Four Courses that Changed My Life- Could They Change Yours?

I want to tell you about four courses that changed my life for the better. Maybe one of them might help you change your life as well.

The Staging Diva Home Staging Training Course

The first course is the Staging Diva Home Staging Training Program. Many years ago I got my BA in Interior Design but later took a different path for a while as a wildlife biologist. I decided later in life that I wanted a more creative career and decided to revisit being an Interior Designer. I wasn’t sure how to get back into this field after so many years had gone by.

I thought learning how to be a home stager might be a great way to get my feet wet and get back into the design world.

It is a fantastic training that teaches you how to start and run a home staging business. It doesn’t focus on how to decorate rooms and assumes either you have that skill or you don’t. This program is more about how to set up the business, how to deal with clients, finances, marketing, technology and a variety of other things.

This training helped me get my business for Home Staging and Interior Design off to a great start. Over time, I have seen a lot of home stagers that have taken other courses that seem to always be struggling with how to successfully run their business and make money at it. While other programs focus more on how to stage rooms or style bookshelves, it seems they don’t tell people how to run the business.

Deborah Gould is a marketing ninja and everything that she teaches I have seen proven true over time. Her courses are great and you can listen to them numerous times and always learn something new.

I still enjoy ongoing support from Deborah and an amazing group of her graduates. I continue to be involved in Staging Diva calls every two months which I always learn something new and is part of her membership which provides a listing in her home staging directory.

Deborah is very supportive, knowledgeable, a wonderful mentor and coach with great sense of humor. I highly recommend her course over any other staging program out there and I researched all of them. Great for anyone wanting to start a home staging business. Check out her course by clicking below.

Camp Chroma- The Four Pillars of Color

Maybe you read blogs by color experts looking for answers or just rely on what the paint store says about what colors go together. Maybe you post questions on Houzz or other forums to ask “What is the best color for my house or room” and get a list of different, but well meaning answers which are meaningless because your house, finishes and lighting are unique and what worked for others may not work for you. Maybe you think you have a great color sense and don’t need help. How has that been working for you?

I had a long journey learning about color, and I finally “get it”. I understand why people struggle with picking paint colors and why it is inevitable that most people will “mess up” and make expensive mistakes that will need to be re-painted. I’ve been there!

Finally, I found the answers I had been looking for….the science of color. I learned how color works, how color is ordered, what colors can work together and how to solve those tricky color problems. I learned that the elusive “undertone” is an incorrect term that those that do not understand color science use to describe their well meaning but subjective opinion of color by what they see. But guess what, we all physically see color differently.

I took a course, The Four Pillars of Color, with Lori Sawaya through Camp Chroma, and learned the Munsell Color System which has been around for over 100 years. It is the basis for how color is ordered, how paint colors are determined, how color looks and is made consistent in our products. Every color has a “DNA” so to speak with 4 distinct aspects that makes each color unique. Yes, it is a little complex but at the same time orderly and makes perfect sense.

This course changed my understanding and how I approach everything I do related to design! If you love color and truly want to understand it better for your own enjoyment or your business, you can’t go wrong with this course!

Edesign Tribe

As I continued my Home Staging and Interior design journey, I started hearing about Edesign or online Interior Design. Living in small town Alaska, I was interested in learning how I could work with more clients from around the world rather than just those within a reasonable driving distance. Because Edesign is a new way of doing business, it was hard to find very much information on how to do this. I took some classes and learned some things, but once I took Jenna Gaidusek’s Edesign courses, it totally opened the doors on how to really do Interior Design online. She teaches you how to do social media advertising, marketing, work with clients, set up a self-hosted website, create beautiful renderings and make money off affiliates. Jenna is a fantastic mentor and leader and has built a beautiful, supportive tribe of designers worldwide as well as a working ecosystem of designers that can help each other. So, if you have any interest in becoming an Edesigner, or if you’re already an Interior designer that wants to add additional services. I highly recommend this!

As of 2023, The Edesign Tribe was sold to MyDoma, but Jenna now trains people in a variety of Edesign skills at MyDoma.

TCP

I can not recommend this program enough if you are looking for ways to transform yourself from the inside out or transform your business to serve your clients better and make more money. Best training course I have ever taken, hands down. Check out my recent blog article, Lose Weight, Quit Smoking, Get Healthy and Peaceful Without Pain for all the details on my personal transformation and experience with this program.

https://northernlightsstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/maryann_benoit_tcp_testimonial.mp4

Get on the Waitlist for the next TCP Program. This is the best training I have ever invested in. It made a huge difference for me which is why I am sharing. I hope it can make a difference for you too.

Check out Jim Fortin’s Podcast. This is how I started and it’s free.

Listen to this podcast episode- Why Your Bad Habits are So Hard To Break. This one really helped me to change some of my eating habits and lose weight, even before joining the program.

This is a great episode too. How the Law of Attraction Repels Money and Abundance you Want.

Listen to the Master Thought Formula, which is amazing!

Check out my Online Services

Now you know some of the things that have inspired me and shaped what I do. To get the benefit of that and to create some magic and beauty in your home, check out my online design and color services, particularly my signature Aligned Design consultation.

Prices are subject to change without notice.

Call 907-362-0065 today

Pin These

Four Courses that Changed My Life- Could They Change Yours?

We are all following a path to somewhere, hopefully to becoming the person we are meant to be, doing that thing that only we can do, that makes others lives better so they pay us generously for our service.

Sometimes we know the right path and sometimes we get lost or take the long way.

Some seem to know the way intuitively, or just want to blaze a new trail for themselves.

They inspire us with ideas on which way to go in our own journey.

There are four people that have inspired me and shaped my direction the last couple years. I thank them for being the trailblazers in my life. Maybe they can help you.

When Your Trail is Leading Nowhere, Follow a Trailblazer to Happiness

My Trail

When I was younger, I wanted to be an Interior Designer. Fresh out of design school, I did some work in the field but got distracted by other adventures, travel and life. Later, I went back to school and got a second degree in wildlife biology, and worked as a wildlife biologist for 35 years.

In 2014 I decided to start a creative business and considered going back into Interior Design. You can imagine how things had changed in 35 years and what a challenge that would be to overcome. Not being one to give up easily, I found a way.

The following four trailblazers helped me make that happen and changed my life.

Note this post contains affiliate links, meaning I may make a small commission for sharing with you if you try their programs at no additional cost to you.

Home Staging Trailblazer

Debra Gould- The Staging Diva

As I considered how to get back into Interior Design after so long, I discovered home staging. I thought learning to be a home stager might be a great stepping stone back into the design world.

I found Debra Gould’s Staging Diva Home Staging Training Program online. Check out her amazing home staging courses.

Debra had a passion for decorating since she was a child but started her home staging career when she realized people would pay her to do what came naturally to her and what she loved doing! Sounds like a dream we all have! Since 2005 she has taught over 30,000 students how to make that dream come true.

Her training is fantastic and teaches you how to start and run a successful home staging business. An expert in marketing, business and home staging, she is also a fun and generous teacher and great mentor.

Staging Savvy Quiz: Do You Have the Eye of a Home Stager?

Debra is a marketing ninja and what she teaches I have seen proven true over time. Every time I listen to her course again, I learn something new.

I continue to enjoy ongoing support and mentorship from Debra along with an amazing group of her graduates. I highly recommend her courses.

I incorporated what I learned from Debra into my philosophy of Aligned Design and in my home staging services. By aligning art (creativity), science (color science) and energy (emotional connection with buyers) in my home staging projects, I have had great success in helping my clients sell fast and for more.

Color Trailblaer

Lori Sawaya of Camp Chroma- The Four Pillars of Color

Lori Sawaya of Camp Chroma. Photo courtesy of Lori Sawaya.

Lori is a color unicorn. Her super power is taking complex concepts and theories and transforming them into clear and actionable ideas and strategies. She takes complex color problems and unravels them to create understanding and beauty for her students and clients.

She created and teaches a science based course on how designers and others can use color measurements to help homeowners and property managers choose the perfect colors.

In my journey with color, I finally “got it” after taking Lori’s Four Pillars of Color training.. I understand why people struggle with picking paint colors and why it is inevitable that most people will “mess up” and make expensive mistakes if they do not understand how color really works.

This course changed how I approach everything I do related to design! Now, the science of color is a key aspect of my Aligned Design system which aligns art, science (color) and energy to make magic happen in your home.

If you love color and truly want to understand it better for your own enjoyment or your business, you can’t go wrong with this course!

Four Pillars of Color Training Course — Best Color Training EVER.

Mary Ann Benoit is the only certified color strategist in Alaska — Become a certified color strategist when you learn to become a color unicorn like Lori.

Interior Design Trailblazer

Jenna Gaidusek of the Edesign Tribe

Jenna Gaidusek or the Edesign Tribe — Jenna Gaidusek of the Edesign Tribe. Photo from Jenna Gaidusek Designs.

Jenna Gaidusek, a young entrepreneur who founded the Edesign Tribe in August of 2018 inspired me to branch out more into Interior Design after being away from it for 35 years. I wondered how I could possibly catch up as times had obviously changed. She showed me that instead of going backwards to catch up, I could be a trail blazer with her, breaking new ground into the future of Edesign, working with clients online anywhere in the world, using the latest technology to create stunning designs, renders and an easy shopping experiences for our clients. The experience is above and beyond any you can get from a big box store, thanks to Jenna’s training, innovative software and the supportive unique community she has built of designers worldwide.

Jenna teaches how to do social media advertising, marketing, work with clients, set up a self-hosted website, create beautiful renderings and make money with affiliate partners. Jenna has built a beautiful, supportive tribe of designers worldwide as well as a working ecosystem of designers that help each other.

The things I have learned as part of the Edesign Tribe have become a key part of the “art” or creative part of my Aligned Design system which aligns art, science and energy to create your perfect space.

If you are an Interior designer that wants to add additional services. I highly recommend this!

Edesign University is an absolutely fabulous course. One of the best courses I have ever taken!!!

Be a trail blazer and guide the future of Interior Design by learning the latest in Edesign.

Transformational Coaching Trailblazer

Jim Fortin and TCP

Learn to BE the person you are meant to BE with a little help from Jim Fortin and his amazing team.

I first heard about Jim Fortin when a friend recommended his podcast on transforming yourself from the inside out. And wow, what a podcast! I was hooked and started implementing some of the things I learned to transform my life for the better right away.

Some of his podcast episodes such as- Why Your Bad Habits are So Hard To Break helped me to change some of my eating habits and lose weight and quit smoking. Another great episode is How the Law of Attraction Repels Money and Abundance you Want helped me with my business. Listen to the Master Thought Formula, to learn how to control your thinking and improve your life in all ways.

I took his Transformational Coaching Program (TCP) and I can not recommend this program enough to transform yourself or your business from the inside out to be the person you are meant to be or to serve your clients better and make more money. This is the best training course I have ever taken, hands down. Get on the Waitlist for the next TCP Program.

This training inspired my Aligned Design philosophy which aligns art, science, and energy in Interior Design. It is a key part of the “energy” aspect and how I use what I call Transformative Design to create your perfect space.

Jim teaches that you need to BE the person you want in order to do the things you need to have what you want in life (Jim’s BE, DO, HAVE model), I incorporate that thinking into my Interior Designs, where we work together to determine who you want to BE and create a space that supports that.

Check out some of my blog articles, Create Your Perfect Space by Doing Nothing, and Lose Weight, Quit Smoking, Get Healthy and Peaceful Without Pain for some of my experiences with this program.

Aligned Design Trailblazer

Now I blaze my own trail to create your perfect space with my Aligned Design philosophy, which aligns art, science and energy to create magic in your home through Interior Design or Home Staging.

My philosophy was built on the things I learned from the trailblazers above, mixed with my unique creative perspective, love of color and global style design.

I am happy to blaze the trail for you to happiness in your perfect space. Start with an Aligned Design consultation to develop your plan, and then we can work on individual rooms with some of my Edesign services.

Selling your home? I can help you sell fast and for more with home staging. The right colors can also increase the sales price of your home….or reduce it.