Young Architect

Conquering Fear of Failure with Leslie Norton

Posted: 01 Dec 2021 08:34 AM PST

Leslie remembers being one of those kids who just knows what they want to do in life from a very young age. She's always loved art and math, and a 3rd-grade teacher suggested to her that architecture would be a good fit for her. Once she understood what that career was, she agreed.

Because she knew early on that she wanted to be an architect, Leslie prepared as early as she could. In high school, she took drafting classes and joined a group for engineering and architecture. Starting after her junior year in high school, she also worked for an architecture firm. When she was getting ready to go to college, she only applied to architecture schools.

In today's episode, Leslie discusses her career path, which has not always been linear. She also describes the experience of beginning her own business and becoming licensed, as well as how she found the ARE boot camp to help her prepare for those licensing exams.

Listen in to learn more about Leslie's approach to time management, her thoughts on alternative careers in architecture, and what she thinks about the Young Architect Conferences.

What You'll Hear on This Episode:

What inspired Leslie to go into architecture
What architecture school was like for Leslie
What happened for Leslie after school
Leslie's time working at a kitchen company
How Leslie started her own business
What brought Leslie to the ARE boot camp
How boot camp went for Leslie
Leslie's time management
What comes next for Leslie as a licensed architect
What the Young Architect Conferences have been like for Leslie
What Leslie thinks about alternative careers in architecture
Leslie's advice for aspiring architects
What Leslie knows today that she didn't know then
The book that changed everything for Leslie
Leslie's favorite resource, product, or gadget
Leslie's best time saving trick
The best way to connect with Leslie

Top Three Takeaways from This Episode:

You don't really fail as long as you keep trying.
Plan things out to set yourself up for success.
Celebrate the big things and the little things.

Leslie's Advice for Aspiring Architects:

"I think trusting yourself and knowing what's best for you is really important. I also think celebrating along the way is important too, and that doesn't mean just the big things, that means the little things, and giving yourself, like, ok, once I complete something, we're going to celebrate this way."

Favorite Quotes:

"It's not as bad as you think, you just have to start." – What Leslie knows now that she didn't know then.

"There's a book I read in grad school that I absolutely loved, it's called The Eyes of the Skin." –The book that changed everything for Leslie

"My husband, for one. I don't know if you can consider him a resource, but he is." –Leslie on her favorite resource, product, or gadget

"Batching things together. If you can do a lot of like things at the same time, I think it makes it a lot easier." –Leslie on her best time-saving trick

Resources Mentioned on the Show:

Leslie Norton

Leslie on Instagram

Norton Design Studio