Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Susan Semmelmann. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Susan, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I get my resilience from God; I lean on scripture every morning so I can truly walk by faith and not by sight. You never know what tomorrow holds, and I have learned to embrace each day as a gift and live it to the fullest, knowing I will never walk my life’s journey alone.
My days are busy, and my foundation of faith is the key to navigating the path ahead of me without feeling scattered or overwhelmed. Choosing this mindset daily brings me peace and joy beyond my comprehension; it allows me to focus on my family, friends, and clients and be present in every moment without being distracted by the future because I know God has it!
I stepped out in complete faith to launch my company four years ago, and I continue to stand by my founding principles as I focus on giving and serving to help others. It’s the cornerstone of my company and the heart behind everything we do. My amazing team and I have all been called to something far greater than we can ever imagine.
It is so much fun to watch doors open, and dreams unfold, never knowing what new and beautiful things will happen next. I call it “the unimaginable” because whatever my finite mind can dream, God can do something much greater than I can comprehend. It is “the unimaginable” that gives me the passion and strength to work hard, knowing that His master plan will someday be very real and very imaginable!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Susan Semmelmann Interiors is a people-first company. We care more about the “who” and the “why” than the “what, when, how, or where.” This includes caring for each other within our internal team, the clients we serve, and the community we support. “The spirit of living is in the giving” is one of the core values we live by, and it extends to every area of our business – we consider ourselves blessed to be a blessing.
One of the wonderful things about our line of work is that we spend our days listening to stories, then becoming part of those stories as we support one another and help bring dreams to life. We recently hired a woman from Ukraine; the war displaced her and her family, and they were in need of help…and hope. We are so thankful to be able to provide her family with some peace and security by welcoming her to our team, and we know she will also find joy in becoming part of the Semmelmann Interiors family!
Recently I spoke to a mentor about the dynamics of my company, and he said, “You are only going to hire someone who has a story; it’s about the story for you.” As I stopped and processed that statement, the word “overcomer” immediately came to mind. I like to know we are a company of people who dedicate their lives every day to overcoming obstacles and helping others know there is hope.
This year it has been a blessing to receive the prestigious Rosie Moncrief Wings of Hope award, along with our commitment to give to many local charities. In the eyes of Susan Semmelmann Interiors, it is not the monetary successes of a business that makes it a successful company, it’s more about what we get back from being “who” we are created to be and keeping our eyes focused on “why” we do what we do.
In other exciting news, Susan Semmelmann Interiors is the exclusive design team for a development with the last Jack Nicklaus golf club to ever be built. The homes range between $3M-$15M, with over 1000 homes. This project will unfold over the next eight years, and we are honored to be part of such an incredible endeavor with the ability to use our unique business model to impact lives as they impact ours.
Susan Semmelmann Interiors will also open our Fort Worth Design Studio to the public in summer of 2023! This amazing 10,000 Sq Ft facility on Vickery Blvd will be a go-to design resource for the public and professionals alike. Soon to follow will be our online store, making our resources available to a wider array of clients, design professionals, and individuals.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Authenticity: The importance of being real and true to yourself and others in your sphere is crucial in any business, whether it be sales or service. Our team understands the value of integrity, being honest and truthful even if it is uncomfortable. It doesn’t serve anyone to be disingenuous by telling people what they want to hear. Trust them with the truth! When you believe in something as passionately as I do, it becomes about speaking from the heart to build trust and form authentic relationships in every aspect of life.
Progressive Creativity: Susan Semmelmann Interiors has been described as unique, out-of-the-box, progressive…creative. Exactly! We love to come up with one-of-a-kind innovative design solutions for our clients. When I reveal a custom solution to a design client, it’s like Santa was here, and he delivered BIG! We all have children’s hearts deep down, and we want to see something that makes us happy, gives us joy, and brings us smiles. As adults, those things might come in bigger packages, like our homes! While we can put together a beautiful home design with existing products and vendor lines, there is something special about creating signature design elements unique to each homeowner. When you do something that has never been done before, it’s a creation, an explosion of gratitude, and a sense of performance that you have done something amazing for your client that will give them all the happiness they wanted – a beautiful GIFT!
Positive Energy: You have to put forth your best EVERY DAY!! It requires a deep-down energy that comes from the soul. We can’t rely on our moods or feelings; they must come from above, and we must decide daily to draw on that purpose and power. You have to have something in order to give it away, and the only way to give our best every day is to have a cup that runs over from a plentiful soul overflowing with positive energy, passion, and purpose to share with the world.
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?
100% my husband, Marc Semmelmann. He has been beside me in my business endeavors our whole marriage. These past four years, he has been my anchor while helping me launch my brand…my DREAM! He is my biggest fan and my best friend. He knew what would be required to make Susan Semmelmann Interiors happen, and he has been unequivocally in since day one.
Together, we have endured financial, emotional, and physical sacrifices to bring this dream to life, and it only makes our successes sweeter, our grit stronger, and our appreciation greater! As the company began to grow with just a handful of employees, I had to put myself last, no exceptions. We ensured I could pay my employees, cover my product orders, and take care of my clients no matter the expense. We kept our eyes on the main things – that our clients got their dream results, and our team was only seeing the positive in our future and the fruit of our labor.
Growing from 5 to 25 employees has been so much fun, with so many lives impacted, but it has not been easy. Each team member must be trained with the Susan Semmelmann Interiors eye for design and our core values. I invest my time and attention in every new hire to ensure we build a firm foundation to scale for the future.
Without a doubt, Marc has been there every step of the way, and I love, respect, and value him beyond words. We are both overcomers in so many ways, and he will always be my rock and front-row cheering section!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.semmelmanninteriors.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susansemmelmanninteriors/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/semmelmanninteriors/
- Linkedin: Susan Semmelmann Interiors
- Youtube: Susan Semmelmann Interiors
