We recently connected with Maggie Lunetta and have shared our conversation below.
Maggie, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever head any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?
One of the most challenging things of being a solopreneur is that all of the creative ideas are up to me! My previous career was spent within a very collaborative environment, with a team and partners that worked together on most projects; if creative blocks occurred we could brainstorm together or even pass projects along to others for fresh ideas. Since it’s just me I’ve had to find a different approach to overcoming creative blocks!
One of the overarching habits I’ve adopted is starting my days early and diving into the work that is the highest priority first – typically the work that requires the most creativity. From there, if I have a creative block my go-tos are: 1) getting outside! 2) doing something monotonous, or 3) seeking inspiration in the world or with peers. The general idea is to step away from the work for awhile. If I find myself still struggling, it typically means I’m feeling unsure/insecure with my ideas; so sometimes I ask my clients for a quick touch base to run initial ideas past them and gauge their reaction. This helps me gain the confidence – and creative flow – to move forward.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I founded Studio Lu, a Twin-Cities based, residential interior design studio serving clients in Minneapolis and beyond in 2020. My services include interior design & decorating, new construction, remodel, e-design and seasonal outdoor containers. I believe your home should inspire joy, comfort and ease. My goal is to partner with each client to create a space that reflects their personality and solves their design problems beautifully. I prioritized transparency and collaboration, working hard to make sure each project is unique and client expectations are met and exceeded. My ultimate goal is for people to love the space that they’re in!
I didn’t get into residential interior design by way of school or formal training – it’s just always been a passion of mine. I remember building homes out of Lego sets as a kid and staying home on Saturday nights to rearrange my room (cool, right?). This love of design continued into adulthood. Word got around and my friends started asking me for advice on their homes, which turned into curating Pinterest boards, doing informal at-home visits, or sharing snaps of must-have items from my shopping trips. Over and over again, I would hear the same thing – “you should really be doing this for a living.”
Well, my stars finally aligned, and I decided to hang up my 18 year (!) career in advertising to start the next chapter of my professional life. It was a bittersweet move, but those 18 years weren’t lost. My experience in advertising taught me a ton about the retail and design industry. I spent many years launching home, fashion and beauty brands and designer collaborations, and crossed paths with some of the best talent in the industry, including noted editors, bloggers, and celebrities. All of this experience informs my work today.
When I’m not working, you will likely find me out and about with my family – which includes my husband Kevin, and step daughters, Meadow and Meghan. Some of our favorite things are long walks in nature, boating and chasing sunsets or winding down at the cabin with a bonfire and friends.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Having a vision has always been a quality that has stood out in my journey. I’m passionate about staying in front of industry trends and anticipating my clients needs to deliver on the agreed upon goals. This also plays out in how I run my business; strategic planning is an important part of my process each year to ensure my annual plan is comprised of both attainable and stretch goals.
My interpersonal skills have really helped me in every aspect of running my business – from establishing it, developing my brand, building my client base, forging trade relationships and so on. Whether having to approach something from a unique perspective, communicate effectively, manage conflict, take accountability for an error or respond to others needs effectively, my ability to demonstrate empathy and adapt my communication style (while still being direct!) has been beneficial.
Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the relationships and connections made over the years. While I was in my previous career, I knew I was surrounded by some of the most kickass people – my team, clients, partners – but when I left that industry I had no idea how much those relationships would impact my new world. I can confidently say that the majority of my clients (if not all!) are those from my previous career or have been referred to me by someone from that time. I once had a boss say to me “be good to everyone you work with, you never know who you will be working for one day.” Isn’t that the truth…many of my current clients used to work for me!
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Everyone I surround myself with! Specifically, it’s been invaluable to have these three in my business court:
- Integrator/Job Coach (aka my boss!): Meg helps me build my organizational structure and systems, ensure clear and measurable goals, and create space for creativity, innovation and proactive problem solving. She’s also just a great sounding board when needed; keeps me on-task too!
- Joy + Success Coach: Helpsme cultivate the highest version of myself – at home, work and everywhere in between.
- Business Women’s Circle: The BWC brings together like-minded businessesto share their collective wisdom and support one another as they work to achieve business, leadership and personal goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.studiolu.design
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studioludesign/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Studioludesign
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggielunetta/
Image Credits
Scott Walker Lake Light Photo www.lakelightphotography.com @lakelightphoto
