In this episode of Flying Solo, host Katie Kangas speaks with Edward J. Shannon, an architect whose career embodies the steady persistence of a woodpecker. Day after day, Ed has built his solo practice by connecting deeply with clients and crafting homes that tell a story—one that resonates with their lives, goals, and values. His work leaves a legacy not only for today’s homeowners but also for the generations who will live in these spaces in the future.

The conversation also explores Ed’s book, The Sole Practitioner Architect, where he defines six types of solo practitioners. His insight reminds us that even though Solopreneurs run their own businesses, it doesn’t mean they are practicing in isolation. By sharing stories and frameworks, entrepreneurial architects can connect with one another, learn from different paths, and discover new ways to define success in practice. Ed’s holistic view of architecture embraces both professional and personal dimensions—showing how project planning, financial structures, and client relationships ripple into the way architects live their lives beyond the 9-to-5.

Throughout the episode, Katie highlights how Ed’s practice reflects three traits of the woodpecker: persistence, resonance, and legacy. He is unafraid to reach out to potential clients, consistently putting in the work to build relationships and opportunities. He listens closely for resonance, using storytelling to create projects that feel authentic and meaningful to the people who inhabit them. And his legacy extends beyond his own practice, as his writing and mentorship create openings for other architects to shape businesses of their own.

As the season one finale, this conversation with Ed underscores the core message of the Flying Solo Podcast: that while no two solo architecture firms are alike, every path is worth telling. Whether your practice is just beginning or evolving toward new horizons, stories like Ed’s remind us that even when flying solo, we are never truly alone.

Spirit Lake Studio

• Website: https://spiritlakestudio.com/ 
• Facebook: Spirit Lake Studio
• LinkedIn: Spirit Lake Studio/Edward J. Shannon Architect PLC

To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website. Listen to more encouraging content on the Gabl Media platform including podcasts with CEU and HSW credit towards your licensure renewal. Consider joining the EntreArchitect Network by becoming a member or joining the free EntreArchitect Community Facebook Group. Mark R. Page, founder of EntreArchitect and Gabl Media, has been building a community of small firm architects who are having tough conversations to improve their professional practice and live their best life every day.

In this episode of Flying Solo, host Katie Kangas explores what it really means to fly. She begins with perspective—examining why choosing to step into the unknown and aiming for “blue oceans” can open up new horizons for both personal life and professional practice. Drawing inspiration from Blue Ocean Strategy by Renée Mauborgne and W. Chan Kim, Katie reflects on how architects and solopreneurs can create fresh opportunities rather than competing in overcrowded markets. Flying becomes a metaphor for dreaming big and daring to venture into new territories.

Katie then shifts to how Solopreneurs must pivot in professional practice. Just as birds adjust midflight, entrepreneurs must cultivate adaptability and nimbleness. She highlights the precision of a hawk shifting direction in the air—its sharp instincts serving as a powerful model for business strategy when plans inevitably change. Like the hawk or even the falcon in flight, success often comes from being able to adjust quickly without losing momentum.

The conversation continues with possibility—the endless opportunities that flight symbolizes. Different models of business growth can be paralleled to birds such as the hummingbird, albatross, and swift, each with unique flight patterns. From rapid bursts of creative energy to long-distance endurance, these birds illustrate the many ways Solopreneurs can flourish. With the right mindset, the potential for growth, impact, and earning is limitless.

The episode concludes by recapping the three themes: Perspective, Pivot, and Possibility. Together, they form a guide to embracing the entrepreneurial journey. Referencing Atomic Habits by James Clear, Katie underscores how small, consistent steps can lead to extraordinary results. Join the Flying Solo community on Instagram and connect through Gabl Media to continue exploring what it means to build a practice—and a life—on your own terms.

To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website. 

Listen to more encouraging content on the Gabl Media platform including podcasts with CEU and HSW credit towards your licensure renewal. Consider joining the EntreArchitect Network by becoming a member or joining the free EntreArchitect Community Facebook Group.

Mark R. Page, founder of EntreArchitect and Gabl Media, has been building a community of small firm architects who are having tough conversations to improve their professional practice and live their best life every day.