We were lucky to catch up with Kara Gordon recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kara, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
I am often described as a ‘glass-half-full’ kind of girl. More often than not, I am able to see the silver lining in every circumstance, and give that shimmery lining the credit it deserves. When people hurt me, or when circumstances bring me pain of any kind, instead of focusing on those negatives, I immediately search for and find the silver lining to focus on. I have had some pretty intense times of emotional pain, as well as some difficult medical situations, in my adult life. In those dark times, I have been able to find my way out of that darkness by focusing on the silver linings, doing the work to improve in those areas, be it my health or my relationships. I am a hopeful person by nature, and always see the best in people, despite being let down by that hopeful optimism from time to time. I know by experience that life is not always sunshine and rainbows. But I still choose to live as many of my days as I can choosing to either find the sunshine and rainbows, or just create them myself. I hope that the energy that I put out into the world puts a smile on someone’s face and gives them an ounce of the hope I choose to cling to. Life is hard and beautiful, both.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have been the owner and lead designer for my company, Sleek to Chic Interiors, for almost 11 years now. When I began my business, my son was an infant and I wanted an outlet for my creativity in a way that utilized my interior design degree. Business grew quickly, and within just a few short years I had to hire help, and we were featured on television. We also began winning national level awards soon thereafter. We as a firm have a unique target audience that sets us apart from most interior design firms. We exist to bridge the gap between the DIY-ers and the affluent, which is a huge demographic that had historically nowhere to turn for professional design expertise. Middle income families is where we hang our hat! In our almost 11 years, we have now served over 500 clients, MANY of which have returned to us time and again for their next project! This year alone, we opened our first design studio office space, and are now launching three new services. We are now offering party planning, holiday decorating, and home organization services. Our team is committed to providing excellent customer service, and putting our heads together to really find ways to make each client feel special and attended to. We are so grateful for all of the clients that we now consider friends, who have put their trust in us time and again!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I have several qualities and skills that I feel set me apart from others, and which have definitely spurred on my success in this industry. But the most valuable would have to be my interpersonal skills. Relating to people has always been easy for me. I have a high energy personality with a sprinkle of charisma, and I simply LOVE people. All kinds. Being able to relate to people, listen to their needs, communicate clearly, and doing all of that with a smile and actual care for them as people has been the BIGGEST driver for how I run my business. I’m after their hearts, not their money.
Second to the interpersonal skills would be my attitude. I have an open mind and an open heart, and a keen desire to continue to learn. When a professional has “made it”, or has become so set in their ways that there is no more room for learning, that is step one toward failure. I’ve even seen young up-and-comers whose mindset was very ‘know-it-all’ and I’ve watched them flounder. Every day I continue to learn all about the many facets that come with this industry. I might be successful, but I DON’T know it all. From construction, to marketing, to accounting, to trends, to business policies, to continuing education….I soak it all up like a sponge, and pour those nuggets of knowledge into the continual evolution of my business.
Lastly, I would say that my attention to detail is critical in a client’s final outcome. After all, good design is in those details. From every tiny cabinet pull placement, to how close to the floor a drape lands, to the minute nuances in the undertones of color. Those details are what makes or breaks a project. While some might say that my clients are “picky”….I say they are paying a high price for quality construction and a designer to be their advocate. That gives them every right to be picky. To me, they deserve that attention to detail that my firm provides.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
Oh, how I love this question! I am a true bookworm, and have read thousands of books throughout my life. When I was a young girl, as punishment my mom would send me to my room to reflect on whichever minor infraction I had done. Sending me to my room was probably the worst possible way to punish me, because I would just whip open a Nancy Drew and go to town! I digress. Within the last 2 years, my photographer gifted me a copy of “The Magic of Thinking Big”, written by David J. Schwartz. The title caught my eye instantly, and I began reading it the next day.
This book is all about changing your mindset and habits to set you up for success. And while a lot of the book’s content I was already doing, some of it was truly eye-opening! For example, excuses are the disease of failure. Stop making excuses! Be it your health, your intelligence, your age, or your luck….STOP. Also in this book, it stated that simply believing in yourself and believing in a successful future changes the way you approach day-to-day circumstances, and affects the outcome of those daily decisions we make, sometimes without even thinking! The last nugget of wisdom from the book was regarding goal-setting. I have always been a goal-setter, and I even force my employees to goal-set twice per year. My favorite quote from the book, page 258 reads, “Desire, when harnessed, is POWER. Failure to follow desire, to do what you want to do most, paves the way to mediocrity.” This book will absolutely change your life if you take it to heart!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sleektochicinteriors.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sleektochicdesign/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sleektochicinteriors
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kara-gordon-243ba693/
Image Credits
Barnes Project Photographer: Daniel Martinez Photography Chavez Project Photographer: Lance Selgo Team Shoot Photographer: Lauren Bethany Photography
