Building a Practice in France — One Year Later

It’s been a year since I officially founded Artcrafters in France.
I can’t deny it, it’s been both exhausting and exciting.
This path has taught me lessons I never imagined I would learn.

Here’s what I’ve learned so far:

1. Your concept of yourself will change.

Once you decide to open a business and put all your energy into it, you are no longer the same person.
It takes you to another level of awareness, where you must make decisions, fight for what you want, and accept uncertainty.

You start exploring directions you never imagined. For instance, I initially dreamed of working on healthcare projects, not easy to obtain as a new company. But unexpectedly, I discovered a fascinating world in private residential projects, where I could apply neuroscience to design in a completely new way.

I’ve learned to be more conscious about which projects to take and which ones to refuse (we’ll come back to that later).
I’ve also come to understand my former bosses much better: how hard it is to build something from scratch, to pay for every license, every tool, every bit of workspace.
The personal transformation I’ve felt this year is almost as deep as when I became a mother.

2. You’ll face countless “first times.”

As one architect once told me: “When you start a business, you go through endless first times and you have to learn to handle them.”

In this first year, I faced my first problematic construction site, dealing with a company that simply wouldn’t follow drawings or written instructions. It was incredibly stressful for both my clients and me.

I also had to face uncomfortable situations: being ghosted, experiencing my first planning refusal, and even having to confront the local council to understand what went wrong (as I’m always meticulous with urban analysis).

There were also awkward proposals like illegal projects, which I of course refused.
Every week still brings new “firsts,” and I suspect it will be that way for a long time.

3. Don’t take every project.

This one is hard. When you start, you’re eager to work and earn money but not all projects are worth it.
And I don’t mean financially.

Some projects simply don’t align with your values or peace of mind.
If you find yourself questioning whether you should take a project — don’t.
If it steals your tranquility — don’t.
If it puts your responsibility or liability at risk — don’t.

4. Nobody is your friend in business.

This one was painful to learn.
In business, everyone looks out for their own interests. When you’re naturally trusting or naïve, this realization can be shocking.

You can’t assume others will protect you or help you, especially when money is involved.

5. The client comes first — but you don’t.

It’s a cliché, but it’s true: my clients are my priority.
If they need me, I respond. I want them to feel safe. I look after their money and often see us as a team, us versus the world.

But sometimes, you have to accept that you’re not their priority.
Some clients only see you as a source of drawings, contacts, or planning approvals, and then they move on.

It’s important to see this with a clear and calm mind.
No matter what, I’ll continue to put my clients first because that’s my professional ethic.

6. Some projects are haunted.

It sounds funny, but every architect will tell you it’s true.
Some projects just attract problems, endless delays, wrong deliveries, bad luck, even your own small mistakes (I once lost a radiator because of one!).

I’ve shared this with other architects, and we all laughed because we’ve all been there.

7. The “Everything or Nothing” rule.

I don’t know why, but it always happens like this.

In January, I had just one project plus my own home renovation. I was doing marketing, writing for The Architect Font, and had plenty of free time. Then suddenly, one of my former bosses passed me a project and everything exploded.

Four new projects arrived at once, plus a big one that got cancelled.
And ever since, I’ve had to postpone new projects because there’s simply no time.

Another architect told me this is normal: in our line of work, everything always comes at the same time.

8. Keep trusting yourself.

At the end of the day, nobody knows what’s best for your company better than you.
You can listen to others but it’s your name, your reputation, and your energy on the line.
Trust your instinct. It’s what brought you here.

Starting Artcrafters has been the most challenging and rewarding experience of my professional life.
I’ve grown, failed, learned, and rebuilt and I’m only just getting started.