FEATURED ON THIS EPISODE:

INTERIOR DESIGNER’S GUIDE TO CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:

THE DIFFERENT WAYS TECHNOLOGY HAS BROUGHT VALUE INTO MY LIFE

THE DOWNSIDES TO USING TECHNOLOGY IN OUR BUSINESSES

WHY TECHNOLOGY CAN NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR IN-PERSON CONNECTIONS

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I want to share with you something I’m learning about technology that I want to really get across to you today because this is something I’m seeing building over time.

I use technology all the time. I have a computer program that does all of my internal design work, my time billing, proposals, purchase orders, invoices, you name it. Obviously, emails and texts are a daily part of my life. I don’t limit how clients can reach out to me. One reason is that I’m a texting kind of girl, so I don’t mind when clients text me. So I am constantly using technology every single day, whether I’m communicating with my clients, my vendors, my team, architects, builders, or whoever it is. 

This saves me time.

That is one of the most beautiful things technology has brought to my life. Without that kind of technology, I’m not sure I would have had time to start a podcast.

One of my best hacks, and one I highly encourage you to use, is scheduling emails.

Before this, I was either saving them in a draft folder (and forgetting about them until 4 p.m.) or sending them at 5 a.m., and the next thing I knew, they were replying, and I felt like, oh no, now we are in a conversation.

So when Gmail came out with a scheduler, it was a game changer. I am so much more efficient with my emails now. That is what technology should be used for. Communication. Scheduling. Buying back time.

Technology is also an amazing tool for marketing.

Going on social media projecting your value, your worth, your skill set, and your expertise is immensely helpful and has changed the trajectory of probably all of our careers. I know it has for mine.

The other thing it has brought me is each of you.

There are many listening who I don’t know your names or where you’re from, but a lot of you have reached out to me. We’ve gotten to be on Zoom calls, webinars, and emails, and that has created a connection there. What that brings to me is a richness, a texture, to my own work. 

This podcast has also given me the chance to talk with and interview so many designers. We get to know each other, brainstorm ideas, and swap resources. 

Today, I want to share about a guest I’ve had a few times: Michelle Lynnx offered me the opportunity to speak at her Design Success Summit in Dallas, TX. I knew there would be other designers there that I had ‘met’ online. I was so excited to meet them in person. But it actually felt like old friends before I walked into those rooms. And that’s what I want each of you to think about for your businesses. 

I know I, for one, lean heavily on all of my devices and apps to make my business run smoother, but is there a cost? I frankly think there is. I think there is a human connection that we are not paying enough attention to. Mind you, it doesn’t always have a truly negative impact, but I do think it’s impacting our work. And I have been doing things differently in order to bridge that gap.

I’m not saying to forego all of your technology and go back to handwritten notes and landlines. But I am saying you need to start using technology more wisely and be strategically in front of your clients, vendors, and industry partners more as well. There must be a balance between human interaction and technology.

Marketing for industry partners

It is critical to build industry partners in your area to fill your pipeline. Relying only on referrals may sound like a badge of honor but it is a long road to hoe that is unnecessary. Again, technology is amazing. I have connected with architects all over the country, just wishing that we lived closer and we could work more together. But I am establishing these relationships so that when I am available to work long distance projects these relationships are established. 

But when I am reaching out to local industry partners who probably never heard of me, relying solely on email probably shortchanges myself. Honestly, my results are considerably higher when I’m able to meet them in person. 

I hope today’s episode impressed upon you that there are no substitutions for in-person connections. So, take a look at your processes. Take a look at things that didn’t work out. How well did you truly know that person or that team? Could it have been improved by more in-person interaction?

As always, if this episode leaves you with more questions than answers, please feel free to email me at renee@devignierdesign.com or message me on social media!