Plan for sailboats, not trains…

Nearly 10 years ago, I read a paper published by Rachel Kleinfeld titled In Development Work, Plan for Sailboats, Not Trains. It’s an interesting paper, and still relevant to my day job - but the title is what has really stuck with me. And it offers apt advice in light of the feasibility report that I received from the architect a few days back.

If I was in a rigid, linear, plan —> execute mindset (i.e. planning for trains), I’d almost certainly be sitting here with my head in my hands sobbing. I did, after all, buy the building with big plans for one room in particular. I’ve told many people, not entirely in jest, that I bought that room and the rest of the building came with it. And now I’ve learned that use classes and building regulations will conspire against me to make that original idea absolutely cost prohibitive. What’s a girl to do?

Well, remembering to plan for sailboats and not trains is a good place to start. And, indeed, the architect had already identified a solution that I literally didn’t see until a day or two later. In fact, this new configuration could be even better in the long run than what I’d originally imagined.

That concept is now with the quantity surveyor being costed. Her calculations will almost certainly require that I change tack again. Indeed, this will probably remain the theme of this story for the next several months as new information comes in, more people get involved, and the project starts to take shape out there in the world as opposed to just in my imagination. But that’s ok as long as I stay focused on the horizon, the longer-term purpose that I want the building to serve, and the feeling that I’m trying to create in the space.