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  • #28 (Spotlight) - You Can Either Complain or Change — with Jessica Harling

    #28 (Spotlight) - You Can Either Complain or Change — with Jessica Harling
    2026/05/17
    Send Us Your Questions & Feedback!Some people get into business because they love the work — they're great with their hands, they can produce something beautiful — but the business side feels like a foreign language. Other folks come straight out of Corporate America loaded with business knowledge but couldn't install a blind to save their life. Most of us are missing something.This week, Roger sits down with Jessica Harling of Behind the Design to talk about how you fill in the gaps you didn't even know you had.Jessica's a fourth-generation member of a family design business that's been running since 1936 — and she's spent the last decade helping flooring, furniture, window covering, and interior design companies fix the two things that quietly hold them back: people problems and process problems.In this conversation, Roger and Jessica get into:Why so many business owners are brilliant at their craft but stuck on the business itselfThe "easy industry" myth — and why everyone who believes it changes their mind in about 90 daysHow a former teacher and theater kid ended up coaching design-trade companies (and why observation is an underrated business skill)What a 30-day company audit actually uncovers when an outsider looks inWhy creative breaks and stepping away aren't slacking off — they're how you actually solve the problemAnd the one piece of advice from Jessica's 101-year-old great-grandmother that's worth the whole episode: "You can either complain or change. Those are your choices — and it's in your control."If you've ever felt like you've hit a ceiling you can't explain, this one's for you.🎯 A Word About Jessica's Work — Behind the DesignIf anything Jessica said hit a little too close to home — that's not an accident. Behind the Design exists for the business owner who's great at the work but knows, deep down, that something in the running of the company isn't clicking.Their tagline says it best: rock solid operations, rockstar culture. And the way they get you there comes down to three things:Recruit — Done searching for a rockstar in a stack of résumés? They help you attract real design and trade talent — installers, project managers, salespeople.Train — Onboarding feeling overwhelming? They transfer knowledge faster so your people actually succeed in their roles.Refine — Are your processes running you? They build systems that actually work — documenting your procedures, streamlining your software, and dusting off the cobwebs that are quietly costing you.And it works. One client, Pamela Cole of Ampersand Design Group, says they turned 9-10 month projects into 3-4 months. Another, Rick Baker of Galaxy Draperies, called it a process problem they didn't know they had — until Behind the Design documented the whole thing and helped them grow fast.Not sure where your bottleneck actually is? Start with their free People or Process assessment — a quick way to identify the issue and get one step closer to fixing it.👉 Learn more and book a free consult at GoBehindTheDesign.com 📍 Chicago, IL · 📞 (847) 986-9168 Find them on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube @GoBehindTheDesignIf you're tired of complaining about the same problem — maybe it's time to change it.#NoStringsAttached #WindowTreatments #InteriorDesign #SmallBusiness #FamilyBusiness #BehindTheDesign🎙️ No Strings Attached — with Roger Magalhães 🎧 Show Sponsor BlindsOnline.com 📚 FREE Download - How To Say Yes Before You're ReadyBlogs:📩 Keep It Simple - E-commerce 📩 We Dress Naked Windows - Window Coverings 📩 Trading Secrets - Trade 📩 Stories in Motion - Business & Life 📚 Book Nobody Told Me That Social Media:IG * FB * LI * YT * WEB * Email
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    31 分
  • #27 - I Thought Partnerships Were A Trap Until I Tried One

    #27 - I Thought Partnerships Were A Trap Until I Tried One
    2026/05/11

    Send Us Your Questions & Feedback!

    Twenty years in business. A book that made me rethink all of it. And a trade show moment that reminded me why I keep showing up.

    This is Season 3 of No Strings Attached — new format, same honesty — and I'm kicking it off with a personal one.

    In this episode I talk about why my wife's two phone calls in two weeks were the real reason we left Boston, what writing a book about 20 years in business actually taught me about myself, why I spent most of my life dead against partnerships (thanks, Dad) and what finally changed my mind, the power team every small business owner needs but most never build, and one moment at IWCE that proved consistency quietly does its thing — even when you're not paying attention.

    If you're a small business owner who's ever questioned a decision, avoided a partnership, or wondered if anyone's actually listening... this one's for you.

    5 Takeaways from This Episode:

    1. Pausing isn't failing — it's a strategy
    2. Reflection is one of the most underrated business tools you have
    3. Your past experience is fuel, not baggage
    4. Something that didn't work before might work now — stay open
    5. Consistency builds a room bigger than you know

      #NoStringsAttached #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessPodcast #Partnerships #PowerTeam #BusinessMindset #Consistency #RogerMagalhaes #NobodyToldMeThat
    🎙️ No Strings Attached — with Roger Magalhães


    🎧 Show Sponsor BlindsOnline.com
    📚 FREE Download - How To Say Yes Before You're Ready

    Blogs:

    📩 Keep It Simple - E-commerce
    📩 We Dress Naked Windows - Window Coverings
    📩 Trading Secrets - Trade
    📩 Stories in Motion - Business & Life

    📚 Book Nobody Told Me That

    Social Media:

    IG * FB * LI * YT * WEB * Email
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    30 分
  • #26 - Would You Run Off With $1,500?

    #26 - Would You Run Off With $1,500?
    2026/05/03

    Send Us Your Questions & Feedback!

    A client looked Roger dead in the eyes, check in hand, and asked — "What if I give you this and you just disappear?"

    His answer says everything about how he built his business.

    This episode is about trust — what it actually means in the window treatment trade, how long it takes to build, and how fast one bad decision can burn it down. Roger shares what it was like going from installer to dealer overnight, suddenly becoming "competition" to the very people who hired him — and why he never once crossed that line.

    We talk about the temptation installers face when a homeowner tries to cut out the dealer. The short-term money looks good. But what kind of client are you really getting? One who doesn't value relationships, doesn't respect the process, and will do the same thing to you the moment it's convenient.

    There's also a hard-earned story from Roger's early days — a house under construction, trim work that wasn't finished, shades that came back wrong. He ate the cost. Every penny. Because his name was on it.

    Twenty years later, that reputation is still paying off.

    Trust isn't something you can order on Amazon. It's built job by job, decision by decision — especially the ones nobody's watching.

    #WindowTreatments #TrustInBusiness #InstallerLife #WindowCoverings #SmallBusinessOwner #Reputation #TradeLife #BusinessIntegrity #NoStringsAttached #Podcast #WindowShades #BlindsAndShades #DoTheRightThing #BuildYourName

    🎙️ No Strings Attached — with Roger Magalhães


    🎧 Show Sponsor BlindsOnline.com
    📚 FREE Download - How To Say Yes Before You're Ready

    Blogs:

    📩 Keep It Simple - E-commerce
    📩 We Dress Naked Windows - Window Coverings
    📩 Trading Secrets - Trade
    📩 Stories in Motion - Business & Life

    📚 Book Nobody Told Me That

    Social Media:

    IG * FB * LI * YT * WEB * Email
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    13 分
  • #25 - If You Think It Is Just A Few Screws, You Are Not Ready

    #25 - If You Think It Is Just A Few Screws, You Are Not Ready
    2026/04/26

    Send Us Your Questions & Feedback!

    "It's just shades." Famous last words.

    Roger pulls back the curtain on why window treatments are one of the most underestimated trades out there — and why assuming "all the windows are the same" is one of the fastest ways to lose money, clients, and your mind.

    There's a story in this episode that sticks with you: a helper a couple years in thinks he knows 50% of the business. A seasoned workroom pro laughs and says try 5–10%. That gap? That's where reorders happen. That's where delays live. That's where clients get frustrated.

    We get into the fundamentals — why you measure every single opening, in multiple spots, every time — and how something as small as trim thickness, drywall texture, or framing can change how a shade mounts, clears, and hangs.

    Then we zoom out. Roller shades, cellular, Roman, zebra, woven, shutters, exterior screens, hurricane systems — each one with its own brackets, fabrics, motors, remotes, and quirks. Oh, and you're doing all of this inside someone's home.

    It's a trade that's intense, personal, and weirdly addictive if you're wired to solve problems.

    If you're thinking about starting a window treatment business — or you're already in it and want to level up — this one's for you.

    #WindowTreatments #BlindsAndShades #WindowCoverings #InstallerLife #HomeImprovement #SmallBusinessOwner #TradeLife #WindowShades #RollerShades #ShutterLife #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #Podcast #WindowTreatmentBusiness #LevelUp

    🎙️ No Strings Attached — with Roger Magalhães


    🎧 Show Sponsor BlindsOnline.com
    📚 FREE Download - How To Say Yes Before You're Ready

    Blogs:

    📩 Keep It Simple - E-commerce
    📩 We Dress Naked Windows - Window Coverings
    📩 Trading Secrets - Trade
    📩 Stories in Motion - Business & Life

    📚 Book Nobody Told Me That

    Social Media:

    IG * FB * LI * YT * WEB * Email
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    12 分
  • #24 - Why Some Jobs Make Money And Others Don’t

    #24 - Why Some Jobs Make Money And Others Don’t
    2026/04/19

    Send Us Your Questions & Feedback!

    Profit is why we start a business, but nobody warns you how fast it can vanish. One wrong measurement, one damaged item, one “quick install” that turns into a four-hour problem, and the margin you counted on is gone.

    We talk through the real math behind pricing in the window covering industry: understanding overhead costs, setting a true hourly rate, and what happens when competition pushes you to bid lower than your ideal number. If you install blinds, roller shades, or custom window treatments, you already know the gap between theory and the job site. We get honest about the hidden costs that show up after you win the project.

    Then we share a hard lesson from the field: a helper mishandles an aluminum fascia, it slides into a client’s high-end furniture, and a $5,000 replacement wipes out the profit. That story leads to the most practical takeaway of the conversation, building an emergency fund from every job so you can fix mistakes, cover reorders, and keep your promises without panicking or cutting corners.

    If you want better margins, fewer “worked for free” weeks, and a window treatment business that can handle chaos, hit play. Subscribe, leave a review, share with a fellow installer or designer, and tell us, what’s the one surprise cost that hits your jobs the most?

    🎙️ No Strings Attached — with Roger Magalhães


    🎧 Show Sponsor BlindsOnline.com
    📚 FREE Download - How To Say Yes Before You're Ready

    Blogs:

    📩 Keep It Simple - E-commerce
    📩 We Dress Naked Windows - Window Coverings
    📩 Trading Secrets - Trade
    📩 Stories in Motion - Business & Life

    📚 Book Nobody Told Me That

    Social Media:

    IG * FB * LI * YT * WEB * Email
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    11 分
  • #23 - How A Ten-Day Window Screen Install Built Real Confidence

    #23 - How A Ten-Day Window Screen Install Built Real Confidence
    2026/03/22

    Send Us Your Questions & Feedback!

    What starts as a “quick” window treatment install can easily turn into a ten-day grind—and that’s where real growth happens.

    In this episode of No Strings Attached, I break down a real-world job that tested everything: exterior shades, multiple sliding door screens, and complex triangular window screens. The kind of project that exposes gaps in planning, materials, measuring, and labor—fast.

    If you’re a window treatment installer, blinds and shades professional, or interior designer, you’ll recognize the challenges immediately:

    • Miscalculations and reorders
    • Leveling issues and tricky window shapes
    • Underestimated labor and install time
    • The pressure to still deliver a clean, professional result

    We also talk about what doesn’t get said enough in the window covering industry—the hidden cost of saying “yes” before you feel ready. From my early days installing plantation shutters on corner windows, tackling bay windows, learning drapery installs, to selling motorized shades when automation was still new, this episode is about learning in motion.

    Because the truth is: you don’t grow when you feel ready—you grow when you step into jobs that stretch you.

    I also connect the dots between job-site decisions and investing, sharing lessons from real estate experiences in Brazil and how overthinking can slow progress. Playing it safe might keep you busy, but it can quietly cap your potential.

    This episode is about calculated risk, craftsmanship, and building confidence through experience—without compromising your standards.

    🔑 Key Topics Covered

    • Window treatment installation challenges
    • Exterior shades and screen installations
    • Measuring mistakes and how to avoid them
    • Plantation shutters, motorized shades, and custom installs
    • Growth mindset for installers and small business owners
    • Risk-taking in business and trade work

      #WindowTreatments #BlindsAndShades #WindowCoverings #WindowTreatmentInstaller #ShadeInstallation #BlindInstallation
      #CustomWindowTreatments #ExteriorShades #MotorizedShades
      #PlantationShutters #ScreenInstallation #SlidingDoorShades
      #CustomInstalls #MeasureTwiceCutOnce #InstallerLife #TradeLife
    🎙️ No Strings Attached — with Roger Magalhães


    🎧 Show Sponsor BlindsOnline.com
    📚 FREE Download - How To Say Yes Before You're Ready

    Blogs:

    📩 Keep It Simple - E-commerce
    📩 We Dress Naked Windows - Window Coverings
    📩 Trading Secrets - Trade
    📩 Stories in Motion - Business & Life

    📚 Book Nobody Told Me That

    Social Media:

    IG * FB * LI * YT * WEB * Email
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    17 分
  • #22 - How I Use Stories To Market My Window Covering Business

    #22 - How I Use Stories To Market My Window Covering Business
    2026/03/17

    Send Us Your Questions & Feedback!

    Most marketing advice tells small business owners to sound bigger, cleaner, and more “professional.” In this episode, I share why I’ve learned the opposite can be your edge—especially in the window coverings and window treatment industry, where trust matters more than hype.

    I take you back to 2006, when I first entered the shade business, and explain how writing blogs and email newsletters became my most reliable way to connect with clients. Not with polished ads—but with honest stories: real jobs, real lessons, real mistakes, and the kind of humor that makes people feel like they actually know you.

    Along the way, I talk about the unsexy foundations that made everything else possible: learning bookkeeping through a QuickBooks class, getting pulled into BNI networking, and seeing how weekly relationship-building reshapes how you think about sales, referrals, and reputation. I also share the moment personal marketing finally clicked for me—and how following Michael Katz’s work on newsletters for solo professionals pushed me to start writing consistently, even with imperfect English.

    That consistency opened doors, from magazine articles about the realities of installation work to a stronger writing identity inside the industry. Now I’m turning a major milestone into a new project: 20 newsletters to represent 20 years in business, plus client comments and reflections—leading into my upcoming book Nobody Told Me That.

    I also explain why I built RogerMagalhaes.com as a hub for my businesses and why I launched Stories In Motion to go deeper on the lessons behind the work.

    What You’ll Learn

    • Why “trying to sound professional” can actually make you less memorable
    • How honest stories build trust faster than hype—especially in home services
    • The practical foundations that support good marketing (bookkeeping + networking)
    • How BNI-style weekly relationship-building changes your view of referrals
    • Why newsletters work for solo professionals (and how to start even if it’s imperfect)
    • How consistency creates unexpected opportunities and authority
    • The idea behind my “20 newsletters for 20 years” project and my upcoming book

      #WindowTreatments #WindowCoverings #InteriorDesign #StoriesinMotion #HomeImprovement #SmallBusinessMarketing #PersonalBranding #EmailMarketing #NewsletterMarketing #ContractorLife #Podcast
    🎙️ No Strings Attached — with Roger Magalhães


    🎧 Show Sponsor BlindsOnline.com
    📚 FREE Download - How To Say Yes Before You're Ready

    Blogs:

    📩 Keep It Simple - E-commerce
    📩 We Dress Naked Windows - Window Coverings
    📩 Trading Secrets - Trade
    📩 Stories in Motion - Business & Life

    📚 Book Nobody Told Me That

    Social Media:

    IG * FB * LI * YT * WEB * Email
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    18 分
  • #21 (Spotlight) - Hold The Door And Get A Colonoscopy: Pro Secrets to Window Treatment Installation with Joe Gebara

    #21 (Spotlight) - Hold The Door And Get A Colonoscopy: Pro Secrets to Window Treatment Installation with Joe Gebara
    2026/03/12

    Send Us Your Questions & Feedback!

    Thinking about custom window treatments? There’s a lot more to perfect blinds and shades than meets the eye. In this episode of the “No Strings Attached” podcast, Roger sits down with Miami-based installer and industry expert Joe Gebara (J Edison Interiors) to go behind the scenes of high-end window covering projects.


    What You’ll Learn:

    • What “to-the-trade” really means and why top retailers rely on professional installers
    • The real reasons custom blinds and shades cost more than store-bought options
    • The pressure and precision required when you’re the last person on a luxury project
    • Common homeowner mistakes and how to avoid costly redos
    • How smart home tech, motorization, and automation are changing the game
    • Why clear communication and patience matter as much as technical skill

    Joe also opens up about his journey as a stage 4 colon cancer survivor, sharing powerful lessons on resilience and the importance of prioritizing health—both on and off the job.


    Key Takeaways:

    • Reduce errors and callbacks: Learn the details that separate a flawless install from a frustrating one
    • Future-proof your career: The value of ongoing education, mentorship, and transitioning into leadership or sales roles
    • Human connection: Why gratitude, kindness, and follow-up are game-changers in business and life

    If you’re an installer, designer, dealer, or small business owner, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you grow your business, deliver a better client experience, and thrive in a tech-driven industry.

    👉 Subscribe, share with a fellow pro, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps more people discover these real-life stories from the world of window coverings.

    #WindowTreatments #CustomBlinds #ProfessionalInstaller #ShadeInstaller #SmartHomeShades #HomeImprovement #InteriorDesign #Motorization #TradeProfessionals #PodcastSpotlight #CancerSurvivor


    🎙️ No Strings Attached — with Roger Magalhães


    🎧 Show Sponsor BlindsOnline.com
    📚 FREE Download - How To Say Yes Before You're Ready

    Blogs:

    📩 Keep It Simple - E-commerce
    📩 We Dress Naked Windows - Window Coverings
    📩 Trading Secrets - Trade
    📩 Stories in Motion - Business & Life

    📚 Book Nobody Told Me That

    Social Media:

    IG * FB * LI * YT * WEB * Email
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    46 分