Focus your vision, set your goals and take action. That is the only formula for success. Whatever it is that you may want to accomplish, taking action is the difference between reaching your goals and floundering in stagnation until ultimately failing. Action though, is only the first step. Repeatedly taking action with consistency will lead you to your dreams. Sometime in early 2012, I committed myself to write this post on a weekly basis and I haven’t missed one since. When I … [Read more...]
5 Secrets to Success from an Entrepreneur Architect
My wife and I launched our architecture firm, Fivecat Studio, in 1999. We were 29 years old. Young, ambitious and a little crazy, we started with no money and no clients. One good lead and some help from a few local architect friends gave us the courage to take a leap of faith, and we went for it. In the 13 plus years we've been in business, I've learned a bunch. Today, I thought I would share a few secrets to our success. Dreams really do come true. If you haven't figured it out by now, I … [Read more...]
10 Tips to Conquer Procrastination
My name is Mark R. LePage and I am a recovering procrastinator. There… I said it. After 40+ years, I don't have much hope of ever finding a cure, but recently I have found some ways to hang on to the wagon and stay focused on getting things done. Here are 10 tips I'm using to conquer my procrastination. 1. Write out a plan. In order to get anything done, you need to create a plan. What does the end result look like and how are you going to make progress. Write it out. As a serial … [Read more...]
The Courage to Proceed
The difference between those who succeed and those who don't? The Courage to Proceed. Dream. Plan. Proceed. Succeed. Step 3 is the most difficult. photo credit: Express Monorail via photopin cc … [Read more...]
The Passion Profit Cycle of Success
Prior to starting our own firms, we business-owner architects experienced an "entrepreneurial seizure", as Michael Gerber so accurately described in his book, The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It. It's the precise moment when a passionate employee commits to starting her own firm. Frustrated by the process (or lack of process) established by her employer, she decides that she can do better. Do you remember that moment? The passion required to … [Read more...]
The Power of Stopping
When my brain is rested and not required to complete a specific task or stay focused on success, amazing things happen. During scheduled breaks, like vacations and holidays, I often develop my biggest ideas, like new business systems, strategies or concepts for future entrepreneurial endeavors. My right brain (the creative side) is free to roam, shifts into a lower gear and finds some additional horsepower. Some of my most interesting, most innovative ideas have been discovered during these … [Read more...]
Deep Breath: A Weekend of Broken Cars and Things that Matter Most
I am the son of a retired auto mechanic and worked many weekends and summers at the shop (most likely where my entrepreneurial blood started to simmer). My Dad taught me what I need to know, to fix just about anything a vehicle can throw at me (and he has always been just a phone call away when things get beyond my skills). So, looking to save a few dollars, save time without my car during the work week and wanting to get my hands a little dirty again, I decided that I was going to perform some … [Read more...]
3 Steps to a Better Life: Stop, Drop and Roll
STOP and take time to evaluate your life. Ask yourself... Are you doing the things that make you happy? Are you making the world a better place? Have you found your purpose? What are your goals? Are you working toward a better life? Make two lists; Things That Matter and Things That Don't. DROP the things that make you unhappy. Eliminate the the things that are distracting you from reaching your goals. Do more things that matter and fewer things that don't. When times are tough and the next … [Read more...]
The Rise of the Entrepreneur Architect
From CORArchitecture.org: In October 2011, a request went out to architects and designers all across the country to submit no more than 60 words on the future of residential architecture in America. When you click on the link, you will see submissions by 65 people from dozens of states. The submitters include architects, writers, unlicensed designers, members of the AIA and those who are not. This book was "launched" at the Congress of Residential Architecture's 8th annual gathering … [Read more...]
Make it Your Job
Today I was watching a recent talk by Chris Brogan and among many thought provoking ideas, he proposed one tasty tidbit that stuck in my head. Chris is a successful marketing pro, NY Times bestselling author, magazine contributor, blogger, speaker and mega-nerd (he knows more about comic superheros than anyone... ever). He didn't just decide to be successful... and BOOM, he had 220,000+ followers on Twitter. It took lots of time and dedication. Today he writes 4,000 words a day and earns … [Read more...]
What would you do with an extra day each week?
As I sat here in "my chair" flipping through a list of recent DVR recordings, I had a disturbing thought. "How much time do I actually spend in this yellow (yes, "French's Mustard" yellow) mid-century modern armchair?" You see, I come from a TV family. It's in my genes. I think I may have plasma running through my veins (Ha! Get it? Plasma... in my veins...In fact, you do too.). For generations, LePages have retired to the tube for a little after-dinner entertainment each night. It's a great … [Read more...]
Dream Big: Develop Your Business Plan Using a Narrative
ArchDaily.com picked up my friend and Entrepreneur Architect Linkedin Group member Bob Borson's blog post today. If you haven't read Bob's writings, I recommend that you visit him at LifeofanArchitect.com. Leave him a comment and tell him we said "hi". Bob describes how he uses a narrative during the programming phase to learn what his clients want, both functionally as well as emotionally. At Fivecat Studio, we use a similar process using a questionnaire and other fun programming exercises to … [Read more...]