Building upon our last episode when we discussed the path we have taken to get where we are, how unpredictable and in some cases, how circuitous that path can take, what we didn’t really talk about was if the journey was what we wanted. It’s all fine and dandy to look back and make lemonade from lemons, but now that we are decades into our careers as architect, there is another question we want to ask … Episode 168: Architectural Career – Is It Worth It?
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I am going to start by defining, at least or me, what “it” might mean to help shape this conversation. It starts right out of the gate with quality of life – which I would presume is the case for most people. I don’t need to be rich and I have been fortunate enough that money for the most part does not influence the decisions I’ve made in my life. The most important thing for me is that I want to be a part of something. I want what I do to matter – which admittedly, “who it matters to” can and has changed. Some things I do matter to me, but as I’ve aged in my career, making things better for other people has worked its way into my motivation. When your activities have an impact on others, there is validation that occurs of your decisions, and your behavior. I do want to address the money consideration for a minute. I said it doesn’t influence me, but that’s really because I make a pretty decent living. I don’t care what other people doing other jobs make – good for them. Money simply represents freedom to make certain decisions and to present options.
http://lifeofanarchitect.com/golden-handcuffs-a-lesson-learned/
For those of you who might be new here, or just stumbled on to this article, I shared the post I wrote a long time ago about “Golden Handcuffs” and an experience I had at the beginning of my career (when I wasn’t actually making very much money) where I learned the lesson that money does not bring fulfillment and if you can learn what you need to exist, you can stop the process of chasing a paycheck and focus on being the best version of yourself … which will typically bring with it that larger paycheck.
Now that some baselines are in place, let’s get into the first section ...
The Realities of the Architectural Dream jump to 10:19
When I look back on my career in architecture, I remember how I started out with some enthusiasm. I was convinced I would spend my days doing creative work, designing amazing spaces, and leaving my mark on the world. Now, over three decades later, I can see how that vision of my career evolved in ways I never predicted. The essence of that passion is still there—I love what I do—but the daily realities are far more nuanced than what I imagined as a student. Architecture turned out to be about more than just design; it involves project management, mentorship, business considerations, and sometimes grappling with budgets and fees that don’t always reflect the effort we put in. Despite these challenges, I still believe it’s worth it.
One topic I’ve discussed a lot with Andrew, and with the mentees in my firm, is how the “dream” compares to the “reality.” In architecture school, we’re immersed in design theory and creative exercises; it’s easy to believe that’s your entire future. But then you join a firm, and someone hands you a stack of construction documents or code research spreadsheets. It can feel jarring—I’ve seen many young professionals struggle with the gap between what they thought they’d do and what they actually end up doing. At the same time, that early shock is often what expands your skill set the most. As you handle real-world challenges, your perspective grows, and you start to see the broader impact of architecture beyond just the initial creative spark.
Part of the dream is also about the work having meaning beyond yourself. Architects generally don’t go into this field to make big money; if you truly wanted that,