Amy Leferink – My path to becoming an interior designer:

I loved decorating and appreciated beautiful homes for as long as I can remember. I have memories of rearranging and “decorating” my bedroom as young as 5 years old. My path to actually being able to practice design full-time as a career was long and diverse, however. I went to college for finance and marketing, worked in banking, then spent several years at home with my children doing daycare during the day and doing decorating projects for people during nights and weekends. I took Interior design classes to feed my passion and learn more about the subjects that interested me. After my kids were all in school, I worked in pharmaceutical sales for several years, until I finally burned out from the travel and pressure and decided it was finally time to do what made me happy. I took a huge risk (and leap of faith), left my sales job, and intended to follow my dreams to start my own interior design business. 

UNEXPECTED LIFE CHALLENGES

Just after I left my pharmaceutical sales job and was starting Interior Impressions, life threw me a curve ball. In February of 2009, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroendocrine Carcinoma. Originally, the pathologist had diagnosed it as primary liver cancer, and I was told that I had only weeks (maybe months, if I was lucky) to live. After persistent searching and getting different opinions from the most knowledgeable physicians I could find, I found an incredible surgeon who literally saved my life. I spent about 2 years going through a radiation clinical trial in Houston and had 2 major surgeries to remove the majority of my liver, my appendix, gallbladder, and several feet of my intestinal track. I had one tumor that was 8 pounds and more than 13 others that were removed from my liver. Once I was feeling good enough, I knew that more than ever I had to pursue my dreams and spend my life doing what I loved and taking the time to do what really mattered to me. By late 2010, Interior Impressions was created and I have spent the last 13 years doing work that truly brings me joy. I am sharing this story because I truly believe that too many people spend their lives feeling stuck, unhappy, and afraid to do what they really want to do. Having cancer and understanding wholeheartedly that life is short and we cannot take even one day for granted gave me the extra push I needed to take a risk and follow my dreams.

BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE

I also believe that the path my life has taken so far wasn’t circumstantial. I know that God’s plan gave me the knowledge, experience, faith and support that I needed before I was ready to start my business. My education in marketing and finance have helped me tremendously as a business owner. Work in banking and pharmaceutical sales taught me how to understand how to work with many different types of people, manage schedules and expectations, and work as a team. Raising 5 children (3 of my own and 2 step-sons) and building 3 different homes taught me how to navigate the building process and to truly understand creating a “family-friendly” environment for our clients. Every experience I have had has taught me something that has benefited me in life. Even the most difficult things, like going through cancer, divorce, re-marriage, blending families, losing a parent, raising teenagers, etc. all have been for a reason. Each of these experiences have given me a skill, a lesson, or a perspective that has made my life better in some way. We can either look at hardships and feel sorry for ourselves, or we can feel gratitude for what the experience has done for us.

MY VALUES AS A DESIGNER

When it comes to my design work, the values I hold surrounding family and the importance of home are at the center of my work, always. I love the individuality of each project, each client, each family, and I love helping them make their home a place that they really love. Our childhood is such a critical element of who we are. My heart feels happiest when I know that I have helped to make someone’s home more comfortable, beautiful and a place that they enjoy spending time in. I think of all of the family holidays they’ll want to host and all of the fun nights with friends that they’ll experience.

WOMEN THROUGH HISTORY

As I think about women’s history, I can’t help but reflect on some statistics that I read recently about women-owned businesses. It’s hard to believe that it hasn’t actually been that long in history that women weren’t even allowed to own businesses. Here are some mind-blowing stats:

• In 1971 (only 52 years ago) a woman was not allowed to get a credit card in her own name, and wasn’t guaranteed that they would not get fired for getting pregnant. Additionally, women could not obtain health insurance at the same monetary rate as a man.
• Prior to 1988, women were not allowed to take out a business loan without the signature of a male relative.
• Women-owned businesses are on the rise, but they still comprise a small percentage of privately owned companies in the US. In 2018, women owned less than 20% of businesses. 
• As of 2019, there were 13 million women-owned businesses in the US, employing approximately 10 million people, generating over 1.8 trillion dollars in revenue. 
• Today, only 20% of small business owners (male or female) have an average income over $100,000/year.
• As of 2022, women-owned businesses have average annual revenue of approximately $1.6M (for all industries), whereas male-owned companies average $3.2M in revenue, double that of women-owned businesses.

Things are improving, but we still have a long way to go!!

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS!

I know the saying is cliché, but I truly believe it! My advice to anyone would be to share your dream with others. You will be surprised to find that an infectious energy will happen as people that care about you will want you to succeed and will do whatever they can to help you. Seek out mentors, learn from those who have paved the way. Don’t try to do everything yourself. Surround yourself with positive, energetic, good people. Minimize your exposure to negativity. Join groups of like-minded people. If you can’t find one – start one! I always tell my kids that the best thing they can do is to find a way to make money doing something they love. You’re never to old to do it! 

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Wishing you a blessed and happy year ahead,

Amy