It's been several months but a lot has happened. I've been taking a really hard look at the office and how I work --- what works what doesn't and how to move forward in a positive way. The building the firm is housed in is now on the market, the clearing out process has started and plans are underway to move my practice to the home base.
This has had several ramifications, many of them beneficial. To start, the reduction of overhead will help reduce the stress of paying the bills each month; the idea that not having so many bills to pay will help me cope with the fact that I DON'T need to take each and every project that may come across my path.
The idea of a new project that involves my own firm is exciting. Stay tuned!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Sunday, September 25, 2011
It's been a long time coming....
Friday, September 16, 2011
All the Economic Uncertainty and yet, a Strange Optimism
It's nearing the Fall of 2011 and our "september rush" was met with mixed success. My definition of the "september rush" is one where clients start coming in due to kids going off to school, the winter coming on and the pressing need to get something going before next spring. This year it has begun to pick up. With all the turmoil of the world financial markets, the trashing of retirement accounts and the never-ending recessionary attitude many are just tired of being depressed. Get out, do something and accomplish that project you wanted to do but were just to hesitant to start.
My office has nearly always kept enough hands in enough cookie jars to make sure we are not completely dead or broke (for long). The only time we ever were at the brink was the winter of 2008 when all our projects ended and no new ones came in due to the Recession. That was quite the cold and quiet time until about mid-summer of 2009.
This Fall is seeing a mix of commercial and private projects and we are glad to have them. I'd rather be paid well and have less projects than have a large number of fee-poor projects that lamentably are nothing much more than "brush fires" that need constant attention to keep going.
With the world economic situation you would think everyone is running for cover and not spending any time thinking or working with Architects. Not the case. Instead, we have seen clients that just are tired of waiting and understand that while the world is a crazy place it is by no means a way to run one's life by and everything does have a way of working itself out in the end. Sanity, stability and growth do return and will do so once everyone starts focusing on what is good instead of what is bad and wrong.
Good luck to all and keep moving forwards!
My office has nearly always kept enough hands in enough cookie jars to make sure we are not completely dead or broke (for long). The only time we ever were at the brink was the winter of 2008 when all our projects ended and no new ones came in due to the Recession. That was quite the cold and quiet time until about mid-summer of 2009.
This Fall is seeing a mix of commercial and private projects and we are glad to have them. I'd rather be paid well and have less projects than have a large number of fee-poor projects that lamentably are nothing much more than "brush fires" that need constant attention to keep going.
With the world economic situation you would think everyone is running for cover and not spending any time thinking or working with Architects. Not the case. Instead, we have seen clients that just are tired of waiting and understand that while the world is a crazy place it is by no means a way to run one's life by and everything does have a way of working itself out in the end. Sanity, stability and growth do return and will do so once everyone starts focusing on what is good instead of what is bad and wrong.
Good luck to all and keep moving forwards!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Everyone has lost their minds, except for me...
This has certainly been a challenging summer. The big challenge has been the planning and zoning meetings and maneuvering through those towns/ villages that are now playing catch up with all the new environmental and zoning changes. There's nothing like a rapid rise in property values and out-of-state owners to jump start the process. I just think that many places just aren't up to snuff to handle the change.
The problem is that I have clients who get caught up in the process and suffer from the lack of understanding that these towns just don't want to address. Namely, the common sense factor. Stop the bureaucratic crap and see the forest for the trees and ACT! Tabling motions, postponing decisions, etc. really just add to the frustration.
It's a big race to either get ahead of what may happen with these boards and their possible delays or fight what is really just a large step towards inhibiting an owner's ability to use their property by delay tactics and procedural technicalities that mean nothing in the end.
The problem is that I have clients who get caught up in the process and suffer from the lack of understanding that these towns just don't want to address. Namely, the common sense factor. Stop the bureaucratic crap and see the forest for the trees and ACT! Tabling motions, postponing decisions, etc. really just add to the frustration.
It's a big race to either get ahead of what may happen with these boards and their possible delays or fight what is really just a large step towards inhibiting an owner's ability to use their property by delay tactics and procedural technicalities that mean nothing in the end.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Continuing the Re-Build.... in many ways.
This year has certainly been a challenging one. Not as bad as some of the past ones with all the interference of profit-seeking sales types, litigious persons and such. In some ways, it's been an awakening of what to avoid and what to get right when moving forward.
Adversity builds character.
Adversity builds character.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Offering honest advice: the client reaction
There certainly is nothing like bearing ones' soul and being honest with how you perceive a project is going. The reaction a client has to their Architect offering advice can run the entire DSM 4 (that's a reference manual for mental illness, so you know). Many clients take it for what it was offered and appreciate the advice, some react a bit differently...
No matter how old I get I at least will have comfort that I am just a young, uninformed and naive architect who cannot fathom the depths of my clients. Forget that in those cases the client takes offense where there was none and offers their offensive response. You can take it personally or just file it as a life lesson and move ever forwards.
One particular client who displayed borderline violent behavior towards his wife at each meeting was shocked and felt compelled to "put me in my place" by assuming the parental role in regards to my services. That might fly at home but it sure isn't going to at the office. I was nice, I was polite. The mark of a better person is to know it isn't about being "right" or being "on top". When this happens I find it disappointing because the client either didn't get it or didn't want to get it.
In the end, some clients listen, some don't. Each reaps the results of their choices.
No matter how old I get I at least will have comfort that I am just a young, uninformed and naive architect who cannot fathom the depths of my clients. Forget that in those cases the client takes offense where there was none and offers their offensive response. You can take it personally or just file it as a life lesson and move ever forwards.
One particular client who displayed borderline violent behavior towards his wife at each meeting was shocked and felt compelled to "put me in my place" by assuming the parental role in regards to my services. That might fly at home but it sure isn't going to at the office. I was nice, I was polite. The mark of a better person is to know it isn't about being "right" or being "on top". When this happens I find it disappointing because the client either didn't get it or didn't want to get it.
In the end, some clients listen, some don't. Each reaps the results of their choices.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
The Challenge of Keeping it Simple. Needs, Haves, and Wants.
Every once in a while there is a project that falls into the wrong category and things go terribly wrong. Not that the building fell down or something else went wrong on the job, it's more of a perception issue.
What do I mean by that? Well, think of it this way -- each of us has things in life that can be filed under "need to, have to and want to". When you put something in the wrong category, in this case a "want to" that gets pushed over into the "have to" slot you get nothing but conflict and trouble. If you truly understand this, the "need to" list is very short and almost nothing but the critical, life sustaining things are filed under "need to".
What the fung shuei am I talking about? Most of my clients come to me because they "want to" do something. Be it a renovation, addition, new build, you name it and it's normally driven by the client's "wants" not by a need or "have to" obligation (in law apartments fall into the "have to" and I'll talk more about that because you should avoid them at all costs.). A client "wants" to add a master suite. Another wants to build a new house on the lake. Yet another "wants to" open that bistro they have been dreaming about.
As an Architect part of what you do is help that "want to" list become reality. You are an enabler in many senses of the word. Designer, counselor, confidant, devil's advocate, defender are just some of the things an Architect does for a client (and should "want to" as well. That's part of the enjoyment and drive to be an Architect, right?).
I caution Architects and clients alike: when the want is turned into a have to the project is in trouble, real trouble. Any client that feels forced to do a project is just going to get stressed out and that is a self-perpetuating nightmare that at the very least can lead to canceled project or worse-- legal action. It never needs to go there because of this problem, you need to recognize the symptoms and deal with them.
Most situations turn due to the impending and/or imagined deadline to start is looming near. This is termed in our office as "ground-breaking anxiety". The client has had fun playing and pipe-dreaming only to realize that the time is near where they really will be committing to a project and spending a large sum of money. Suddenly small details become critical to the absolute success of the project and you are just not responding fast and well enough to concerns.
Another symptom is the "moving target syndrome" where a client can never decide or stick with a decision, ever. Why? Because they haven't really been honest with what they really want. The Architect will notice that whatever they do is just not right, needs endless tweaking and can eventually lead to you being blamed for delays.
Other symptoms include the "going nowhere fast", "bi-polar", and more. The main idea here is that in just about every situation it's caused by that "want to" being turned into a "have to". The fun, enjoyment, excitement goes out and is replaced by anxiety, dread, anger, agony when this happens.
Be on the watch for this and address the situation as directly as possible. It will save both your and the client's sanity and may just recharge the enjoyment in the project.
As for the in-law apartments, a word of caution. Nearly everyone we have been asked to do winds up with the untimely passing of that in-law. It's happened about four times to our firm so far. Maybe it's due to the in-law not really wanting it, but feeling that they "have to". Just a theory.
What do I mean by that? Well, think of it this way -- each of us has things in life that can be filed under "need to, have to and want to". When you put something in the wrong category, in this case a "want to" that gets pushed over into the "have to" slot you get nothing but conflict and trouble. If you truly understand this, the "need to" list is very short and almost nothing but the critical, life sustaining things are filed under "need to".
What the fung shuei am I talking about? Most of my clients come to me because they "want to" do something. Be it a renovation, addition, new build, you name it and it's normally driven by the client's "wants" not by a need or "have to" obligation (in law apartments fall into the "have to" and I'll talk more about that because you should avoid them at all costs.). A client "wants" to add a master suite. Another wants to build a new house on the lake. Yet another "wants to" open that bistro they have been dreaming about.
As an Architect part of what you do is help that "want to" list become reality. You are an enabler in many senses of the word. Designer, counselor, confidant, devil's advocate, defender are just some of the things an Architect does for a client (and should "want to" as well. That's part of the enjoyment and drive to be an Architect, right?).
I caution Architects and clients alike: when the want is turned into a have to the project is in trouble, real trouble. Any client that feels forced to do a project is just going to get stressed out and that is a self-perpetuating nightmare that at the very least can lead to canceled project or worse-- legal action. It never needs to go there because of this problem, you need to recognize the symptoms and deal with them.
Most situations turn due to the impending and/or imagined deadline to start is looming near. This is termed in our office as "ground-breaking anxiety". The client has had fun playing and pipe-dreaming only to realize that the time is near where they really will be committing to a project and spending a large sum of money. Suddenly small details become critical to the absolute success of the project and you are just not responding fast and well enough to concerns.
Another symptom is the "moving target syndrome" where a client can never decide or stick with a decision, ever. Why? Because they haven't really been honest with what they really want. The Architect will notice that whatever they do is just not right, needs endless tweaking and can eventually lead to you being blamed for delays.
Other symptoms include the "going nowhere fast", "bi-polar", and more. The main idea here is that in just about every situation it's caused by that "want to" being turned into a "have to". The fun, enjoyment, excitement goes out and is replaced by anxiety, dread, anger, agony when this happens.
Be on the watch for this and address the situation as directly as possible. It will save both your and the client's sanity and may just recharge the enjoyment in the project.
As for the in-law apartments, a word of caution. Nearly everyone we have been asked to do winds up with the untimely passing of that in-law. It's happened about four times to our firm so far. Maybe it's due to the in-law not really wanting it, but feeling that they "have to". Just a theory.
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