Annmarie and I spent the past week deconstructing, disassembling, demolishing and disposing of the Pleasantville Studio. More than 11 years of files, record documents, samples, manufacturers’ binders, reference books, code manuals and accumulated “stuff” needed to be sorted, relocated or trashed.
To be honest, its been overwhelming.
I am thankful that our move has been voluntary. I can not imagine how hard this process would have been if it were forced upon us.
With the final few items removed from 48 Wheeler Avenue on Saturday morning, an important chapter in the history of Fivecat Studio came to a bittersweet end. That building and the studio we built within it, was a critical part of the success we enjoy today. For two young architects trying to prove their value to a highly competitive residential market, a studio in a historically significant and centrally located commercial building granted abundant credibility to our fledgeling firm. As we grew, the 2,000 square feet we leased allowed us to grow a small staff and establish a leading firm in the region.
Leaving the home studio back in 2002 and signing a five year lease for 2,000 square feet of office space required courage. We felt tremendous fear and uncertainty, but we knew that without taking action and moving forward, our goals of success would never be achieved.
Ironically, as I write this post, sitting here in my new studio space about 30 feet from the corner of the house where Fivecat Studio was born, I am feeling much of the same fear that I felt more than a decade ago when we moved out. Though this time it’s different.
With maturity comes experience and knowledge. Although there is fear, there is no uncertainty. We have worked hard to achieve the success we enjoy and I have faith that we are on the right path.
“To achieve all that is possible, we must attempt the impossible. To be all we can be, we must dream of being more.”
I have lived by this mantra since I was a young teen. It has allowed me to take action in the face of fear and write the many successful chapters of my life.
You have a dream too. We all do.
Take action today and move toward your goals. Push past the fear and move forward. Progress is the path to your success.
Leave a comment and tell me about your dream. What is the action you will take today to make your dream a reality?
Mark,
A very transparent and authentic message you posted here. Thanks for the inspiration to be brave, and lead by example, to forge a new business path and direction for your firm. I am positive that you and your wife will do better and more awesome things in the coming years. Best hopes from myself I’m sure many others on your continued success in life and business with these new changes.
Thanks Erik. I appreciate the encouragement. Its an exciting time at Fivecat Studio…
Mark,
tahnk you for all the posts so far. Your experience was quite inspiring for our office.
Good luck with your future business.
Arch. Piotr Nabzdyk IARP (Poland)
Thanks Piotr. Inspiration is exactly my intent. Thanks for sharing…
Mark,
Thank you for your continued persistence in breaking into our busy lives with authentic, heart-felt advice and information.
My dream as an architect is to revive a Usonian Architecture for the middle income family. To transform the way people think about their homes and their lives. I know that I cannot change an entire industry of home design and construction, but if even a few people can experience true beauty and connectedness in their lives…
One day at a time.
Hans
One small victory after another Hans. Keep making progress and you will accomplish your dream. Keep me posted. I would love to follow your progress.
I read your post and wonder, as a young firm when you took on the big studio space did that actually give you leverage (credibility) when you where in the early stages? my hunch is yes, or be it expensive.
I find self nearly 2 years into starting my own firm, looking for space a more professional space. I am not and can’t take on big leases, but have found that getting out of the home and working in a cheep collaborative space, hugely beneficial from a networking and visibility point of view. I am now about to make a move to a slightly better equipped co-working space with some graphic designers, film makers and interior designers. It is quite inexpensive at only $90/week/desk (only 1 desk required at the moment).
Having worked in this type of space for a year now, I don’t think I would won’t go back to working alone in my home, more then a day or so here and there. I can’t see why even with a team of say 5 people, I would not stay in this type of space. I think part of my affinity with working this way comes from working in large offices of 60-130 people prior to starting my own practice.
What are others thoughts. Here is a link to the website of the co-working space if you are interested. http://www.innx.com.au/
The public studio was most certainly an advantage when we started out. Annmarie and I launched Fivecat Studio at the age of 29. Working from home with the sounds of barking dogs and babies in the background crushed our credibility. When we installed our sign at 48 Wheeler Avenue in the main retail district everything changed. Not only were we more respected in the eyes of our prospects and clients, but we upleveled in our own minds as well. That alone was a huge advantage.
With an established reputation in the region, the sign is no longer required… and the associated $3,500/mo price tag is no longer worth the investment. Our storefront is (and has always been) our website. Many more clients have found us online than have ever walked through the doors of 48 Wheeler.
Mark,
I enjoy reading your posts. This one in particular hit home for me. I have found that letting perfection get in the way of progress is often our biggest obstacle. Over the past year or so, our firm has become more deliberate about looking at who we are, and what we aspire to. Although we’ve made some subtle changes, we realize subtle changes aren’t always enough. Just like you mentioned, we have found that you must be willing to take risks and take on some ‘stretch goals’, in order to make a difference.
I love this quote from General Patton: “A good plan violently executed today, is better than a great plan executed next week…”!
Thanks for your great words!
I love that quote Greg. Progress over perfection is critical for moving forward. Perfection is one of our worst enemies when it comes to reaching for our dreams.
I’m just a sophomore in highschool right now, but I want to be an architect. In my Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance class, we had to invent a business that we would be okay with starting. Considering my career choice, of course I said an architecture firm. Our homework for today was to find a business like ours and see what made them successful, or what they had to overcome to be successful. Reading this has not only given me an answer to my homework, but also the courage to believe I really could have my own firm some day.
Camille, thanks for the comment. I am so happy that my post helped. Keep me posted on your progress.
Hi, it’s me Camille again. I need some help on some homework for that same class. I just need the answers to four questions, if you could please.
1) What was the number one thing you needed in order to start your business?
2) What was the biggest problem you encountered in getting your business started?
3) Where did you find the greatest assistance in starting your business?
4) Did you have a business plan when going into starting the business?
I’d be very thankful if you could answer these questions for me! Sorry to be a bother.~
1. Courage 2. Finding new clients who would hire two young and inexperienced architects. 3. Books 4. No, but I wish I did.
No bother. Happy to help. Connect anytime 🙂