ARCHITECTING Podcast - Career + Lifestyle Mentoring for Architects looking to move beyond overwhelm and make a difference through design

Big thinkers don't have pick me energy. They turn their visions into action by putting the work into making and executing clear plans. There's no better message than that to close out our celebration of Women's History Month. Podcaster, coach, and author Andrea Liebross shares her proven strategies to get out of stuck stress and be successful on your terms. What will be your legacy? You have thoug...

It's a good thing that luck isn't based on magic. Instead, luck finds those who are ready to say yes to the opportunities they want and have the discernment to say no to what they don't. Listen to learn how to get a little more lucky yourself. Don't dismiss achievements to the luck of being in the right place at the right time, knowing the right people, or having more resources. Appreciate the wor...

Happy International Women's Day!  We celebrate this year's theme by hearing from an architect and small business owner who has built her own success on the motto of showing up even when it's uncomfortable. Learn how this strategy led to building powerful networks and big opportunities. Networks are a critical way to meet and be mentored by people who share your perspective and have perhaps overcom...

According to a recent Jobsite survey respect is the number one issue named by women in the construction industry with most explaining that lack of respect shows up as not being heard. If you are in or adjacent to the AEC industry, and you are a woman, you can probably relate. Let's stop being available for this tired trope. When disrespect becomes a pattern, you can start to  assume negative inten...

Hi there, it's your friendly neighborhood disruptor with a message for you about playing it safe. The earthquake in the AEC industry has already shaken the foundations of the first cost container and the best way to be more competitive is to rewrite the rules of the game. Learn more in this episode. It's easy to abandon your ideals and catastrophize when things get difficult, but you really need t...

Stop having a transactional relationship with your clothes. Your fit conveys not just who you are, but how you feel. Style expert Ellie Steinbrink shares her insights on cultivating your personal brand via your style. Not sure how to shop for something new? Think about how the person you are becoming would show up. Style isn't about imitating others or conforming to a dress code, it's about authen...

The people who achieve the things that you're afraid to say you want? They're no better than you - they're just taking actions you're not. In this episode, I explore why the most audacious of goals are the only ones that should be your guideposts. I always sign off by saying "stay inspired." Inspiration is what keeps you focused, even when you encounter setbacks. It's how you focus on what you lea...

Are you making progress towards your career goals, or excuses? Most of us have really great intentions...but all the little things in life, all the obligations, all the things we have to do first get in the way. Newsflash: success is about momentum, not prerequisites. While you can't magically go from 0 to 60 and achieve a big goal in one fell swoop, there are always aligned actions you can take t...

In this episode, you get to hear the Day 7 content from my 12 day Leadership Challenge. I tackle issues that aren't typically discussed (but should be) when it comes to leading. Listen in to hear about a common trap: proving your worth. Proving yourself leads you to want to manipulate situations for your personal benefit. It sets you up to be a scorekeeper not a leader. Proving yourself undermines...

Connection is an essential concept for 2025. Learn why my word of the year is unlocking ways I (and you) can relax into being supported by an ecosytem instead of going it alone. Connection increases engagement. When you feel connected, you also feel valued, are more productive, excited and satisfied Connection leads to more and better quality collaboration. When you feel connected, you are more li...

A recap of the most popular Architecting episodes of 2024 reveals a powerful theme of leadership. Listen in to hear highlights of each episode as well as how you can join my Leadership Challenge starting January 6, 2025. Leadership isn't about following someone else's template, or having to prove yourself. It's about finding what brings you joy, getting clarity, having good boundaries, being an ad...

What have you put in the too hard basket? You know, the one where things you really want to do but... go to die. In this episode, we explore why that happens and what you can do to stop avoiding and start acting. Are you overwhelmed by too many options? This can make you less satisfied and committed to a decision even if you do make one. Stop making choice so precious and just try things on. You'l...

In this episode, I answer a question from the Architecting community about negativity. As a leader, you have to deal with situations that can be downright adverse at times.  Here's why talking about it isn't a bad thing. Your brain is hardwired for negative bias as a survival instinct, so we naturally see what’s wrong before what’s right. That can be leveraged for good as it can paint a more compl...

Success is something you navigate for yourself. My guest Jill Bergman shares insights from her successful career and gives electric advice on leadership, networking, mentorship and more. Burnout helps no one.  When you need to take a break or shift to part time, don't slog through. You can negotiate work schedules to work for you. Make a career dashboard to understand your own rhythms and patterns...

Does your creative process feel like a glacier? If you wan to gain confidence in your decisions (and the process that informed them), implement a better decision making structure. Listen in for all the pro tips to save you time and money. The creative process goes through multiple divergent and convergent steps, each time becoming more granular.  If you find yourself staying macro when you should...

Wanna go lights out on your next creative pursuit? It won't come from slogging away, over-analyzing everything or getting lost in the busywork. If maintaining has become your way of life, you need a big time reset.  Listen in to hear how to rewire your brain and body to be a creative powerhouse. Take those waking moments before your brain kicks into overdrive to feel the love for what and who yo h...

As monsters go, Jealousy is one of the scariest. Nothing makes you feel less safe than being the target of someone's envy. You don't know who you can trust or what (mis)perceptions your coworkers might have about you. Listen in to learn how to thrash Ol'Green Eyes. Jealousy feeds on lack. Any situation where resources like a promotion, raise, leadership role, positive attention, etc. are scarce ca...

Conflict shouldn't produce a trauma response, but it so often does. If you find yourself fighting back like a vigilante hero, caving in while you silently stew, or running away from the issue (and people), you need to develop some better skills.  Listen in to learn more. We all have different ways of responding to conflict based on how comfortable we are with encountering it. When it feels adversa...

You might not be a world class expert or the ultimate authority on an issue you care about. Maybe you can't teach the graduate level class on it. Guess what?  Most people need the intro level information. And you can share it. In a way that's far more relatable and useful than most experts. Listen in to this episode to overcome imposter syndrome and leverage who you are and what you know. Imposter...

Stop being the pick me person. You know, the one who tries way to hard but still doesn't get the payoff. In this episode, you'll get the downlow on how to focus on what you want to be known for. There are no accidents. Your fear of success is the only thing blocking you from opportunities. Focusing on what you want to be known for is way different than ambition. It's your differentiator, your pers...

Have you been accepting the premise that success is only about meeting expectations, validation and obligations? If you want a career in different areas, listen to this episode to learn what's really behind success: motivation. There are two types of motivation. Intrinsic motivation is all about the love of doing something while extrinsic is about earning a reward or avoiding a punishment. Our cul...

Did you think shining bright was just about drawing attention to yourself? Let's change that channel right now. You have a purpose and when you live it unapologetically, the light you shine in service to others also lights up the career paths of other creatives who want to make a difference. Normalize success, knowing that anything you leave behind is in exchange or something so much greater. Fear...

*womp womp* You walked out of that meeting feeling about 3" tall. Before you slide into depression or get angry, think about how you were an accomplice to your own misery.  Today I'm talking about how I learned not to get triggered by imagined or real bad actors. Listen in to hear how I stopped being an accomplice to other people and shifted to being an advocate for my own success. Become better a...

Having a no good, terrible, very bad day? In this episode, I answer a question from a  member of our Architecting community on how to have more good days and how to be more gentle with yourself on those less than good ones. It's tempting to overgive on a bad day because you feel guilty, but that's the worst thing you can do because stress impacts your focus, cognitive ability, creativity and mood....

Does it seem like no one's hiring? Or that you can't find any good matches for your skill set? That's because skills only reflect competency, not value.  Listen in for essential tips on magnetizing your dream job to you. Create the opportunity you want instead of chasing open listings and trying to conform to their descriptions. Get clarity on your why. When you talk about your skills through the...