Embracing Growth: Lessons from a Year of Transformation

“In order to have the life you want, you have to let go of the life you had.” — Joseph Campbell

At Fixture Studio, growth isn't just a buzzword—it's a core value that defines who we are and how we approach our work. For us, growth means learning to get comfortable being uncomfortable as we navigate new challenges and strive for excellence.

This concept of growth became incredibly personal for my wife, Jami, and me when we left long and successful careers and moved from Omaha, where we had lived our entire lives surrounded by an extensive support network, to Grand Junction, Colorado. We have always had a high capacity for change, but even we found ourselves struggling with the adjustments of a new city, a new career, and the responsibilities of owning our own business.

The key reason we made this change was to create the next great chapter in our lives. In our mid-50s, we had accumulated a lot of great experience and knew we had a lot left to give. We wanted to have a business together—something that was completely our own, completely different from what we’ve done in the past, and in a new location. We also had great experience in being part of an amazing company culture and wanted to replicate that in our own business. We wanted something that was a creative outlet, provided real value, and allowed us to get deeply involved in our community. After all, Grand Junction is our new home. Additionally, we wanted to be part of a team, leveraging the collective strength and creativity that comes from working closely with others.

Over the past year and a half, we have faced discomfort, self-doubt, challenges, and fear. However, pushing through these obstacles has been an invaluable journey. Here are some lessons we've learned and the inspiration we've drawn from a few key sources:

Learning from a Growth Mindset

Carol Dweck's "Growth Mindset" has been a cornerstone in our journey. The idea that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work has been a guiding light. This mindset fosters a love for learning and resilience that is essential for great accomplishments. Embracing a growth mindset has helped us see challenges not as insurmountable obstacles but as opportunities for growth.

Building Strength from Strength

Arthur Brooks' "From Strength to Strength" has provided us with insights on how to leverage our past experiences to build a new future. Brooks talks about the transition from one phase of life to another and how to find happiness and success in the second half of life. His message is clear: our strengths can evolve, and we can find new ways to apply our skills and passions.

Harnessing Grit

Angela Duckworth's "Grit" has taught us the importance of perseverance and passion. Grit, as Duckworth defines it, is the power of passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. It’s not just talent that leads to success but a combination of passion and sustained persistence. This concept has been crucial in our journey, reminding us that enduring effort over time is what leads to meaningful accomplishments.

Relying on Others

Another critical lesson we’ve learned is the importance of relying on others. When we bought Fixture Studio, we inherited a talented team. As a company, we needed to incorporate systems, strategy, goals, and accountability. Jami and I had a lot of past experience in helping our previous company incorporate these elements to create business growth. By leveraging the skills and strengths of our team, we have been able to implement these changes and drive our business forward. We’ve also been blessed by friends, family and former colleagues who have been generous in helping us. You know who you are and we love you and thank you!!

Moving Forward with Confidence

As we look back on the past year and a half, we are proud of the growth we have experienced both personally and professionally. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been incredibly rewarding. We’ve learned that growth requires us to step out of our comfort zones, embrace new challenges, and persist even when things get tough.

I have always been fond of saying that if you aren’t growing, you are dying. Growth necessitates hardship. To get stronger, you must break down the muscle. Growing is also when we feel most alive. As hard as the last couple of years have been at times, we’ve also experienced enormous feelings of being fully alive. We’ve been blessed with a new and growing circle of wonderful friends, we love our new community, and we’ve got an amazing team who is energized, focused, and aligned around a common mission and vision. Our little company has lots of “lots of growth” and we are well positioned for the future.

At Fixture Studio, we bring this philosophy into every project we undertake. We are committed to continuous learning, pushing boundaries, and achieving excellence. As we move forward, we are excited to apply these lessons and continue growing alongside our clients and community.