Ten Lessons (From Ten Years) As A Sole Practitioner | 017

Architecture Business Club - For Architects, Architectural Technologists, Surveyors & Designers

In this episode, Jon shares 10 key lessons from his decade-long experience as a sole practitioner in architecture. He talks about the importance of learning from mistakes, understanding your financial state even if you're not motivated by money, delegating tasks, and building an emergency fund in your business. He also emphasises the need to make progress over perfection, continuing to find joy in your business, and connecting with others to avoid feeling alone in your journey. Jon encourages you to learn from his mistakes so you can build a profitable future-proof architecture business.

Episode Highlights...

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:47 10 Years of Experience: The Journey Begins

01:23 The Reality of Being a Sole Practitioner

01:56 Learning from Mistakes: The Hard Truths

03:00 The Importance of Money in Business

04:46 The Gap in Architectural Education

06:52 The Power of Differentiation in Architecture

08:24 The Impact of Relocation on Business

10:43 Dealing with Unexpected Crises

12:11 The Perils of Perfectionism

13:18 The Struggle of Doing Everything Yourself

17:11 The Loneliness of Running Your Own Business

19:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Key Takeaways...

👉 Learn from your mistakes, fail fast, and move on.

👉 Don't neglect your understanding of money and financial management, even if you're not primarily motivated by money.

👉 Running a successful architecture business requires more than just being a great architect or designer, it requires developing business skills and knowledge.

👉 Educate your customers about the value you offer and how you work.

👉 Look for ways to diversify your income so you're not solely reliant on referrals.

👉 Build an emergency fund in your business to prepare for unexpected crises.

👉 Focus on making progress rather than pursuing perfection in your business.

👉 Delegate tasks that don't align with your strengths and priorities.

👉 Take the initiative to seek support and connection with others in your field.

👉 Your architecture business journey doesn't have to be lonely, find your tribe and create connections.

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In The Next Episode...

Next time Jon chats about the power of mastermind groups with expert business mentor Chris Ducker.