Sketching
Something I haven’t made time for is sketching. I used to sketch in college. Maybe I was forced to in a watercolor class, but I wish I got back into it. Since college, it’s been pretty infrequent. I hope to change that. Maybe I should be more rigorous and force myself to sketch? Not sure if that will keep me interested in the long run. But, I did stumble upon Michael Nobbs. He’s a great artist and is very inspirational. He just published a FREE e-book that I would recommend checking out!
Here are some of my thoughts regarding sketching.
Why Sketch?
Honestly, I don’t know the answer. Maybe it’s good for the soul? Sketching is definitely therapeutic. But, you have to LET yourself sketch. You have to hold back your self judgments and just take it for what it is…sketching. It’s not an exact art. The colors may not be just right. That tree you sketched may only be a tree…to you. Who cares!?! You know what my seal of approval was? I sketched my shed and my three year old said, “Oh, look at the shed!” Case closed, another satisfied customer. And, you don’t need anything fancy. Just start with a writing instrument and some kind of paper.
Keeping Record
Sketching is a lot like journaling. In fact, it IS journaling. If you don’t like to write, then sketch. Or, sketch and write a little summary of your sketch. What’s the date? How’s the weather? Anything particular happening, or going to happen?
Get Involved
I follow an incredible group of sketchers online called Urban Sketchers. The guy in charge is Gabriel Campanario. He’s a great artist and a really nice guy!
Also, you should find out about your local sketchcrawl. This is similar to a pubcrawl, minus the pubs…unless you want to sketch in a pub? Huh, that could be fun, especially after a few. But really, this is a regular event that happens all around the world. Check it out.
It all starts with that first line. Happy sketching!
photo credit: nancymaewi
disconnecting
This post talks about when it’s time to stop all the connectivity. Halt the txts, e-mails, facebook, twitter, linkedin, and whatever else that keeps you engaged in the moment.
Disconnection
When I started social networking, it began with linkedIn. Next, I got into twitter and soon after, facebook. I was connecting, updating, sharing, learning, reading and “listening” all day and night.
It was fun. Who am I kidding; it was amazing. So many old friends and colleagues that I lost. Now, they were all here. I could talk, catch up, and share my life.
I soon learned that keeping up with my digital life was a lot of work. And, I tried my best. I jumped into the 21st century and got a “smartphone.” Receiving e-mails came almost instantly. Day and night, it didn’t matter.
Then, I got tired. It became a chore. I burned out.
Enough is Enough
Since I’m writing this post, you can safely assume I found a way to balance the digital connection with my life. Around the beginning of the year, I made some key changes.
All my online networks are connected to one e-mail address. That e-mail address gets routed to my phone. My phone e-mail app now checks for new e-mails every 30 minutes during the week and once an hour on the weekend. I used to have it set to check every 5 minutes. No more. Also, I set my phone to stop checking when I go to sleep. In the morning, it starts checking once I’m ready to go. I control the e-mail, it doesn’t control me. Unless, I want it to… ;-P
Sites
My notifications from the various websites all go to my e-mail. They stop when I want them to stop. I limit my time visiting facebook, linkedin and twitter to when I have or make time. Notice how I only name three? These are the only three I focus on for social networking. Google Reader is my online newspaper. It’s ready to read when I’m ready to read it.
Whatever you do, keep yourself focus and sharp so you don’t burnout!
Please share any strategies you use to disconnect!!
photo credit: bondidwhat
Moonlighting
Moonlighting is a term used to describe working for yourself, in addition to working at a full time job. The work is done during off hours, usually at night…in the moonlight. How romantic. It can be exciting and profitable if done properly. This post will review some key aspects to keep in mind if you are considering doing a little moonlighting.
Research
Before starting your own full time business, it’s a good idea to get a taste of what you might expect. The best way to test the waters is to do some moonlighting. But, before you start your side business, do some research. You need to do as much information gathering about the business as you can. How do you get clients? What do I charge? Am I knowledgeable enough to do it? What do I charge? How do I get paid? What permits and/or licenses do I need? Where will I work? How will I get paid? Will my boss fire me if they find out? Do I have the stamina to work so much? And, how will I get paid?
All this research can be done before you officially start working on the side. So, do it early. Read as much as you can about your business and about how to get business.
Respect
You might be unhappy at work and moonlighting will help get that spice back in your work life. But, check to see if your full time job has any policies about side work. It would be bad news to lose your job with steady salary and benefits if the moonlighting doesn’t turn full time. Also, you would be surprised at how many employers are fine with moonlighting as long as it doesn’t interfere with your job. You never know, your boss may become your first client…
Responsibility
Side work, moonlighting, work work, whatever you call it, it means you have to be responsible. Your clients will still demand your attention. And, not be so forgiving if you blow a deadline. Proper time management and great lines of communication will help keep your clients happy. Don’t forget, a deadline is still a deadline.
Revenue
You’re working all these crazy hours for a reason and that is to get paid. Even though, this might be sidework, you need to treat it with the same respect as a full time job. Have a contract in place. Get paid. If it’s having a deposit in place or whatever other arrangements, don’t be taken for a ride. You deserve to get paid for your services. Demand it.
Resources
After doing your research and being responsible, you may start to get a reputation and be recommended for more work. That work may multiply faster than you can get it done. See Dave’s post. You may need to bring in the cavalary. So, from day one, begin to identify people who you can hire to help you. The worst thing you can do is turn away work. If you have a team in position, you may be quickly on your way to making your moonlighting business into a full time business.
Good Luck!
photo credit: James Jordan
Not Getting It
As much as we want things to work out and our projects to go smoothly, sometimes it’s just not meant to be. Although this post is about the architect-client relationship, it can easily apply to any other small business-client relationship.
Have you ever had a project where you just want things to finish up before they even start? Maybe the chemistry has died down or was never there. But, no matter what, you want it over. Here are a few scenarios. No matter which one you portray, may they help you work through your projec’s that much better.
Communication Breakdown
An example of communication breakdown would be where either person just doesn’t return calls or e-mails. Whether you are the client, contractor, architect or other team member, communication is key. That would be ALL communication, regardless if it’s bad or good. Keeping the lines open is key to having a smooth project. When you stop returning calls, it says “You’re not that important to me” in a big way. I would rather get a call saying something…anything, than no communication at all.
Size Matters
Some clients must have that big firm working on their project. Maybe they’re concerned with reliability. Worried that a small firm won’t meet deadlines, or doesn’t have the resources to get it done. But, this dilemma can ground a project to a halt. I try to have referrals on hand and previous project history to tackle this issue. But, sometimes that’s not enough.
No Connection
One of the worst ways to have a project die is when interest is lost. On either end, if someone is no longer interested in the project. Completion will be a goal running in the other direction. As the architect, we need to keep the client’s morale up. Keeping them involved in all the project phases has helped them stay connected and tuned into the project’s needs.
Budget
If the budget has been blown or was never established, it can easily be a way to stress out a project. Getting accurate bids and making a realistic budget before work begins can help keep everyone on top your project’s financial goals.
Remember that having agreements between the client and all the project team members is a must. But, make sure you have a provision for if and when you have to end that relationship!
photo credit: AJC1
Google Reader
Today’s post carries on with the topic of listening. I wanted to share a program I use daily to help organize all the different websites that I follow in attempt to make me smarter.
Listening
Before talking about Google Reader, I want to discuss a key reason to use the program. That reason would be to improve your online listening skills. I wish I could take credit for the idea, but this guy is The Man when it comes to online listening. Please go here to check out his post after reading this one.
Traditionally, we would read the newspaper every morning, read trade magazines once a month and have as many conversations with others to keep us up on current events.
Now, the rules have changed and the way we listen needs an update. Perhaps, that prospective client has their own website, writes in an online journal (blog), shares photos and other information in web based communities and is a member of many different social networking websites. Besides that, they’re mentioned across the web in other places we can’t begin to imagine.
How do you keep up?
Here’s a web-based program that I frequently use to keep me informed to whatever RSS feeds I subscribe.
(A quick video on what an RSS feed is.)
Google Reader
My RSS feed reader choice is Google Reader. It’s part of the Google family and it’s FREE. You can subscribe to any site that has a feed,. (Actually, they just added a feature that allows you to subscribe to any site and it will do somekind of mystical majic to keep you updated. I don’t know how it works, but it does, rather nicely.
I subscribe to local newspapers, architecture magazines, business websites, and friends’ blogs and websites.
(A quick video on Google Reader.)
I would encourage you to give it a try and please share your thoughts!!
holdin out
This post talks about the contractor’s payment process. We’ll be focusing on Retainage.
The design is ready to go and you have reviewed the contractor’s bids. The lowest qualified bidding contractor has been interviewed and you are ready to get your contract with them in place so you can start moving forward with the project…
Before finalizing your Owner-Contractor Agreement, you should make sure there is a provision for Retainage.
Retainage is exactly what it sounds like. It is keeping an agreed percentage of every progress payment you make to the contractor, usually each month. So, if a monthly payment request is for $30,000 and your agreed retainage is 10%, you deduct $3000 from the payment. This deducted amount will get released to the contractor once the work is completed at the end of the project. Each payment you deduct retainage so the total withheld compounds until you release it to the contractor. (This is a overly simplified explanation.)
Having retainage on a project is very common in the industry. It keeps a busy contractor interested in your project until it gets completed. And, what’s the most difficult part of the project to finish? Usually, it is the last 10% of the job. So, if a contractor has been working on a $100,000 addition, there is $10,000 of their money out there waiting for them to finish up.
Something to keep in mind is that you can not assume that a contractor will be okay with holding back on a pay application for retainage. This should be discussed before a contract is in place and agreed upon by you and the contractor. This is a great topic for you to discuss with your architect before a miscommunication occurs in the middle of your project.