Coffee with Creatives - January 6, 2025

Featuring

Tara Braatz of Tara Lee Interior Design

Rebecca Bertoldi of My Local Marketing Shop & 222 Marketing

EPISODE RECAP

A Creative Start to 2025: Embracing New Beginnings and Goals

Good morning, everyone! Happy Monday and a very Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, we're brimming with excitement for new projects, fresh creativity, and the many opportunities that await us. Despite the gloomy weather today, we're thrilled to spend this beautiful Monday with you.

Meet the Hosts

Let me introduce ourselves. I'm Rebecca Bertoldi, a digital marketer passionate about blending technology and creativity, and joining me is Tara Broot, an accomplished interior designer specializing in both residential and commercial spaces. Together, we're here to fuel your creative spirit every week!

Kickstarting With Coffee

One of our favorite ways to start our day is by sharing our unique coffee cups with each other. Today, Tara's showing off an artsy mug that her son surprised her with during Christmas. It’s a delightful reminder of the creativity we cherish and the loved ones who support us.

Tara shares, "I received this wonderful mug from my son, Foster, and his girlfriend, Casey. We had a lovely Christmas together, and they were eager to see this mug on the show. Thank you for your thoughtful gift!"

Meanwhile, I've also been blessed with adorably themed mugs thanks to the show’s popularity. My current favorite is a charming "Friends are the Gardeners of Our Soul" mug, complete with a tiny shovel—my husband is already trying to claim it, but it’s not going anywhere!

Embracing New Year Goals

As we turn the page to a new year, it brings the perfect opportunity to refresh our goals and visions. This year, our show will continue to be a platform for creativity, welcoming new guests and offering tips and ideas to inspire your projects at home.

Rebecca’s Goals

For me, a significant goal is to transition within my business from implementation to focusing more on strategy. After over two decades in marketing, I aim to delegate implementation tasks to a team so I can channel my efforts into strategic planning. This shift is all about maximizing efficiency and utilizing my creative energy effectively.

Connecting with other business owners has been instrumental in making this shift more manageable. Networking helps us tap into collective skills, creating systems that allow a smoother workflow. A simple tweak in managing Zoom meeting notes, for example, has revolutionized how I integrate these insights into project management software.

Beyond organizational changes, I've also embraced technology by creating AI tools to streamline processes within my business. These updates are incredibly exciting, and I’ll continue sharing developments as they unfold.

Tara’s Aspirations

Tara is equally enthusiastic about building on her business endeavors this year. With a focus on giving back to the community, she plans to engage with nonprofits, lending her design skills to those in need. In 2025, she envisions supporting organizations like Make a Wish by transforming spaces in ways that inspire and rejuvenate.

Additionally, Tara is determined to revamp her current storage setup for her staging furnishings, envisioning a unified space within her barn. There's also a drive to collaborate with contractors on ambitious projects like designing a coffee shop—a creative dream she’s keen to realize.

Setting Meaningful Goals Over Resolutions

Gone are the days of traditional New Year’s resolutions that fizzle out by February. Instead, opting for lasting goals that truly motivate us can drive more significant, sustained progress. I’ve found that starting work on these goals even ahead of the New Year, around October, can lead to stronger follow-through.

Reflecting on past experiences, I've learned that preparation is key. I recall reworking my website over Thanksgiving, striving for patience to ensure high-quality updates rather than hasty revisions.

Help and Humility in Business Building

Both Tara and I agree that it's constructive to lean on others and acknowledge when professional help can enhance what we do. Whether it’s hiring marketing experts to breathe fresh perspectives into our own businesses or continually redesigning spaces in our own homes, the beauty lies in collaboration and the courage to seek advice.

Trending in 2025: Building Trust in Marketing

Staying ahead of trends is crucial in maintaining a competitive edge in marketing. This year, the shift is pronounced—consumers are gravitating towards authentic, trustworthy businesses. People desire interpersonal connections over impersonal interactions with faceless corporations.

Reflecting on my own journey, I remember a time when compartmentalizing personal life from professional presence was the norm. Today, it's about showcasing genuine selves, inviting people to see not just the products or services, but the heart and authenticity behind them.

Tara’s Perspective

Interior design parallels this trend. Tara’s approach encapsulates authenticity by embedding a part of herself in every project, ensuring her personality resonates from start to finish.

Tara captures this beautifully when she states, "You are the face of your business. Everything you represent, everywhere you go, echoes who you are as a person and as a professional."

Practical Tips for a Home Refresh in 2025

If your space needs a refresh this New Year, Tara has some expert advice. Decluttering is a fantastic starting point—there's no need to fill every corner. Embrace open spaces and let neutral colors provide a soothing canvas. These foundational tips ensure adaptability without constant repainting.

To keep things versatile, consider adding only small seasonal touches. With Valentine's Day approaching, Tara suggests using pops of color like a singular red pillow against cream walls for an elegant feel.

Storage Secrets and Design Dreams

As a designer with limited storage, I've learned the art of maintaining changeable decor with minimal clutter. One solution I love is using pillow covers for easy seasonal transitions without occupying too much space.

Tara’s barn redevelopment plan aligns with this—she envisions a well-organized space for her furnishings, simplifying her staging process.

Looking Ahead

This week, Tara dives into several exciting projects, including a sunroom redesign. Utilizing hues of yellow, navy blue, and cream, she’s eager to reveal her creative vision.

In North Stonington, she’s tackling a renovation to bring an outdated home into the present, opting for a coastal theme that feels fresh yet not heavily themed.

Navigating a Busy Terrain

For me, the start of 2025 signifies a pivotal transition in business. Balancing strategic growth while ensuring current projects meet client satisfaction is front and center. January may seem like a long stretch, but with determination and collaboration, we're geared to tackle it.

As we advance, remember: kindness goes far. You never know how positively your actions can impact someone’s day, even small gestures like a smile.

We appreciate you joining us in our new journey for 2025, supporting our endeavors each week. Share your goals with us, and let's navigate this year with creativity and compassion!

Until next time, wishing everyone a fabulous week. See you next Monday!