When Annmarie and I launched our architecture studio in 1999, we knew that we wanted to give our firm a unique identity. Every other firm in the region was named for their founders. Another “Smith and Smith Architects” was not what we wanted to be. (No offense to any Smith and Smiths out there.) Our plans were to create a firm unlike anyone else and we needed a name to separate us from the pack. After a few days of considering alternatives, the name Fivecat Studio consistently rose to the … [Read more...]
5 Principles of Servant Leadership for Small Firm Architects
Forever Changed as a Leader Late one winter night, under a bare bulb in an empty under-heated DC university dorm room I read Leadership Is an Art by Max De Pree; a book that influenced my approach to leading others from that night forward. Earlier that day, our hosts at the 1992 American Institute of Architecture Students Grassroots conference gave each student leader a copy of the inspirational paperback following a motivational speech about leadership. Full of excitement, eager to make a … [Read more...]
How to Simplify Your Business (Transcript)
This is the transcript from EntreArchitect Podcast Episode 228, How to Simplify Your Business. Listen to this podcast episode or download the audio file here. ***Start Transcript*** Mark R. LePage: Do you know if your firm is profitable? Do you know how much profit you're making? Do you know how much profit you should be making? Okay. One last question. Do you know how much you should be charging to make that profit? Well, you can learn how by downloading our free course … [Read more...]
Financial Investing for Your Future (Transcript)
This is the transcript from EntreArchitect Podcast Episode 227, Financial Investing for Your Future. Listen to this podcast episode or download the audio file here. ***Start Transcript*** Mark R. LePage: Do you know if your firm is profitable? Do you know how much profit you're actually making? Do you? Do you know how much profit you should be making? Do you know how much you should be charging to make that profit? Well, you can learn how by downloading our free course … [Read more...]
Growing Beyond the Sole Practitioner (Transcript)
This is the transcript from EntreArchitect Podcast Episode 225, Growing Beyond the Sole Practitioner. Listen to this podcast episode or download the audio file here. ***Start Transcript*** Mark R. LePage: You are listening to EntreArchitect podcast, so that makes you a member of our dedicated community of small firm architects. Come join us on Facebook at the EntreArchitect community, our free private Facebook group. If you're an architect or you're working to become one … [Read more...]
Incremental Progress is the Key to Long-Term Success (Transcript)
This is the transcript from EntreArchitect Podcast Episode 224, Incremental Progress is the Key to Long-Term Success. Listen to this podcast episode or download the audio file here. ***Start Transcript*** Mark R. LePage: 00:04 EntreArchitect.com/freecourse, download it right now, we'll teach you how to build a thriving, profitable small business for your architecture firm. EntreArchitect.com/freecourse. Go do it now. My name … [Read more...]
Building Science, Climate Change and The Pretty Good House (Transcript)
This is the transcript from EntreArchitect Podcast Episode 223, Building Science, Climate Change and The Pretty Good House. Listen to this podcast episode or download the audio file here. ***Start Transcript*** Mark R. LePage: 00:00 Do you know how to calculate the exact amount you need to charge your clients in order to earn 20 percent profit on that project? It's simple to do. If you know how. Learn how by downloading our free course profit for small firm … [Read more...]
Design Voice Podcast with Catherine Meng (Transcript)
This is the transcript from EntreArchitect Podcast Episode 220, Design Voice Podcast with Catherine Meng. Listen to this podcast episode or download the audio file here. ***Start Transcript*** Mark R. LePage: 00:01 Do you know how to calculate the exact amount you need to charge your clients in order to earn 20 percent profit on that project? It's simple to do. If you don't know how, learn how by downloading our free course: Profit for Small Firm Architects … [Read more...]
Toward A New Architectural Business Model
So you call yourself an Architect too? So many people call themselves architects: the software developer, the campaign manager, the author, the enterprise strategist - so on and so forth. But can we as architects call ourselves doctors, managers or authors? The title just doesn’t seem fitting. So why is it that so many can freely call themselves architects of in their professions? It is because an architect is so much more than a person who designs buildings. An architect is an individual … [Read more...]
The Single Most Important Action You Can Take as an
Entrepreneur Architect
10 Simple Steps to Develop Standard Operating Procedures for Architects Every week, throughout the EntreArchitect Community, I hear or read questions from small firm architects struggling to find the success they seek. “How can I make more money as an architect?” “How can I find the work I want?” “How can I get my employees or contractors to do what I want them to do?” “How can I get more done?” There is one answer for all these questions. To build the business we want and … [Read more...]
How to Develop an Email Management System for Architecture Firms Using Evernote
Every day hundreds of email messages arrive in my inbox. I recently moved all my email services (personal and business) to Google Apps. Today our email is powered by Gmail, which thankfully screens the inbox and reduces my SPAM from hundreds of unwanted messages to dozens. Some SPAM still found it’s way into the Mail app on my iMac, so I sent a call for suggestions to the EntreArchitect Community. My friend Neal Pann (founder of Apple for Architects and co-host of Archispeak Podcast) … [Read more...]
Get Out!
Feeling stuck in a rut and frustrated with your business? Get out! Find a business organization to join. Attend a networking event. Meet some new people. Not only will this one simple act put your state of mind in a more positive place, you may just find your next big job. … [Read more...]