Issac Sweeney is looking for a summer job as an adjunct professor at James Madison University. He has posted in wonderful cover letter in a piece in the Chronicle of Higher Education. If like me, you have read dozens of cover letters from prospective applicants, you probably agree that this one stands out. I would [...]
Categories: creating
Tagged: business development, communication, emotional intelligence, leadership, practice
“When we talk of tomorrow, the gods laugh.” Chinese proverb What? We’re in the planning business, for goodness sake. If this is true, why make plans? Sure, there is a ton of evidence that living in the present is essential, but was Daniel Burnham wrong when he said, “Make no little plans; they have no [...]
Categories: creating,creativity
Tagged: creativity, design, future, leadership, planning, present, success
When John McWade and Seth Godin collaborate the results are always excellent. Godin, in his brief essay in McWade’s Before and After blog, explains why we can no longer allow the tail to wag the dog. “For too long, people who are passionate about design (that would be you…) have accepted their lot. They’ve assumed [...]
Categories: creating,creativity,leadership
Tagged: creativity, design, leadership, professional services, success
From Chris Harmon: “A year ago, a massive oil spill began in the Gulf. The entire country was glued to the news until the well was capped, and then we forgot about it. As the year anniversary was fast approaching I became curious, just how much oil was that exactly? Where would it have gone? [...]
Categories: creativity,execution,leadership
Tagged: carbon footprint, communication, design, leadership, survival
I am intrigued by the ferocity of the leadership versus management debate in the popular business literature. It is both, of course. Steven Covey’s metaphor of the work crew building a road in the forest is useful: Someone has to climb up into the trees to see what’s ahead and determine the best path for [...]
Categories: execution,leadership
Tagged: emotional intelligence, leadership, professional services, success
We creative types struggle with the paradoxical relationship between making art and running a business. And while we gain comfort from fictional characters like Howard Roark or books like Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow, most of us are unwilling or unable to accept the sacrifices and asceticism of Roark, or do [...]
Categories: creating,execution,leadership
Tagged: emotional intelligence, leadership, learning, professional services, small business
Ann and I had a great weekend in Atlanta with our son, Kerr, his wife, and their menagerie of pets. During a conversation with Kerr over lunch on Saturday I was reminded how every little thing we did as a parents had an effect on him and his brother, John. Like it or not, they [...]
Categories: execution,leadership
Tagged: emotional intelligence, leadership, success, survival
I am smack dab in the middle of a raging debate. One voice says: “It’s about our clients, not us. When our websites shout ME ME ME ME we are sending not just the wrong message, but also an offensive one.” The other voice says “I am what I am, and what I have learned [...]
Categories: creating,execution,Marketing
Tagged: communication, emotional intelligence, KC Ramsay, success
Kim Weiss is in the PR business, and good at it. Her clients (including architects and a variety of other artists) are consistently recognized in “the press” in all its forms. Today she posted a rant on her Facebook page sharing her frustration with the local newspaper which has for years refused to make mention [...]
Categories: execution,Marketing
Tagged: architectural marketing, brand, communication, emotional intelligence, success
Simon Sinak (of Begin with WHY fame) offered this advice today: “Never let the fear of seeming impolite inhibit progress.” And Seth Godin, writing synergistically with Sinak made this important point in a separate post: “Pleasing everyone with our work is impossible. It wastes the time of our best (clients) and annoys our staff. Forgive [...]
Categories: execution,flexibility
Tagged: communication, emotional intelligence, learning, success