Reflections on Being an Entrepreneur

• Ronnie Gor

The journey of being an entrepreneur can be overwhelming but at the same time, it can be the most rewarding part of one’s life. I started my business in 2012 when I built my house. At the time, it hadn’t crossed my mind that one day I would have my own design and build practice, but we never can predict where life takes us. And here I am, over 10 years later, reflecting on this beautiful journey with its highs and lows, and still saving all the willpower to stand tall and withstand whatever may come. 

The Good
The joy of waking up every morning and planning my day around ongoing projects from the conceptual to permitting phase, making site visits to construction projects, visiting various product showrooms for inspiration and sourcing, writing contracts, making bids, keeping up with my clients, hunting for new projects, marketing, networking, bookkeeping, and the list goes on and on. The most exciting part is learning and attending various webinars and continuing my education at my own pace. Learning is crucial to me because I want to be challenged and be in the know. It is so satisfying when a client reaches out to say that I was able to transform their dreams into reality. The timeline of our design and build process can vary; sometimes it takes six months, other times six years. Ultimately, developing our relationships into caring friendships and communicating with clients is crucial to me and brings me joy when they appreciate it.

The Bad
Communication is key in any relationship. When communication is not transparent, trust can break down and setbacks can occur. Such events can, naturally, affect the tone of any relationship. Though it is rare, this is especially difficult when it has happened with clients. Sometimes, mistakes happen, or there are delays and miscommunications. It can be hard to navigate our own emotions when these things occur, let alone the emotions of our collaborators! As a result, I do my best to be mindful in my interactions and communicate with honesty, respect, and empathy.

The Hope
I have come to realize that as a human being, I have the power to forgive and to mend if something is broken. I can control my emotions in the face of someone else’s negativity and turn it into hope for a better world. I have the mindset to show grace in the face of another person’s weak moments (we all have them) and be there to support them. I have the power to clean up the mess within me and turn my energy into creating beautiful, breathtaking spaces for my clients and for future generations. I can focus on what I love to do and turn it into something remarkable.