To successfully complete a project, an architect is responsible for making thousands of critical decisions. To complete the development of a standard residential additions and alterations project, it takes several months of focus and dedication. Many of us work long hours, long into the night, through weekends and holidays. The innovative ideas and concepts we create can often only be born after hours (sometimes days) of intense thought and several dozen layers of sketch paper. The personal … [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 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...]
My Time Online: Presenting Portfolio, Creating Context and a Top Google Rank
This week, we've been exchanging website URLs over at the Entrepreneur Architect Linkedin Group. It is very interesting to learn some background on the people we're interacting with on that forum. I shared our website URL (which is in the midst of an upgrade from our original site to a new one). Then, I posted links to all my other work online. Here is my original post: In addition to our website at http://www.fivecat.com, below are the other places I spend my time online (and with my spare … [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...]
Do You Over-Deliver?
Under-promise. Over-deliver. We've all heard this old adage, but how many of us follow its simple lesson? We recently recommended one of our consultants to a client. We've been very happy with this consultant's performance and were confident they would perform well. As expected, they jumped right on the project and completed the first task lickety-split. Our client was happy and we were looking good. To wrap things up, the consultant said they would prepare a report to document their … [Read more...]
Great Architecture Will Not Build a Great Business
1) Design great architecture. 2) Get noticed. 3) Thrive! Isn’t that how it is supposed to work. Well... it doesn’t. The trick is step 2. Getting noticed. How do you get noticed? The answer in a word, is Marketing. Even uber-successful “starchitects” have a marketing team working to get their "great architecture" noticed. Whether you want to be published in national magazines or looking to get noticed by the homeowners around the corner, you can’t reach your audience without marketing. Great … [Read more...]
Things I Didn’t Learn at Architecture School (But Need to Know): How do I start and keep a business alive?
No one told me that I needed to know how to run a business. I’m an architect. I just need to tack up my shingle, design great buildings and clients will come knocking. Right? Maybe... but whether clients come knocking or not, its not so simple to keep them knocking. The solution? Write a business plan. I know, I know; "I don't need a business plan," you say. "It takes too much time and effort." Wait! Before you discount my suggestion, think about it from a different perspective. A simple, … [Read more...]
Are You “Locally Famous”?
What are you doing to become "locally famous"? Do you have a facebook account with which you post regularly and interact with your fans? Do you follow Twitter feeds for people who have influence in your local communities... and respond to their tweets? Do you blog... consistently, and have a website which reflects the expectations of the market in which you wish to become "famous"? What happens when you Google your name? Your firm? The term "architect" followed by your location? Are you … [Read more...]
4 Ways to Build an Irreplaceable Business
From inc.com: Last year Howard Stern earned more than any other radio personality. U2 topped the list of highest-paid musicians. Leonardo DiCaprio made $77 million, more than any other actor. Tiger Woods, in spite of all his, um, problems, still made $62 million to head the list of highest-paid athletes. Read more. … [Read more...]
How Do You Organize Your Week?
So today is Monday. I typically reserve Mondays for administrative work and prepping for the rest of the week. I work on business systems and schedule project interviews on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Friday is a day to wrap up loose ends and make sure clients are happy. Obviously, in order to be successful my routine is flexible. In fact I have a project interview this evening... on a Monday. By keeping my tasks for each day consistent, it allows me to stay focused on what I am trying to … [Read more...]
BIM and Integrated Design: Strategies for Architectural Practice
For a long time in my office, BIM was something out there that wasn't acted upon. We sat on nineteen seats of Revit for nearly two years, stored away in a closet unused - shelfware. Waiting for the right opportunity. Becoming obsolete. Doing no one any good. Taking up valuable storage space. Not earning its keep. And with each month unused, the software weighed on us: waiting for the right time, the right project, the right client, the right phase, the right people to put on the project, the … [Read more...]