188: Michele Williams | Profit is a Choice

Today we welcome Michele Williams, CEO and founder of Scarlet Thread Consulting. Michele specializes in helping design professionals lead and scale their businesses with confidence and clarity. In this episode, Michele shares the pivotal moment that turned her hard-earned lessons and financial expertise into a consulting model that has empowered countless interior designers to build more profitable businesses. We also explore how the book Profit First influenced her approach to financial strategy, and how she helps creatives overcome money overwhelm by aligning operations with vision and values. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Michele's journey from software development to interior design and financial coaching How a major health event pivoted her career toward consulting Why she believes understanding finances builds confidence in business owners The concept of "Profit First" and its real-life application for design firms The power of multiple bank accounts and how they support financial clarity Common financial pitfalls designers face and how to avoid them Why financial planning is essential for long-term growth and stability The role of confidence and boundaries in pricing and profitability NOTABLE QUOTES "Profit is not something that shows up — it's something we plan for." "When you really know your numbers, you can make decisions with confidence." "This is the internal work. You should be able to give yourself an accounting of your own money." "Every choice, every decision leads us toward or away from profitability." SUPPORTING RESOURCES Scarlet Thread Consulting Metrique Solutions Scarlet Thread ATL on Instagram Metrique Solutions on Instagram Profit is a Choice Podcast SPONSOR LINKS Design Manager Daniel House Club Hooker Furnishings Register for Design Biz Retreat