Blueprint for Design

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

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

This past month I learned a valuable lesson about owning my own design company: knowing my limits.

For me, I like to do everything.  It’s not that I’m a control freak, I just enjoy working on every facet of a project.  I also take a certain amount of pride in working on all aspects and calling it “my own.”  There are areas of design that I’m very strong at and there are areas that I struggle with. Knowing these limits can improve the quality of my projects and client relations.  There is no shame in admitting your weaknesses and seeking help from those with more talent.

The project that led me to this realization involved a character illustration of a knight.  I like to think that I can illustrate, but I can’t hold a candle to guys that do it for a living.  It’s a unique talent.  Swallowing my pride and acknowledging that my client would get a better illustration if I outsourced was difficult decision to swallow, at first.  After seeing the final product, and hearing my clients’ delight over the final product proved my decision was correct.

Another factor to take into considerations is time.  While it probably only took the illustrator a few hours to draw the character, it would have taken me days to get it right. I’m out of practice and do not posses that raw talent.  This could have eaten into time I should have been spending on other projects or refining the skills that I really am good at. I would have given a proposal for a few hours, and far surpassed that.  It’s not an efficient way to work.

(Nerd Alert.)

I remember a scene in The Dark Knight with Alfred and Bruce Wayne.  Here’s how it went.

Alfred Pennyworth: Know your limits, Master Wayne.

Bruce Wayne: Batman has no limits.

Alfred Pennyworth: Well, you do, sir.

Bruce Wayne: Well, can’t afford to know ‘em.

Alfred knows that at some point Batman can’t do everything. Of course, this is a movie, and he can do everything and save Gotham City. But, it was a good scene to drive my message home…sort of. Unlike Bruce Wayne refuses to believe, a designer should know their limits. It makes for a more successful company and higher caliber projects overall.

Have you had a similar experience? Have you, as a designer, realized that you just can’t do everything?

Photo courtesy of zimway2k