Scott Anthony, author of the new book, The Silver Lining, contributed a recent HarvardBusiness blog post about “loving the low end”. Few architects are seeking the “low end”, but maybe there is something we can learn here. Is there a way we can restructure our basic architectural service and provide an alternative “stripped down” version […]
How to Stand Out
In the tradition of Seth Godin’s Purple Cow, Dan Heath, co-author of Made to Stick, has posted How to Stand Out in a Crowded Marketplace (video) to the AmEx OPEN Forum. Are you doing something new that no one has seen before? Are you doing one thing ferociously? According to Heath, we need to be […]
Top 10 Richest Billionaires
Forbes has published their list of the Top 10 Richest Billionaires. To me, the most interesting fact is that most are self-made. Few have inherited their wealth from generations before. Each discovered an essential need and developed a business to supply the demand for that need….mostly from scratch. Buildings are an essential need. The modern […]
Building Design that Builds Businesses
Building Design that Builds Businesses – BusinessWeek. BusinessWeek magazine announced the winners of their annual BusinessWeek/Architectural Record Awards this week. Of all the awards programs, this one is one of my favorites. I appreciate the promotion that great architecture helps build great businesses.
How To Start Your Own Design Firm
Here’s an excellent post from one of my favorite blogs: A buddy of ours recently asked for our advice on how to go out on your own as an architect. It’s an interesting question primarily because of the timing and the current economy (or lack thereof). But despite the slow industry, we think its […]
Blogs Work
I have been blogging since 2006. Since then, business has gone through the roof. I don’t give all the credit to the blogs, but it has certainly helped. Today, Howard Greenstein wrote a very flattering post about me and the success of Fivecat Studio. He focuses on my use of blogs and the Internet to help spread the word […]
Icon Custom Masonry
Annmarie’s brother James moved from New York to Charlotte, NC about a decade ago. Since then he has built his company from a dump truck and some labor to one of the top custom masonry contracting companies south of the Mason-Dixon Line. This month’s Southern Accents magazine features the Homestead Preserve in Hot Springs, Virginia. […]
Pushing Past the Dip
One more juicy The Dip tidbit from Seth Godin. ChangeThis Manifesto: Pushing Past the Dip: How to Become the Best in the World
The Dip
Tonight I met with my Academy group. We were discussing how pushing though the tough stuff of business will ultimately lead to success. Every business reaches a tipping point when things start to click. The systems are in place. The people are in place. Your market know who you are and what you do. And […]
Buy. Renovate. Occupy. Sell. Profit… Repeat!
I received my copy of Residential Architect magazine today (in my opinion, the best of all the trade journals). This month’s Practice column, by Cheryl Weber (another one of my favorites), is about savvy architects investing long-term by owning their buildings. The advantages of owning real estate are plentiful. Here are five reasons to start […]
Code Costs Climbing
The International Code Council (ICC) is raising prices on May 1. If you’re in the market for new code books or a CD-ROM, you may want to make your move now. Buy now from the ICC here. See the adjusted May 1 rates here.