Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Ross.
Hi Greg, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I moved to the Central Coast around 2010 to pursue a degree in Landscape Architecture at Cal Poly.
Falling in love with the area, I worked hard to stay after I graduated and worked for several large and small design firms in the local area.
Around 2019, I was working for a construction company that was going through hard times and couldn’t afford to keep me on. I faced the decision of either moving or opening my own business. My wife, who had done the same a few years earlier, inspired me, and I leaped.
Since the beginning of 2020, I have owned and operated Contour Landscape Architecture. To say I have learned a lot is an understatement, but that growth and learning have led to great fulfillment as a professional and afforded me the freedom I cherish.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some of the initial struggles are the same as those faced by all new business owners: brand identity, market focus, and just getting some initial clients to help move things in the right direction.
Others are very specific to my trade, i.e., permitting, learning the building code, when to use it and when not to, and hiring other professionals like a structural engineer. Most of these had to be learned in hindsight or through taking on or designing more complex and challenging projects.
Cash flow is king, and it is very true: keeping things light and saving properly for both taxes and rainy days is the only reason I am still in business.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Being a creative person is great; getting paid for that creativity is not so easy. What I have found is that if I am continuing to expand and grow as a landscape architect, I should also continue to charge accordingly.
Most creative people will undervalue themselves initially; it’s just a part of the process. Doubt is natural when you are the sole person in charge of a larger creative endeavor. There will be days when you’re unsure or paralyzed by all that needs to be done. Having a process is key, and structuring that process will save you from spinning out.
The process will change and evolve, but having one is what matters. What sets us apart from other LAs, I think, is our ability to include our clients at a very hands-on level in the design process without losing sight of both timeliness and affordability.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Draw! Draw as much as you can by pen, pencil, or digital stylus. Draw what you see in the world, draw what you see in your mind, and they will begin to influence one another.
My ability to draw quickly and with confidence as a creative professional is what has saved me time and time again. Drawing is a form of communication that is more universal than a lot of the “lingo” that my profession uses. People respond to other people, taking the time to analyze and shape what’s there with their own hands.
Pricing:
- Most LA projects are approx. between 8-15% of the built budget
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.contourlandscapearchitecture.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contour.la/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-ross-pla-4716821a3/
