EntreArchitect Podcast with Mark R. LePage

I believe the most important business skill you need to succeed is knowing how to build rapport. This week on the Entrepreneur Architect Podcast, I share my 10 steps to build better rapport and close more sales. Please review this podcast on iTunes. Referenced in This Episode Entrepreneur Architect Podcast Episode 31: The Architectural Services Sales System Entrepreneur Architect Hybrid Proposal for Architectural Services Westchester Community College Academy of Entrepreneurial Excellence Entrepreneur Architect Academy Mailing List *** Photo Credit: vgstudio / 123RF Stock Photo The post EA046: My 10 Steps to Build Better Rapport and Close More Sales [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Frosty & Fired UpBuild Smart

My name is Mark R. LePage and I am a recovering procrastinator. After 40+ years, I don't have much hope of ever finding a cure, but recently I have found some ways to hang on to the wagon and stay focused on getting things done. With so many things on my plate, I often find myself paralyzed with overwhelm and I get nothing done. I fall back on old bad habits of soothing time wasters like clicking the Get Mail button on my Mac over and over again and checking my email for the next very important message. Or I find myself on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram or all three, refreshing over and over again hoping to see the next update. Anything to make myself feel like I am accomplishing something. Anything to keep me from doing the things that really matter. The things that will help me progress and take my firm to the next level. I am sure this all sounds too familiar to you. I can tell you though that I am getting much better at conquering this painful habit of procrastination. Among running my architecture firm, Fivecat Studio, building the Entrepreneur Architect platform, launching the Academy and committing to getting some real sleep, I have found it necessary to find effective ways to stay productive during the day. I have read books. I have listened to podcasts. I have searched the web, high and low, to find as much information as possible on the subject of procrastination and how to conquer it. So today on the Entrepreneur Architect Podcast, I will share 10 tips that I am using to conquer my procrastination. Please review this podcast on iTunes. Referenced in this Episode Erik J. Fisher’s Beyond the To Do List Podcast Fivecat Studio Entrepreneur Architect Academy The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business The 12/12/12 Project Archispeak Podcast *** Photo Credit: stuartphoto / 123RF Stock Photo The post EA045: 10 Tips From a Recovering Procrastinator [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Build SmartFrosty & Fired Up

Last December I was invited to speak at AIAS Forum 2013; the American Institute of Architecture Students national convention. This year the event was held in Chicago Yes, Chicago in December, and yes, we were snowed-in for days. While we waited for the airports to open, I had the opportunity to speak in length with many of the architecture students in attendance. They asked me many questions, but the one concern they had more than any other was what they should do to land their first job in architecture. I shared my thoughts and told them to watch the website for more on the subject. So, here it is a promise fulfilled. In this episode of the Entrepreneur Architect Podcast, I will share my 12 Rules for Landing your First Job in Architecture. Referenced in This Episode American Institute of Architecture Students Roger Williams University Barry Poskanzer, AIA Purple Cow, New Edition: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable–Includes new bonus chapter Entrepreneur Architect Academy HealingMatthew.com HealingMatthew on Facebook HealingMatthew on Twitter OTC Deficiency on Wikipedia *** Photo Credit: ximagination / 123RF Stock Photo The post EA044: How to Land Your First Job in Architecture [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Frosty & Fired UpBuild Smart

Everything I do in business, I approach as an experiment. It’s been 9 months since moving Fivecat Studio out of our 2,000 square foot studio in Pleasantville, New York to a new 200 square foot studio in our Chappaqua home. It’s been very successful and I love what we’re doing, but this week on the Entrepreneur Architect Podcast, I will share five mistakes I made when launching my virtual architecture studio. Referenced in This Episode Entrepreneur Architect Academy Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 Scanner for PC and Mac (PA03656-B005) Dropbox Evernote ADOSAR Project Management System Chris Ducker New Business Podcast Virtual Freedom: How to Work with Virtual Staff to Buy More Time, Become More Productive, and Build Your Dream Business Virtual Staff Finder My 4 Simple Steps to Getting Things Done *** Photo Credit: jirkaejc / 123RF Stock Photo The post EA043: 5 Mistakes I Made When Launching My Virtual Architecture Studio [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Build SmartFrosty & Fired Up

It is the individual small firm architects, taking charge of their own success and working with other individual architects; collaborating and sharing their knowledge that will really take this profession to new levels… and this really excites me. Today on the podcast, in the spirit of sharing what is exciting me most, I want to present an update on my progress here at Entrepreneur Architect. Referenced in this Episode ArchiTalks No.1: My Answers to 11 Big Questions About Architecture EA000: Introduction to the Entrepreneur Architect Podcast The Entrepreneur Architect Report (My Free Weekly Newsletter) AIA Westchester Hudson Valley Design Expo Business of Architecture Summit The Missing 32% Equity by Design Symposium Texas Society of Architects 75th Annual Convention Entrepreneur Architect Facebook Page Entrepreneur Architect on Twitter Entrepreneur Architect Private Linkedin Group Entrepreneur Architect on Google+ Entrepreneur Architect on Instagram Entrepreneur Architect Academy Mailing List More From the ArchiTalks Tribe Bob Borson Life of an Architect (twitter @bobborson) This is Exciting – The Beginning of the End Marica McKeel Studio MM (twitter @ArchitectMM) From Dreams to Reality THIS is Exciting Jes Stafford Modus Operandi Design (twitter @modarchitect) This is Exciting It is All Comes Together Enoch Sears Business of Architecture (twitter @enochsears) This is Exciting: Marketing for Architects that Works Jeff Echols Architect of the Internet (twitter @Jeff_Echols) This is Exciting: 5 Re's to Change the Future of Architecture Lee Calisti – Think Architecture (twitter @leecalisti) this is exciting :: start + finish Oscia Wilson Boiled Architecture (twitter @oscia_wilson) This is exciting they're fighting it out Matthew Stanfield Field9 Architecture (twitter @FIELD9arch) This is exciting Jeremiah Russell – Jeremiah S. Russell, Architect (twitter @ronestudioarch) I'm so excited! Cormac Phalen – Archispeak Podcast (twitter @archispk and @archy_type) The End is Like the Beginning Evan Troxel – (twitter @etroxel) This is Exciting Because it's real Nicholas Renard Cote Renard Architecture (twitter @coterenard) This Right Here This is Exciting *** Photo Credit: icenando / 123RF Stock Photo The post EA042: This is Exciting – Making a Difference at Entrepreneur Architect [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Frosty & Fired UpBuild Smart

To successfully complete a project, an architect is responsible for making thousands of critical decisions. To complete the development of a standard residential additions and alterations project, it takes several months of focus and dedication. Many of us work long hours, long into the night, through weekends and holidays. The innovative ideas and concepts we create can often only be born after hours (sometimes days) of intense thought and several dozen layers of sketch paper. The personal emotion, attachment and dedication that each project receives is unequaled in any other profession.The time and effort required to properly develop a design and complete a thorough set of construction documents is difficult for most anyone outside the profession to understand. As a requirement for licensure, registered architects are responsible for the health, safety and welfare of every occupant in every project we design. Like any small business, architects must pay the typical operating expenses required to remain buoyant, such as utilities, professional service fees, consultants' fees, insurances and several other overhead expenditures. But wait for architects, there's more. To protect us from the liabilities inherent in our responsibilities as licensed professionals, most architects also purchase an additional Professional Liability insurance policy costing several thousand dollars each year. Then, there's that little thing called profit. Every business, including architecture firms (yes, its true!), must earn a profit. It's one of the rules to the game . In order to continue pursuing our success as architects, we must not only cover our expenses and take home a salary, we must make enough to reinvest into the business. Most sole proprietors and small firms I know, struggle to meet the minimum requirements of operation. Forget about profit. Simply stated Architects just don't make enough money. On this episode of The Entrepreneur Architect Podcast, I am sharing my top 10 ways architects can earn more money. Please review this podcast on iTunes. Referenced in this Episode Entrepreneur Architect Hybrid Proposal Entrepreneur Architect Academy Mailing List ArchitectsMarketing.com How to Succeed in Architecture: Knowing Your Worth as Architects (Google Hangout) The post EA041: Top 10 Ways Architects Can Earn More Money [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Build SmartFrosty & Fired Up

A little past 6AM, tunes from the local radio station wake me from a very deep slumber. Typically, I will set the alarm to 6:14, so I hear music rather than the daily bad news report. I am very serious about my full media blackout . I certainly don't spend enough time sleeping and for the past few weeks I've been rising at 4:34AM. My oldest son James decided that he wanted to join a morning swim training camp and he needs to be on deck by 5:50AM. So this is my summer schedule and sleep is still something I am still trying to figure out. I'm up late every night working on the website, recording an episode for this podcast or catching up on paperwork from the studio. I work very hard to keep balance in my life. I'm a scout dad as well as a swim dad. I eat dinner with my family every evening (unless I have a conflicting client meeting). As an Entrepreneur Architect, that's not an easy schedule, but it's worth every sacrifice that it requires. After many years of suffering the recent economic storm, the firm has full boards again and clients with high expectations. With our new virtual studio business model, I am wearing many hats these days and currently hold the positions of CEO, COO, CFO, President, Director of Architectural Services, Architect, Project Manager, Draftsman, Office Manager, Book Keeper, Receptionist and Custodian and that's just at work. If you are an Entrepreneur Architect, I'm sure this sounds familiar. This week on the Entrepreneur Architect Academy I will share my 4 simple steps for getting things done. Please share your tips and techniques for how to get things done in the comments below. Let’s talk! Please review this podcast on iTunes. Referenced in this Episode The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey (book) Productivity Matrix PDF from USGS Evernote IFTTT (If This Then That) <— This is the app that I use to link my iPhone Reminders app to Evernote Sign up for Entrepreneur Architect Academy notification *** Photo Credit: pixelsaway / 123RF Stock Photo The post EA040: My 4 Simple Steps to Getting Things Done [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Frosty & Fired UpBuild Smart

This week on the podcast, I invited small firm architects Lee Calisti, Jeremiah Russell, Steve May and Neal Pann to discuss the virtual studio business model. Neal was in the wilds of Canada on vacation and could not make it to the call, but Lee, Jeremiah, Steve and I had a very interesting conversation about how my new virtual studio is working. We discussed how the model could be used to help architects collaborate, build virtual teams and take on larger projects. If you are a solopreneur architect and are interested in working remotely with other professions, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Please review this podcast on iTunes. *** Photo Credit: ra2studio / 123RF Stock Photo The post EA039: A Virtual Round Table Discussing the Virtual Studio [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Build SmartFrosty & Fired Up

In the 15 years that Annmarie and I have been practicing at our small residential architecture firm, we have seen much of our hardware come and go. We launched the firm with a single Dell workstation, a monster CRT monitor and an inexpensive all-in-one scanner, printer, fax machine. Today we're running Apple computers and the fax machine is long gone. On this episode of the Entrepreneur Architect Podcast, I am going to share with you a long list of all of the hardware and electronic equipment that we use to run Fivecat Studio on a daily basis. It's not fancy or cutting edge, but its what we have to do what we do. Please review this podcast on iTunes. Referenced in this Episode Scott LePage Photography Laser Distance Meter: DISTO Classic 5a by Leica Geosystems Apple iPhone5 BIMsanity: Is AutoCAD LT a Better Choice for Small Firm Architects AutoCAD LT 2014 for Mac 27 Apple iMac Apple Wireless Mouse Apple Wireless Keyboard ViewSonic VX2250WM-LED 22-Inch monitor Dell E198FP 19″ LCD Monitor 27″ Thunderbolt Apple Display Nozbe HP CM1312NFI Color LaserJet Printer HP Designjet T520 Thermal Inkjet 24″ ePrinter Apple Mac Mini Server Neal Pann Architect Evernote Dropbox Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 Scanner for PC and Mac The Entrepreneur Architect Report (my free weekly newsletter) iPad Air Andrew Hawkins of Hawkins Architecture Top Five Apps for Architects in Daily Practice 15 MacBook Pro Blue Yeti USB Microphone Pat Flynn’s How to Start a Podcast Video Tutorial Learn How to Podcast by Cliff Ravenscraft at Podcast Answer Man Audible.com Audiobooks Amazon Kindle e-Book App Pandora *** Photo Credit: Apple iMac The post EA038: Hardware and Electronic Equipment for Small Firm Architects [Podcast] appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Frosty & Fired UpBuild Smart

Late yesterday afternoon, I received an email from my friend Bob Borson of Life of an Architect. His message was a challenge to all architect bloggers on the internet. Bob challenged us to coordinate a series of blog posts, (and this podcast episode) all to be published on the same day and answering the same 11 questions. Please review this podcast on iTunes. Here are the 11 questions Bob presented to the group: What kind of projects were you doing when you first started as an architect? How many projects can you expect to be working on at once? How often do you work in a team? How important is an innovative mind to the company? What key things do you look for in potential new hires? How important is diversity to your company? How big of a role does HR play in your company? Would you say architecture is a field for everyone? What is the best asset in your company? Describe your best employee in one word? What style architecture do you love most? I recorded this episode without notes and without preparation. My answers are candid and honest. I would love to have a discussion about these questions in the comments section below. How would YOU answer these questions? Do you disagree with any of my responses? Let’s talk. Check out these links to others who are playing along: Bob Borson Life of an Architect @bobborson Being an Architect Jes Stafford Modus Operandi Design @modarchitect Ask the Architect Nicholas Renard Cote Renard Architecture @coterenard Answers from this Architect Enoch Sears Business of Architecture @enochsears Life As An Architect Evan Troxel @etroxel 11 Questions About Architecture Jeff Echols Architect of the Internet @Jeff_Echols 11 Frequently Asked Questions About Being An Architect Andrew Hawkins Hawkins Architecture, Inc. @HawkinsArch Being an Architect: Questions Answered. Lee Calisti lee CALISTI architecture+design @leecalisti 11 Questions is less than 20 Neal Pann – Neal A. Pann, Architect @npann “Being an Architect” You may want to also follow along on Twitter. We’re using hashtag #ArchiTalks. *** Photo Credit: kuzma / 123RF Stock Photo The post EA037: My Answers to 11 Big Questions About Architecture (Podcast) appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Mentioned in this episode:Build SmartFrosty & Fired Up