Faith closes your eyes. Conviction keeps them open.

Conviction doesn't stem from what you did yesterday. It grows from what you are willing to do today.

The physical fatigue of bringing the Treehouse concept to life was real, but the decision fatigue was heavier. While I wouldn't call it a career crisis, I would 100% call it a conflict. For the past few years, I balanced a corporate career I chose with an emerging design business that chose me. There were days I'd go between being a Chief of Staff one minute, the overthinking homeowner paralyzed by wall plate styles the next, then the designer agonizing over grout colors, before ending the day as the person who had to live with it all.

Eventually, one path has to win out. Design won.

Validation hit when I realized the design process actually required the most discipline and determination, not because it's difficult, but because of what it means to me. And I could tell by how much fun I was having in what others may call chaos. It proved that if I can execute this for myself, I can do it for others. I know exactly what it is like to be on both sides of the project. I know the weight of making big swings, and I know what it feels like to have a large investment behind each at bat.

I have collaborated with companies, builders, architects, general contractors, and homeowners on interior, exterior, and landscape projects. It showed me that I don't have an "ideal" swim lane of projects or clients. It solidified my value as being built on understanding each person's priorities and expectations. Mine are very simple: I just want to design every day and instill confidence in people who are finally doing the project they've thought about for a long time.

We already understand each other.