From Imposter Syndrome to More Clients — with Christine Corcoran

In this episode of Turnkey Design Talk, I’m joined by high-ticket sales strategist and business mindset master coach Christine Corcoran, bestselling author of Turn Imposter Syndrome Into Your Superpower and founder of the Unstoppable Women event.Christine has coached interior designers and other creative business owners through the mindset, visibility and sales challenges that can quietly keep talented people playing small. And in this conversation, we get right into them.We talk about why imposter syndrome can still show up 10 or 15 years into your career, why being good at something can actually make you undervalue it, and why comparing your pricing to the designer down the road tells you very little about what your business needs to charge.Christine also challenges the idea that referrals alone are enough to build a reliable design business. We explore visibility as a business strategy — from social media and speaking to camera to partnerships, events, cold outreach and deliberately putting yourself where potential clients are already making decisions.We also get into the uncomfortable stuff around money and selling: discounting your fees, giving away consultations, overdelivering to prove your worth, avoiding conversations about money, emailing a proposal and then hoping the client says yes, and taking on the wrong client simply because you’re worried there won’t be another one.And Christine leaves us with practical actions you can start this week: prioritise your own marketing before disappearing into client work, build a bank of evidence of the results you’ve already created, and develop a lead-generation system that doesn’t leave your income entirely in the hands of referrals.We finish by talking about Unstoppable Women, Christine’s Gold Coast event, and why she wants Australian women in business to get better at celebrating their achievements, networking, collaborating and asking, “How can I help you?” rather than allowing tall-poppy syndrome to keep everyone playing small.In this episode:Why imposter syndrome doesn’t disappear when you become experiencedSeparating your self-worth from the value of your design serviceWhy “What is everyone else charging?” can be the wrong questionBecoming comfortable talking about moneyWhy discounting can undermine your own valueVisibility beyond simply posting on InstagramCreating opportunities instead of waiting for referralsGetting past the fear of outreachThree practical actions to build confidence, visibility and leadsThe story and thinking behind Unstoppable WomenIf you’re a talented designer or decorator who knows you need to become more visible, more confident and more proactive about creating opportunities, this conversation is for you.http://christinecorcoran.com.au/https://www.instagram.com/christinecorcoran_coach/https://www.facebook.com/ChristineCorcoranCoachhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-corcoran-1860187a/https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-next-level-life-with-christine-corcoran/id1276992872book - https://www.amazon.com.au/Turn-Impostor-Syndrome-Into-Superpower/dp/1763812308/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1T8Q6DJRQALG0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SqS_co7k1-ADp9g10GIxFOxxGrPcPOlygxMEur7mpXRrilU-bKaBZdWwGSnNz4JCF9BKViPuKd2iP2aMB8hYfPqW_nJ3SG99vgYueNEUz1I.6DAcjMB9Vo5Z6f61vFMroB5-7V3KdGPpQYnoqR8SFJ8&dib_tag=se&keywords=christine+corcoran&qid=1764290762&sprefix=christine+cor%2Caps%2C624&sr=8-1Wondering if you're charging enough?Download my free Solo Designer Profit Guide™ and discover what interior designers are charging in 2026 based on 50+ research interviews across Australia, Canada and the USA. You'll also learn how to calculate the hourly rate YOU need to charge based on your own business, projects and financial goals—not someone else's.Download your free copy:turnkeydesignsuccess.com/profitguide If this episode raised questions for you, or you’re feeling stuck in your solo design business, you don’t have to figure it out on your own.I offer a 30-minute clarity session where we can talk through where you’re at, what’s getting in the way, and whether I can help.Email me at [email protected]