612: Why Architect-Developers Make 4X What Architects Do with Josiah Maddock of Josiah Maddock Architects

Feb 3, 2025

Josiah Maddock, an architect turned developer, shares his inspiring journey from traditional high-rises to crafting iconic adaptive reuse projects. He discusses the pivotal moment that sparked his career shift, driven by burnout and a desire for creative control. Josiah reveals key strategies for funding and risk management, emphasizing the importance of networking and financial planning. He also highlights the overlooked decision that transformed his approach and contrasts the limits of flipping properties with the sustainable wealth of rental income.

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ADVICE

Side Hustle

Supplement your income and gain experience by consistently taking on side projects.
This is crucial for learning, earning, and gaining more freedom in your architectural career.

ADVICE

Start With Your Home

Start your architect-developer journey with your own home to minimize risk.
Generate income by adding an ADU, renting out space, or combining home and office.

ANECDOTE

Church Conversion

Josiah lived in his converted church, his first architect-developer project, and then rented it out.
This created both equity and income streams for future projects.

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What happens when an architect decides to take control—not just of the design, but the entire development process? In this episode, Rion Willard sits down with Josiah, an architect-turned-developer who made the bold leap from high-rise projects to building his own vision. He shares how a moment of burnout led him to rethink his career, ultimately reshaping his business model into something far more lucrative and fulfilling.

From funding his first project to scaling up with multiple developments at once, Josiah reveals the key insights that helped him transition from architect to entrepreneur. He breaks down the risks, the rewards, and the strategic moves that made it possible.

The one decision that changed everything—and why many architects hesitate to make it.
A simple yet overlooked strategy that lowers risk for first-time developers.
How Josiah went from side projects to full-scale development in just two years.
The biggest funding mistake architects make when trying to raise capital.

To learn more about Josiah, visit his:

Website: https://josiahmaddock.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josiahmaddock/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/josiah.maddock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josiahmaddock/

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