"Some of the most beneficial business and career lessons I have learned over the years have centered around managing financial matters. After leaving the corporate design world and a steady paycheck to embark on my own interior design start-up, I quickly discovered that dealing with cash flow and any unexpected financial challenges was going to be not only important, but perhaps my biggest challenge as a business owner operating a boutique design studio. Embracing frugality, saving for future expenses, maintaining low overheads, and creatively marketing on a modest budget were all business practices I knew I had to adopt from the beginning."