Today, as I stepped into our new space for the first time, a wave of excitement and anxiety hit me like a speeding car. We’ve all heard the old adage about a dog chasing a car; what’s he gonna do with it once he catches it? Guess what? I’ve been chasing cars.

Although I know this new space is going to work, all I can think in this moment is, “What the hell have I done?”  

There are, of course, things I expected. I knew we would have to take out a couple of walls. That, of course, impacts the flooring and what we do there. But what I didn’t know was that the drop ceilings were put in after the walls were up, unlike how the current Storm Wisdom spaces were divided up!

This means, when the wall comes out, there is either a gap in the ceiling, we do something different with the wall, or something unthought of yet. So, how to handle that?  While I anticipated the need for structural changes, I must admit the hidden complications caught me off guard.

It is very hard to come up with a space plan when you can’t see the whole space. The space feels fragmented, with partitions creating a maze-like effect and an eclectic mix of carpet, and 2 different laminate floors.  Not a good look. I imagine it will feel much bigger when it is opened up. Or is that wishful thinking?

There are some weird (or are they interesting?) jogs in the other walls within the space. Design challenges for sure, which, of course, I’m up for. But on day one, I can tell you it feels like I’ve bitten off a lot! And of course, I want to move quickly for many reasons, the disruption to the business being the biggest.

And did I mention there will be boxes in there to work around for up to a week? Please don’t read any of this as complaining. Instead, this is just the initial overwhelm! And this too shall pass, just like the other cars I keep chasing!

Despite the initial overwhelm, I know that with each step, we’ll transform this space into something truly special. Every challenge we overcome brings us closer to our vision.