Women Like Me Stories & Business

Beyond Beautiful Spaces: The Soul of Interior Design

• Julie Fairhurst • Episode 150

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The journey from talented creative to successful entrepreneur is rarely straightforward, especially when life throws unexpected challenges your way. Shea Bryars embodies resilience as she shares how she built a thriving interior design business while navigating single motherhood and overcoming breast cancer.

With disarming honesty, Shea reveals the pivotal moment she recognized her own limitations. "The smartest thing I ever did was hire my counterpart," she explains, highlighting how delegating financial tasks transformed her business. This wisdom applies universally: identify your unique strengths, focus intensely there, and partner with others who excel where you struggle. For creative entrepreneurs especially, this balance can mean the difference between burnout and sustainable success.

Shea's approach to design transcends aesthetics, focusing instead on how families actually live in their spaces. "My job is to create that home that looks like you, feels like you, gives you peace, and makes your family function the way you function," she shares. This philosophy has allowed her to expand beyond local clients through virtual design services, where she's discovered clients place even greater trust in her vision when distance separates them.

Perhaps most compelling is Shea's candid admission that despite 28 years of industry experience, she still battles imposter syndrome daily. In an Instagram-perfect world where comparison is constant, her mantra resonates deeply: "Don't compare your giftings to others. The Lord has you right where he wants you." This grounding in purpose rather than perfection has carried her through cancer treatment, raising teenagers alone, and building a business that honors both her talents and her priorities.

Whether you're considering entrepreneurship, facing a health crisis, or simply trying to balance work and family, Shea's story offers both practical strategies and profound encouragement. Success isn't measured by comparison to others but by creating work that authentically reflects your unique gifts while leaving room for what matters most.

website http://www.sheabryarsdesign.com/

 Instagram @sheabryarsdesign

Facebook @sheabryarsdesign

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Who is Julie Fairhurst?
Julie Fairhurst – Speaker, Author, and Founder of Women Like Me

Julie Fairhurst is a champion for women’s empowerment and the founder of the Women Like Me Book Program. Since 2019, she has published 30 books and 300+ true-life stories—at no cost to the writers—giving women a platform to heal, inspire, and reclaim their power. Dedicated to breaking generational trauma one story at a time, Julie’s mission is to uplift women emotionally and financially, helping them create better lives for themselves and their families.


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Speaker 1:

Well, hi, ladies, and welcome to another episode of Women Like Me, stories and Business. I'm your host, julie Fairhurst, and I have a really interesting lady here with us today. I'm going to tell you really brief about her and then we're going to dive in. She's got a fantastic story more than one. So today I'm joined by Shay Breyers, and she's a powerhouse entrepreneur, designer and single mom of three who overcame breast cancer while running her own business. Her story is one of fierce faith, unshakable grit and what it truly means to rise in business and life. So, Shea, welcome to the show. Thank you so much for being here.

Speaker 2:

Hey Julie, thanks, I'm excited to talk today. Perfect.

Speaker 1:

Perfect. Well, why don't we just dive in? Because what I'm curious about? I've done a little research on you and I'm just curious what's the story behind Shay Breyer's design? Because you have a design company. So I'm just curious how did that? Where did the idea spark and how did it evolve into the brand it is today?

Speaker 2:

Well, it starts about 30 years ago, really, when I went to school. I went to Auburn University and majored in interior design, Started in accounting Funny enough. If you know me well, that's hilarious. I'm not good with numbers, but my roommate actually was an interior design major and I wanted to do her homework and so I started there and my career has been in design ever since. It just has evolved into me, you know, owning my own company after getting a lot of experience working for others.

Speaker 2:

I worked for Southern Living Magazine and Southern Accents Magazine, which is no longer here Southern Accents is not but I managed their idea house programs. I worked for a builder for a number of years and learned that aspect, and then, ultimately, of years and learned that aspect, and then ultimately I just I had to stop working for others because of children, but I just what I do is what I love, it's not just a job. And so I found myself doing it for people, sort of for free, and taking care of my kids, and I just thought you know, why don't I just do this on my own? And so I started that 10 years ago and it has served me very well as far as taking care of me and my kids and also, you know, meeting people that I love and getting to do what God has gifted me with. So that's sort of how I've gotten here in a nutshell yeah, I'm curious because so.

Speaker 1:

So we were talking off air a bit about the internet and how we're all just so so connected and how and and so what I was wondering is do you do anything over the internet? Do you any do any kind of console? Oh, you do, I do, I do virtual design.

Speaker 2:

I do and I'd love to do more of it because it's such an easy process. Really, the way that I work in person is I'm meeting with my client in person and they're going with me to make selections, which is a great process. It's longer, it's a little more complicated, but with my virtual clients I'm really getting to do everything and they're trusting it and taking it on and implementing it, and so a lot of what I do virtually really comes to life in a way that a lot of my local clients don't, because there's a lot more trust there and I really enjoy that. I mean, you know, the only thing on them is the measuring and the photo taking Right and sort of a little bit of back and forth on the look that they love. And then I find that when I present to a virtual client, almost all of it is accepted versus those that are helping me along the way in person.

Speaker 1:

Right, right.

Speaker 2:

So yeah, the virtual thing has been amazing. I mean, mostly I'm very active on Instagram, so people find me there a lot and I've also had like, a local client will refer me to their sister that lives in a different state. You know, that was kind of organic.

Speaker 1:

So do they then send you a pitch show? Okay, I want to redo my kitchen, and so they would just take snapshots of their kitchen, send them to you, and now you're working with those photos. Yes, Interesting.

Speaker 2:

I mean I need length, width measurements. You know window measurements and most people are not artists and measurements you know window measurements.

Speaker 2:

And most people are not artists and they don't know, but most everyone can manage that and then we can produce drawings we do. We can even do 3D walkthroughs by computer so that you can see all of it before it's even ordered and I can make selections from here. Most of what I make selections from anyway is trade-driven, which means only offered to the design community. So even people I'm working for locally were ordering material and not necessarily buying it in a store.

Speaker 1:

So it's really very fluid the whole virtual design Interesting, so there's no need to go to Home Depot and sit in their chair.

Speaker 2:

Not at all. In fact, you'll get some, and this is for all designers. You're going to get something that you can't go find and buy if you work with a designer, because we do order from trade companies that don't sell to the public, um, which is sort of when you open a magazine or look on Pinterest and you're like I, why can't I find that light or that look, it's because those things are sold only to the trade, um, which is getting less and less protected, unfortunately, but, uh, because of the internet. Internet, but yes, but you will, yeah.

Speaker 1:

I'm just going to say that's great though, that that that there is that. Well, I guess it's like anything you want to design or dress you don't necessarily go to. You know wherever you want to get in. You want to get as close to that designer as you can in order to get that dress Correct. Yeah.

Speaker 2:

And I mean it's a luxury, you know, hiring a designer. It's definitely a luxury and I certainly understand that, but I try to be very approachable and authentic and understand budgets and you know, I want people to feel like they can hire a designer and it's not intimidating and also, like you said, just virtually. I mean, it's easy. Like you and I are talking right now, it's a great process.

Speaker 1:

That's very. I just love technology. It just opens up so much for us sometimes.

Speaker 2:

My husband was on a recent call and the Zoom completely went out and he was presenting you know, to 40 people.

Speaker 1:

So sometimes it that's not good.

Speaker 2:

No, but yes it has helped us all advance?

Speaker 1:

Yes, for sure. What's one project that you complete that completely lit you up, that you, that you've done?

Speaker 2:

I have one client I call her the like hall of famer of all clients and really what lights me up and I would probably speak for most designers is the trust factor. When you have a client that really trusts you and allows you to reach the vision that even that they've contributed. I mean, we want them to contribute their vision too, but, like she, her home I have, you know, photographed and it's so beautiful because she allowed the process to happen. That really lights me up to know that if I'm presenting, you know, three wallpapers to her and she's going to pick one that she loves and she's going to do it and it's going to be part of that overall vision that we're, you know, driving towards versus having, which the majority are a lot of like hesitation, and you know well, show me one more, or I don't like this about it or that about it.

Speaker 2:

And it's the trust factor is just really what lights me up, because I, my favorite thing is remodeling and building homes, because I have a history in the building industry and so I love to see things sort of. I love a job site. It's my love language, you know. I love the dust, I love the. What's it going to be? The transformation. The transformation, yes, really lights me up. And then knowing that we're going to get to the end together and get that vision and and it's you know, it's your home, so like just to speak to the feeling of it, that's where your most precious things are, which is your family, and I think it has a lot to do with your mental health, how your home feels like if it's organized or chaotic, if it's peaceful or loud, I mean, and your peace is different from my peace.

Speaker 2:

You know, a red room may give you peace where it makes me cringe. You know it's like my job as a designer is to create that home for you that looks like you, feels like you, gives you peace, makes your family function the way that you function, and there's a lot to the design process that's more functional than anything, more than the pretty. You know, if you're all eating dinner at different times of night, then we need a warming drawer in your kitchen, whereas you know, if it's just me and my husband, we don't eat. We eat dinner together every night. I mean, there's just different ways that your family functions, different from others, and that's part of our job is to really make it a home yes, I love that.

Speaker 1:

I, I I never really thought about the, the, the from a designer's point of view. You, you really need. So I, I come from a background of real estate for 34 years and very similar, and yes, and I did work for developers at one point and they did have designers in for people to choose and stuff, but I think that it's I didn't realize that, thinking about, okay, what's happening in the lifestyle of that family. Yes, I love that because it makes complete sense what's going on in my household might not go on in yours, right, right, I mean, that's always the first question that I ask how do you want to use this room and how is it failing you?

Speaker 1:

Yes, whatever room it is.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and that's the ultimate goal is that you're using the square footage that you have, because a lot of people are like it's not big enough, or a lot of times it is big enough, it's just not used the right way Exactly. I mean, even down to rug size, more than anything, I see the rugs are too small and people are putting all their furniture on the rug and they're missing 300 square feet around the rug because they crowded in the middle. So the first thing I do is let's get a bigger rug and it's amazing the difference. So there's just things like that that you know, I think a lot of it's repetitive. You see it over and over, so you start recognizing the problems. But yeah, it's all about how you want to use it. I mean, we don't use dining rooms as much anymore. So you know, we turn dining rooms into offices, we turn them into playrooms. We're like how can we use this 500 square feet, 300 square feet, for a way that?

Speaker 1:

serves you. My husband and I were just looking at our kitchen table on the weekend and I said to him you know what? I don't remember the last time we sat at that. Right, why don't remember the last time we sat at that? Why don't we just get rid of it and extend our island?

Speaker 2:

Oh yes, yeah, right, yeah, yeah, it's just a different way of living. And then you know the big open space has been so popular and then in COVID it was like okay, I need a room to go to like that you're not in exactly. The big open plan has really sort of been scaled back a lot, where we're creating sort of intimate studies off of big open plans and and places where you can go, because a lot of people work from home now yes, um that didn't before um, so our homes are functioning in a different way yes, yeah, yeah, wow, very, yeah, very interesting.

Speaker 1:

And you have to be I can tell that you're very thoughtful. You have to be really get into that mindset of what's going on with the client. Wow, right, yes. What was your biggest challenge that you faced starting your business? Because I know you said that you had been working for other design companies and then you decided to branch off on your own and do your own thing. What was your biggest challenge that you faced as a woman, starting your own business?

Speaker 2:

My biggest challenge was I mentioned earlier the numbers game and I don't know, I don't know, probably as a woman, to sort of bring it back to. That is so I was divorced and when I was married I did none of the money, like I didn't. My husband, you know, managed the money. He paid the bills because I didn't have time. It was not really even like a sexist thing, it was just I had three little kids and yeah, but I mean I had to little kids and yeah, but I mean I had to learn a lot when I got divorced. I had to learn about mortgages and down payments and all the things, and so it was also a challenge, you know, with my own business, all of those things that I just didn't have to know before.

Speaker 2:

And so the smartest thing that I ever did was hire my counterpart, who has been with me almost the whole time, who does all my bookkeeping. She prices everything for me, she returns it if it's wrong, she orders everything, she does all my taxes, she does all my invoicing, she does all that, which is a great position to be in because my relationship, like you were just saying, with my clients it becomes very close. You know we are learning a lot about the client and I'm very personal, and so for me to have to come to them about money is and I mean like haven't paid a bill or you know those kinds of things Right, it's a very weird, it can be uncomfortable, and so she just handles all of that and I don't have to worry about it. But also it's just so impactful for the success of my business and I, frankly, have nothing to do with it, you know. No, yes, she is a huge part of the success. I mean, I meet with people and I do the pretty designs and I do the drawing and then she does the rest.

Speaker 2:

Um, so I think the most important thing as a woman and just as an entrepreneur is to know your strength. Like you know, why are you doing the job you're doing? Why are you gifted at it? What part of it? Do that? And then don't be afraid to part with some of the money to to find people to do the things you're not good at, because I was losing money when I tried to do it on my own and I also hated it.

Speaker 2:

You know I was frustrated. I didn't want to. I was even like I don't even care if I make the money. I love doing this, but you can't do that either. So you know, I think it's just really important to recognize you're gifting and that's how you scale a business. And you also, you know, when you own your own business, you're in control of that scale. So you know, if I wanted to get bigger and hire another designer, I certainly could do that, but it just doesn't. It's just what. What is what, like you mentioned, what lights your fire? What is it that gets you wanting, motivated to do the thing and then hire somebody else to do the rest of it?

Speaker 1:

I love that you said that, because so often, if you would have kept doing the stuff that you hated or you just like doing, you may not have, I might burn out, or right, right, yeah, well, and then, and then the and then you're, you're, you're not benefiting. I believe that you're not benefiting your clients the way you could because you are you're. So there's other, that other stuff that, yes, you have to think about. Oh no, I love it.

Speaker 2:

I think that's super smart, yeah, super, super smart and great advice yeah, and I like at some point, at the end of the day, it's it's. You know, it's not about the money you're making, really. I mean we're making a life and and mean I have to pay my bills and I want my children, you know, to be well taken care of, but, um, it's really more about especially when you own your own business. You know, can I take the vacations I want to take? Can I go to carpool and work my appointments around that? Can I? Can I do all the things that mean the most and also still maintain this, this company, and, and, and? That's an impossibility. If you're trying to do all of it, I mean you can't. You can't do all of it and do it well did you ever feel imposter syndrome when you were starting?

Speaker 2:

oh, I feel it every day. Still, you still do, oh for sure. I mean, I think, yeah, I think part of it is being in the creative world. It's very subjective and you know, yeah, I mean I have a note that says, you know, by my bed, that says don't compare your giftings to others. The Lord has you right where he wants you and take care of your portion, not theirs. He wants you and take care of your portion, not theirs, because it is something that you, just you, do.

Speaker 2:

You compare, especially with Instagram, other designers putting their pictures out and photographs and the perfect spaces, and no one really knows how hard it is to get to those pictures, like it's years in the making, and so it's hard to it's hard on the social media front to maintain the image in the creative field that others are maintaining. I mean, it's just very difficult and you do think they're better than me. You know they have more work to photograph, they have more whatever. They were invited to that designer's conference and I wasn't, or you know, and it's very easy to slip into that, and I've been doing this for 28 years.

Speaker 2:

Um, and, and you know, when I started, there were really not a lot of designers with degrees.

Speaker 2:

There was many more just people that had a knack for decorating, and there's still a lot of that. But there's a lot more of young ladies and men coming out of design school now that are tech savvy, social media savvy and have all the skills that I have, and so you have to find a way to stay relevant in a world that's ever growing past you, you know, I'm 50, so I have to figure out ways to stay relevant. And also it's a lot of just maturity and confidence and knowing, you know this is my gift. I am sitting in the space I'm supposed to sit in, that the Lord has me, and so I think we all naturally question ourselves, but at the end of the day, I have security in other places, and so this is my job, and I just hope that I do it well, you know, and there's always going to be somebody better. There always is. I mean, there is Even the person I can think of that, I think, is the best. They think there's someone better than them.

Speaker 1:

Absolutely yeah. What about when you were ill? Yes, how was that? Because having three children to raise and working on your own and then getting sick, how did you handle that? How did you overcome that obstacle?

Speaker 2:

Well. So looking back and being in it are two very different things. While I was in it, it was not a choice, it's. You know. People always say you're so strong, you know cancer, you're so strong. Well, you know, I mean what? What was I going to do? Like, yeah, I'm strong, but you would be too, like you're not given the choice when you have cancer.

Speaker 2:

Um, I have a very strong faith, so I've relied heavily on that and you know, it was a process and I think the scariest part of the cancer was before. I had a plan and um, and I think you could compare that to anything in life really. But like, as soon as I knew that, like, okay, for six months we're doing chemotherapy and then we're doing the mastectomy and then we're doing a reconstruction, like I could like take those things day by day. And my kids were at the worst ages to have cancer. They were, you know, at their and I adore them and I say this hopefully you hear me the right way, but you know selfish teenagers. Of course, they were mostly annoyed that I was sick and not available in many ways, which made it really hard, and I was single. So I, you know I took care of myself a lot. I had some very good friends that would take me to appointments and things and my mom was always available if asked, you know, and my mom was always available if asked. You know I also am very independent and so I stubbornly also sort of handled a lot of it on my own, but through the business side of it I really pushed through.

Speaker 2:

No-transcript is a friend also. And he called me and said I saw on Facebook that you have cancer. I don't know if you know that you have disability insurance. And I said I had no idea. And he said well, I sold it to you with your life insurance. It was like $26 a month that I've been paying life insurance. It was like $26 a month that I've been paying. Didn't have a clue. And he was like it's great insurance. The principle didn't change after I quit using it. It paid my salary that I had been making the whole time I was sick.

Speaker 2:

It was such a gift from God, it was such a godsend. I would never have known when he not called me again. Not great on that side of things, but I mean so it carried me and I think you know I'm having cancer free. I don't have. It was not in my lymph system, so I was blessed that it had not spread. I don't live in fear at all of it coming back. I never think about it really at all. Um, I think it was just a really amazing way for the Lord to slow me down and, um, um, and help me get my focus right.

Speaker 1:

I love that you said that, because so often it's like you know it's hitting us and it's like, if you're not going to do it yourself, I'm going to help you do it yeah you will yeah, I mean you will be humbled one day.

Speaker 2:

Yes, yes, absolutely. That's not a threat, that's a promise.

Speaker 1:

That's right. Yeah, you got to listen. I've been there. I completely understand. It's so important to listen, and when you don't listen, something will happen.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I mean it's just. You know, all this, the rat race of our world, it's just, it's not worth it.

Speaker 1:

No.

Speaker 2:

It's just it's not worth it and it's, you know, we're chasing things that we get and then we throw it down and chase the next thing, and I think that's probably the biggest thing that the cancer taught me is just you know this like, let's do what's important, let's think about what's important.

Speaker 2:

Let's make the money but use it for the things that are important. You know and I'm a designer I love beautiful things. I don't think there's anything wrong with having a beautiful home full of beautiful things, but I think it's just where your heart is is what's so important?

Speaker 1:

Yeah Well, what advice would you give to a woman who's got a creative passion and wants to get out there and open business for herself, but she's in fear, she has no idea what to do.

Speaker 2:

The number one thing and I've said this already is immediately bring on somebody that can do the other side of the business, even if it's your husband and he's not getting paid.

Speaker 2:

You know like yeah, I think it's so important to have both sides of the business. I also think that you have nothing to lose. Like go do it I mean the the talk to other designers who are established and say to them if you receive a client that you don't have time for, that is not a big enough job. If you, would you recommend me. I got some of my best jobs when I was younger for that reason, just because a lot of us seasoned old ladies, you know we get a lot of jobs that are frankly too small and not, you know, not in a bad way. Just we don't have the time, yes, or they're not a good fit, whatever the reason is, and I'm always referring younger designers, but they don't know about you unless you talk to them, right? And so I think you know, don't be afraid, make sure the other half is taken care of and get on social media.

Speaker 1:

As much as.

Speaker 2:

I hate it because I'm 50 again, but the Instagram is invaluable and, honestly, if you post every day, they will come. Yes, yeah, I mean, and be you Like we were talking about earlier, the imposter syndrome. There's something unique about you that's not me that will strike a chord with somebody that wants to work with you. Yes, everybody is not for you and you're not for everybody, and that is okay. Yes, but if you're authentically yourself and you are out there on Instagram every day, the algorithm will take care of you, but you have to work at it.

Speaker 1:

Yes, it's so true that what you said that there's somebody out there for everybody. Well, I was selling development sites many, many years ago and I had a lady that worked with me and the developer called and she did very well. And the developer I was on the phone with the developer one day and he said how does she sell anything? Because, you know, she just doesn't communicate. And I said very quietly, and there was a certain group of people that loved her and I had, and those people thought I was too loud. I had one lady once say that I heard her ears but call the other lady.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, exactly, but there's a certain group of people and even though the developers like she hardly talks, how does she sound anything? She had her people? She already talks. How did she sell anything she had?

Speaker 2:

her people. Yeah, I mean, and that's the thing. And the truth is you don't want to work with people that don't enjoy you. No, I mean, it makes it miserable, and I've certainly taken jobs for the sake of taking a job, and that is one thing I'm learning now is to not take jobs that aren't a fit for me, because I've learned, not only is it miserable, but you lose money and you can tell like, trust your gut, there's a red flag, there's always a red flag, and you know what they are, just innately, and I used to feel the red flag and take it anyway, and I have learned to just to not.

Speaker 2:

And I think you know when you first start out, you do sort of have to take more than you would, because you know you're getting experience is the value there. But yeah, I mean, people are going to be attracted to what you do, if they're supposed to be, and I think you just got to be brave. I mean, you know, I had a coach at one time that was like you know, you are the brand. Like your face is Shea Breyer's design, it's not necessarily the beautiful homes, it's you. So you got to put your face on Instagram and I'm like I don't want to do that, so I've learned like when I do reels, I literally record it and put it on there and never look at it again.

Speaker 2:

I don't even look to see if I messed up a word Like I, just because they aren't looking that hard at it. It's a 15-second flip, yeah, and the point is to get your name out there. Well, we're our own worst critics, for sure.

Speaker 1:

Recently I read an article I can't even remember the name of the movie star, somebody very famous, I can't remember who it was who said he didn't like to watch. He never watched his own movies.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I think you. Just I don't. Well, we don't know ourselves the way other people do, because we never have that vantage point. Right, right, yeah, so you just have to like, just let it go.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, just go for it. Can I ask you, how have you found to protect your time and your energy? Because I know even what I'm doing now with my books and with real estate it can really just build, build, build if you're not careful. So what do you do to be careful that way, or do you?

Speaker 2:

I do so one thing that I do. That, I think, is a strange answer to that. But on every Friday I send a Friday recap to every single one of my clients and it just tells what we did that week, what's coming up the next week, what I need from them, what they're waiting on from me that I'm aware of, and that really takes a lot of the communication out of the everyday Smart One. They're like not panicking, like I haven't heard from her. I don't know about this. I don't know about that. I asked the question, I didn't, whatever. So that helps a lot in molding things around manageable time.

Speaker 2:

I treat my job like a work day. I mean I, you know at five o'clock I shut it down. I don't typically answer texts at night if I receive them from clients. I try to not train but send emails rather than text to my clients so that they're responding by email, so that I can manage when I'm opening and closing emails, versus getting it while I'm driving or whatever and forgetting to respond. If I have, like, a big presentation, obviously that's different. I'll work in the night.

Speaker 2:

But the beauty of all of it is we have our children seven days on and seven off, and so the weeks that I have my kids are obviously a lot more hectic. We're taking to football practice, we're doing all the things I like to make dinner, and I sit at a table, you know, and then I know that the next week I don't have to do all of that, and so I've really managed my work around that as well. You know where I'm. I'm working around all those things that are important to me, yeah, and then, like this week, I am, don't have my children and I am back-to-back meetings yesterday, you know, and then allowing time, and then I can work at night if I want to, allowing time, and then I can work at night if I want to, because I'm not nothing's expected of me. So that's one of the most beautiful things about owning your own business, um, and also I think setting expectations with your client is important. Um, I find that people are more entitled as the years go by, or more impatient, or I don't know.

Speaker 2:

It just seems to be that way, yeah, and that makes things difficult. But I've also learned that their response is really not my problem. You know, I can't help the tariffs, I can't help the deliveries are longer than they used to be, and if you're angry about that, then I I'm not going to wear that. I mean, I just you know if I make a mistake, I'll own it.

Speaker 2:

But so I try to set all that up front when I first hire a client, or they hire me, and just you know, this is the expectation I have. What are yours? Let's make sure that we agree. Um, and of course it's make sure that we agree, and of course it's never super, not never. Sometimes it's not All that's forgotten, you know things happen, but I think that's the main way to manage it is just to set an expectation.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I love what you said about Friday. Everybody gets an update from you what we've done, what we need, where we're going. So you are voiding that. I find that on the weekends because, of course, most people aren't working like we are, and so they wake up on a Saturday or Sunday and they go. I haven't heard from Julie, and so seven o'clock in the morning I'm getting a text, yes, and I'm looking at it. I'm like, oh, my goodness, it's Saturday. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's always. But but you know that that's usually on you Because you didn't handle the communication. Yeah, and so often we you know if it's not going well, or it's not going right, or something's not going well, or it's not going right or something's going on we get fearful and then we hold back and then it just makes the problem worse.

Speaker 1:

And that's even in our personal lives. It's always better to just deal with things as they happen, and then your life, hopefully, would be calmer.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, yeah, I mean, I think, and I think it's important too to own your mistakes and I think that builds the trust that we were talking about, that they know that. You know, and we do a lot of remodeling where I live because we're zoned by schools, so people are really not leaving their homes or they have to stay, and so we do a ton of remodeling. And remodeling is the most unpredictable process in the world because you have no idea what's behind the wall.

Speaker 2:

I mean yes, and we have to bring them up to code. So if your electrical box is out of date, I mean that's a lot of money, but we've got to replace it. So, yes, we may not know that until after budgets are set, you know. So that's one thing I always say up front. It's like this is not ever going to look the way you think it's going to look.

Speaker 2:

It's just not, and it may be good or bad, but it's just not and it's an unpredictable business and what matters and I say this about contractors is there will be a problem, there will be a mistake, there will be something that goes in a way that you don't like. How that contractor handles that problem, or how I handle that problem, is what's important, because that's a given that we're going to have a problem, not because we're bad at our jobs, but because remodeling is the nature of the business and even because I have lots of contractors that work for me, like, like, making drapes and hanging hardware, you know lots of people that are independent contractors.

Speaker 2:

I don't control their schedules, I don't control their work. You know I hire quality people but a lot of it's out of my hands. So I just have to say, like, the expectation is that we will do what we have to do to make it right and we will be fair. And you know I'll refer contract builders if they have. You know we had one recently put a whole wall in the wrong place, you know, and he was like I don't know, and he fixed it, yeah, and he paid for it and it was. It set us back a week but, like, I will certainly refer them to somebody else Because it was handled correctly, yeah.

Speaker 1:

I had a client once frantically waiting for me at the sales center Julie, julie, they're building us the wrong house. I'm like, oh okay, just a sec, let's go, let's wander down there. And I looked at it and I'm like, oh okay, just a sec, let's go, let's wander down there.

Speaker 1:

And I looked at it and I'm like, yeah, huh, yeah, that is the wrong house, Do you like that house? And it ended up that they did like the window so, but it was a slip of a instead of a B, it was a D and next thing, you know, but you know, we could have all stood there going, oh my goodness.

Speaker 1:

You know, but it's like it's up. Do you like it Right? Yeah, Well, I have just really enjoyed our conversation Me too, yeah, and I appreciate you doing this, and I think that there's so many lessons in what you have to say about business and entrepreneurship and becoming a single mom of three and overcoming illness. I mean, you've just you've dealt with a lot, but you've done it well and with grace and I just I've enjoyed it, and I know there will be some ladies that will definitely be able to get some clarity and some encouragement from you.

Speaker 2:

I hope so yeah. Yeah, is there anything that you would like to say in closing. I mean, I just would like we were talking about. I would just encourage you, if in any field, if you are gifted in an area, to go for it. I feel like God puts us here with a purpose and you know he doesn't make mistakes. So I would say, go for it. And I would say follow me on Instagram at SheaBriarsDesign. I'm also on Facebook at SheaBriarsDesign and my website is SheaBurnersDesigncom. That makes it all easy, it's all the same.

Speaker 1:

Well, for anybody that's watching or listening to us, in the show notes I'm going to put all those links in there, so you don't have to frantically write them down. The spelling is hard, so we'll make sure we have all of those for you so that you can reach out to Shea. Well, thank you so much again. I appreciate you being here and thank you all for watching and listening to us, and we'll see you next time. Bye-bye.

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