I decided to become an architect when I was 10 years old. I made the decision and never looked back. Another career was never even considered. Every step to become a licensed architect was calculated and scheduled for the result that has become my reality.
I have always looked at this as a gift.
I never needed to worry about my future. Not once did I doubt what I might do with my life. High school courses were selected specific to my inevitable destination. The shortlist for colleges was so simple to compile. The plan was so certain.
I know many architects with similar stories. It is not uncommon to ask an architect for her backstory and have it begin with, “I always knew…”
I, myself, always knew I wanted to be an architect… but,
What if I was wrong?
What if my prepubescent certainty lead me down the wrong path? Is an architect what I am truly meant to be? Is this truly God’s plan for me?
For every architect I know with a childhood origin story, I know another who may be better off doing something else. Architecture is a difficult profession and not every one of us who has obtained our ultimate goal have found it to be the life of our dreams. Some of us would be more successful and in fact, happier, doing something else.
The time and effort to become a licensed architect makes this possibility unacceptable to many. The truth is buried under more than a decade of preparation, examination and execution. After so much dedication to one’s only dream, how could it be possible to give it up and start anew?
Being an Entrepreneur Architect leads me to explore ideas and concepts unrelated to architecture. I seek to discover alternative paths to success. I strive to learn what I may from entrepreneurs pursuing success from countless industries and professions. I read books, listen to podcasts and learn how successful entrepreneurs have found their true purpose in life. Many of these people have pursued multiple paths, “failing” over and over again prior to finding their true calling.
So, how do we know? How do we know if this path we have chosen is indeed the path that is meant to be? Maybe we should just quit architecture.
Maybe You Should Just Q.U.I.T.
Here are four steps to confirm our curent condition and determine the proper path to our future.
Question
When we lock into our future so early in life, we tend to be single-minded in every decision we make. Take some time to look at your life and business with fresh eyes.
Are there better ways to do what you are doing? Do you actually need to be doing everything you are taking time to do? Can things be done better? Are you good at what you do? Are you happy?
Question everything.
Understand
Understand where you are, where you are going and where you have been.
How far have you come? Have you grown and improved your systems? What is your plan for the future? Do you clearly understand how to get there?
Review the Entrepreneur Architect Academy blog series and summarize your current status for each post. Do you understand each fundamental element of a successful business?
Income
Review your Profit and Loss Statement.
Are you earning enough income to be profitable? Where does your income come from? Which services make you the most money? Which services are costing you more than they are making? How much do you need to earn each month in order to be profitable? How much more can you make? Are there other products or services you should be offering?
Do you even have a budget?
Time
Time may be the most important step to consider.
How long have you been in business? Are you financially successful, or have you been struggling to stay in business from the day you began? Do you limp along, from project to project, expecting next month to be better? Has there ever been a time that you felt that everything was running smoothly and you were confident that you were on the right track?
How much more time do you need?
We may be passionate for our profession. We may be dedicated to our dreams. Architecture may be the perfect path to our purpose.
Could it be though, that maybe there is another path we should be pursuing? Maybe our true calling has yet to be discovered?
If we don’t stop and consider the possibility of quitting, we will never truly know that our path is, in fact, aligned with our purpose and that we are indeed meant to be architects.
Question: Have you ever considered quitting architecture? How did you persevere?
Photo Credit: Shutterstock / Leremy
Mark, your description resonates with me. What I regret most is that my whole life was dedicated to becoming a licensed architect as the endgame. I never gave a thought about what would come next. Eventually, I was in a velvet rut and I stayed with one firm that offered great jobs to be on but little advancement and support for personal growth. Due to professional and personal shakeups that hit over a period of several years, I took a 2-year sabbatical overseas. In many ways, I wish I never came back as I was happy again, had a life, didn’t live 24/7 in an office. I thought a lot about not coming back to architecture, but I love it too much and decided I just didn’t want to practice it in the same way. You have to make time for life.
When I finally did hang out my shingle, it was on a temp basis as I realized I was not a type A personality, there were too many gaps in my experience/knowledge base, and I got fed up with the calls asking for house plans for $200. After going to work for a client, I’m again out of work and playing professional skills catch-up so I can advance/get back in the game. So many skills to master these days. Still, at 54, I am thinking about hanging out the shingle again but would not want to do it as a solo act and would not do it without long-term goals that continually are updated. I don’t want to be in that situation again where suddenly I say, “Checked that off, yay! Oh crap, now what?”
Thanks so much for sharing your story Kevin. Let me know if we can help in any way.
So interesting, I so hear this loud and clear, I kinda never really thought about doing Architecture till it was time to go to Uni, I grew up wanting to be a comic book artist, and Architecture seemed to be the closest thing that would keep me drawing and getting something reasonable. I wasnt an awesome student but I was always recognised for my artistic skills. Right after school I should have taken a cue early on when I was given a private project to do for a relation and my abnormal reluctance to push through the works came out and shone themselves, this lead to a series of similar events which culminated in me getting into Architectural firms only to be largely frustrated.
Luckily I got a job with associated functions and somehow realised they were certain aspects I enjoyed better than the architectural parts.
In trying to figure out these aspects I ended up relieving this job to try re assert myself back into what I thought was my actual calling ‘Architecture’ I remember my thought process was it has always been the back bone of me earning money. A year on and some personal and professional turbulence ensued, which gave me a clear view of how I was so not cut out to be an architect, but had so been in love with the idea rather than the profession.
I must say though it has taught me how to structure my business side as a creative person and will always remain a part of me, but I have learnt what my true calling is based in and on and upward I go to it.
In the meantime I will use it to fuel my desired path and allow me to rise in my God given path, but great article indeed…
Sungani; Thanks for sharing. I think many of us have similar feelings and are afraid to express them.
Hi! Thanks for this article. Love the accuracy and especially the questioning part. I have definitely been in the “questioning” phase since I started architecture a little over a year ago. I am in college right now pursuing Arch. I did Civil Engineering for one year before this. I don’t know why but I feel CE was better for me, even though I didn’t like CE that much. I think that I am too ungrateful, confused, lost on who I am, my abilities, and passions for not knowing what is right for me. I am in an amazing Architecture program and was in an amazing Engineering program, and don’t want either of them. But I am sure that Architecture is definitely not for me. I just can’t get myself to quit because of how lost I am. Thanks for this great article.
If you find yourself lost, join us at the Facebook group and engage. Ask some questions there and you may find your path. It may or may not be architecture, but there are people there who may be able to help you discover your purpose.
May I know what is the facebook group name?
The EntreArchitect Community. If you’re an architect, you may request access at entrearchitect.com/group.