Context & Clarity for Small Firm Architects

Context & Clarity LIVE - Your first year owning your own firmWhat are the things you need to know in your first year of business on your own?That's the question we'll start with today on Context & Clarity LIVE.My Co-host, Katharine White MacPhail, and I welcome Rion Willard, Host of the Business of Architecture UK podcast, to talk about his experience as a firm owner and draw on what he's learned interviewing over 120 guests for his podcast.Your first year is critical. It may determine whether you're still running it next year or looking for a job.• How do you set yourself up for success?• What did you learn in your first year as an owner?• If you're getting ready to start, what are you afraid of?These are just some of the topics we'll discuss. What questions do you have?Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

How do you know what kind of architect you want to be? It’s an interesting question. From my own experience I know that despite what we hope or dream, many architects start with a job in a firm that may not relate to what we really want to do, what we really want to work on, the kind of architect we want to be. Have you had a singular, unwavering focus on what kind of architect you want to be or has it evolved over time and your career?Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

Have you set up your business page? Whether you have or not, there’s most likely an entry on Google for your business. Fleshing out your business profile is one of the easiest, cheapest, it’s free by the way, quickest ways for your business to show up in search results and I think it’s one of the most over-looked must-do’s on the list. Do you have any tips for architects that are working on building out their profile?Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

Your first year in business may be your most critical year? It's a time when the old adage that the entrepreneur wears 17 hats was never more true. How do you balance all of those hats? How do you develop the systems and processes necessary to set out on the right foot and set you and your firm up for success? Even if you don't want to own your own business, every employee should understand what the first year in business was like for the firm they work for.Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

What are your best tips for passing the ARE? The architect’s registration exam. Depending on which of the ever-evolving versions you take, there’s section upon section to pass. You’ll probably schedule your test taking efforts out over a number of months. Of course COVID-19 may have thrown a wrench into your schedule… will the test-taking sites be open or not? There’s a lot of studying and worrying and practicing going on, so if you’ve passed the ARE, how did you do it?Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

Should you get licensed? Do you need to be licensed? That can be a contentious topic, but what are the pros and cons to licensure? There are roles you can play and project types that you can work on that don't require a license and there are plenty of things outside of the realm of traditional architecture practice that your skills, and experience, and education have prepared you for, so in the end, what is the value of being a licensed architect?Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

Today, we welcome Evan Troxel, Host of the TRXL podcast, and Co-Host of Archispeak podcast, to talk about how technology is changing the profession and ask, who's driving the change.Technology is evolving at an ever-increasing pace and it's changing the way architects practice architecture.• How much of that is technology evolving in our offices and how much is technology evolving our offices?• How has technology changed how you practice?• Who's actually driving that change?These are just some of the topics we'll discuss. What questions do you have?Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

If now is the time for you to start your own firm, what are the first steps that you need to take in order to set yourself and your firm up for success? Getting started is the hardest part, so you can take the 'just start' advice to heart, but how do you know that you're doing it right? How do you set up your legal entity? What type of insurance do you need? How do you find your first client? How much money do you need? These are all things to consider when staring your own firm.Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

A few years ago, studies started to spring up warning that lack of available talent was the biggest, most immediate threat to the A/E/C industry. As wild and crazy as the past 10 or 11 months have been with a roller coaster economy, massive layoffs and unemployment numbers, and yet somehow, many firms continuing to be very busy, recruiting new talent may be even tougher today than it has been in recent history. Whether it’s an ironically tight talent market or incredibly tumultuous times, recruiting the right talent at the right time can be challenging, so what do you do when it's time for you to hire help?Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access

Technology is evolving at an ever-increasing pace and it's changing the way architects practice architecture, but how much of that is technology evolving in our offices and how much is technology evolving our offices? How has technology changed how you practice? And, who's actually driving that change?Mentioned in this episode:All AccessAll Access