Episode Summary:
In this episode, I’m joined by the amazing Lesley Myrick, and we’re diving into time management with a twist—tailoring it to your personality type! Lesley shares how understanding your unique strengths (yes, even the quirks) can help you manage your time more effectively, reduce stress, and get more done without the overwhelm.
We talk about setting boundaries, the importance of carving out time to reflect and recharge, and practical tips for handling your schedule in a way that actually works for YOU. If you’ve ever felt like you’re running on empty or struggling to find balance, this conversation is all about embracing intentionality, prioritizing self-care, and building a schedule that supports your personal and professional success.
What I hope you take away from today's episode...
- Time management should align with your personality type.
- Understanding your strengths can enhance your productivity.
- Setting boundaries is essential for maintaining balance.
- Saying no can be a powerful tool for time management.
- Reflection and creative time are crucial for recharging.
- Breaking down big goals into smaller tasks can reduce overwhelm.
- External accountability can improve follow-through on tasks.
- Prioritizing self-care leads to better overall performance.
- Intentional time management can transform both personal and professional life.
Cool Stuff mentioned in this episode...
Design Your Time: Time Management for Interior Designers by Personality Type: Get Access here ==> https://nancyganzekaufer.activehosted.com/f/68.
Free Resources from Profit Insiders https://profitinsiderscoaching.com/free-resources/
Links to connect with me...
Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io
Find me on Substack!
Detailed Show Notes
(automatically transcribed using AI Technology)
All right, thank you guys so much for joining us for another episode of The Solo Grind, and welcome to a new month. February is all about love, and we are going to be loving on our businesses this month in so many different ways. Starting off today, I have a very special guest with me, Lesley Myrick, who is a dynamic force behind her own luxury interior design brand.
As an experienced interior designer, business coach, and design media personality, Lesley brings her industry experience and fresh perspective to the world of Profit Insiders with Nancy Ganzekaufer. Lesley intimately understands the challenges faced by interior designers and is here to help. Through her infectious positivity, she motivates interior designers to breathe life into their challenging projects and overcome their biggest obstacles.
Whether you’re looking to revitalize your design business or infuse creativity into your projects, Lesley is going to guide you toward success, style, and abundance. And I can tell you right now, Lesley could not be all the things that she is—and so much more that I’ve gotten to know—if she was not a master at time management. That’s exactly what we’re going to be talking about today: time management that fits your personality.
I love the concept of this because, over the years, there have always been all these time management hacks. Like, you have to do this in order to manage your time. I’d try them, and they just didn’t work for me. Over time, I’ve developed my own skills, but it’s been through understanding my personality in a very unofficial way. So, I can’t wait to hear what you have to share. Lesley, thank you so much for joining us today.
Lesley Myrick :
Thanks, Teresa. That was such a kind introduction. I’m so happy to talk about this topic because I am nerdily passionate about time blocking, organization, task management, and all those things. And you’re right—it’s not a one-size-fits-all. Even if you don’t consider yourself an organized person, maybe you’re more on the creative side and the organization and time management overwhelm you, you really can’t have a successful business without it.
But you hit the nail on the head—it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. I’ve taken great courses and programs that spoke to me with a very specific time management style. But, for example, my husband looks at things entirely differently. He’d hate those styles and couldn’t keep up with them.
That’s why Nancy and I created the Design Your Time: Time Management for Interior Designers by Personality Type free training. We’re so excited that it’s out in the world now because who you are—your natural abilities, strengths, and personality—matters when it comes to figuring out how to best use your time.
Teresa Schlup :
I love that. Personality is such a powerful thing—understanding who you are and what your strengths are. Right before we hopped on, we were talking about our strengths because I am a big proponent of StrengthsFinder. Honestly, I should probably do an episode on it because it’s one of the most powerful tools that’s helped me understand who I am as a business owner and as a wife.
My husband and I both did StrengthsFinder, and it helped us understand our strengths. We’re like oil and water—or sometimes oil and fire!
Lesley Myrick:
Oh, me and my husband too. I totally get that.
Teresa Schlup:
Completely different, but now we understand each other better, and we’re able to navigate this crazy life of marriage so much more easily. This year will actually mark 30 years of marriage for us.
Lesley Myrick:
Congratulations! That is no small feat.
Teresa Schlup:
Oh my God, it’s no small feat. Honestly, there were times I wasn’t sure we’d get here. But here we are! So, talk to me more about how personality ties into time management.
Lesley Myrick:
Okay, so I’m not only a nerd for time management—I also love personality tests. I know some people don’t like being “put in a box,” but I weirdly do. It’s comforting to me because it explains why I like certain things or struggle with others. My husband and I did StrengthsFinder together, and I’ve loved that too.
For this training, we decided to base it on the Myers-Briggs personality type. If you’ve ever heard someone say, “I’m an INFJ,” those four letters are what it’s based on. If you’re not familiar with it, don’t worry—we tell you where to pause the training and take a free online assessment to figure out your type.
The Myers-Briggs framework breaks down into four main areas: introvert vs. extrovert, intuitive vs. sensory, feeling vs. thinking, and judging vs. perceiving. These combinations give insight into your strengths, weaknesses, and how you naturally approach tasks and time management.
Teresa Schlup:
And we’ll make sure those links are in the show notes so listeners can access them quickly.
Lesley Myrick:
Fabulous. If you’re not familiar with Myers-Briggs, don’t get caught up on the letters just yet. When you take the assessment, you’ll get information about whether you’re more introverted or extroverted, sensory or intuitive, and so on. For example, I’m a hardcore “J,” which stands for judging. That doesn’t mean I’m judgmental; it’s about being organized, structured, and preferring plans over spontaneity.
My husband, on the other hand, is very much a “P,” which stands for perceiving. He resists calendars, likes to keep things in his head, and is much more free-flowing. Learning about each other’s time management strengths has been a game-changer, not just for our personal lives, but for understanding how we approach work and life differently.
Teresa Schlup:
That’s such a powerful insight. I actually did Myers-Briggs years ago when I was in the corporate world, probably about 20 years ago. At the time, I was starting a new management position in IT, building an IT support desk from the ground up. It was such a new concept back then, and I was an extreme extrovert working in a department full of extreme introverts.
I remember one of my colleagues and I really struggled to communicate. We didn’t dislike each other; we just couldn’t understand where the other was coming from. After we did Myers-Briggs, everything clicked. I understood where he was coming from, and he understood me. That understanding turned us into an amazing power team because we learned to leverage each other’s strengths.
Lesley Myrick:
Exactly. Understanding your personality can unlock so much—not just in your personal relationships, but also in how you approach your work and even how you manage your time.
Teresa Schlup:
Tell me more about this training. How does it help people tap into their strengths and manage their time better?
Lesley Myrick:
The goal of this training is to help you become more aware of your strengths and challenges. Once you understand where you excel and where you might struggle, you can start to leverage those strengths and adopt tools that work for you.
For example, there are tools like Asana and Trello, and some people love them while others don’t. Even if you’ve tried something like that and didn’t like it, this training can help you figure out how to tweak it to make it work for your personality type.
Ultimately, the goal is to manage your time more effectively and reduce stress. When you’re not constantly worrying about missing deadlines or forgetting tasks, you can free up your brain to focus on what really matters—like designing beautiful spaces, connecting with clients, and growing your business.
Teresa Schlup:
I love that so much. As solo entrepreneurs, we juggle so many balls. I mean, even just putting together this podcast—I do all the pieces myself. That’s why I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue into season two. It’s a ton of work.
Lesley Myrick:
Oh, absolutely. I’ve had two podcasts in the past, and I totally get how much work it takes.
Teresa Schlup:
Yes! If I didn’t have my time management systems in place, I’d be completely buried. I love the analogy you used earlier about being on top of the water instead of drowning in it. That visual really resonates with me, and I think it will resonate with my listeners too.
Lesley Myrick:
That’s exactly it—getting out of that reactive mindset and into a proactive one. I think a lot of us—especially solo entrepreneurs—struggle with setting boundaries. We feel like we have to be everything to everyone, and that’s just not sustainable.
One of the biggest mindset shifts for me was learning to say “no” more often. In fact, I tell people that “no” should be your default, not “yes.” It doesn’t mean you can’t say yes, but it means giving yourself time to consider whether something aligns with your values and goals.
Teresa Schlup:
That is so powerful. I actually had a mentor who used to tell me, “Teresa, ‘no’ is a complete sentence.”
Lesley Myrick:
It really is! We feel this need to explain or justify, but you don’t have to. A simple “no, I’m not available for that” is enough.
Teresa Schlup:
I’ve started giving myself permission to pause before saying yes. I’ll say something like, “Thank you so much for thinking of me. Let me take a few days to think about it, and I’ll get back to you.” That pause has been such a game-changer for me.
Lesley Myrick:
That’s such a great strategy, Teresa. Giving yourself time to think about whether something aligns with your goals and values is so important. I’ve also learned to ask myself questions like, “How does this fit into my calendar without causing sacrifice?” If the answer is that it requires sacrificing my mental health, my personal time, or something equally important, then it has to be a no.
Teresa Schlup:
Exactly! And you know, sometimes that means saying no to things that are genuinely good. It’s hard, but you can’t be everything to everyone.
Lesley Myrick:
Yes, and prioritizing yourself doesn’t mean you’re being selfish. It means you’re putting yourself in the best position to show up for the people and things that truly matter. It’s a mindset shift that can be hard to adopt, but it’s so necessary.
Teresa Schlup:
Absolutely. And that’s something I hope resonates with my listeners this month. February is all about love, and that includes loving yourself enough to say no when it’s necessary. It’s about setting boundaries and making sure your time aligns with your values and goals.
Lesley Myrick:
Yes! And this training really emphasizes that. It’s not about following a cookie-cutter plan. It’s about understanding your personality and leveraging your strengths to create a time management system that works for you.
Teresa Schlup:
That’s so powerful, Lesley. And I think what’s so great about this training is that it’s not just for interior designers. Sure, you and Nancy work with a lot of designers, but the principles apply to any service-based entrepreneur.
Lesley Myrick:
Exactly. Anyone can benefit from this training. While we do use some design-specific examples, the core of it is understanding your personality type and learning how to work with it, not against it.
Teresa Schlup:
I love that. Can you share a little more about how the training works and what participants can expect?
Lesley Myrick:
Absolutely. The training starts with helping you identify your Myers-Briggs personality type, which is key to understanding your natural tendencies. From there, we explore common challenges for each personality type and provide tips and tools to help you overcome them.
For example, I’m an INFJ. That stands for introverted, intuitive, feeling, and judging. My personality type is known as “The Idealist,” and we’re motivated by personal values and big-picture thinking. But we also struggle with mundane tasks and can feel overwhelmed by large goals.
Teresa Schlup:
That sounds a lot like me too!
Lesley Myrick:
It’s actually very common for entrepreneurs to share some traits like that. One of the tips for people like me—or maybe you—is to break big goals into small, actionable steps. Instead of focusing on the overwhelming end result, I figure out the very next step I can take today.
Another tip is to use visual goal trackers to stay motivated. I love habit-tracking apps that let me see my progress. It keeps me inspired to stay consistent.
Teresa Schlup:
Oh, I love that!
Lesley Myrick:
And here’s a big one for introverts like me: Schedule time to reflect and recharge. It’s so easy to get caught up in the grind and forget to take care of yourself, but reflection and creativity are just as important as getting client work done.
Teresa Schlup:
Yes, yes, yes! I had to learn that the hard way. As a solo entrepreneur, I was constantly hitting the ground running, trying to get as much done as possible by 9 a.m. But by the afternoon, I’d be so drained and irritable that I wasn’t showing up as my best self for anyone—not my business, not my family, and certainly not myself.
Lesley Myrick:
Exactly. We’re so conditioned to hustle that we forget to prioritize our own needs. That’s why I schedule reflection and creative time into my day. It’s a non-negotiable for me, and it makes such a difference in how I show up in my life and business.
Teresa Schlup:
That’s such a good reminder. I’ve learned to structure my mornings differently, too. No meetings before 9:30. I take time to sip coffee, cuddle with my pets, and ease into the day. It’s what I need to recharge and show up as my best self.
Lesley Myrick:
I love that! And it’s such a great example of how time management isn’t one-size-fits-all. What works for you might not work for someone else, and that’s okay. The key is figuring out what you need and making it a priority.
And, Teresa, that’s exactly what this training is all about—helping people understand what they need, based on their unique personality, and empowering them to make those adjustments.
One of the tips I share in the training is about setting firm deadlines to avoid procrastination. I’m someone who needs external accountability to get things done. If I tell a client I’ll have something ready for them, you can bet I’ll meet that deadline. But when it comes to personal goals, it’s so easy to let things slide unless I set clear, non-negotiable deadlines for myself.
Teresa Schlup:
I can absolutely relate to that. Personal goals are the first thing to fall off the list when life gets busy. That’s why I’ve started blocking off time in my calendar for things like reflection and self-care. It’s as important as any client meeting.
Lesley Myrick:
Yes, exactly! It’s about treating your personal priorities with the same level of importance as your professional ones. And I think that’s such an important mindset shift for solo entrepreneurs. We often feel like we have to do everything for everyone else first, and then if there’s time, we’ll get to ourselves. But the truth is, we can’t show up for others if we’re not taking care of ourselves.
Teresa Schlup:
100%. And that’s a lesson I wish I’d learned sooner. For so many years, I was giving my clients, my family, and my friends everything I had—and then giving myself whatever scraps were left over. But once I started flipping that script and making myself a priority, everything else got better too.
Lesley Myrick:
That’s such a powerful realization, Teresa. And it’s something I hope everyone takes away from this training. Managing your time isn’t just about being more productive. It’s about creating space for the things that truly matter—for your business, your relationships, and yourself.
Teresa Schlup:
Exactly. And I think what’s so great about this training is that it meets people where they are. Whether you’re someone who thrives on structure or someone who needs more flexibility, there’s something here for everyone.
Lesley Myrick:
Absolutely. And we made sure to include practical tools and tips for a variety of personality types. Whether you’re an extrovert who gets energized by group brainstorming sessions or an introvert who needs quiet time to focus, there’s a way to make time management work for you.
Teresa Schlup:
I love that. And I think it’s such an important reminder that there’s no one “right” way to do this. It’s about finding what works for you and being intentional about making it happen.
Lesley Myrick:
Exactly. And for anyone listening who’s feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to start, I want to encourage you to just take one small step. Maybe it’s blocking off 15 minutes a day for reflection. Maybe it’s saying no to something that doesn’t align with your goals. Whatever it is, start small and build from there.
Teresa Schlup:
That’s such great advice, Lesley. And I just want to say thank you so much for sharing your insights and your expertise with us today. This has been such an inspiring conversation, and I know my listeners are going to get so much out of it.
Lesley Myrick:
Thank you, Teresa. It’s been such a pleasure to be here and to share this with your audience.
Teresa Schlup:
Before we wrap up, can you remind everyone where they can find the training and connect with you?
Lesley Myrick:
Of course. The best place to go is NancyGanzakoffer.com. Click on the Free Resources tab, and you’ll find the Design Your Time training right there. It’s free, and it’s packed with actionable tips and strategies to help you manage your time more effectively.
Teresa Schlup:
That’s fantastic. Thank you again, Lesley, for being here and for sharing so generously with us.
Lesley Myrick:
Thank you, Teresa. It’s been an absolute joy.
Teresa Schlup:
And to all of you listening, thank you for tuning in to this episode of The Solo Grind. Remember, February is all about loving your business—and that starts with loving yourself enough to take control of your time. I’ll see you next week for another inspiring conversation. Until then, cheers to your success!
