Irene Interviews Debbie Blott Founder of The Decorcafe

Raising Successful Kids Podcast

In today's episode of the Raising Successful Kids Podcast, your host Irene interviews the professional interior designer, writer and founder of "Decorbuddi" Debbie Blott. She is the founder of Decor cafe and has experienced raising 3 children as well, a 24-year-old son and 22-year-old twin girls. She discusses the history of the Decor Cafe, how it started, how it became successful, and how it has been helping creative people and people who need creative people to make their homes creatively beautiful. They also talk about how Debbie raised her children as a successful entrepreneur. Learn more about Debbie as she shares her journey and experience with motherhood and as an entrepreneur.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The Decor Cafe. Debbie is the founder of this community. It is composed of like-minded creative people. Their goal is to inspire people to create their own home or their own home business so it is quite unique.
• The original concept of the workshop is to help people create something that suited them. Most often people don’t have the time or experience to do that. So, you need talented and experienced people to help them. That is where the network started growing. Decor cafe has a network and a history of interior designers who can help people to create a home that suits them.
• Creating an environment for a child for individuality and space. It's important that you create an environment which is best for them. They begin to evolve there and develop themselves. It is recognizing and understanding the difference between you as the parent should be imposing on your child for their own health and well-being and when to let go and actually to let them have their own space and universe.
• Matching people. What they look for in are in their network are matching people who've got complementary skills and finding the right people to help you. So typically, a lot of what she's doing is matching people rather than taking things herself.
• Bringing up children as an entrepreneurial mom. Debbie would say that a key thing for bringing up her children was very much about allowing them to be who they are and find out who they are and just try and support them in that when. When it comes to entrepreneurial, her kids would say, mum, you know I don't want to turn that into a business or no Mum I don't want to do that. Just in terms of bringing them up. Debbie just thinks the most important thing or one of the most important things is to allow them to be you know who they want to be and encouraging them in the direction that they want to take.
• Inspiration. Debbie is inspired by everyone around her, her children, her family, and the network that she is involved in the individuals within that are incredible and they've started up original businesses and have the most amazing things. She is also inspired by people who have dedicated themselves to bring up their own children and still find time to be themselves.
• Marrying business and raising up children. The challenges around both of quite have a commonality in them. Debbie thinks in both cases, you need to be kind to yourself and be realistic and allocate time to each.
• Frank Gehry. If Debbie would be given a chance to sit down, have coffee and have a conversation with someone, it would be Frank Gehry, the architect. He is someone that has clearly got an extraordinary created brain. Debbie would love to know more about him.
• Choice of Break. A remote secluded beach. Debbie would choose somewhere probably that was quite rugged remote, and dramatic.
• Perfect day. It would involve exploring something new with her family. Discovering and experiencing new things together.
• Raising Successful Kids. It is about helping your children know who they are and to find their place in the world. How they want to contribute to the world in a way that suits them. It's about finding a balance between supporting them in their own exploration and giving them as much possible opportunity and education as you can. Just giving them as much possible opportunity as you can. To do as many different things as they can so that they can find the things that they enjoy.

BEST MOMENTS

“There is so much opportunity in every person that you meet. I'm always blown away by the skills that they have and the potential for supporting each other developing their own businesses and that was in any way.”

“I think it's been a really positive experience for them to have a role model of a mother who is doing something has set up something for herself.”

“We tend to beat ourselves up about not doing good enough job on bringing up of children not doing enough... We're doing a really good job. If we are kinder to ourselves and are more relaxed then we will be more confident in ourselves, and we will be more confident in ourselves that breeds more success whether it's in supporting your children or in grow ing your business.”

ABOUT THE HOST
Irene Santineer is a working mum of an entrepreneurial child and shares a passion with her husband to see him succeed. She’s the creator and host of the raising Successful Kids Podcast which aims to help parents, educators and mentors effectively guide children towards success.

CONTACT METHOD

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Irene-Santineer-1827282224265825/

Twitter https://twitter.com/irenetwin1

ABOUT THE GUEST
Debbie Blott’s career began at ICI Dulux, creating and launching new colour ranges, introducing the concept of non-glossy paint for woodwork, Satinwood and developing retail colour strategies such as John Lewis and B&Q. Since then, Debbie has spent most of her working life supporting and marketing creative businesses and is passionate about helping people to start-up and run their own original businesses.

Debbie is also the founder of “Decorbuddi” a bite-sized approach to interior design making it easier for people to create a more personal home. She is also a writer, mainly on the topic of interior design.