In November I was approached about a project that would change the shape of my career.
A developer in Manhattan wanted to commission the interior design for an entire residential building. Forty-eight units across twelve floors, lobby, common areas, and model apartments. It was the largest single commission Clarke Design had been offered and it was, by any measure, too large for us at our current size.
I sat with the proposal for a week. I ran the numbers three times. I talked to Kezia and Priya and my accountant. I talked to my mother, who said take it. I talked to Dana, who said what does your gut say. I talked to Marcus, who asked the right questions in the right order and did not tell me what to decide.
"If you take it," he said, "what do you need to make it work?"
"A third senior
