance, educational support, and concierge level service. Inside, the House of Rohl Studio has curated selections of Perrin & Rowe, Rohl, Shaws, Victoria + Albert, Emtek & Schaub.

Learn more about the Aquavato Trade Program at aquavato.com.

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Legal Disclosure | This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used for any legal decisions. Kimberley Seldon Design Group, Kimberley Seldon Productions Inc., Kimberley Seldon Design and Media, Inc., Business of Design™, or any of its affiliated companies or staff is not responsible for any errors or omissions effecting accuracy in any content, and they will not be held liable for the use or misuse of information, facts, details or any other aspects should there arise any defects, errors, omissions or perhaps inaccuracies. Extensive research has been conducted to put this podcast together for the purpose of educating our industry in order to better serve the public. Care has been taken to acknowledge ownership of copyrighted material. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. This work is offered with the understanding that we do not render any legal, accounting or other professional advice. Seek the advice of a lawyer and/or other competent professional person in all matters of law. Further, listeners should be aware that internet websites mentioned may change or disappear between when this was recorded and when it was listened to.

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