There are some words of advice that have stuck with me over the years – some were specific to being an architect, but most were generic to being a decent human being. Since I like to think both of those descriptors apply to me, I started to jot down all the pieces of advice I’ve read or received over the years that have stuck with me. Even though I don’t generally consider myself to be in a position to dole out life advice, but since I’ve been around the architectural block a time or two, I thought I would assemble all the words of wisdom I could think of and share them with you.
- Perception is reality, it doesn’t always matter if you’re right or not
- Architectural firms have different glass ceilings based on the job title – know what they are
- Don’t send an email for everything, they live forever and get sent around
- Never park directly in front of the bar
- Have a nice messenger bag and take care of it
- Eventually you are going to eat your vegetables, start early and get the benefits now
- Take a walk with your spouse/ boyfriend/ girlfriend after dinner
- Actually go home for dinner
- Having a graduate degree in something other than architecture can actually make you a better architect
- Every person you meet will either change your life or you’ll change theirs, act accordingly
- Do what you say you’re going to do when you say you’re going to do it
- Never get drunk at office functions, people will always remember it
- Hand drawing is not a gift, it’s a skill. Practice.
- Don’t eat your lunch at your desk
- When someone asks you what you think of their house, tell them that you love it
- Thank your waiter
- Yelling rarely resolves matters
- It’s easy to criticize, point out the positives
- Keep your birthday cards
- Order dessert first every once in a while
- Don’t throw your cigarette butts on the ground or out the car window
- Don’t bring your phone to the dinner table
- Some people like drafting dots more than regular masking tape, it’s really not that big of a deal
- Always use the word “we” when talking about your work
- Don’t tell someone else that the food they’re eating looks gross
- Have friends who aren’t other architects
- Use your architectural skills to help out a charitable cause
- It’s okay to play with toys as an adult
- Take the interns out for lunch and pay for it
- Don’t get your picture taken holding a cocktail
- Take the blame and give the credit
- People go to college to learn how to learn
- If the firm justifies long hours as “just part of the training of interns” look for a different firm
- Hire people who are smarter than you
- Work on your vocabulary
- Don’t get a tattoo on your face
- Teach others when to use Elmer’s glue and when to use rubber cement
- Don’t call someone a “Cad Monkey”
- Learn how to weld
- Reasons and Excuses sound a lot alike
- Don’t drink by yourself
- Being a good designer is more about giving people what they want, not what you want
- No matter how great you think you are, until your name is on the door, be prepared to do what you are asked to do
Do what you will with these pearls of wisdom, ignore them or turn them into motivational stickers … They’ve generally worked pretty well for me. Cheers, 