Entrepreneur Interview: DeAnna Radaj, Bante Design LLC

Business Name:
Bante Design LLC

Website URL:
www.bantedesign.com
www.deannaradaj.com
www.thecluttercounselor.com

Year Founded:
2002

Number of Employees:
myself (I at times have an intern & outsource IT, accounting & publicity/PR)

What does your company do?
Bante Design LLC specializes in Integrative Lifestyle Design (ILD): healthy design solutions for the home, office or retail space.  Integrative Lifestyle Design is a fusion of Eastern (Feng Shui) and Western (eco-friendly, healthy home) design philosophies while taking into account our client’s needs, goals and lifestyle requirements.  We take pride in designing spaces that are beautiful, healthy and supportive to all of the space’s uses.

Bante Design LLC brings Integrative Lifestyle Design into our client’s spaces through Design, Education and Programs.  We offer Design hourly consultations or complete remodel/re-design of a space.  Education on healthy home design, feng shui and variety of other topics is offered through workshops/seminars for adults, teens, businesses, and our newest addition, healthcare organizations (spas, hospitals, physician offices) and/or client’s who suffer from mental/physical ailments that require special care.

The Clutter Counselor division (newly created):
Did you know that your stuff says more about you than you know?  Did you know that WHERE your stuff is located can tell the status of your relationship, your health and family dynamics?  It DOES.  In this one-of-a-kind program, DeAnna Radaj, owner of Bante Design LLC, offers you insight into the meanings of your “stuff”.

Was there a specific turning point when you realized your business was moving to the next level?

The BIG turning point was last summer (2010)…I had entered a business plan contest for a new venture I was very excited about, & while I made it to the semi-finals, I missed out on making the finals.  (They said I “was looking for too much money”, which led me to question my “dream” of how I wanted to expand my business & if it was really feasible).

It was at this point that I realized I needed some help in taking my business to the next level as I felt I was “missing” something (knowledge, contacts..whatever).  I hired a business coach & stated investing in myself.  The BEST decision I ever made.

I ended up doubling my consulting rates, attracting more clients who were more aligned with what I do, plus having an expansion of sponsors & traffic for my column & radio show.  I ended up with 2010 being my best year to date..with lots of great opportunities to start off 2011!

What processes or procedures have you implemented that have helped grow your company?
Hiring a business coach: someone who’s been there, done that & has achieved what I’d like to achieve.

Making better use of social media.

Getting sponsors/joint ventures.

Making use of technology to expand client base globally via video conferencing.

What is most rewarding about running your business?
Being able to control my schedule (deadlines & some client requests not withstanding).  Working w/vendors & clients that I want to work with.  And lastly, being in control of my destiny & income level.

What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?
My limiting beliefs aside (yikes), it was first defining my market.  I also didn’t stay true to myself & what I was good & passionate about at the creation of my company (I was told in design school that I “never would make a living doing what I wanted” & I believed it).  I bought in to that teacher’s limiting belief & made it my own.  It took me awhile to get over this, as I realized there WAS a market for what I created (I was playing it safe), however, I was playing small.  Once I got out of my comfort zone, marketed to a greater, larger audience (thanks to speaking/appearing on a national stage instead of locally), my company started growing.

Secondly, since I had a business (marketing) background from my previous line of work, I thought I “didn’t need any help” in this aspect of working for myself.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.  Accounting & IT aren’t in my field of expertise, nor was social media/marketing…I did learn to let that go, and delegate (which helps other small business owners by the way!) which freed up my time to create & work with more clients.

Lastly, learning that you only “know what you know, and don’t know anything about what you don’t know”.  This was when I hired a business coach.

If you were starting over today, what would you do differently?
I would have hired a coach MUCH sooner than I did.  You MUST have someone in your life that you can go to to help you move to the next level-someone who’s been there & done that.  Period.  Friends & family are great for a support group, however, if they never owned a business, pursued a dream or did free-lance work, they can’t understand what you are going through/trying to do.

What advice do you have for other business owners?
Do NOT try to be something you’re not…you must be authentic.  People (potential clients/customers) can spot a phony right away.  KNOW what your strengths are.  More importantly, know what your WEAKNESSES are & create a support team to address that.  Create a business model around that.  This includes knowing your target market & ideal client, and then market to that.

Please list any favorite books, tools or resources (software, website, etc.) you would recommend for others:
Ask & It Is Given
Think & Grow Rich
The Voice of Knowledge

Anything by Ali Brown and David Neagle have been beneficial to me through their workshops & coaching.

For those not “tech savvy” and want to get started w/a website, blog and such…try WEEBLY.  VERY easy to use, it’s FREE and has many options to implement on their sites: eCommerce, audio, templates.

What is something that people might be surprised to learn about you?
I’m an exhibited photographer, avid adventure traveler and love to bake!

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Do NOT give in to limiting beliefs!  There is always an excuse to not get started or try something new.  You must ask yourself, can you live with yourself if you don’t do this or would you live a life of regret.  Start small & go for it!