SummarySara Mardini, an architect and entrepreneur, shares her journey of transitioning from employment to launching her own firm in Qatar. She discusses the challenges she faced, the mental and emotional journey she experienced, and how she managed risk and uncertainty. Sara emphasizes the importance of exercise and maintaining a balanced mindset to support her professional activities. She also shares her philosophies and beliefs that influence her approach to design and business. Sara highlights the role of prayer and gratitude in her journey and the unique marketing strategies she has developed to showcase her firm in a competitive market. Sara discusses the marketing strategies that have been most effective for her architecture firm, SMAD. She emphasizes the power of word-of-mouth referrals and repeat clients, which have been the main source of business for her. She also mentions the importance of social media marketing for exposure, but not as a primary source of clients. Sara highlights the value of participating in events and networking to gain exposure and attract new clients. She mentions her plans to expand to neighboring markets and the challenges of catering to different design styles. Sara also discusses the use of AI in her firm's conceptual design process and the benefits of taking calculated risks in entrepreneurship. She advises architects to be involved in site work to gain a better understanding of the construction process, and to be patient and good managers with their teams.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Networking05:33 Sara's Journey from Employment to Entrepreneurship09:49 Challenges and Lessons Learned12:46 Dealing with Failure and Overcoming Doubt16:23 Maintaining a Clear and Focused Mindset23:30 The Spiritual and Personal Fulfillment of Architecture26:24 Philosophies and Beliefs in Design and Business30:24 Unique Marketing Strategies for Architects39:04 Utilizing AI in Conceptual Design42:54 Marketing Strategies and Campaigns45:46 Transitioning from Freelancing to Running a Team49:39 Expanding to Neighboring Markets56:11 Technical Lessons in Architecture01:00:59 Taking Calculated Risks in Entrepreneurship01:03:23 Building a Strong TeamConnect with Sara Mardini & SMAD on: IG: https://www.instagram.com/smad.me/Website: https://smad.me/

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