Kory is the Creative Director and Founder of Park St Studio, a design studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. His wife, Kasey, is also his business partner, and she played a significant role in establishing the processes and practices that streamline the studio's operations. They have a great story of how they met, and together, they've worked with apparel brands, breweries, coffee shops, and the Phoenix Suns, among others. Their focus is on branding, packaging, merchandise, and custom illustrations, and Kory's come a long way since his childhood days of spray painting on particle board in his backyard. He's a fan of DKNG, David Walker, Benny Gold, I Am Sloth, and Wacom products, and he would love to have dinner with Ellen DeGeneres because he thinks she's hilarious. Here's his favorite quote: "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."

Tune in for a talk about taking your design business to the next level with a CRM, learn precisely when he talks to his clients about how much money they should pay him, and he breaks down how he handles discouraging feedback without losing his confidence. Follow Kory on Instagram @korymiller and his studio @parkststudio. You'll find more of his work on his website: parkststudio.com. Party on!

Questions for this interview.

• Can you explain what Kasey does for the studio, talk about her expertise, and describe how her skills complement yours?
• Eventually, Kasey stepped away from her job to devote all of her energy to Park St Studio. What was that transition like for both of you? Was it stressful, exciting? How do you remember feeling?
• How do you interact with clients so they feel like you're a part of their team, rather than just a person they've hired to create something for them?
• How did you feel when you realized you weren't the only person who didn't have it all figured out?
• What is it about the way you approach those conversations, and why do you think clients feel comfortable with the thought of working with you?
• How quickly and at which point in the process do you start discussing money if the client doesn't bring it up first?
• What advice would you give to someone trying to determine the value of their work?
• Is there a process, a technique, or an approach you've picked up from another studio or agency that has helped you run your business more efficiently and better overall?
• So, when a client lets you know you've missed the mark, how do you process discouraging feedback without letting it shake your confidence?
• You painted a mural in the middle of an active construction site. What was that experience like, and what was your biggest takeaway from it?
• Can you explain how your use of Instagram has evolved, and also touch on how you've used the search feature, hashtags, and other accounts to help you find new people to work with?

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