I'm not creative enough
I doubted my creative ability. I thought I wasn't imaginative enough to design exceptional buildings or spaces.
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I remember a time when everything felt like it was falling apart.
Back then, I was an architect with big dreams, like growing my own architecture studio and being recognised.
But not all dreams were fulfilled.
I was posting online every single day in order to be known and stand out from my competitors.
But unfortunately I got no response.
It felt like I was all alone, shouting out into the space.
No likes. No comments. No customers. Nada.
Every day was hard AF. I was lost and really stressed out.
I would sit and look at my designs, but nothing seemed good enough.
I kept asking myself, "Am I good enough?"
This question made it so hard to work or be happy with what I was doing.
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The pressure was too much.
I needed to pay bills and make my clients happy, but I felt stuck.
It was more than just a bad time. It felt like I was losing myself.
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But hitting this low point was the start of something new.
It made me stop and think about what I was doing.
I knew I had to change the way I worked and lived.
In this article, I'll tell you how I got through these tough times, what I learned, and how it made me a better architect and person.
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As an architect, you have to face big decisions
Imagine you're tired of worrying about not being creative enough.
These are the moments when you choose whether to stay in doubt or step forward and trust your instinct.
This is when things start to change.
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First, cut the bleeding.
You need to stop comparing yourself to others and focus on what you do best.
If you keep doing what everyone else is doing, you will never stand out from your competitors.
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My tip: define which type of content you need to create in order to design your Personal Style
🎓 Stand out from your competitors understanding the Audience – Blue Ocean Strategy Sprint. Find new, less crowded spaces where you can shine without all the competition. You'll learn how to be different in a way that clients love.
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Next, start learning new things.
Especially things about business and marketing, those are vital.
You can take courses, read books, or maybe get a mentor.
Learning About Money Isn’t That Hard
This new knowledge will give you confidence you lacked previously.
And it will help you make smarter decisions.
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This moment of deciding to trust yourself and learn more is powerful.
It opens doors to new opportunities and ways of thinking.
You begin to solve problems in ways you never thought of before.
You're going to start connecting new dots, and finding new connections.
Your work improves and people start to notice.
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In my case, I took a brave step, leaving the traditional way of doing architecture, and getting fully into the online business.
And not only did it make me a better architect, but it also made me enjoy my work more.
Making that big decision to trust my creativity and learn new skills took me really far.
This change led me to a happier and more fulfilling career.
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What did I learn?
There are three practical takeaways from this story:
I found my own style
I learned that my own way of designing was special.
Instead of thinking I wasn't good enough, I started to use my own ideas in my work.
Trying new things and putting a bit of myself in my designs made my work stand out.
It felt good to be different.
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My tip: Build a brand that resonates with your ideal clients and stands out in a crowded market.
🎓 Thinking your work should speak for itself? Boost your game with the Marketing – Branding Sprint. Learn how to craft a unique identity that captures the essence of your work and the values of your practice.
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I learned about business and talking to clients
I knew I was good at designing buildings, but I needed to know more about running a business.
So, I started learning about how to handle money and talk to clients.
This helped me a lot. I got better at making decisions and finding people who wanted to work with me.
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I saw hard times as chances to grow
Being an architect isn't always easy. Sometimes things get tough.
But I learned to see these hard times as chances to get better at what I do.
Every problem I solved made me stronger and more sure of myself.
I realized that getting better takes time and every little step matters.
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By thinking this way, I made my job as an architect better and more enjoyable.
It was about growing and learning all the time.
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Conclusion
If you're a hard working architect, remember this:
You are helping other people solve their problems through good design.
You play an important role in their lives.
So keep learning, be prepared to change, and stay strong.
Your creativity is not only reflected in your designs.
But in how you solve other people's problems.
Trust in your intuition. And keep building.
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Whenever you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you with:
1. If you're still looking for traction in your architecture business, subscribe to the Wisdom for the Modern Architect Newsletter. Every week you will get actionable ideas, mental models and resources to help you build a profitable business.
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See you around,
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