At this month's meeting of the AIA Westchester / Mid-Huson Practice Management Committe we were discussing the subject of partnering (two architects working with a joint venture agreement). Among many interesting comments, the question of legal agreements was raised and I wondered if the AIA offered a document for architects looking to partner. As assumed, they do. C801™-1993, Joint Venture Agreement for Professional Services can be used for just such an arrangement. "C801™-1993 is intended … [Read more...]
BAM…Publicity Generated!
Last week, I posted my favorite business and marketing blogs. Catching my link to his blog, Scott Ginsberg took a tour through Entrepreneur Architect and found my post referencing a recent article in Architect magazine about getting publicity. He left an interesting comment. At his blog, Scott "shares ideas, stories and observations from his speeches, articles and books on how to MAXIMIZE personal and professional approachability - one conversation at a time." A self-proclaimed … [Read more...]
A “Sticky” Manifesto
The Heath Brothers, authors of the new bestseller, Made To Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, walk the walk in their ChangeThis manifesto about three straightforward ways to make your strategy work. They preach the power of concrete language and stories to communicate your strategy effectively. Missed the Heath Bros. on "The Today Show" or NPR? Get to know them here because these ideas stick. Talking Strategy - Three Straightforward Ways to Make Your Strategy Stick What's your … [Read more...]
The Pain Level Chart
A trip to Northern Westchester Hospital Center today (everyone is fine now, thanks - a story for another day) got me thinking about systems and how important they are to a successful business. Whether that business is helping patients feel more comfortable or designing a home for a young family, properly designed systems can ensure a consistent, predictable result...every time. In the hospital, everything is located in its proper place. Every piece of equipment is labeled with maintenance … [Read more...]
A Blog a Day…
If you are reading this post, you have probably already learned the value of a well written blog (I hope I am working my way up to "well written"). The best posts will give you a nice juicy morsel of information with links for those who want to dig deeper into the subject. I read several blogs everyday. Here are a few of my favorite business blogs: Seth's Blog Brand Autopsy Idea Sandbox Joshua Horne's Blog Church of the Customer HELLO, my name is BLOG How to Change the World Bonus morsel: … [Read more...]
Apple for Architecture
I have been using PCs with Microsoft operating systems since purchasing my first PC in 1992. We still use Dell PCs with Windows XP at the studio. When I hired John Whalen, our first Project Manager, he started preaching the virtues of Apple computers. I never considered Apple for the studio, because they would not run AutoCAD. Every time one of the PCs crash (at least once a week), John taunts me about the "darkside" of Microsoft. So, I decided to give Apple a try and bought Annmarie an … [Read more...]
What’s in a Name?
I am very interested in the business of naming. When Annmarie and I launched Fivecat Studio, we wanted a name that differentiated our firm from all the "Smith and Smith" firms in the region (our legal entity is still McCarthy LePage Architects, PC, so we have not yet taken the full plunge). The Name Inspector has a great blog all about naming. In this post, he uses the TechCrunch Company/Product Index to help us understand how names can be categorized into 10 types: 1. Real Words (i.e. … [Read more...]
Patience, Promises and the Power of Being Centered
Seth posts How to Succeed in Business (to Business). He writes about the importance of patience, not overpromising and finding one thing that clients need, then being the very best at that one thing. I think its pretty good advice for us architects as well. Anyone practicing architecture for more than a few months knows that patience is a prerequisite. An efficient "process" of architecture is all about decision-making, and in order to obtain decisions from some clients takes the patience of … [Read more...]
Entrepreneur Architects
When in architecture school, we each had a professor who told us that architecture should be practiced for the art and the art alone. "If you want to make money", he said, "quit now, take a walk across campus and enroll at the business school." Some took the advice, left the profession and today are earning a nice comfortable salary. Others heeded the warning, believed it and carried on the long standing tradition of starving artist. I believe there is another way. Despite the bitter … [Read more...]
Getting Publicity
The February issue of Architect magazine includes an article written by Fred Bernstein titled, Getting The Publicity You Need. In December, Claire Whitaker closed the doors of The Kreisberg Group, a P.R. firm she lead as president for five years, and moved across town to her new position as the head of public relations for the Pritzker Prize winning architect, Santiago Calatrava. Here are six tips from the article for architects trying to attract publicity without spending a lot of money. 1. … [Read more...]
Customer Evangelists
Traditionally, architects have obtained commissions through word of mouth. Complete a project successfully and your client will recommend your firm to their friends and family. What if your clients not only recommended your firm, but worshipped it? What if they were so happy with your services that they went out of their way to spread the good word about your firm as fast and as far as they could? What if you could create a legion of loyal Customer Evangelists? I first read Ben McConnell and … [Read more...]
White Windows
Many years ago, before Annmarie and I started our residential architecture firm, I was a project manager with Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson Architects in Mt. Kisco, New York. I worked very closely with the senior partner at the time, Dick Kaeyer. My first assignment as Project Manager was a major addition and renovation project for a church and facilities in Yorktown Heights. Dick designed the project and I developed it through construction drawings. Then, in order to learn the tips and … [Read more...]