Today's guest Inside the Design Studio is an international florist, entrepreneur, and business mentor Franceska McCaughan, who has created a life she loves by combining her passion for business and beautiful flowers. We met several years ago through Instagram, and I've loved learning more about her story and watching her pivot and grow her business. 

As you can imagine, having an international hotel floral consulting company during a global pandemic is no walk in the park. Franceska has taken this "down time" and pivoted to work on a brand new project that helps aspiring entrepreneurs launch their dreams. 

She's lived all over the world including Dubai where she first started her floral business. She and her German husband now call Houston home and we're so glad they're here!

Tell us about yourself!

I'm a free-spirited unrealistic goal-setter who genuinely believes anything is possible - you just have to want it bad enough. I am an Enneagram type 3 known as The Achiever which is fantastic in business and motivating others to their full potential.

I help aspiring entrepreneurs take their creative idea and turn it into a profitable business with a blueprint and actionable steps.

​I love traveling, discovering new places, and indulging in all of life's simple and extravagant luxuries, all while keeping it real!

How has COVID-19 affected you?

COVID has made me pivot in my business interests. I’ve had time to pursue a passion project I’ve wanted to do for a long time now which is to help aspiring entrepreneurs design a life they love while overcoming fear of failure. My floral design business, Franzie’s Flower Design, and floral consulting business, The Hotel Florist are on hold for the moment. In the meantime I am full time with FranceskaMcCaughan.com as a business mentor and digital course creator. My business mentorship membership launched a few months ago and my business minded podcast launched in June.

What have you enjoyed about this time home with family?

I get to spend more quality time with my husband and my cat children.

How did you get started doing what you do?

I followed a passion I had and turned it into six figures of profit. I’ve repeated this method several times to date.

 

What is your most-used emoji?

The monkey covering its mouth (speak no evil).

🙊 

What was the worst haircut you ever had? 

When I got a pixie cut because I was tired of dealing with Dubai summers.

 

Who was your childhood actor/actress crush? 

I didn’t have one.

What’s the most embarrassing fashion trend you used to rock?

T-shirts.

 

You have your own late-night talk show; who do you invite as your first guest?

GaryVee.

If a movie was made of your life what genre would it be, who would play you? 

Drama, Charlize Theron.

You have to sing karaoke, what song do you pick?

Lose You to Love Me By Selena Gomez

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? 

“If you’re not falling on your face every day, you’re not trying hard enough.”

When you die, what do you want to be remembered for? 

Giving people the courage to pursue their dreams and design a life they love by inspiring them to overcome their fears of losing money and being judged negatively.

What would the title of your autobiography be? 

Surthriving (coming 2021) 

 

What was the worst job you ever had?

Event hostess

Which band/artist-dead or alive would play at your funeral? 

Lana del Rey

8

 

What’s your favorite place of all the places you’ve traveled that feels like home and is not where you currently live?

South Africa

What’s one thing we don’t know about you?

I’ve never broken a bone.

 

 

If you could choose any fictional character to be your imaginary friend, who would it be and why?

Cruella de Vil - she seemed pretty confident with life and it’s luxuries. I want to know her story and why she wants to bother hoarding puppies. Seems like a lot of work for such a fabulous well-dressed diva.

 

 

If you could choose any person from history to be your imaginary friend, who would it be and why?

Marie Antoinette- she seemed to have really figured out how to enjoy life on any occasion.

What is your favorite curse word?

 F*ck

 

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Singing or a shoe designer

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Sitting on a terrace overlooking a breathtaking view, slight breeze with a temperature that feels like silk, fresh bottle of wine being uncorked and poured into a glass followed by a clink with your soul mate.

 

What is your greatest fear?

I’ll die early