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The Design Clarity Weekly

Year-End Reflection & Looking Ahead

Published 10 days ago • 2 min read

Design Clarity Weekly

Helping Design Professionals Streamline, Simplify & Succeed

Hey Lovely!

As we come to the end of the year, I’ve been spending time reflecting — on the work, the conversations, the connections, and the quiet nudges that have been guiding me toward what’s next.

If you’ve been a long-time subscriber, you may have noticed I’ve been dropping a few hints over the past months. All I’ll say for now is this: my word for the year ahead is Trust.

Trusting myself.
Trusting the timing.
And trusting that the shifts I’m making will create more space; not just for me, but for how I show up for you.

Over the next two weeks, I’m making some meaningful changes to my current work-life balance. Changes that will allow me more capacity, more presence, and more room to support you in a deeper way.

The relationships, conversations, and work I’ve done with this community have completely filled my cup this past year. Truly. Without you, I wouldn’t be able to make the moves I’m making now and I’m so grateful you’re here.

As we head into the new year, I’ll be opening up more support hours and re-launching my signature Bring Calm to Chaos program in a refreshed way, designed to serve you even better.

Before we turn the page, here’s this week’s 3–2–1.

Tips, Tools & Takeaways for Designers

3 Tips as we look to the year ahead....

✅ Choose your word of the year

Not a resolution. Not a long list of goals. One word to guide your decisions, energy, and focus. Mine is Trust — a reminder to lean into what feels aligned, even when it feels a little uncomfortable.

✅ Pick one metric to track in 2026 Just one. Profit per project. Number of hours worked. Days off taken. Choose the metric that will most clearly tell you whether your business is supporting your life — or draining it.

✅ Schedule your first CEO Date now Before January gets busy, block time in the first week of January for a CEO Date. Give yourself space to reflect, reset, and set intentions before the noise begins.

​

2 Resources to Check Out

As I reviewed past newsletters, these were the two resources you engaged with the most — so I wanted to re-share them for newer subscribers and as a gentle reminder for everyone else.

📌 Client Journey Checklist If you’ve ever felt like clients get “lost” in your process—or worse, you lose track of where they are—this tool is for you. The checklist helps you map out every step from first inquiry to final install. When your clients can see and understand the path ahead, they feel confident and supported. And when you have it documented, you’re not reinventing the wheel with every new project. Consistency builds trust—and trust brings repeat work.

📌 Interior Design Project Workflow (PDF) – My step-by-step guide to help you visualize your full client journey from inquiry to install. When you map out your workflow, you can spot bottlenecks, set clearer boundaries, and build capacity with confidence.

1 Question for You

🤔 As you look ahead to the new year:

What would it look like to trust yourself more — in your business, your boundaries, and the way you spend your time?

Sit with that for a moment. The answer might be quieter than you expect.

Thank you

Thank you for being here, for reading, replying, and sharing your stories with me throughout the year. This community is something I don’t take lightly and I’m looking forward to stepping into the next chapter together.

As we move into the holiday season, I hope you’re able to slow down, rest where you need to, and spend time in ways that feel nourishing; whether that’s with family, friends, or simply with a little more quiet. Thank you again for being part of this community. Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and a gentle, grounded start to the new year. 💛

With Gratitude,
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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