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The Design Clarity Weekly

What are you making space for this summer?

Published 9 days ago • 2 min read

Design Clarity Weekly

Helping Design Professionals Streamline, Simplify & Succeed

Hi friend,

This Sunday, we’ll be celebrating our son turning 20.

He just finished his second year of university and starts his summer job this weekend. Our daughter is 18, just completed her first year of university, and is working part-time with an equine veterinary team.

And I have to say, I am really loving this season of their lives.

But I also know this season didn’t arrive out of nowhere.

About three years ago, I could feel some big transitions coming. Rather than be swept away by them, I started making subtle shifts in how I worked, how I planned, and how I wanted my business to support my life.

Because time stops for no one.

And May? May has always been a chaotic month.

Kids finishing school. Summer less than a month away. Sports, camps, vacations, family plans, work deadlines, client needs, and all the moving pieces that somehow need to fit into the next two months.

This is why I’ve been intentional about planning Q3 during Q2.

Because this summer, I want space.

Space for my kids while they’re still coming home between semesters.
Space for family picnics.
Space for kayaking with my husband.
Space to actually enjoy the life I’ve been building.

And whatever your “why” is, I want to help you create space for it too.

Tips, Tools & Takeaways for Designers

3 Ways to Streamline Your Business This Week

✅ Plan for the season you are actually in.

Your business does not need to run the same way in July as it does in January. Look honestly at your summer capacity and adjust your offers, timelines, and expectations accordingly.

✅ Choose one area to simplify before summer begins.​
Maybe it’s your onboarding process. Maybe it’s your client communication. Maybe it’s your weekly schedule. One small system can create a surprising amount of breathing room.

✅ Stop waiting until you are overwhelmed to make changes.​
The best time to adjust your business is before you hit the wall. A little intention now can prevent a lot of chaos later.

2 Resources to Check Out

📌 My VIP Half-Day Intensive

In this private 3-hour session, we’ll look at what feels messy, heavy, or unclear in your business and create a clear action plan you can implement right away.

We can work through your workflows, onboarding, pricing, offers, website, client experience, daily operations, or simply help you figure out your next right move.

You’ll receive a pre-session prep form, a recorded 3-hour session, personalized recommendations, customized resources, and one week of follow-up email support.

Think of it as your business clarity session, designed to meet you exactly where you are.

📌 My conversation on The Virtually Unfiltered Designer Podcast

In this episode, we talked about what happens when everything you’ve been told about “scaling and growing” your business is actually burning you out.

We discussed why your business should fit your life, not the other way around, the quiet toll admin chaos takes on your creativity, how to set stronger boundaries without letting clients down, and what it looks like to choose calm over chaos in your design business.

If you’re tired of trading your peace of mind for productivity, this conversation is for you.

1 Question for You

🤔 What do you want your business to make room for this summer? Hit reply and let me know. I’d love to offer support! Or send me a question and I'll answer it in next week's newsletter!

Where I'll be....

This Thursday, May 28 at 11AM EST, I will be joining Luann Nigara, Wendy Woluschuk and Jennifer Tampasis in the 19 Hours Virtual Design Conference | The Next Wave. We will be hosting a conversation around The Lean Design Firm: Smaller Team. Bigger Impact. I would love your support and for you to join us. To register, please visit this link.

Here’s to more ease, balance, and joy in your business and life! 💛

Warmly,​
Marsha

600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
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The Design Clarity Weekly

Marsha Sefcik

Sent every Friday, this quick 5-minute read is packed with actionable tips to help you streamline your design business. Written by Marsha Sefcik, a trusted business strategist for design professionals, you'll learn how to simplify workflows, master client onboarding, and improve your design-related copy. Join hundreds of design professionals who already benefit from this free, weekly resource!

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