Category: Work

The way to fill in a hole is the same way it got there, a little bit at a time.

I can’t imagine this is an original thought, but I’m stealing it, cause I got a big project to review.

Heroic effort in this type of work is only enticing in the abstract, effectiveness is found in each little step.

A connection won’t just give it to you.

But just knowing about an opportunity.

And maybe one day’s head start.

That might be all you need.

If you’re ready to capitalize on it.

With a few of my projects heading into construction administration which require full time loads, I was pulled off of a couple projects, so I made the rounds informing my teams.

I did not think of it from their perspective. Even though the transition will be very gradual, the news was a surprise to them, whereas we’ve been talking about it for the past couple weeks.

Even so, my colleagues made some very complimentary comments and I have to admit it was very nice of them.

I think I did good work, and it was nice to have it acknowledged.

I’m listening to the podcast Tides of History by Patrick Wyman which is going through the development of the modern state. I haven’t finished the episode yet, but it’s set around the premise of the rise of the “ruthlessly competent civil servant”

Like the trope of a “velvet glove in the iron fist“, this concept has a macho appeal, especially given my current position.

But I wonder if that’s the right story to tell myself. My job is to collaborate with private entities to deliver projects for the state on time and on budget at the proper scope and quality.

However, being ruthless may ultimately be counterproductive to our mission. There is always the next project, we’ll always need partners.

So what’s a better story? Something more balanced?

Maybe these stories are fine, it’s just that such sentiments need to be moderated by the acknowledgement of time. It’s just that I need to remember that I’m playing a long game, as will those who follow me. This story doesn’t end. I can only be so ruthless.

After reading this article about ageism in the UX industry, I started to think about our own industry.

I think the dynamic is similar. I don’t know much about UX, so architecture might be a little more technical, making inexperience within the profession a bigger detriment for those who are doing a late career change, but I agree with the general concept that older designers bring more to the table.

The primary advantage of a young gun is that they don’t have outside commitments, so they are free to bang out major hours for the firm.

I learned my waterproofing instincts by grinding through all the different window, door, and parapet details of Gable Tanglewood over an intense three week period. However, I was lucky — my firm paid overtime so I was getting both extra experience and additional money.

The young professional on salary is in a difficult position. They are giving up their free time for merely experience. It may still be a fair trade. An extra four hours a week means 10% more experience compounded on a weekly basis, which adds up real quick.

But you gotta make the calculation. Don’t get caught up in fulfilling someone else’s commitment. Every hour of overtime you work, is an opportunity cost of doing something else. You’re trading your life away, so you better get paid handsomely in experience, not merely a pat on the head from the boss who is getting the free labor.

There is a dichotomy between the project at hand and its the long term consequences.

Certainly the specific project needs to be completed on time and on budget, but this building will stand there for the next two or three decades, warts and all.

And while I have some responsibility to draw the best work at reasonable cost out of my partners, the relationships that are cultivated during this project will continue to reverberate as well.

For take your kids to work day, we met at lunch and then took our daughter to the Governor’s office for a little event in his conference room.

After that, we had a little time before her dance class, and it was the grand opening of the East Las Vegas library, so instead of going to my office we took her to the check out the new place.

After all grand openings only happen once.

That afternoon, I got into a really good flow at the office. I checked in with home and was given the green light to keep cranking, so I blasted through the set I was reviewing.

But by the time I finally did get home, the kids were asleep.

Bummer.

Nothing comes for free in this world.

I know they say it’s important for resumes, but I’ve never hired personnel. However now that I am working client side, I can definitely say that grammatical mistakes do count, especially for formal deliverables.

I’m all about throwing messy hand sketches with wild scribbles during the development process – even the email typed up in haste – but official submittals with little mistakes scream out a lack of pride and craft. 

Obviously the big issues matter the most, but when big errors (some of which may be understandable) are compounded with minor sloppiness, it starts to leave a bad taste.

If they can’t get the little things right, should I really be that confident about the big things?

I knew these few weeks would be a bit heavy, but it’s one thing to rationally expect it and another to go through with it.

I’ve been coping with the help of coffee, which is a pretty standard way of handling things in this world.

But I’m hyper-sensitive to caffeine.

So I’m up early, much too early.

At least I’m gonna schedule this post, and then I’ll do my blood pressure, and then I’ll practice the form for a moment. Only then will I go and do some work at home.

I could just jump straight into work, but I’m learning that I gotta slow down enough to exercise a bit.

This body is growing older one way or the other. It’s not waiting for work to slow down.