Sometimes Change is Good... at least I hope so!

Over the past few months several interesting developments have, well, developed. It's been about 3-1/2 years since the economy dropped out in this field and while I have been very lucky it has also taken quite the toll. You do become accustomed to the roller-coaster ride of private practice. Change from what you know, even if that is terrible in some way, is just as scary as staying put.

So, as part of the active approach to getting somewhere I have put the building on the market. This also free up some needed capital for my wife's business, KidVenture Dome (it's on Facebook and the website is nearly complete, www.kidventuredome.com ).

The process of really moving out of the building my practice has been in for nearly 10 years is strange. The boxes of files, books, hauling out the scrap file cabinets, tables, etc. starts to alter your perspective (pardon the pun). All the added costs of doing business, the building insurance, loans, bills, certainly do add up. With just myself and one staff member, it's just not sensible.

This change has led me to explore working with a developer as part of a team, consider taking on another job related to my degree or yet another that would be more fulfilling but a bit risky. Could it be true about the midlife crisis? I find that my enthusiasm is not what it was and my tolerance for the "fires" on projects is at an all time low. The self-imposed stress gets to a point where the health risks just are not worth it.

Inactivating my license just does not seem like an option to me in any case. This has been too large a part of my life to give it up completely. What I have noticed is that it (the architecture degree and license) allows for a certain amount of range when considering other jobs. I went to a couple of interviews, did pretty well considering the ever-present questions about how I would cut back or give up practicing architecture. How do you create that break? It is an interesting question.

moving on: onto better times

The die has been cast. I have put the building up for sale and am into "future possibility" mode. The idea of selling the building that I have occupied for 10 years, built my business out of, invested countless nights at and innumerable social challenges is somewhat bittersweet.

I do look forward to the new and unexplored idea of moving to the home property, building a new studio (and in some way regaining a bit of youth in doing so) and restarting the business under a new profile. Some things have worked, others have not. It's best to shed the old unworkable aspects of my practice and focus on what works best for me and my family.

The sale of the building will hopefully accomplish three things: 1) freeing my business from some unneeded overhead, 2) providing some needed cash for my wife's business venture, and 3) cash for redoing some things at the house that badly need fixing.

If we can accomplish some of these goals, it will be good. Stay tuned!

Getting Out and Moving On....

It's been several months but a lot has happened. I've been taking a really hard look at the office and how I work --- what works what doesn't and how to move forward in a positive way. The building the firm is housed in is now on the market,  the clearing out process has started and plans are underway to move my practice to the home base.

This has had several ramifications, many of them beneficial. To start, the reduction of overhead will help reduce the stress of paying the bills each month; the idea that not having so many bills to pay will help me cope with the fact that I DON'T need to take each and every project that may come across my path.

The idea of a new project that involves my own firm is exciting. Stay tuned!