Lots of design professionals are spending lots of time  worrying about the economy.

I noticed that in Sun Valley, ID. the past few days, when I spoke to the Intermountain chapter of ASID. And I expect more of the same tomorrow, when I address an NKBA chapter in Atlanta.

Design pros keep telling me there’s a lot to worry about.

The economy is struggling. The real estate market has tanked. And, they say, it’s much more challenging to get new clients — and to convince your current ones to make a move.

Everywhere I go, I hear a lot about what isn’t working in our industry.

The problem with all of that worry and concern and negative thinking is that they take time. And energy.

Seems to me that a much better use of that time and energy is to think about how to serve your best clients better.

Those clients need you now more than ever.

They can’t afford, in these challenging times, to waste their time and money on less qualified designers, kitchen and bath professionals, window fashion specialists and others.

They can’t afford to work with those who don’t and can’t get it right.

Those clients are especially concerned these days about enhancing the value of their most valuable asset: their home. They need your guidance and advice to help them do that.

There is considerable value in your expertise, and you should “price” it accordingly.

That’s a message I shared in Sun Valley after polling audience members and discovering an hourly fee range of only $60 to $175. 

That’s much less than they’re worth, I told them, and much less than they could charge and should charge.