Featured on this episode:

• Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here
• Sign up for my weekly newsletter here

What you will learn from this episode:

• How to set boundaries that protect your time, energy, and joy (without shrinking your business).
• Practical strategies to structure your workload and evaluate new opportunities with confidence.
• Tips for finding the right support, communicating clearly, and making financial decisions that set you up for success.

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Every big shift I’m making for 2026 comes back to one question:
What does this allow me to do better?
Better for my clients, better for my business, better for my family, and, honestly, better for myself. If you want to know exactly how I’m shaping my business so it actually fits my life next year, not some version you see online, pull up a chair. Here’s what’s changing, how I’m doing it, and the habits and boundaries I’m using to keep growing a business on my own terms.

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First, a word about “goals” (and why mine don’t look like a vision board)

Let’s clear the air:

I am not a New Year’s resolution girl.

Love the intention. Hate the aftermath. You know, that low-grade shame spiral when you drop a resolution by January 14th? Been there. Hated it.

A few years ago, someone suggested something lighter: choose a word of the year instead. At first, I rolled my eyes. (I’m a systems girl. I like things I can measure.) But the word ended up working, for my mind and my business.

Last year, that word was “intentional.” And it completely shifted how and what I said yes to. I got intentional about how I worked, what I taught, and what deserved my energy. I felt more clear, more deliberate, and (side note) way less exhausted.

So for 2026, my word isn’t pretty or trendy. But for once in my life?
It’s deeply necessary.

The word is “boundaries.” And specifically, internal boundaries.

I’m a giver; most designers are. But I’ve stretched myself way too thin before, in business and at home, and I’m just not doing that anymore. For 2026, I need boundaries that protect my time, my sanity, and my family.

So, the next phase of my business? It’s about being clear and kind.
To my clients, to my family, and to myself.

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Why I’m Not Stepping Away from Client Work. But I Am Redesigning My Capacity

If you love client work, you’re allowed to keep doing it.

I can’t tell you how many people (lovingly, gently) have told me:

“Renee, you gotta stop taking client work. You’ve got a program and a podcast taking off. You don’t need to spread yourself so thin.”

My client work brings me joy. Now, yes, of course, it brings me content. But that’s not why I do it … my construction work, hell, even my decorating work, still brings me joy. So I’m not going to step away from it, because I really do love it.

So no, I’m not stepping away from clients.
But I am getting much sharper about what I take on, and when.

Here’s the structure I’ve set:

→ 1–2 large construction projects
→ Add 1–2 mid-size renovations
→ Optionally, 1–2 decorating or furnishings-only projects (if schedules allow)

The key word? Rhythm.
Not overlap. Not chaos. Rhythm.

I’m stacking my year in a way that allows me to actually be present for my clients, my team, my family, and myself.

Because trust me, early career me would just stack projects like a Jenga tower and pray no one pulled the wrong block. These days, I know better: when something slides (and it always does), it doesn’t fracture the whole year. There’s padding. There’s margin. There’s sanity.

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The Real Game Changer—Knowing Your True Capacity

Want the secret weapon?
Know what you can actually manage operationally, not just emotionally or financially.

Most of the time, when a designer says “I need more work,” what they really need is clarity. How many projects can you actually handle at once, without mistakes creeping in or quality dropping?

Set that number first.
Then reframe your goals around it.

So let’s say you know you can handle three big jobs at once, but you’ve got two right now. That means you’re just looking for one more, not scrambling for work or panicking when it’s quiet. Your calendar is booked, your dance card is full, and that takes so much pressure off.

Capacity brings peace.
Capacity brings confidence.
And capacity protects your profit.

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Saying No Isn’t Weakness, It’s Leadership

Real talk? Saying no to work that doesn’t fit your schedule isn’t a failure. It’s stewardship.
And sometimes, it’s the most responsible thing you can do for your team, your existing clients, and your long-term reputation.

Before I respond to a new inquiry, I always gut-check:

→ Do I truly have the bandwidth to do this well?
→ If not, what boundary could protect my clients and my workflow?

Sometimes the answer is a waitlist. Sometimes it’s a referral. Sometimes, it’s a “not right now.”

And that’s not just okay. That’s strategy.

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Support = A Boundary That Breathes

Confession: I am terrible at asking for help. (Yup, still working on that.)

But the more my business has grown, the clearer it’s become: support isn’t an extra. It’s a necessity. And support doesn’t just mean a team, it means the right team.

For me, that’s looked like finally hiring an incredible assistant, Nicole, alongside a podcast editor and an Online Business Manager who keeps all my programs and coaching life running in the background.

Having Nicole’s support has given me actual breathing room. I can stay focused on client work, the podcast, or mentoring, without constantly switching gears. It’s made a world of difference in how my days actually feel.

So if you need the nudge: Don’t wait until you’re underwater to get help. It takes time. Start looking now.

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Tightening Communication = Less Stress, More Profit

Big move for 2026: clearer, more consistent communication, everywhere.

This year, I’m tightening:

→ My weekly update emails to clients (eliminates SO much unnecessary back-and-forth and confusion)
→ My scope of work definitions
→ My contract language (highly recommend you review yours every year)

The goal? Less friction, fewer “wait, what’s next” moments, and more client confidence.

And on the audience side:
Switching to a single, jam-packed Friday newsletter instead of two emails a week. Because as much as I love a good update, everyone’s inbox is already flooded. Clarity over noise.

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And Yes, I’m Finally Hiring a Fractional CFO

This is not the sexy part. But it might be the most important.

For 2026, I’m bringing on a fractional CFO who specializes in interior design. Because I want to understand my numbers at the deepest level, not just glance at them in QuickBooks and hope they’re fine.

Boundaries aren’t just about time; they’re about financial clarity, too.
You cannot set smart goals without knowing where you stand.

So, if you’re like me and have avoided your numbers out of fear or overwhelm for too long? Pull back the curtain, friend. Future you will thank you.

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Not All Boundaries Are “No”—Some Are “Yes, But Smarter”

Boundaries aren’t walls, they’re filters.
The goal here isn’t to block joy. It’s to protect it.

And honestly? I want you to have that, too.

Because a better business isn’t always a bigger business.
Sometimes it’s just a clearer one.
A business that fits the season of life you’re actually in, not the highlight reel everyone thinks you’re living on Instagram.

And in 2026? That’s the blueprint I’m using to make sure my work supports my life, not the other way around.

Here’s to the year you get clear.
Not just busy.

Like this Episode?

Be sure to check out Episode #239: Inside the Studio: Conversations That Are Changing How Designers Show Up

Be sure to check out Episode #165: Empowering Interior Designers: Michelle Lynne’s Mission and Success Secrets

Be sure to check out Episode #220: Stuck and Scrambling? It’s Time to Build Your Foundation