Welcome to another Kitchen Table Chat! At the table today, I have the honor of interviewing a phenomenal woman, Tracy Picmann. Tracy and I were introduced online through a mutual friend, shoutout to Brielle, and our conversation was just like 2 old friends chatting. She is so easy to talk to, and so full of wisdom. I am so excited for you to hear from her today. Here’s a bit about Tracy:

Tracy Picmann refers to herself as multi-passionate, juggling blending her roles as a nurse practitioner, mom, wife and a passionate interior designer. With a career spanning 14 years in healthcare, Tracy has been a nurse practitioner for the past 8 years and still works part time in internal medicine.

After embarking on the ambitious project of designing her third home from the ground up, friends encouraged Tracy to design for others.  Unsure if she would enjoy designing for others, she helped some friends to see how it felt. Tracy discovered an insatiable love for creating dream environments for others.  Last October, Tracy decided to turn her passion into a business.  Offering both in person interior design, as well as e-design-Tracy currently has clients from San Diego to Indianapolis. 

Despite comments from friends and family asking how she does so many things, she finds inspiration in juggling multiple roles and thrives on the challenge of doing more than one thing at once.  Her thirst for knowledge is a driving force that keeps her energized and evolving in all her pursuits.

As Tracy approaches the one-year milestone of her interior design business she reflects the past year has been a whirlwind of learning experiences, growth, and creative fulfillment.  She is excited about the future and the countless opportunities it holds.

Without further ado, here’s my conversation with Tracy.

Stephanie:

All right, looks like we’re actually recording this time. All right, so today on the Homemakers in Business podcast, I have a special guest, Tracy Pickman, and this is our second time trying to do this recording. Thankfully, our recording software is working today, and we are gonna have a great conversation. So Tracy, would you like to introduce yourself? Tell us who you are, what you do, who you help, your location, whatever it is that you wanna tell us about yourself.

Tracy Picmann:

So good morning. I am Tracy Pickman. I refer to myself as a multi passionate individual. I have been in healthcare since 2009. I’ve been a nurse practitioner for the last eight years this fall. Last fall, after we moved into our third home, which I designed and built from the ground up, I launched an interior design business and I am just coming up on one year. it a lot of people, friends, family are like, I don’t know. Actually last night just got a text from a really good friend and she goes, I don’t know when you sleep. And I said, no, I slept 10 hours last night. I just thrive on learning new things, doing new things and healthcare still fuels me. I still love taking care of patients, but. I don’t want to say it’s easy at this point, but it’s not, I’m not constantly learning new things. Whereas with home design, I’m constantly learning it’s a different way to help people. A lot of times it’s a cheerier way to help people. Cause health, obviously there can be issues there. So it’s just filled a different side of my brain, the creative side. And I’m just really excited to be coming up on a year in business.

Stephanie:

Yeah, that’s so amazing. Like there’s so much of that I didn’t know about you. I forgot to mention that, um, when we first started, uh, tried recording this, this was the first time that Tracy and I had actually met virtually. So I’m learning everything about you now, just like everyone else is. I have read a little bit on your background, like a couple of articles that you share with me. And it’s amazing all that you’re able to do.

Tracy Picmann:

Thank you. I also have two kids. I have a two and a four year old. So it’s busy.

Stephanie:

So how, how did you, okay, you said that you designed your third home from top to bottom. What was that like? Like what made you want to do that? And how did that lead you into actually starting a business?

Tracy Picmann:

So I’ll go back a little bit. So our first house, of course, was our starter home. It was super cute. It had a ton of character. I was in grad school, we did not have a budget to be doing anything large scale. But that house, our first big DIY project, my husband got home from work one day and I was just taking the cabinet doors off in the kitchen. I was like, we’re going to redo the kitchen. He was like, okay. So we did very like high level, we painted all the cabinets, we bought new cabinet doors because they were like the for Micah with wood strip at the bottom. They were terrible.

And we redid counters, faucet, like the basics, but it, it really turned out great. And we made a fair amount of money when we sold that house. We sold that house to move back closer to family. We were about 45, 50 minutes away just because of where I was in grad school. And that home was a brand new, it was a spec build. So builder had built it and put it on the market. So there was some finished work there. So there was things there that we kind of got our feet wet on a new home, which I thought I never wanted and now this is our third new home that we’re in. So when we decided to do that, my youngest was two months old and the market was just so crazy. My husband kept pushing. Like we need to figure out what we can make on this house. We lived on a kind of busy road for having kids. We loved that house, but it was just too busy. We’re kind of craving a subdivision. And so I reached out to our friend who, my mom’s best friend, who’s our realtor, and she gave us comps and we can make a lot of money. So I said, fine, let’s go build in neighborhood where we are now, where we already had friends and there’s lots of young families. And all that, I will say, so it was from the ground up, but our builder was a semi custom builder. So it’s not like I had free reign of every type of tile, every, so some decisions were sort of made easier because it was limited. 

But what really made me launch the business when our really good friend came over for the first time, we didn’t have our like the furniture we have now in here. We had just moved in and he like walked into our kitchen and he said, you should be doing this. And I said, what, like, what are you talking about? He’s like, you should be doing this on the side. You should be helping people design their homes. And I just kind of brushed him off. I said, no, like that doesn’t sound fun. I don’t want to design for other people. 

But I talked to a like girlfriend that I kind of grew up with. We went to middle school and high school together. She lives, I live in Michigan, she lives in Indiana, and she had, she’s a teacher who launched her own home design business. So I said, Well, how did you get started? I’m sort of thinking about this. And she said, just start designing for friends, even if they’re not looking, just say, give me a room, give me the measurements. And it turned out that I loved it. Because in a lot of ways, designing for other people is a little bit more fun. It’s not your money you’re spending. Plus, I find when it’s not your own space, you can be a little bit more decisive on what the space needs. Whereas when you’re the one living in the space, and this is an issue for a lot of my clients, they say, I can’t envision this any other way. And very quickly on a first call, I’ll say, well, we could do these couple of things. And they’re like, oh my gosh, I’ve never thought of that. So it’s really fun to be that outside perspective coming in and looking at other people’s homes and helping it work better for them.

And that was the part I kind of fell in love with. And I just start, everyone says, if you’re going to do something, you have to start talking about it. So I felt tons of imposter syndrome and like a fraud when I was like, I’m going to have my own interior design business, you know, and then I launched the website, got a few inquiries that first. Like few weeks, I did have a bit of a low, maybe, I don’t know, four to six months in I was doing stuff, but not a ton. And then this like second half of the year has really taken off. Like I’m pretty much booked through December. So it’s been great. It’s I’m really enjoying it.

Stephanie:

That’s amazing. Yeah. I can totally relate to that as being a brand and website designer, like designing for yourself is not the same as designing for someone else is a totally different ballpark. Like for myself personally, when I’m not working on my own website or promotional materials or whatever, it’s very difficult because I have the entire like realm of design and I can do anything that I want, but when you have a client it’s like you have your boxed in. to an extent, like you still have all that creativity that you can use, but you have a budget that you’re working with, you have parameters that you have to stay within, and to me, that’s more fun because you have to make what they’re giving you work, like with you designing a room, you’re confined to that space, like you can’t make the room any bigger unless it’s in their budget or whatever, But t’s very similar, so I feel you on that.

Tracy Picmann:

It’s all a fun challenge. Whereas I think you over when you’re doing things for yourself, you overthink everything and you know all the possibilities, you’re like, or I could do this or I could do that. Whereas outside in you’re like, this is what they need. This is what’s gonna be best for them.

Stephanie:

And I think that’s a good case for outsourcing stuff, not just design related, but like anything else in your business or your life or whatever, because we have such a limited perspective on what’s going on in our own world. And then bringing an outsider in, they can give a little more less biased judgment on what needs to be done to help you achieve whatever your goal is. So I think that’s awesome. Do you think that your location has had any has had an impact on how successful you’ve been so quickly.

Tracy Picmann:

So I do think it helps. So I do eDesign as well as in person, which eDesign brings on new challenges, but I like each challenge. So I actually have clients right now in Indiana, San Diego. Like I’ve kind of, we just make it work, whether it’s picking a tile shop that’s both here and in San Diego. so much of the world now is, you know, I can send tile samples with my trade to so they can see them in person and things like that. But I do think so I live where I grew up, like my kids are in not the same schools I was with the same school system. So I do think it helps that I am very cemented sounds weird, but

Stephanie:

You’re already established in the community.

Tracy Picmann:

Yes, Thank you. Yes, established in this in this area. So I do think that that, you know, if we just move somewhere out of state and I tried to get this going, I think it would be a little bit more challenging. But some lifelong friends have been great clients and then they’ve referred to other people and you know, my contractor always says by the third year, you won’t even know where referrals come from. Like and that’s when you know you’ve made it right that you can’t backtrack. who started this referral process. But I think in a lot of ways, so the internet will tell you when you have a business or you are trying to do something on the internet, Instagram, whatever, you really need to niche down. Which I do, you know, I want to share a lot of home content, but I have always kind of been someone who, my mom says I overshare. I am just very honest and out there. Like you, if you follow me on Instagram, you are pretty much going to know who I am and what I’m all about. And I’m just an open book. So I think I’ve always. not that I’ve ever been an influencer or anything like that, but I’ve kept my socials open. So I went to school in Indiana. So those two clients out of state, I went to school with them, but I’ve always kind of put things out there on Instagram. So when I launched my business, I think it made it easier because I’ve already had a presence, already had people kind of following along funny stories with my kids or just whatever quirky things are going on in my life. I like to normalize parenting can be very hard. So, so like, yes, where I am, but also I just think I’m out there in a way that has kind of helped. people were already watching. And then I said, I’m going to start this business.

Tracy Picmann:

And they, it’s kind of like my brand, I guess, as a human, like not just my business, but I do think like, I’ll talk to anyone. And there’s a lot of friends from high school that, you know, it’s not like we were best friends, but we talk on Instagram, you know, we post, oh, my kid did that too. Or, or, you know, do you know so-and-so, or do you have a referral for this? Or I’ve just kind of always been an open person and wanted to talk to everyone. And I think that has really helped the success.

Stephanie:

I think so too, because that’s on building a personal brand is people don’t want to know just about your business because when like it’s a, let’s say a corporation or something and they have a social media account and they’re just sharing about the features of whatever it is their product is or their services, it feels very cold and stale compared to someone like you that is sharing like what’s actually happening in your life and who you are as a person alongside. whatever your expertise is.

Tracy Picmann:

Yeah. And, and like I said, you’ll read lots of things on the internet of people who are like, you should not be doing that. But I, if I’m not feeling genuine to myself, I’m not having fun in anything I do. Right? Like in my, in my nurse practitioner practice too, you know, I don’t, I don’t just want to like sit down with you and run through what are your concerns today. I want to get to know you like in my new patient and then, um, like yearly well visit, I’ll ask you like, if I don’t know already, what do you do for work? How many kids do you have? What are their ages? Are they? Oh, they’re 18. Are they in college? Where are they considering going? What are your hobbies? I’ve actually had a patient before say to me, why does that matter? I’m like, it tells me a lot about you.

Tracy Picmann:

And he was not pleased. But most people you know that like it brings them down to a level of let’s have a relationship here that I know things about your life and I’m cheering you on whether it’s or work or whatever it is. That’s just who I’ve always been. So yeah, I guess you could say the same brand goes into my healthcare practice as well. But I’m not having fun if I don’t know anything about you. And if it’s like very, which a lot of people say that’s crazy. You don’t have to be having fun when you’re working. I’m like, but we only live once. Like, why should I be miserable? Whatever I’m doing, I want to connect with people and enjoy learning about them and vice versa.

Stephanie:

Oh yes, I wish that more medical providers would have that kind of outlook because there’s so many that you go to that are just trying to get through as many patients as possible and then they just kind of dismiss whatever’s going on in your life like, no, like I think that some of this could be relevant.

Stephanie:

I love that you do that in both aspects of your work.

Stephanie:

So going back to when you started your business, how old were your children and how did that affect starting things?

Tracy Picmann:

So, I mean, the craziest thing we’ve done with age was, yeah, two months, we, my youngest was two months old. We signed on the house. We moved out of our house when he was four months, I think. Is that right? No, he was six months, yeah, or just before. Moved to my parents’ house for 10 months while this house was being built. So we’ve done plenty of crazy things to this day. I’m like, I don’t know how we did that. Packed up a whole house and moved. But. So people think I’m great when I say like my kids are more and they’re almost, they’ll be this fall winter, they’ll be three and five. So they’re two and a half and almost five. they become more like we don’t have babies anymore. Like when I which I mean, even more so now, but even last October, you know, no one is doing bottles. Like, they’re pretty much sleeping. Life is a little bit more normal that I felt I could take on a new challenge. But I just kind of get creative. Actually this summer we scaled back on daycare and it ended up being a huge mistake because our younger one just decided to stop napping like a week into that because previously he would nap for two or three hours and that was you know the days they were home with me at a nice chunk of time and my other would read or do his tablet or whatever during that time. and then it just became a disaster. So I did have to do some evening work, occasional weekend, which I try not to do because that’s family time. But I don’t know, I just fit it in, different places when I get a chance to, and just get creative with time. And every once in a while I’ve said to my husband, I have to do this, or I need to leave the house for a few hours to get something done. I think the thing when I first decided to start the company, I did some coaching sessions with a photographer that I had used before who was getting into some business coaching. And I asked her, is it bad if I work at night? Because I knew that was going to happen just based on our schedule and childcare and things like that. And she goes, I don’t think it’s bad if you enjoy what you’re doing. And I thought, oh, well, that’s true. Right. And as long as your spouse is partners, okay with it. So it’s not every night I work, but I’d say like Monday through Friday, there’s a couple nights I at least sit down in my office and do a few things or catch up my to-do list or get organized. Um, but every week is totally different. It just depends what we have going on of how I fit things in.

Stephanie:

Yeah, I can totally relate to that too. We don’t have children yet, but my husband is a high school band director. So he’s got like a set schedule and there this time of year, which is marching season, football season, whatever you want to call it. Um, he works very, very late hours. So I feel okay working later hours during this time of the year, but like during the summer when he’s off, I want to be off and be able to go off and do things with him. So there’s, you know, there’s those seasons where you can. pour more into your work and then other times when you get to pour more into your family, but there is a fine line between balancing them at all times.

Tracy Picmann:

Right, right.

Stephanie:

So speaking of husbands, what does your husband do for work?

Tracy Picmann:

So he is in IT, he’s on the technology side, which is funny when we were having issues with the technology. The end of last week, he’s like, see, like this, he’s like, that’s why it’s like a crisis, right? Cause you have, you know, and he’s supporting different types of applications for their company. But when things go down, it’s affecting anyone’s workflow, right? Someone who’s running a podcast that has a set time, they’re going to do an interview. And, um, it’s. it’s a stressful area to be in because we rely so much on technology at this point in any field. But yeah, so he has no, no healthcare background. I think he knows a fair amount at this point, just hearing different things are me explaining things. And then design wise, he pretty much trusts whatever I’m dreaming up. A lot of times he says, I can’t see that or no, I don’t think that’s going to look good. And then he’s like, okay, that’s fine. So he trusts me a lot at this point. Um, but we’ll still have some funny discussions. Like when I picked all the lighting for this house, which was 30 lighting pictures that we actually did after close. because the builder just didn’t have very good options. I would sit like hours with printed out pictures of the lights, because I had to make sure they flowed throughout the house. And he was always like, oh, you’re doing the pictures again. I’m like, yep.

So he’s always a good sport, whether it’s for our house or someone else’s. He gets a little less stressed. When he said take out the tape measure, he would look really panicked. But now I have a tape measure out a lot and it’s not always for our own house, right? I’m like measuring out something in our house to visualize for someone else. So it’s always me having business. He’s like, okay, she’s not always dreaming of things for me to do or for us to buy. For other people too, which is good.

Stephanie:

Yeah, I bet that’s stress relieving for him to know that that’s not, not always the case. All right. So going back to, um, you actually choosing to start this business, you talked about being multi-passionate. So I’m assuming there’s other creative ventures that you like doing. I saw on your stories the other day that you’re getting out your Halloween decorations, which I’m so excited about because I love Halloween too. Um, so how did you decide that interior design was the way to go and not some other interests that you have?

Tracy Picmann:

So I think the difference for me, like after I launched this, actually one of my friends who’s in healthcare, she’s a physician assistant. She said, you know, I want to do something else on the side to make money. Like what are some ideas? I didn’t go into this, like looking for a side hustle. It just kind of found me. So I mean, I will say years ago when we moved into our second house and that was. blogs were still in, but kind of going, like blogs are still in, but not in the context that they were. So there was a period where I think I knew this was gonna happen, but I didn’t know what it was. And at that point I kind of started a blog and was posting about some DIY things we were doing. I was painting on a furniture then, which is also kind of going out at this point. So there was an initial seed, and that would have been, I don’t know, six, seven years ago now. Yeah. So there was a thought at one point, and then it just, nothing came of it. And then this just sort of took off on its own. So. And there was a lot, I mean, there were a lot of times I was like, I don’t have to do this. Like I shouldn’t do this before I launched my website and officially did it. All that imposter syndrome would come in. It was like for every 10 thoughts I had of you can’t do this. I would have to like pedal back and be like, Nope, this is why. I mean, at that point you think you want to do this, right?

Or, um, this feels right, but just not listening to those things and just like going along and doing it. Um. was a big, but I know there’s a lot of, like my photographer friend, she always says, it’s not just photography, it’s owning a business. So she’s like, if I’m not doing this five years down the road, I’ll be doing something else. And for me, that’s not really where it fell. It was more just, I enjoy this and it doesn’t feel like work. It’s fun, which is always important to me.

Stephanie:

Yeah. Yeah, that’s, I think that’s something good for people to keep in mind is that, you know, some people want to be working from home when they have jobs outside of the home. And they’re like constantly looking for ways to do that. I’m like, if you would just like slow down. and look at the things you’re already interested in and just continue to pursue them, then the opportunity will probably present itself at some point if it’s meant to be. Because that’s how I felt with my design business. I’ve been freelancing since 2015, but I was like always the artsy kid or whatever. So I had friends and family and teachers and stuff growing up paying me to make drawings for them or whatever. So I always knew that I was gonna do something in the creative field. I just didn’t know what that was gonna be. And that just… I didn’t get to go to school for the thing that I wanted to, which was animation originally. And I got thrown into graphic design, just not knowing what it was. And now running my own brand and website design business.

Tracy Picmann:

things, right, how things come to be. And, you know, I did very traditional formal schooling and that when I was having the imposter syndrome. the things I used when I was a new registered nurse and a new nurse practitioner, you know, and I would get those feelings, or like when I was a new nurse, I was 22, and I had a patient say to me, are you old enough to be taking care of me? And I was thinking, no, maybe not. I don’t know. We’re gonna see, you know, how this day goes. Still alive at the end of the day, it’s good.

Tracy Picmann:

But when I would get those feelings, I would… say, okay, you went to X university, you took X board exam, right? Like you’re certified in this. And I could kind of, I went to some, two top 10 universities, you know, and there are good schools, good reputation for healthcare. And I had that to stand on, whereas here I did at the beginning, I looked at, are there online interior degree programs, which there are some. Unfortunately, the local. Community college that used to have a pretty good interior design actually our contractor went there Their their program is no more. So that would have been a good option because it was here at community college It would have been affordable just at this point with kids still in our youngest is still in daycare Going for further formal training for another degree is not financially in the cards right now So then I have to lean on okay, Joanna Gaines, Shay McGee. Oh, I’m thinking of the there’s one other that I always like think of those three, and they are not formally trained in this, you know, they it’s out of passion. 

And my business mentor, she said to me when I got going, she said the world would be at a better place if we all were doing things that we were passionate about. Right. So I still have those feelings at times. I will say the interior design community in Metro Detroit, where I live, has been very accepting, but I do get intimidated sometimes where I’ll think, oh, like, are they annoyed that I don’t have a degree in this? Or I really haven’t found that to be an issue, at least not on the outside. Actually later this week. I’m meeting, she actually has a business background, but a very established interior designer that is near me that we just connected on Instagram and she said, hey, let’s grab a coffee, right? So I found it to be, actually all women in our area are like very supportive of each other’s small businesses and it’s been like, that’s been an awesome side part of this that when my business kind of. had that lull, I started going to some networking events and I’ve met now some of my closest friends that, you know, it’s kind of crazy. I’m 36 years old. 

I think for a lot of people after a certain age, you kind of don’t have new friendships, but they’re, it’s a little bit of different kind of friendship, right? Cause you can talk business strategy or branding and it’s, we’re all busy with our own things, but when we come together, you know, it’s just, it’s a ball. So. finding other women who are just like, nothing surprises them where you’re like, hey, and I’m also thinking at some point, I wanna own a co-working space. And they’re like, that would be awesome, you should do that. Whereas other people would be like, what? You’re crazy. So that’s been a really nice community to, I’m happy to be a part of at this point too.

Stephanie:

Yeah. And that’s so awesome about being in creative spaces like this, like creative industries is everyone is for the most part that I’ve found very supportive of each other, at least women are, it’s so, it’s so nice to just like, I’m in a group of, um, designers on Facebook, we’re in a course together, that’s actually how I know Brielle, um, and that’s how we got connected.

Tracy Picmann:

Yeah, Who’s our connection! I mean, isn’t that cool? So Brielle does my branding. She had done my logo. And then when things got really busy, I have a few events and things I needed some print materials for. So you start to reach that point, I need help and I need to outsource some things. So she helped me with some other things, but she’s the one who for your, I think InstaStory, you were looking for more people. And like… A lot of people would be, you guys are competitors, right? You both do branding. You’re not though, because every market is full of people that like, you’re the right person for, or she’s the right person for just location wise and people.

Stephanie:

So many factors that go into it. Yeah. I just, I just love it. Love it. So, um, okay. You’re still pretty early on. So do you think, let me backtrack. So what were your initial expectations of running a business alongside your part-time job and where are you working full time before you started your business?

Tracy Picmann:

So I was, I worked full time before kids and I actually had planned when I had my first to go back, I think originally my boss I had said, I’m gonna come back four days and then with a few months I’ll come back to five. When I was on maternity leave, another nurse practitioner kind of got in a situation that wasn’t gonna work longterm. So she’s on the phone with me one day, like sort of venting. And I said, you know, let me talk to my husband. I am not like holding my baby, right? And I’m like, I’m not sure I want to come or go back full time. Like just now that he’s here, I’m not sure that’s going to make sense for us, but we got to crunch some numbers and maybe I can talk to my boss and we can figure out the schedule together and job share. So did that for. I guess three and a half years. So I’ve always worked like roughly three, two to three days. Um, I’m actually in a new position as of last, uh, winter, February. And there I do, I work Tuesday, Thursday in office, and then I do Friday’s telehealth from home. And when I went for that interview, I had dabbled a little in some telehealth. It was a startup. It was sort of a disaster, but yeah, in, in a lot of ways it was, how do I, how is my schedule a little bit more flexible for when my kids are in school? and there’s more set activities and things I want to be doing. So they, my current employer really listened in that interview because they were the one when they sent over the offer that they’re like, and Fridays, we’re going to let you work from home. And I was like, wow, okay, this is amazing.

And not that my old position was really quite flexible and accommodating with kids as well. But now like there’s even times where I say, Hey, you know, can we start me an hour earlier, because I got to get out an hour earlier for whatever. Um, or my kids were sick. My husband usually stays with them, but he just had some things he couldn’t work out. So we had to shift and they like were very accommodating. Moved my patients to the next day. Like, so that is a, like, they get a lot of credit for me being able to do all these things, right, because they do work with me and they’re supportive. Um, and as of right now, I’m really enjoying doing both. Maybe do I need to hire some help at some point? Yes. Um, it’s, there’s a lot of things in my entire life. I’m so guilty of that. 

I say like, I won’t do this. And then I do like kid wise, I was like, I’m not going to work. And I even said this when I was like in undergrad studying nursing, I was like, maybe stay at home. Mom, I’m, my kids are never going to ride the bus. They’re never going to go to when I was kid, it was called Latch Key. like after-school care, it’s called SAC now, school-aged care. But they’re not gonna do all these things. So I’ve worked my entire time at FedKids. My oldest will take the bus next year and two days a week he is in after-school care. So it’s kind of the same with my business. I said I’m never gonna want to have an employee. I, this is a year ago now, I never want like a an office or a storefront. And now I’m like, okay, maybe those things will happen at some point. Not in the next six months. But it just it’s I don’t know why I don’t learn after this long in my life to not say never this never that or be so because once you get into different things, it just you know, shapes into whatever it’s meant to be. So I don’t know what the next five years of business looks like. And that’s kind of exciting. And I’m just hoping things like come up as they make sense.

Stephanie:

Yeah. I’m with you on that. I hate when people ask the question like, where do you see yourself in five years, in 10 years? I’m like, I have no idea. Like who actually knows? Things change every day.

Tracy Picmann:

Right, hopefully happy. Like I want to be happy. That’s the goal, right? Like, and if, and if I’m like feeling like I’m not, you shift and make different decisions, but I do think in a lot of ways, me working for the telehealth startup, that was the first new thing I had done in seven years. So like before my first like patient appointment, my husband was like, what is going on with you? I was a nervous wreck because I hadn’t, it was like all the software and all the different places I had to like order meds and do different things. It was so over. but I realized it was overwhelming because I hadn’t been challenged. You know, of course I’d been challenged at the time. I had two kids. Like, there was tons of change, but in my work life I hadn’t been challenged. And probably working for that company, you know, made me shift where I’m working for my ANP job and then gave me the guts, if you will, to do this. Because once you try one thing new, you’re like, okay, I didn’t die. Right? It was scary.

But… Like starting my current NP office job, like I wasn’t nervous, but probably had a not done, you know, launched the business and worked for another company. It would have been way more overwhelming.

Stephanie:

Yeah. On the, uh, on the topic of overwhelming, how has your support system like affected your ability to do your part-time job and run your business? And what has that been like for your, uh, like immediate family, your kids and your husband? Um, do your parents help with you or do you have friends and stuff that help out with things when things go awry? Cause they always do just like.

Tracy Picmann:

My husband’s super supportive and I mean, communication is the biggest thing. Like our older one starting, I mean, between me, I think we’re doing well because we’ve had a lot of change and just like we sit down, whether it’s like a formal sit down or just like get two seconds to go, okay, and then you’re going to have to do drop off and I’m going to do pick up and You just get in whatever the new schedule is with like our oldest being in, you know, full Monday through Friday school at this point. And so, so just being flexible, both of us and finding out what works for each of us has really been the trick. We do have grandparents around. So like today actually getting my hair cut. So my mother-in-law is picking our oldest up from school because he’s you know done mid-afternoon and he’s been talking about it for a week like. One is Magda is what he calls her, but Grandma, gonna pick me up from school. So he’s like super pumped. So little things like that, having family close is super helpful, but also just to be able to get away, to make sure that my husband and I have time together. Like we went to the west side of the state last weekend to see a comedian, just had a night away. So I think that support system, even if it’s not business or work related always, being able to like hold like keep our relationship important after kids has is a huge thing right and we don’t have a set date night or anything but at least a few times a month we need to try and have some meals that no one’s asking us for anything or sitting on our lap or overstimulating

Stephanie:

Yeah.

Tracy Picmann:

us um and then the subdivision that i live in is and you know we’ve been here since april so we’re lucky or april 2022 so um, a year and a half and we just have the best neighbors. Like we’re so right before school started, I don’t even remember why a neighbor behind us who’s become really a close friend, you know, she knew I was overwhelmed and she’s like, do you want me to do your back to school shopping? You know, like just even if you don’t utilize it, having that community that you know, will help you with anything,

Like knowing they’re there, even if you don’t need it is, is huge. Like We were feeling kind of sick the other week. Our COVID tests were expired, you know, and I like sent out texts to a couple of friends and like there’s COVID test was delivered to my house, right? You know, like her daughter walked over. Um, so even when it’s not like physically helping, knowing you have that. Support or option behind you, I think is a huge part of just what makes our life. Work and not be as. as it looks from the outside or that everything I’m doing looks less crazy. So yeah, that’s like without all of that there’s no way that I could be doing this. We did also because I’ve been so busy, my youngest was just going to do daycare three days a week but we, not that I wanted to spend the money but current system numbers and I said no, like in order to be on top of my work he needs to go four days. So like childcare is just a huge, I mean it’s an insane in this country. It’s terrible, but we just have made it work.

Stephanie:

Yeah. I think you made a really good point about you having really good neighbors that are a part of your support system. Cause I think so many people think they can’t either do whatever it is that they’re wanting to do, whether that’s running a home-based business or working multiple jobs, whatever it is. They think that their only support system can be their family. And if they don’t live in your family, then they don’t have anyone. I’m like, no, you can reach out around you. Like there’s people all around you that will be willing to help if you just make a relationship with them. And even having like online business friends that just get what you’re doing and being able to vent to them or get advice when you are in a sticky situation or whatever, that’s so helpful.

Tracy Picmann:

Yeah, well, and I didn’t list, you know, my business owning friends. That’s huge too. Actually this week, one of my closest friends who I met at my first networking event, she has started like another group. So their second monthly meeting is this Thursday. And last month at the meeting. I was I was a little overwhelmed right and I had kind of said to my husband I’m gonna have to work a Saturday or Sunday coming up here which he doesn’t like he’s always it’s not because we have kids and he doesn’t want to take care of him he’s always been like that when I worked weekends as a nurse he hated it he was like this I’m off like I want us to be off together. Even then if it was lounging on the couch, right? I get it. But I was having I think I wasn’t communicating enough to him Certain things like breaking things down and it’s not that he wasn’t being supportive It just I was having a tough time and I went to this group and there were just a few different Topics that came up that I like had tears in my eyes because I was like, oh god, I’m not alone, right and that’s Huge and I think to like hearing you’re not alone. That gives you the okay This is not singular to me or us. What do we need to communicate differently to make this work? Essentially.

So yeah, that’s been, if you are looking to start a business or you already own a business and are feeling you know, siloed, just start trying to figure out what the networking groups are around you or go to that first networking event. And you’ll just from there, you’ll find other groups, you know, you’ll meet someone who also does networking groups. And honestly, in our area, now that I like I don’t have time to go to everything. I go to what I think is going to like help me personally and professionally the most. But you can burn yourself out doing that too. But once you go to that first one, you make some good connections, it really can help.

Stephanie:

Yeah. And if you don’t have, um, local networking events, like I live in a super rural area, not, you know, as populated as the Detroit area. So if I’m wanting to go to like a. Networking event that would be worth my time going to it’s an hour. One way to get to that event.

Tracy Picmann:

It’s a huge time commitment.

Stephanie:

Yeah. So what’s been helpful for me is Facebook groups is finding people that are either local or. It really doesn’t matter if they’re international or whatever, just someone that is in a space that, uh, in a similar space to you, whether that’s just working from home moms or, um, whatever your specific industry is, just having someone to talk to about the things that not everyone else is going to get because they’re not like, if you’re working a nine to five, like job in a cubicle somewhere every day. That’s not the same as running your own business and working part-time job and taking care of your kids and all of that. There’s so many different things that go into all of that not everyone’s going to get. So you’ve got to find your people and that’s sometimes in person and that’s sometimes online. And that’s the great thing about the internet is that we get to choose to do one or both.

Tracy Picmann:

Yeah, yeah, exactly. Well, and I think the other thing that’s about networking with other women is a lot of time we all think we have to like you said a different even if it’s a different country or um one of my closest friends she owns the gym I go to now um which has helped shape and get like not just physically but like get back in a gym post kids like meeting her was meant to be right but so she’s 10 years younger than me doesn’t have kids yet and what’s funny is sometimes you’ll be seeing an event and this one event in particular, everyone I was sitting with, which was her, some of her contacts, and then, some other people I didn’t know. And I looked around there like, who has kids? And I, you know, rose my hand. I was like, oh my God, I’m the only person at this table. I feel so old that has a kid, right? But, but those other girls are probably looking around going, Oh, all these people have kids, right? Like whatever you are thinking, whoever is the opposite of you is thinking the same in reverse, right? Like they’re this because, or they’re so much further ahead than me in life because they have kids or no, like we all have the same struggles. We all are being just as humans. We are. Insecure in whatever. is we’re not. And that doesn’t make any sense, right? Like we all are in different life stages, but that’s the thing, like a close friend, she wants to have kids, you know, and I’ll be here for her. Like I’ve given her, you can’t actually, until people have kids, okay, an old coworker has a, I think six month old, and she texts me a few days after she had the baby and she goes, why doesn’t anyone tell you how hard this is? And I said, because you wouldn’t believe it, right? Like you can’t, and that should not tell people not to have kids, it is like, whether you want them or not, don’t, that’s great, but it is super rewarding, but it is super hard. I’ll get to be that support person for these friends that I were like as they start to have kids, right? That you can say like the things you don’t want to say to other people. Like I’m questioning if we should have done this. Trust me, I did that.

Stephanie:

Yeah.

Tracy Picmann:

I was so happy with our first, but I was like looking around and I was like, well, we used to travel. We’re never going to do that. We’re never going to sleep again. Like, you know, just things that, and your hormones are crazy and whatever, but to, to normalize for, for people. So I think that’s a cool place to be. like watching her fresh marriage, you know, they just celebrated their one year. So that’s meeting people in different life stages, but you all have things in common and you can help each other in different ways has been really great too.

Stephanie:

Yeah, I love that. And people younger than you can be, quote unquote, ahead of you, as far as life stages go, and you can still learn from them too, which is awesome. Because I mean, there’s plenty of people that are my age or older that don’t have kids that want them. But then I know people younger than me that already have like seven or eight kids, so they’ve got a lot more experience in that area.

Tracy Picmann:

Right. Yeah, we’re all doing things at different times and that’s okay, right? And yeah, like, I mean, business-wise, my friend 10 years younger than me, this is her third gym location, or like her third, like, she’s, you know, increased her space. So yeah, like business-wise, she’s crushing it and a decade younger than me, right? So, everyone just doing things in their own time. and not comparing is super important.

Stephanie:

Yeah. So on that topic, do you have any final words of encouragement or advice or whatever for those that are struggling either to start a business or maintain their business while raising a family and or working another job? Cause I think that’s a really unique perspective you have is working a very high level job alongside running a business and raising your family. So just any words of encouragement you have.

Tracy Picmann:

Um, I mean, especially when it comes to the family. side of things, they’re, my kids come first ahead of everything, right? Like even if there’s design work that was going to be out at a certain time, you know, kids were sick, like, and actually most of my clients have kids so they understand. So it was like at times they’ll take a really long time to get back to me on something. And sometimes I just have to send a message and say I’m running behind. So like that is family is always number one, So keeping that at the highest point. But getting started. I mean as far as getting started because of that imposter syndrome that I had that last summer early fall, because it was October 20th is my one year holding that date close which were like just a little over a month from that.

I listened to a lot of podcasts and my favorite were, not always necessarily business stories, but we have a Peloton. So Tunde is one of the instructors. She was on a podcast with one of my favorite podcasts and her story is crazy. She tried out to be a Peloton instructor, I think three times. And so just like, even if it wasn’t related to design, it helped me push through that imposter syndrome to hear other people’s stories. Cause I think we all, in that comparison game we all do, we just expect that everyone was successful from the start. And they weren’t, right? Like they all started somewhere, but I think it’s hard. to get your mind around that. But so find whatever it is, whether it’s a certain podcast, talking to other people in the business area you want to be in, which I’m continuing to do more of now. I am doing some coaching with a different, very well established interior designer around here. know, there’s things where I want my business to grow into a certain thing. And she’s like, reminding me that’s how I was where you are, you know, like, and it will grow and it will get there and you’ll get this type of client at some point and just reminding yourself, I’m still at the beginning. I has a huge thing when that like creeps in where I’m like, I shouldn’t be doing this, why am I doing this? Right. Um, and yeah, I don’t really know how I separate the two jobs. I just. somehow shift my mind and you know that’s not to say on the Tuesday, Thursday when I work like I check my email when I’m eating lunch and if there’s a client you know I’ll shoot them back an email but when I’m there to be an NP I’m not like thinking the design stuff I’m just there to do that job. in my mind, I must just be able to switch gears. It probably is easier because I think once you do become a parent, you just you have to figure things out. Like I say that all the time, like with the first kid, we’re like, how are we going to pay for this daycare? And then the second one, you’re like, how are we possibly going to pay for two? I don’t know, you just do, like, because you have to figure things out as you go along. So that’s probably helped me to just be like, it’s all going to be okay.

Stephanie:

Yeah. I think that your mindset as an interior designer too, probably helps you compartmentalize, like based on your surroundings. So that’s something that’s really important to me is environmental design. Because if I am in a place that is like too dark and I feel stuffy or whatever, I don’t feel creative and it’s hard for me to do my work there. But Like now I’m in a new office and I’m like in the middle of a renovation. So it looks terrible in here, but if, as long as I just focus on my screen, then I can get things done. And I know when I come to sit at my desk that I’m coming here to work. And when I get up and go do something else in the house, I’m doing housework. I’m trying not to think about work out there.

And that’s because of the separation of the rooms. And so I feel like that maybe that’s. somehow related to how you’re able to like do all of this so well, because when you’re at your job, you’re, you’re away from it, like you sure you can check things on your phone, but you are in a completely different environment that is not related to what you’re doing as a business.

Tracy Picmann:

Yes, yeah, for sure. And actually, your podcast that I think went live last week, you guys did talk a bit about how important that like work environment, home environment and you know, there’s some people who think interior design home, I mean, it is like, especially hiring someone like it’s, it’s a, it’s a high level service, right, to be able to. to hire someone to do things. At the point I am in my business, I do try and get my clients discounts where I can. So I do try and like offset my cost, but still it’s not a necessity. And some people see home design as… just, yeah, just an unnecessary thing. But like my home is not designed for other people to come and enjoy it, right? Like the most expensive light fixture I have in my house is over my bathtub. And my mom was like, really? Like, no one’s ever gonna see it. I said, I’m going to see it. Like even the, like, I was just thinking about this the other day, even the days where I am gone all day, I am in my bath, if I’m like not home much of the day, I’m in my bathroom the most, right? Like in the morning I get ready. end of the day I shower, you know, whatever.

Um, but I want to create somewhere that’s comfortable, cozy for our family. And of course, you know, if we have people over or someone who sees pictures in my house, like it’s advertising at this point, you know, if they like the look. So I guess, but I’m still not, you know, before I launched this business, I still was like this with all our homes. Like sometimes, I remember one time we went to my husband’s co-worker’s house or something, this was years ago. Walked in and like, there was like a picture frame, like sort of hanging off the wall and like. things were partially painted and I said, I was like, they just move in here? And he’s like, no. And I was like, it was very confusing to me that they just didn’t care, which there are people that are like that and that’s totally fine. But to me, like you were saying, my environment is so important to me being calm and organized and it just, I wanted to reflect who we are, who I am and be cozy.

Stephanie:

Yeah. And even if you’re not there all the time, like I am, I’m here, you know, the majority of my days, because this is all I do, I work from home. I’ll sometimes go to a coffee shop or whatever, but that’s even still environmentally based because I go to a coffee shop that I like the environment there that I feel inspired by. And it’s nice to be there and get that like change of pace. But even if you’re not at home that much, when you are there, you need to be, you know, comfortable and cozy and like. the place that you live in. It doesn’t have to be done super expensively, especially if you’re just moving into a new home and you just got married or you’re a college student going into your first house or whatever. Things can be done simply and beautifully at the beginning and then you can increase your budget for home design over time, right?

Tracy Picmann:

Yeah, and like, so home design, so my parents were just over last night, they haven’t been over in a little while, and I put these two new cabinets in our living room. And it like looks like one piece because I put them close together. Each cabinet was 200 bucks. It’s $400 for this. And it’s, I ordered them through Home Depot. Like, and if you tell someone that, like I put $400 worth of cabinet from Home Depot in my living room, like what you picture would be horrifying, right?

No, they’re beautiful. My mom was like, how do you find these things? I’m like, cause it’s my job. I’m looking all the time. I actually picked them for clients. They have three of them. And he’s super budget kind. and like to be like these are gonna look great right which is kind of funny because we’re putting together at the same time they were kind of a pain to put together but they look fantastic they have that like McGee and co look to them there it’s faux wood but they’re black but the inside has this like gorgeous faux looking wood that looks really real but that’s a big part of I, at times I get a little frustrated at this point because I’m a little, I’m at a crossroads, right? Like the biggest money is, is doing full home design for like high end clients, right? Or working for a high end builder. Um, which I want to do at some point, but I’m so enjoying shopping for clients the way I shop for myself because we have that crazy daycare payment. We also like going on vacation a lot. We’re obsessed with Disney. We go way too often. We talk about all the time how we have to slow down and then we just don’t.

But there are just other things that are more important than spending $6,000 on a side piece, right? So I enjoy being like, hey, you know, I picked this out and then they see the pricing and they’re like, wow, this is incredible. So that’s like high level advice for anyone like in a new home or homemaking. Do not think you need to… to be like only shopping restoration hardware really. I don’t have a single restoration hardware thing in my house because I’ve never found anything that seemed affordable enough to me. Um, so yeah, home design can be very in reach. You just have to know the right places to look.

Stephanie:

Yeah, know what you’re looking for. Yeah. So on that note, let’s get into some rapid fire questions. So where do you get your design inspiration from?

Tracy Picmann:

Um, so it’s a mix. I wouldn’t, you know, a lot of people have their set people they go to. I will say when I, so when I started, I was not into home design until we owned our first house. So that was like when Joanna Gaines was like really taking off. So I will say starting out, that was where I learned a lot of things. Um, But then it’s just kind of shifted really when I’m designing for other people, I’m getting the inspiration from, from them. Like one of my clients who I’ve done quite a few rooms for, she likes a lot of color and not like crazy color, but a fair amount of color more than I usually do. And she’s pulling me out of like my neutral zone. Like I just ordered a green velvet chair for our living room, which is like crazy. I’ve never had like something with color. So my inspiration at this point is definitely coming from what my client’s like

Um, yeah, I guess that’s, that’s it. It just depends on the room, what, you know, what the goals are. And I start with one piece and then I kind of go from there.

Stephanie:

Awesome. Yeah, I love that. Okay, so what is your favorite non-work related thing to do? Like not related to your MP job, not related to interior design. What do you like to do that’s not those two things?

Tracy Picmann:

Uh, go to Disney.

Stephanie:

I kind of saw that one coming!

Tracy Picmann:

Yeah. I mean, traveling in general. Um, yeah. And people think we’re crazy. I’m like, no, we were going one to two times a year to Disney or Universal Studios, even pre-kids. My sister lives in South Carolina. So see, you know, every time we leave them, we’re planning when we’re going to see each other next. And we have kids very close in age. Actually, our first kids are 32 hours apart.

Stephanie:

Oh wow.

Tracy Picmann:

Because of a mix of events that made that happen. So, but there are Disney Universal people. So that’s, it’s like, we could go to each other’s house to see each other, or we could all go on vacation to Disney. So, but yeah, any traveling like for our five year anniversary, six years ago, my husband and I did like a long Europe trip and… Pre kids I swear like once a month we are going somewhere just to visit friends in different states for a long weekend So yeah, just traveling in general is tops for us

Stephanie:

Yeah, we love traveling too. We don’t really go too far off, but any chance we get, we are going down to the Gulf Coast to go to the beach. So that’s like our go-to place.

Tracy Picmann:

Yeah. Get away, I love it.

Stephanie:

All right. So what is a book or a podcast or other resource that has helped you in either your business, just life or motherhood, whatever.

Tracy Picmann:

Um, yes. So the podcast I mentioned earlier is called gold digger, G O a L digger. And it’s Jenna Kutcher. She started, she’s from Minnesota. She started as a photographer. She did weddings and at this point does not do photography. She does essentially business coaching, different courses has this. She’s Uber successful has a whole team. Um, And she might, she does have a book out too, who my photographer friend didn’t care for. Like she didn’t finish reading it. She said it just wasn’t speaking to her. So I think the other thing is finding someone that every time you hear them, you feel inspired, right? Cause there’s other podcasts that I’ve tried and. Maybe there’s a couple episodes that really get me, but at this point, like if I’m not feeling engaged, I just turn it off and listen to something else. But that’s literally never happened during one of her podcasts. So for me, she has been my go to inspiration. But fine, you know, whether it’s her, someone else, you got to find that like one person whose podcast really connects with you.

Stephanie:

Yeah. Over the years I’ve gotten about, I don’t know, three, four, maybe five podcasts that speak to me like that. And hers is one of those, um, I’d say for me it’s Gold Digger podcast and then the lazy genius podcast with Kendra Adachi. I love her stuff because it’s always on point. I, if you like Jenna’s stuff, you will like Kendra’s because, um, hers is always more life related than business. So she’s speaking to more of the general public than she is just to business owners. And I like that mix. It’s, it’s so good. And she’s got two books also that are really, really great. So just throwing that one out there. Cause I love her so much. I listened to one of her podcasts this morning.

Tracy Picmann:

Awesome, okay, all right. I’ll be listening to one of hers on the way to work tomorrow.

Stephanie:

Yes. All right. So this is a new question that I want to start asking just because of the name of my podcast. Um, what does being a homemaker in business mean to you?

Tracy Picmann:

Hmm. That you have help. Is that a weird thing to say? But, um, I mean, my husband, I, I am very fortunate. He, we are both neat people. He is a neater person than I am. He tries to clean. I’m very messy. I’m not. He’s just, yeah, he vacus more than I do. Um, so, but having help in that it’s only once a month, but we have a cleaning lady to do like the, the deep. stuff right um which being in our current house is just bigger than others it’s more of an investment than we’ve paid in other houses but you know my husband’s like oh this is like so much money i’m like but we need i need it right and this was even before i started my business i was like i don’t want to spend weekends not with the kids because one of us are cleaning um so i know that sounds crazy but like homemaker in business it’s just like you could not do this if you don’t have the support.

So those two words together equal like, I hate when people say it takes a village because nobody has a village, right? And I’m pretty lucky. I think if anyone does, I feel like I have a lot of support, but it’s getting creative with how you do things, spend your time. And yeah, having someone who’s homemaking alongside of you. and sharing the responsibilities. Like when my husband works from home three days a week, so often he’ll do the kids’ laundry when he’s home. And yeah, so partner help, I think is the main thing there.

Stephanie:

Yeah, I love that. Now that’s an awesome description because you really can’t do everything by yourself. You have to have help and whether that’s someone that’s listening as a single mom or just single in general, you still have to have help in life. You can’t do everything on your own. If you’re working a full-time job, if you’re working a business, if you’re working a business and a job, you have to take some things off of your plate to be able to just take a breath and breathe sometimes.

Tracy Picmann:

Yeah, no, and I have a handful of friends who are, and maybe I should ask them more questions about how they do it, that are single moms or divorced with young kids and are running very successful businesses. I think emotionally it’s definitely more just based on their Instagram accounts. It’s definitely more texting. So yeah, I couldn’t speak to that, how they do it. I don’t know. People look at me and don’t know how I do it. And I’m like, this is how I have support. But.

Stephanie:

Yeah. I think that’s why it’s so important to hear other people’s stories is to just see that most people aren’t doing it by themselves. It may look like that from their Instagram profiles or their YouTube or whatever it is that they’re doing, but most people have help behind the scenes in some capacity.

Tracy Picmann:

Yes. Yeah, for sure. No, and like, I think the other thing too, and this might just be a broad thing. Don’t, with not comparing yourself, you know, there are moms out there who are like, making all sorts of craft things or, um, I can’t even think, just like, coming up with creative things all the time. I don’t, that’s not me. Um, and… I don’t beat myself up about it, right? Like my husband for my kiddo, he’s in transitional kindergarten, junior kindergarten. So he like, my husband remembered to order the board where you write in the like teacher’s name and what do I want to be when I grew up? Right. Cause some of those things I do drop the ball on and my husband has like, has caught them at this point because I just can’t do all of the things.

Stephanie:

And you’re already using a creative part of your brain for your business too. So that’s an energy that gets drained very quickly, at least in my experience it does. Like I have to be alone for a while and like not talk to anyone. Like I just need my brain to like recharge and come, be able to come up with more ideas.

So Tracy, it’s been awesome having you on the. Last thing I’ll ask is for you to tell everyone where they can connect with you, hire you, get to know you more, all that good stuff.

Tracy Picmann:

Yes, so my main place I hang out is Instagram, because I’m a millennial. So I do have a separate business account on Facebook, which is Tracy Pickman Interior Design. My Instagram is at Tracy Pickman, so T-R-A-C-Y-P-I-C-M-A-N-N, and then my website is just my name, same thing, just tracypickman.com, and that’s where you can see. packages, I do give a rough idea of pricing on each package, and I do E-Design as well. So I know we’re in different states, so I’m sure you have listeners in different states, but first, you know, call, whether we hop on a Zoom or just a regular call is completely free, and then I send a proposal, which we can always tweak. I actually just sent off an updated proposal this morning, and then we go from there.

Stephanie:

Love it. Everyone’s going to love following you. I’ve been enjoying your Instagram stories since we connected a couple of weeks ago. It’s been awesome. Well, Tracy, thank you so much.

Tracy Picmann:

Thank you for having me. It was great talking to you.