I’ve noticed that during this recent “financial crisis” as the news stations all report, I’ve succumbed to a different slant on how I make decisions. How do I determine which projects to go after, how do I determine the reliability/stability of potential clients and, after occupancy, what “Leave Behind” is appropriate?
Essentially, the design work is the same although we are modifying some initial design discussions based on what is currently cheap or available in the market (I say cheap, but inexpensive is a more appropriate term). Project management seems to be affected marginally; typically we include a set number of CCA meeting. These days we stick to that number rather than make multiple trips; I guess that’s driven by the bottom line.
Has anyone else modified what you do? Why you do it? Or how you think about it? I know that I’m getting really tired of listening to the am radio and hearing “… and now for an update on America’s Financial Crisis…” Really, if what we’ve stepped into is stuck to our shoe, it’s no longer a crisis but a reality and I think it needs a different thought pattern to clean it up.
—Lisa Stacholy, AIA
Comments (2)
Amen Brother! Imagine how hard it is for me describe to our kids it looks like we'll pay more and need to work harder to ultimately get less for our family...AARRGGHH!!!
This is when we've tried so hard to teach our kids by example; for the last 17 years our family has made good decisions and worked hard and we've got something to show for it (we played "by the rules" and it worked)... now I'm tempted again (the last time was during the Clinton administration) to scale back on work and reduce the fruits of my labor... I've said it before "I'd rather go home early and need to eat Mac-n-Cheese with my family than work so hard and have more taken away...
I definitely feel like I'm being encouraged in the wrong direction... this bites!
Posted by Lisa Stacholy | April 21, 2009 10:41 AM
Posted on April 21, 2009 10:41
I'm glad to see that you are looking at how and on what basis you now make decisions, however as a professional shouldn't that be what we have been doing all along? Maybe the "financial crisis" will bring a more realistic perspective to our lives and our work. Does any family really need a 6,000 square foot house with a bathroom in each of the four or five bedrooms? I grew up sharing a bedroom that was smaller than the master bath in most new houses. I have always delt with my work and my life from a practical and cost conscious approach, and as you can probably tell from the tone of this I am furious that the cost of other peoples extravagence has fallen on the people who acted responsibly. As professionals we have some responability to bring a sense of reason to our work.
Posted by Paul levine AIA | April 17, 2009 9:58 AM
Posted on April 17, 2009 09:58