EntreArchitect Podcast with Mark R. LePage

Success is not difficult. It's not a secret or magic. There are rules to success. There are steps we can take. The knowledge is out there. The knowledge is on the podcast and here at the blog. It’s everywhere. There are so many other sources of knowledge that we can use to find the information we need to build a successful firm a successful family a successful life. Knowledge alone will never take us to where we want to go. There are two more steps we need to take before that knowledge can take us to where we want to go. Today on the EntreArchitect Podcast, I will share 3 simple steps to success in architecture. Please review this podcast on iTunes.   Referenced in this Episode The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change (25th Anniversary Edition) by Stephen R. Covey (book) The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber (book) The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller (book) 48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller (book) 48Days.com Visit our Platform Sponsor: Freshbooks   Photo Credit: Pixabay.com / Unsplash The post EA077: 3 Simple Steps to Success in Architecture [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Frosty & Fired UpBuild Smart

Imagine an architecture firm where the systems are in place, the people are in place, the roles and responsibilities of everyone is established both at the ownership level and at the employee level and the trust is so strong that everything gets done when and how it should. Imagine the benefits of such a firm. Imagine how enjoyable it would be to work at such a place. Imagine the quality of projects and the profits that would result. Sounds too good to be true… Well, such places do exist Such architecture firms do exist and today's guest will show us how we can establish such a firm. Today on the EntreArchitect Podcast, architect, author and business consultant, Steve Wintner and I have a great conversation about How to Establish a Culture of Accountability at Your Architecture Firm. Please review this podcast on iTunes. Referenced in this Episode Financial Management for Design Professionals: The Path to Profitability (book) 7 Key Financial Performance Indicators for a Successful Architecture Firm (blog post) Developing a Time Management Discipline for Small Firm Architects (blog post) Gensler (Architecture Firm) Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh: Adopt Holacracy Or Leave (Fast Company Magazine) Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (book) Winning with Accountability: The Secret Language of High-Performing Organizations (book) Art’s Principles: 50 years of hard-learned lessons in building a world-class professional services firm (book) Kiss Theory Good Bye: Five Proven Ways to Get Extraordinary Results in Any Company (book) Barriers to Employee Accountability (Stincelli Advisors blog) Steve Wintner, AIA Emeritus (Linkedin) Management Consulting Services (Steve’s website) Visit our Platform Sponsor: Freshbooks       The post EA076: How To Establish a Culture of Accountability at Your Architecture Firm with Architect Steve Wintner [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Frosty & Fired UpBuild Smart

I know we have all heard the hype about Evernote. Many of us have downloaded the free app, took a spin and never looked again. Others have given it a try, created a few notebooks, added a few to-do lists and found no use. I know I did the same thing. This week on the EntreArchitect Podcast, I will share 12 Ways To Quickly Get Started Using Evernote.   Please review this podcast on iTunes. Referenced in this Episode Evernote MichaelHyatt.com Mark R. LePage on Entrepreneur On Fire Podcast EntreArchitect Academy private membership group EntreArchitect Coaching ArchitectExamPrep.com The Ultimate Guide to Evernote for Architects: 7 Steps to Get Started Now (blog post) Recording Meeting Minutes Using Evernote (blog post) How to Manage Your Architecture Projects Using Evernote (blog post) Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 Scanner Nozbe 12 Steps to Take Control of Your Email (blog post) Evernote Web Clipper (app) Skitch (app) Scannable (app) Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (book) Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less (book) Visit our Platform Sponsor: Freshbooks   The post EA075: 12 Ways to Quickly Get Started Using Evernote [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Frosty & Fired UpBuild Smart

Each month, a group of dedicated architect bloggers, lead by my friend Bob Borson over at the Life of an Architect blog, participates at an online event called #ArchiTalks. Bob assigns a specific topic or theme and we each prepare a post written in response to that specific subject and we all coordinate our posts to go live at the same time. A few topics that we have explored are: Crafty Architecture in the Real World Favorite Things A Day in the Life of… This is Exciting Bob is busy running his Life of an Architect Playhouse Competition, so my friend Marica McKeel of Studio MM grabbed the reigns and took control of #ArchiTalks for this month. Marica selected the topic; Favorite Place. Scroll down to see more #ArchiTalks posts. I really love the #ArchiTalks series. We now have about 2 dozen or more architects participating and it is so interesting to see how each of us responds to a few simple words. When a theme is announced, there is no background. We have no influence on what to write. We simply receive the theme. In the past, I have participated by using my platform on the podcast or here at the blog. This week, on the EntreArchitect Podcast, I will share my thoughts on this month's topic, Favorite Place.   Please review this podcast on iTunes. Referenced in this Episode St. Lawrence River Save The River Lake Hopatcong, NJ Ocean Beach, NJ Lake George, NY EntreArchitect Podcast Episode 000 Clayton, NY Alexandria Bay, NY Gananoque, ON Fishers Landing, NY Boldt Castle Singer Castle Visit our Platform Sponsor: Freshbooks Visit All My #ArchiTalks Friends Lee Calisti Lee CALISTI architecture+design (@leecalisti) favorite place Cormac Phalen Cormac Phalen (@archy-type) Baltimore Evan Troxel Archispeak (@etroxel) My Favorite Place Meghana Joshi – IRA Consultants, LLC (@MeghanaIRA) Oh, The Places You'll Go! Lora Teagarden L2Design, LLC (@L2DesignLLC) ArchiTalks meets #ThisOldHouse Andrew Hawkins, AIA Hawkins Architecture (@hawkinsarch) My Favorite Placein the Wild Matthew Stanfield FIELD 9 Architecture (@FIELD9arch) Ruby Slippers Stephen Ramos – BUILDINGS ARE COOL (@sramos_BAC) Cinque Terre Jonathan Brown Proto-Architecture (@mondo_tiki_man) Favorite Place Eric Wittman intern[life] (@rico_w) my [first] favorite place Tara Imani Indigo Architect (@Parthenon1) Favorite Place Architalks 8 Jes Stafford MOD Architect (@modarchitect) Making Space and the Favorite Place Enoch Sears Business of Architecture (@businessofarch) Where Do You Like To Go When You Aren't Working? Michele Grace Hottel – Michele Grace Hottel, Architect favorite place Brian Paletz The Emerging Architect (@bpaletz) Favorite Place(s) Michael Riscica Young Architect (@YoungArchitxPDX) MIT Chapel My Favorite Place Jeremiah Russell, AIA ROGUE Architecture (@rogue_architect) favorite place: #architalks 5th edition The post EA074: My Favorite Place [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Frosty & Fired UpBuild Smart

In addition to developing a sales system, the concept of Target Market is the one thing that I most credit for the success of my small firm, Fivecat Studio. Every day I see architects’ websites stating that they “specialize” in residential, commercial and institutional. Specialists in everything specialize in nothing. Your customers want you to be the best at what they will hire you for. If 9 firms are generalists (great designers, but no focus) and one firm is an expert focused on being the very best at designing restaurants, who will receive the first call when the local celebrity chef is looking to open her next trotteria? This week on the EntreArchitect Podcast, I will share my thoughts on Your Target Market.   Please review this podcast on iTunes. Referenced in this Episode Episode 31: The Architectural Services Sales System [podcast] My Sales System [blog post] The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done (Harperbusiness Essentials) [book] EntreArchitect Facebook Group Please visit our Platform Sponsor: Freshbooks The post EA073: The Power of Picking a Target Market [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Build SmartFrosty & Fired Up

Click the podcast player button above to listen or subscribe to the show on iTunes. This past recession has been tough on the architecture profession. For the past several years many of us have been struggling to survive. We've taken the work we could get and reduced our expenses to the absolute minimum. As we crawl out from the darkness, the warm sunshine of a recovering economy feels so good. Even though our boards are beginning to fill, the pain of survival is lingering. Many small businesses, including many small architecture firms, after years of finding ways to keep the doors open are succumbing to the years of economic instability and calling it quits. For those of us who have made it through the storm have emerged with a new perspective. The days of pre-recession spending are unlikely to return any time soon. Money is short, debt is heavy and recovery is the primary focus. We're spending only what needs to be spent to build a stronger firm and much sacrifice remains. Many of my friends are evaluating their professional priorities. If they feel an expense is unnecessary or not earning them a significant return on investment, it's being cut from their budgets. One such investment seeing the axe is their long-time memberships to the American Institute of Architects (AIA). I think that’s a mistake. I think there are many advantages to membership and this week on the EntreArchitect Podcast, I will share 7 benefits to AIA Membership for Small Firm Architects.   Please review this podcast on iTunes. Referenced in this Episode AIA Convention 2015 Equity by Design Hackathon Register for Equity by Design Hackathon at Convention 2015 (WE310) Small Project Practitioners (SPP) KnowledgeNet Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) CRAN Symposium 2015 in Minneapolis CRANtv videos on YouTube AIA Contract Documents AIA Small Firm Resource Center EntreArchitect.com/Episode 70 (ArCHspec) Please visit our Platform Sponsor: Freshbooks The post EA072: 7 Benefits to AIA Membership for Small Firm Architects [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Frosty & Fired UpBuild Smart

Click the podcast player button above to listen or subscribe to the show on iTunes. Entrepreneurism, architects pursuing ventures outside the traditional practice, the education of architects, the AIA and how we all need to join together to build a better profession; these are all topics that I discussed with my guest this week on the Entrepreneur Architect Podcast. He started his own practice in 1975, dabbled in development, invested in real estate, merged his practice with a much larger firm where he is now partner and has designed some rather significant works of architecture. He was dean of University of Texas School of Architecture, where he continues to teach today. Larry Speck, developer, investor, educator, architect is most certainly an Entrepreneur Architect.   Please review this podcast on iTunes. Referenced in this Episode University of Texas School of Architecture LarrySpeck.com Page Please visit our Platform Sponsor: Freshbooks The post EA071: How to Build a Better Profession with Architect and Educator Larry Speck [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Frosty & Fired UpBuild Smart

Click the podcast player button above to listen or subscribe to the show on iTunes. The compilation and documentation of project specifications may be one of the most important services we provide as small firm architects and in my experience many of us, especially us residential architects, limit our specifications to a sheet of general notes and product descriptions listed throughout the drawings. Before launching Fivecat Studio, I worked for a few other firms where I had the opportunity to develop much larger projects than the projects Annmarie and I work on here at our firm now. Major school renovations., new office buildings, churches and synagogues. These projects included a specification manual . often organized into several different books, each about 2-1/2 thick. These documents were created by a professional specification writer who was paid thousands of dollars to include every piece of information that a contractor, owner (or lawyer) may be searching for when the project is being constructed. Our residential clients, building smaller projects, cannot afford a specification writer… but are they less important? Are we, as a registered architect, not just as liable for the work we are proposing? Shouldn't our projects have complete and thorough specifications too? Today on the EntreArchitect Podcast, I am speaking with three gentlemen who may have some answers for us small firm residential architects; complete specification for the work we do in a format that makes it simple to include with every project we design.   Please review this podcast on iTunes. Referenced in this Episode Home Architects Don Duffy Architecture Kenny Guffey Construction ArCHomes.org ArCHspec 2015: Architectural Residential Specifications Please visit our Platform Sponsor: Freshbooks The post EA070: Architectural Specification Systems for Residential Architects [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Frosty & Fired UpBuild Smart

Click the podcast player button above to listen or subscribe to the show on iTunes. Fivecat Studio was founded in 1999. Annmarie and I were 29 years old. She was licensed. I was not. With no clients and no money, we launched the firm as a sole proprietorship; Annmarie McCarthy, Architect. Slowly, we grew the firm and in 2002, with my license in hand, we incorporated as McCarthy LePage Architects, PC. We knew from day one that we needed a way to differentiate ourselves from the many other local firms. McCarthy LePage Architects sounds very professional, but we do things differently. We needed a name that was a bit more personal, so we launched our brand, Fivecat Studio. When you finally decide to start your own firm, you will need to make several critical decisions. One of the most important decisions you'll need to make is which business structure best fits your new firm. The business structure you choose will have significant legal and tax implications. This week on the Entrepreneur Architect Podcast, I will talk about the 5 basic business structures available to small firm architects.   Please review this podcast on iTunes. Referenced in this Episode Federal Small Business Administration (SBA) Website Please visit our Platform Sponsor: Freshbooks Join us in Atlanta: EntreArchitect One Day Live Event photo credit: Pixabay / stephanrinke The post EA069: The 5 Business Structures for Small Firm Architects [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Build SmartFrosty & Fired Up

Click the podcast player button above to listen or subscribe to the show on iTunes. “Do you ever wonder what might happen if you chose not to work late on a deadline because you need to take care of your family? Do you ever daydream about working part time, but wonder how it may impact your career? Do you ever wonder what it would be like to stay home on Fridays with you little baby or to leave work early every day to get your kids off the bus or to leave early most days to see your kid's soccer games, or swim meets, or baseball practice? How would these impact your career? Maybe others would think that you couldn't travel anymore, or maybe you wouldn't be given the premier projects because others think that you're less available'. And maybe they'd be right   is that going to delay your career progress? And does it matter?” Above is a quote from a recent entry at the new blog, Archimom.com. Do you ever wonder? Do you ever wonder what life would be like if the profession evolved to universally accept flex time and remote studios? Do you ever wonder what life would be like if our professional cultures throughout the world put a priority of raising families over making money? Do you ever wonder what could happen when one person recognizes a problem and decides to take the lead to find a solution. This week on the Entrepreneur Architect Podcast, I am speaking with the founder of ArchiMom.com. Amy Kalar is one such person who has decided to stop watching from the sidelines. She is a leader in our profession and is pushing us all to wonder. Please review this podcast on iTunes. Referenced in this Episode Building the Business Case for Equity in Architecture (presentation) Women in Architecture & Design – Twin Cities AIA Minnesota Women in Architecture Committee The Missing 32% Project: Equity by Design Symposium Amazing ArchiMoms (blog post series) Do You Ever Wonder? (blog post) Air Mail App Mailbox App Boomerang for Gmail Scheduling email using MS Outlook Family Medical Leave Act ArchiMom.com Contact Amy on Twitter Please visit our Platform Sponsor: Freshbooks Join us in Atlanta: EntreArchitect One Day Live Event The post EA068: Solutions for Architect Moms (and Dads) with ArchiMom.com Founder Amy Kalar [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Frosty & Fired UpBuild Smart