We were lucky to catch up with Christie Bell recently and have shared our conversation below.
Christie, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I remember exactly when my work ethic changed…I was in my early twenties, shifting from dependency on my family to truly being an adult, out on my own.
I started working at an elementary school in their before and after-school care program. Melissa, the director who ran our team, was entirely dedicated to her job. She taught me organization and planning skills that would prove critical to my future business. Out of all the schools in the county, we had the best-run program-the best snacks, the best games, and, my favorite, the best crafts! The reason we were the best was clearly due to our careful planning and desire to exceed standards.
Seeing Melissa go above and beyond what was expected inspired me to do the same, and I don’t think I’ve ever been the same after that. Beyond learning those skills, I would say survival helps to continue instilling my high work ethic. Being the sole breadwinner of my household, my livelihood depends on it. When running a business through pandemics and recessions, your work ethic can’t help but be stimulated!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My goal at Curated Home Designs is to create unique experiences in the home inspired by our client’s personalities and lifestyles.
I adore working with passionate clients excited about the vast interior transformation they are about to embark on.
Some of my best clients tend to have inspiration–whether it’s a feeling they want to evoke in their guests when they walk through the door for the first time, an heirloom piece of furniture that’s been passed down from generation to generation, or a vacation that prompted them to mimic that sanctuary in their home. These are the clients that make me excited to get to my desk in the morning, the clients who understand the value and impact of how their home presents.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The most impactful skills and qualities I’ve developed are organization, adaptability, and tenacity.
With a (good) plan and determination, you can achieve anything. Well, I should say, a good plan coupled with adaptability and tenacity.
During the last few years, it’s been imperative to “roll with the punches.”
We’ve all experienced the life-changing pandemic and the financial hardships that our country is currently going through. Anyone who is inflexible with their plan is almost sure to fail when hit with obstacles of such vast proportion as these.
One piece of advice I have for someone early in their journey is to be cognizant of their mental state. It’s okay to take some time off and regroup, it’s the whole oxygen mask on the adult before the baby analogy. You must always take care of yourself first, or your business will never survive.
I’ve faced fear straight on, stepped back to make a plan, and ran full speed back in there to make it happen!
One thing I’ve told myself from the very beginning of my business is, “It’s not IF I’m going to succeed. It’s HOW I’m going to do it.” This line alone shows all three of those qualities–organization, adaptability, and tenacity.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Great question. Curated Home Designs is currently taking on new clients for the fall season. If someone is interested in learning more about working with us, the first step is scheduling a complimentary Discovery Call to discuss your project and ensure we are a good fit. You can schedule that call on the contact page of our website.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.curatedhomedesigns.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curatedhomedesigns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CuratedHomeDesigns
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christie-bell/
Image Credits
Headshot-© Maureen Porto Photography
