The Wisdom of I.M. Pei: You’re Not Stuck—You’re Just Mid-Build
#impei #thelouvre #building #inspirationalquote #motivation #success #rockandroll #halloffame #paris #japan #cleveland
Legendary architect I.M. Pei left his mark on the world with buildings that are awesome. Just as impressive as his designs was his clarity of thinking. Two of his quotes—especially when paired together—offer wisdom that reaches beyond architecture. They form a kind of blueprint for navigating life, work, and the inevitable setbacks that come with both:
“Stop worrying about missed opportunities and start looking for new ones.”
“Success is a collection of problems solved.”
Put side by side, his thoughts outline a simple, powerful idea: success isn’t a straight or perfect path. It’s something we build by remaining in motion—solving problems, learning from challenges, and staying open to new possibilities.
It’s easy to get stuck thinking about what we missed or how things could’ve gone differently. But Pei’s message is simple: don’t dwell, build. Regret won’t lay the foundation for anything new. Taking action will. Every problem we solve becomes part of our personal architecture of growth, grit, and unique character—and that, too, is pretty awesome.
A handful of I.M. Pei’s buildings:
The Louvre, Paris illustration
The Louvre, Paris
Miho Museum, Japan
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland OH
