How To Find Happiness Architecture is a tough profession. We worked long hours, for years, with passion and dedication, to become architects. We struggled to launch our firms, often without the education or a firm knowledge of the basic fundamentals of business. We searched for the best clients and we serve them each, to the best of our ability. Yes, architecture is a tough, tough profession... and we wouldn't have it any other way. We've chosen this life. We're entrepreneur … [Read more...]
Culture is Critical for Success at Your Architecture Firm
A Culture at Your Architecture Firm Will Make or Break Your Firm As your small firm grows beyond its infancy of the sole practitioner and you develop a strong team, the culture of your firm will evolve. The different personalities and experiences brought to your firm will mix and a firm culture will develop; with or without your guidance. You are a busy architect seeking your next contract and working hard to complete the current projects on the boards. You just need to get the work done. … [Read more...]
White Windows
Originally posted on February 22, 2007, this was the seventh entry on the site and was the first full length article I shared. The lessons presented then are just as relevant today. Be honest, have integrity and any error, omission or mistake you may experience will always work out. My First Assignment 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 … [Read more...]
The Power of the “Profit First” Culture in Architecture
We architects have deeply rooted positive passion for what we do. As artists we love to manipulate form and space, in order to impact the lives of others. We are thrilled every time we walk through one of our structures. Our fuel is the excitement and emotional reaction that others have for our art. We love being architects. We are making the world a better place with every new project and we would do it for free if we could. …and that, right there may be our biggest problem. We would do … [Read more...]
5 Steps to Creating a Culture of Continual Improvement
As we have explored this month’s topic of Culture, we have learned that a positive, healthy culture doesn’t just happen. It needs to be planned and developed with intention. Our firms will only function as we desire, when we dream of what can be and work to make those dreams become reality. We all want our firms to be the best they can be. We want to be getting better all the time. As we grow and our firms mature, success will come from continual improvement. Constantly seeking the better … [Read more...]
How to Develop a Strong Culture at Your Architecture Firm
A Culture at Your Architecture Firm Will Make or Break Your Firm As your small firm grows beyond its infancy of the sole practitioner and you develop a strong team, the culture of your firm will evolve. The different personalities and experiences brought to your firm will mix and a firm culture will develop; with or without your guidance. You are a busy architect seeking your next contract and working hard to complete the current projects on the boards. You just need to get the work done. … [Read more...]