Great design doesn’t happen overnight
I think about process a lot.
The design process, the construction process, the grieving process, the learning process, the growth process . . . they all take time (and some of them take a lifetime.)
Creating new physical space for a family (home) or business (shop/office) is also a process. There’s the initial information gathering and organizing phase, then the design phase complete with multiple iterations and refinements, then the documentation phase (creating drawings,) and finally the construction phase. And each of these phases take time to complete and are best done in order.
And although the process feels (and is) intense, following the process is also where the greatest safety lies. Following the process is how you save energy and resources and set yourself up for success.
Great design doesn’t happen overnight and neither do your dreams.
So, how long will it take to realize your dreams?
Well, that depends on
the dream
where you are in the process
your personality
your support systems, and
what kind of resources you have to devote to your dream (ie project.)
Are you building something intimate and personal?
Is it for your family?
For the community?
A piece of infrastructure?
Are you building a conduit or a legacy?
Is it part of a larger dream or a stand-alone project?
Using architecture as a guide:
a DIY kitchen remodel can be done in as little as a month. You design, and buy necessary items or materials, as you build.
a new residence or extensive residential remodel with additions will take at least 3/4 of a year. But more likely it will be 15+ months from the start of design through construction.
a commercial development can easily take 2-5 years depending on the size, complexity, location, etc.
and then there’s the Sagrada Familia (Gaudi) — which has been under construction for 137 years (and still isn’t finished!)
So, give it time, keep moving forward, and follow this process if you like:
dream + gather all pertinent information
create a plan that is rooted in the dream, responsive to the need, and realistic
follow the plan
And if you’re looking for practical ways to move your dreams forward and need help creating a plan for your creativity to thrive then check out The Relentless Creative Handbook.
