We were lucky to catch up with Andrea De Lancellotti recently and have shared our conversation below.
Andrea, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I will say, I come from a long line of workaholics. It seems like the relentless drive to succeed runs in my family, starting from my grandmother and passing down to my mother and me. Growing up independent from a young age only added to my ability to keep going until I’m ready to collapse!
Until now, all that energy and determination have been channeled into other people’s ventures and aspirations. But finally, after countless years, I am redirecting that force towards myself and my own dreams, constructing something truly remarkable.
Moreover, when you’re the owner and operator of your own design and construction firm, there’s no one to rely on but yourself. The weight of responsibility, from meeting client expectations to managing workers and staff who depend on you, truly serves as a constant source of motivation.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Ardor. Home, Lifestyle & Design is a prestigious interior design and construction company. Our headquarters are located in Santa Monica, California. With extensive knowledge in California Real Estate, I specialize in designing and upgrading spaces to maximize return on investment. If you’re considering updating your home, I can offer expert guidance and create a design that suits your needs.
In order to do my job well, I have to constantly immerse myself in the world of beautiful design, engage in meaningful conversations, and find joy in every aspect. These experiences contribute to my growth and enhance my abilities in this field. Moreover, I find immense satisfaction in helping my clients bring their dream spaces to life. However, the most exhilarating part of my journey is the opportunity to collaborate with my life partner and best friend, who is not only my general contractor but also a co-owner of our company. His unwavering support and guidance always steer me in the right direction during times of doubt or uncertainty. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have such incredible support while pursuing my passion.
We have an exciting year ahead of us! We have several amazing new projects in the pipeline, and I am thrilled to announce the launch of our website. Additionally, I am working on designing some extraordinary and meaningful furniture pieces as part of a major collaboration. Stay tuned with us on the journey so you can see the remarkable accomplishments that we have tirelessly worked towards!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
One: Faith. Even though I have always been a hard worker and an idea machine, I’ve also been questioned and doubted a lot in my life. I can honestly say, I have not always had confidence in myself, but I did have faith. Maybe I didn’t know how I was going to get there, but I knew I would one day if I kept working hard and making decisions with my heart and intuition. I would get to where I always thought I’d be.
Two: Adaptable. I am rigid in a lot of ways. I like things done a certain way, I hold myself and the people around me to very high standards. However, in life and in my career, I’ve been as fluid and adaptable as I can be. Situations change in a second, money comes and goes, budgets ebb and flow, just life in general is so uncertain. We have to be ready at a moment’s notice to change direction. Being adaptable and creative with what you have is what makes you a good designer and a dynamic human being.
Three: Consistent. I am still learning this, but it always rings so true. The more consistent you can be with anything puts you ahead of the curve. Consistency in communication, work deliverables, dependability; these are the qualities that build a reputation and qualify you as a professional to be taken seriously. Learn that, and you will be successful in anything you do, I promise!
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
Over the past couple of years, hands down, my partner has been the one who deserves this recognition. There were countless moments when I contemplated throwing in the towel and giving up. I often questioned my own abilities and talent, but my partner never did.
Since he is a business owner himself, he understands the daily challenges we encounter, the problems we need to solve, and the occasional dissatisfied clients. I tend to let these things affect me and dampen my spirit, but he always has my back. He consistently supports me and believes in me even more than I believe in myself.
Furthermore, he motivates me to continue my education, maintain my skills, and consistently work on self-improvement so that I can be the best business owner, designer, and person I can be. It may sound trite, but what I’ve learned in recent years is that the key to success is having a support system. If you can provide that for yourself, that’s incredible. However, I personally couldn’t reach the next level of success until I met my partner. We share a similar mindset, and we push each other to persevere and accomplish our goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: launching very soon!
- Instagram: thedesignmother
- Other: my partner’s instagram is @fathercontractor
Image Credits
Adaeza Njaka Taylor Habig
