Episode 448 LEWIS MILLER: Dealing with Burnout, Grounding Yourself, and the Business Versus the Creative

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Second-time guest Lewis Miller is the founder of Lewis Miller Design based out of New York City, and he has over 242,000 followers on Instagram as of today. He is a floral designer whose client list includes leading industry professionals in fashion, design, photography, art direction, and architecture such as Bulgari, Carolina Herrera, Mayor Blumberg, Chanel, Tiffany, Versace, Bergdorf Goodman, the Whitney Museum, and more. 

The last time that Lewis was on the show was in September of 2020 when we were still very much in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, so he talks today about some updates and new developments since then. He discusses his book Flower Flash, what his flower flashes are and why he began them, what he learned about himself and his business because of the pandemic, whether or not he plans to take on a business partner, how he thrives when challenged, and so much more!

Andy is really grateful to Lewis for coming back to the show and hopes to touch base with him again in the future. If you enjoy this interview with Lewis, please don’t keep it to yourself! Andy would be so appreciative if you would share this episode with a few people you know who might also enjoy it and would also be grateful if you were to subscribe to the podcast if you aren’t already so that you never miss a new episode! Be sure to also leave a top review wherever you listen because that really helps out the show and helps people find it!

 

This episode is sponsored by Zola, the fastest-growing wedding platform that connects today’s couples with the right planners and vendors. Zola gives wedding professionals more control, better exposure, and higher quality leads – all with competitive pricing and no annual commitment. Create your free listing at www.zola.com/andy.


Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don’t forget about Sean Low’s podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.

 

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Time Stamps

[0:00] – Today’s sponsor is Zola.

[0:42] – Andy reveals that today’s guest is returning guest Lewis Miller of Lewis Miller Design.

[2:25] – Learn a little bit about Lewis’ book Flower Flash.

[3:08] – Lewis provides a summary of what his flower flashes are.

[5:41] – Flowers, Lewis argues, have the power to bring people joy.

[6:31] – What did Lewis learn about himself and his business because of COVID?

[9:39] – Lewis does not allow himself to experience burnout.

[11:02] – Lewis explains why he could use a business partner.

[14:00] – Discover how long Lewis has been in business.

[14:50] – Lewis touches upon when he is least happiest.

[16:54] – Lewis discusses what he needs to stay grounded.

[19:23] – The second half of 2021 was especially difficult for Lewis.

[21:44] – What about the future excites Lewis?

[25:05] – Andy reveals where you can find Lewis online.

 

RESOURCES

The Wedding Biz – Episode 292 LEWIS MILLER – The “Banksy of Floral Design”
Lewis Miller – Flower Flash

 

Find Lewis:

Lewis Miller Design – Website
Lewis’ Instagram Page
Lewis’ Facebook Page


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Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment & Zola.

Episode 378 REVISIT: MINDY RICE of MINDY RICE DESIGN – Creating Feelings Instead of Just Events

When we think about wedding and event floral designs, our imagination is often limited to bouquets and centerpieces. Today, I am talking to one of the premier event designers in the world.  She sees flowers and foliage as a way to create lasting memories of events your guests will never forget. Mindy Rice, of Mindy Rice Design, is a native Californian with a creative lineage. Growing up, Mindy was taught how to think like a designer. Never feeling confined by the “rules” wedding floral arrangements like to follow, Mindy seemed to fall into the wedding business after designing events for the corporate world.

What makes Mindy unique is how she encourages her clients to step into their most daring self. She turns dreams into reality—no Pinterest board copy-cat ideas here! Today, Mindy is going to walk us through her process, from the exciting ideation stages to actually executing her most memorable pieces. She will share stories of how she has transformed a simple barn into a Redwood wonderland. Mindy will describe her favorite pieces, and how she uses color and perspective to transform any event space. Mindy’s goal is to create unique elements for each event that guests will really remember. She is not afraid to take a risk because she knows the risky pieces will always pay off. Every bloom and bough is placed thoughtfully so that guests will feel something long after the last toast and dance.

“Everybody has two personalities—who they really are, and who they dare themselves to be.” ~Mindy Rice

Today is not just about flowers and spectacle! Mindy and I will chat about what it means to own our own business, and how we can successfully balance our creative endeavors with family life. The event design business sometimes feels as though it could take over everything! Mindy embraces the life she’s been given and chooses jobs that will both fulfill her creatively and best support her family. Mindy is inspiring in so many ways, and I know she is going to transform the way you’ve always thought about flowers. Expect the unexpected when Mindy is around!

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Episode 161 THE NEXT LEVEL: RACHEL BIRTHISTLE Discusses KIANA UNDERWOOD/TULIPINA: Setting Fear Aside to Embrace Ambition and Find That Spark of Creative Genius

In this episode of The Next Level, Andy Kushner and guest co-host, Rachel Birthistle, discuss last week’s interview with Kiana Underwood. Rachel is the CEO and owner of The Lake Como Wedding Planner and happens to be in Italy overlooking beautiful Lake Como during this interview.

Welcome to another episode of The Next Level. Today, Andy is joined by co-host Rachel Birthistle to discuss his amazing interview with Kiana Underwood of Tulipina. Kiana is a true artist and couture floral designer for luxury weddings and events. Rachel is the perfect guest for this episode because she has worked with Kiana and loves her creativity. We have a great interview in which we discuss parallels in our own lives with Kiana’s and the need for pushing past the fear and letting true artistry shine. We also discuss clients, pricing, and what it really means to be a couture floral designer.

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Episode 160 KIANA UNDERWOOD/TULIPINA: Setting Fear Aside to Embrace Ambition and Find That Spark of Creative Genius

Floral artist Kiana Underwood is the celebrated owner of Tulipina an internationally renowned floral design studio that creates bespoke experiences for luxury weddings throughout the world. She has been named one of the top wedding floral designers in the US and is the most followed floral designer on Instagram. She is the author of Color Me Floral and the host of sold-out international workshops. She has also been featured in many magazines, and her work is always in demand.

Kiana and I talk about the importance of bravery and pushing past fear to create what you desire. Her life and her work is an example of how she has pushed passed this fear to create the art and life that she wants. She shares her story of moving to the US and how freeing her new school experience was. We get to learn how flowers were always part of her life and culture, but it took bravery, tenacity, and out-of-the box thinking to make floral art her business and life’s work.

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