In this episode of The Young Architect Podcast, we dive deep into the journey highlighting the success of Orion Watkins, an Architect who has seen it all.
From the confines of homeschooling to the challenging terrain of traditional school – where our guest didn't exactly fit in – he eventually carved his own path to success, graduating via night school. His story took a turn when he suffered an injury working at his father’s construction business, which led him to explore junior college. This decision paid off immensely, landing him a spot in CalPoly's renowned architecture school.
Even in the throes of a recession, Orion displayed unmatched resilience. Through construction work during college, he amassed enough to invest in a property, which he skillfully remodeled.
After gaining experience at a firm, a new realization dawned upon him: he wanted decision-making power which was only achievable through getting licensed and launching his own firm. Orion and Michael Riscica met while Orion was taking the ARE Boot Camp in 2017. This paved the way for him to become a licensed Architect.
Our guest dives into the intricacies of running a startup firm – from collaborating with his previous employer to the long, but rewarding hours of being his own boss. Mentorship takes center stage, with Michael playing a pivotal role and introducing him to business coach, Chris Colby. Listen to Chris's insights on Chris Colby Podcast.
We explore the value of diversified skills in creating multifaceted businesses and side projects. Lastly, we delve into the art of maintaining work-life balance in the demanding world of architecture.
Tune in and get inspired!
