Some of the most valuable lessons don’t happen in meetings or client presentations. For me, the most recent reminder came during a family ski trip, bundled in too many layers and helping my 5-year-old up from yet another tumble. That vacation reminded me how much we can learn off the clock and how those lessons carry into the world of design and the way we show up at work.
- You Can Do Hard Things
Skiing and snowboarding are humbling sports.The boots can be awkward, your muscles ache in new places, and while you’re learning, you fall a lot. I have snowboarded since I was a teen, so I had almost forgotten what that felt like, until I was teaching my son. For him (yes, and me), at first it felt like only frustration and failure. But after trying again and again, something shifted. Balance came and confidence followed. By the end of the week, he learned that putting in the hard work allowed for the reward of happily gliding through the mountains.
The same pattern shows up throughout a career. Anything new can feel like a struggle, whether you are learning a technical skill, leading a new team, or navigating the many layers of our industry. As your career grows, so does the complexity of challenges, relationships, and skills you must master. With each win, you begin to see the pattern: Hard work leads to progress, and progress leads to reward.
On a recent Imagine a Place podcast, Cynthia Sarria, an interior designer at HOK in Miami, offered honest advice for young designers. She said, “It is going to suck at first, but it gets better…Keep going.” She is right. The process can be messy and overwhelming, but if you keep showing up and putting in the effort, you begin to see how your effort leads to growth and the ability to contribute to something bigger than yourself.
We often ask our clients to go through this same journey of trusting new ideas, embracing new ways of working, and investing in environments that support people and culture. The same is true for manufacturers, who are facing shifting expectations, supply challenges (yes, even tariffs), and the rising demand for sustainable solutions.
Growth, whether personal or professional, takes time, persistence, and a willingness to stay with the process. Just like my 5-year-old learning to ski, the struggle is part of the journey, and if we keep showing up and doing the hard thing, the reward often exceeds what we imagined.
- The World Is Much Bigger Than You
Travel is perspective. Being in a new place with different customs, languages, and landscapes humbles you quickly. It reminds you that your view is just one of many, and that broad awareness can soften assumptions and spark curiosity.
In design, we often talk about empathy and inclusion. But truly inclusive spaces require more than checklists. They reflect diverse perspectives, shaped by genuine conversations, thoughtful questions, and a willingness to explore new points of view.
Albert Einstein once said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” It is a powerful reminder that progress requires new perspectives. When we stay curious by traveling, listening, and learning, we open the door to better solutions.
The world is far larger than our routines and assumptions, and the built environment holds far more potential than we often realize. Designing with that awareness requires genuine curiosity about the people we serve, and a commitment to creating spaces with greater perspective in mind.
- You Choose Your Perspective
When a delayed flight foils your plans, or when you find yourself skiing down intermediate slopes with a 5-year-old beginner, it’s easy to spiral. But misadventures only become great stories if you choose the right attitude.
The same is true at work. Our industry is shifting rapidly, with new work styles, AI, tighter timelines and budgets, and more decision makers. Things are bound to go wrong. But teams rooted in psychological safety, shared purpose and a positive culture are better equipped to adapt and thrive. According to Gallup’s “State of the American Workplace” report, highly engaged teams see 23% higher profitability than those with low engagement. And positivity is a key driver of engagement.
So when a project hits a snag or a miscommunication arises, ask yourself: What story will you tell later? One of frustration, or one of resilience, collaboration and growth? Perspective is everything.
At the end of each day, exhausted, sore and carrying two sets of skis (that were not mine), I realized the mountain had offered more than just fresh air and family time. It offered reminders that how we face challenges, embrace differences and choose our mindset matters both at work and beyond it. The same truths apply: You can do hard things, the world is bigger than your view and your attitude shapes the outcome. And with a little perspective, you’ll have a great story to tell, even in the chaos.
Editor’s Note: Maria VanDeman, NCIDQ, Ind. IIDA, is an interior designer, published children’s book author, advocate for equity in the workplace, and Director of Design Strategy at OFS, where she also hosts the Imagine a Place Podcast. Passionate about people and purposeful design, Maria is dedicated to creating meaningful impact through environments, storytelling, and mentorship. Say hello and follow along on LinkedIn!