# Should I have just become an architect?

By [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com) · 2014-05-14

architect-this-city, architecture, architecture-profession, careers, developer-dirt, entrepreneurship, master-builder, real-estate-developer, real-estate-development, rex, rex-ny, uncategorized

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I say “just”, not to belittle the profession in any way, but rather because that was my original plan–to become an architect. That’s what I was studying to become and I was loving the ride.

But along the way, [as I’ve mentioned before](http://brandondonnelly.com/post/72865187758/what-real-estate-developers-do-and-why-i-became-one), I became somewhat disillusioned with the profession and I became a real estate developer. It’s not that I didn’t and don’t love architecture. I still do. It’s that I felt the profession had been marginalized. Architects were no longer the “[master builders](http://www.forbes.com/2010/06/12/architecture-eco-buildings-technology-future-design-joshua-ramus.html).”

But I’m often asked by people if I miss architecture and design. And to be perfectly honest, I do sometimes. Every now and then I’ll read something about architecture or I’ll come across an interesting design and think to myself: “Should I have just become an architect?” This morning was one of those moments. I opened up my phone while still in bed and, for whatever reason, I just wanted to look at cool architecture in my inbox.

But I never regret the deliberate decision I made. [Developers are very much entrepreneurs](http://brandondonnelly.com/post/84563789543/studying-to-become-a-real-estate-developer) and I believe wholeheartedly in the power of entrepreneurship to disrupt, improve, and move the world forward. I just love architecture. And that will never change.

_Image:_ [_REX_](http://rex-ny.com/about)

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*Originally published on [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com/should-i-have-just-become-an-architect)*