We’re looking forward to introducing you to Leanne Yarn. Check out our conversation below.
Leanne , it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
The life I’ve always wanted outside of my career. My family…maybe it’s cliché to say that but my career always came first in my life because I hadn’t found the right person to share it with. I found my person in my mid-20’s and not only have we created two beautiful children together, we’ve create other businesses outside of what we both brought into our marriage. Who you choose to build a future with is one of the most important decision you will ever make.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I could write a book about my story, but in a few short sentences, I’m a boutique Interior Design firm located in Boca Raton, Florida and specialize in residential interiors. My specialty isn’t just producing well designed homes with beautiful interiors but it’s providing outstanding customer service to my clients.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My parents. When I was younger, me and my siblings were always told by my Mom and Dad how wonderful we are, how smart, kind, loving, hard working, etc,….you don’t exactly believe it when your their kid because it’s being feed to you your entire life by your parents and maybe grandparents.
Now I hear the same sort of compliments from clients, industry partners I do business with or even from a mutual connections. It took people who were not related to me for me to believe that I was all these “positive” things.
My Dad told me something in my 20’s that really stuck he said “You’ve accomplished more at such a young age than most people accomplish throughout their entire lifetime.”
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, when I was pregnant and gave birth to my first child. No one wanted to hire the pregnant lady! I was open and honest about my first pregnancy with everyone around me which hurt business for me. Was hard to digest the reality of being a women in the work place even when I owned the business…I got pregnant again with my second only 3 months after the first and learned to keep personal things a little my silent in the work place. I ended up signing on 5 incredible clients my second pregnancy and have never missed a beat. I have an extremely supportive husband, lots of help at home with our children when I’m working and a talent team at the office when I can’t physically be there.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
I’m going to bring up social media on this question as I feel like a lot of the lives that people live on the Internet are smoke and mirrors. I have never done, written or spoken on social media something that I wouldn’t have done, written or spoken in person. One thing I should probably be doing more on my Business Instagram is introducing myself, touring people through clients homes and just being in-front of the camera more in general but I try not to make it about me…instead I try to make it about my work.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
That I’m not available to help them! I joke that when I take on a client somehow they assume I come with a lifetime warranty! I’ve had clients reach out to me 5 years after I’ve completed their projects, 3 years even 7 years later….whatever the amount of year, wear and tear on furniture does happen over time or friend/family member came to a clients home and accidentally broke something. I’ve always answered a former clients call to help in anyway I can. What my clients are going to miss most when I retire is that I won’t be able to help fix the problems anymore.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yarndesignassociates.com
- Instagram: @yarndesignassociates
- Facebook: Yarn Design Associates LLC
