I spend a lot of time in the shower, it’s where I do some of my best thinking. I’m not really sure why, my shower isn’t all that relaxing (Master Shower: You Displease Me), and finding time to be alone with my thoughts isn’t hard either; I don’t have any problems getting inside my own head (I think I spend a little too much time in there). All I know is that 90% of the posts and presentations I have prepared over the last 4 years have come together while standing in the shower, staring at the cinnamon toast crunch colored tile patterns opposite the shower head.
Lately, most of my thoughts have been focused on the idea of integrity. When I was thinking through a presentation I recently gave on Leadership, the idea of integrity came up a lot and I kept circling back around to the question “What does integrity mean to me and does my being an architect influence my own understanding of the word?”
Generically speaking, ‘Integrity‘ is about honesty, character, virtue, morality, etc. and then building your own moral code surrounding your understanding of those principles. I think we all know the difference between right and wrong, good and bad, but when “hard” and “easy” get introduced into the mix, things start getting tricky for most people – present company included.
Frequently, my blog is at the center of my presentations I give – mostly because that’s how everybody seems to know me – and there is a wealth of information on this site that has taken me 4 1/2 years to think through and assemble. During my last presentation on Leadership, I spoke about how important it is to be yourself. In the early days of writing this blog, I realized I couldn’t pretend to be something I’m not despite my fear of looking like an idiot to my family, colleagues, and extended peer group. I didn’t come to this decision for any altruistic reasons, I just know that I’m not clever enough to maintain that sort of charade and that pretending to be something you’re not will eventually be discovered … and what happens that moment finally happens? [shudder] No, better to present yourself as you are and hope that things work out for the best. It starts with being honest with yourself and then extending that out to others – sort of “say what you mean and mean what you say and then do what you say” manner of moving through life.
I have wondered if personal integrity has to do with a person’s predisposition – you either have it or you do not. Maybe it’s just a matter of your character, although I sort of doubt it. Is integrity something you can teach? I’m more likely to lean towards the idea that your personal integrity starts through the exposure and observance of your role models – your parents, your social groups, your faith, etc. These days, I am of a mind to think that self-awareness and accountability will most likely highlight any areas where you are lacking, whether or not you feel compelled to make a change. All people have integrity, it’s just a matter of how important it is to them that they maintain it.
I have long thought that architects are within a profession that is highly associated with personal integrity. More times than not, most architects will make a decision to their own personal detriment, and will step away from a process that will yield an undesirable result, or at least one that is in conflict with their own beliefs. Most architects aren’t motivated by financial rewards to the same level as other highly educated individuals, and most architects endeavor to leave the world and their environment in a better place then how they found it.
So are we predisposed to tilt our predilections this way and as a result, find ourselves in the profession of architecture? I knew I wanted to be an architect from the age of 5 … so did the way my brain is wired somehow determine how my life and career would unfold? Probably.
So, the question I ask myself a lot is: Am I making things better? So far I haven’t been able to answer that question in such a way that I’ve stopped asking it of myself.
My behavior now is extremely public and while I will always be myself, I’d be lying if I told you that I share the bad stuff that’s going on as much as the good stuff – I try to keep things upbeat around here, or at the least, somewhat productive. I am very proud of the Life of an Architect Playhouse Design Competition and what we’ve been able to do … but could I be doing more? Of course I could. I try to answer as many questions and respond to as many emails as possible but could I do more? No question … but I still like watching TV and reading books, going out to eat with my family, playing in the pool with my daughter, all sorts of things that take me away from doing things that others could benefit from … but there has to be some sort of balance, right? I don’t think that anyone would begrudge me spending times on these activities, and I don’t think that these sacrifices for self interest are eroding my self respect.
.
Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be One
– Marcus Aurelius [from the book ‘Meditations’]
.
So I’m still where I started off, asking the question “Am I making things better?”
Maybe that is the most important question we all could be asking of ourselves.
Cheers,
Leave a Reply
I’m working with an architect building my first home. I have what I think is a code of conduct, or ethics related question.
My architect completed the schematic drawing and we are in the design phase of the project. He placed the house on my lot in a way that violates the code for the front set back, too much grading is needed in the front setback and it’s not allowed by the governing body. I was wondering if there is a code of conduct that stipulates an architect must correct any code infractions with no cost to the client. We worked many hrs on design and placement of the house and now we can’t move forward with the current design and placement without extensive cost and design changes. Wondering if he should pay for these costs.
Thanks
Basically every one’s motto should be “don’t make things worse”. Your integrity shines through though Bob…and you’re a generous teacher.
Why is it that designers think so clearly in the shower??? I admit, I once used my girlfriends waterproof eye liner pencil to sketch an idea on the tile.
did you have to get out of the shower to get the eyeliner pencil? That is commitment to staying in the shower … I think once I stepped out to get the pencil, I would have simply stayed out of the shower
No it was my college apartment, everything within arms reach! I don’t remember which project it was, but I was reminded of it for several weeks because I also drew over the grout. When I washed the tiles off I was left with a confusing connect-the-dots.
Excellent topic, and ties into the Leadership post previously. This, because leadership absolutely requires integrity.
you would hope, right? I can’t help but think that it is your integrity that allows you to be consistent in your behavior, something that allows people to understand that you will routinely act in an appropriate manner regardless of what you are doing.
I agree with old Marcus A [PS – thanks for providing another entry for my own collection of quotes]. We need to stop thinking [it’s really not productive] and start doing. In the end, the best thing we can do in Life – is the best we can do.
I sort of agree with you on the last statement. I frequently tell people that doing your best isn’t always what is required – there is always better.
I like “better” more than best because the latter infers that there is no room for improvement. I’m way better now that when I was doing my best 10 years ago and I expect that pattern to continue.
But I bet, 10 years ago, that you were still doing the best you COULD at that time. Our best is always going to be changing. At least it is if we’re always trying to grow and improve.
Bob,you are a breath of fresh air.
Nice to encounter and be inspired by grounded transparent honest people,puts life in perspective .
Thanks
Thanks Rossco – I appreciate that.
Rock on, Bob. We like your personality and vulnerability.
Thank you for this one today Bob. The world would be better if we would all consider the greater good in our daily decisions, and make them easier. Architects, landscape architects, maybe even engineers are trained to see the big picture, most other people don’t (lawyers, oil and gas folks, etc). Lately since I’ve been reading about standard nature of human decisions, like ‘I like blue!’, we as a race really don’t do that great of a job. So, decision making with Integrity, sacrificing self-interest, and the other eloquent ways you discussed, is an idea we can share with our non-design oriented friends for daily life.
Just a short comment on shower thoughts (also similar to car thoughts);
my contention is these thoughts come so easily when in these situations
precisely because at that time there is absolutely no action you can
take about them.
Bob, two thoughts for you to consider.
First, now that you have achieved your childhood goal of becoming an architect, what else? Is that it?
Second, Sharing the starting point from medicine – Do no Harm. is not a bad thing to apply to your work as the bottom bar…top bar resides where you put it….Fosberg flop.
Fosbury flop, named for Dick Fosbury who innovated that method of clearing the bar. But you are right, raise the bar.
Bob,
Great thoughtful post. I am just starting my career and have been going back and forth between wanting to put in all the effort in the world to really try to make something of my career, and wanting to take it easy and just enjoy the relaxing parts of life. I think that this post gives some great perspective. If I put all of that time and effort into my career and trying to be the best designer I can be, I will have that much more potential to help, whether it’s a charity event or just making life easier and more interesting for a client (I appreciate you pointing out the time you take for relaxing and family, I think balance is always important). Thanks for the post.
I don’t really do all that good a job at separating out work from pleasure and my family always seems to get the short end of the stick. I will confess that working hard in my professional pursuits has had a positive impact on my personal life, its just some times it’s hard to remember that when you are working over the weekend or in the evenings when your family is at home.
All worthwhile pursuits require sacrifice – at least that’s what I tell myself.
One way to see if you’re making things better is to look at the other side of the coin and ask yourself “Am I making things worse?” If you’re not making things worse, then at least you know that you are on the right track, facing the right direction and not being a hinderance to anyone/anything. One thing I noticed while being back in school is that integrity is not something learned as much as it is something that is observed. Most of these little kiddies I’m surrounded with haven’t a clue as to what integrity means to their future (and I can remember lacking the same quality at their age). Integrity comes from experience, and proper experience. You acquire that from a sense of morals you’ve obtained from that experience. The knowledge of right and wrong, good and bad, steers us toward our sense of integrity – and is quite visible to others.
Hi David, I can accept everything that you’ve said here except possibly the other side of the coin comparison. It’s not that I think you’re off on this, it’s just something that doesn’t sit quite right.
When I used to work in a firm that specialized in planning and zoning cases, there was a prevailing attitude that as long as you aren’t making things worse than they already are, you are working from a defensible position. This was probably 13 or 14 years ago and even then, I didn’t like it. Part of it is that I don’t decide what is appropriate behavior for me by watching the actions of others, by that same extension, I don’t want my bar set by the lowest common denominator.
Hopefully that makes sense. Thanks for giving me something to think about this morning. Cheers
I think we are on the same page
interesting you write about integrity. On Saturday afternoon, while fishing on the Gunnison River with my father, brother, sons, etc. my father caught two real nice German Brown trout. Nice means 16″ or so. he left then on the stringer and came back to the picnic table to BBQ burgers as is our custom after our week backpacking in the wilderness. After dinner he back to do a bit more fishing and bring back the fish he caught to take home. Someone stole his fish and left the stringer sitting on the bank of the river. Stupid jerk, and other non-printable words were muttered. We can just image this person bragging to his friends and family about these nice fish. the point is that it does not seem to bother people that lack integrity. But those that have it get real bothered by those that don’t. You cannot get too caught up in the fact that the fish were gone, just the knowledge that there are jerks like that out there is a bit troubling.
Good post Bob.
Possibly a “catch and release fly fisherman who let them go back to their river to catch another day. When we were younger, we caught and ate…now we catch and release…time and another viewpoint.
the area of the Gunnison River where we fish is decidedly catch and eat. The best trout ever and the fishermen know that. Even if it was a mamby pamby do gooder, it is just as much a lack of integrity to mess with other people’s stuff, and shows lack of respect.
It wouldn’t even occur to me that the fish temporarily left behind would have been at risk.
I think there is an internal integrity test that you will know if at your core you have something to work with – I call it “the trash can test”. If you’ve ever “shot” your trash to the can and missed and then DIDN’T walk over and pick the trash up and put it in the can, I think you should have some concerns.
that is a great analogy, and right on.
Yes you are! This blog raises all sorts of questions for me on a regular basis and challenges me to be a better, partner, father and architect! And balance is very important!
That is encouraging to hear – and the best sort of feedback I could have hoped to receive. Now I just need to work on the balance …
I would agree wholeheartedly with Robert. My firm is still in it’s infancy and there are often things I’m mulling over that have been discussed here and shed great light on how to work and live. For the architectural community and for me specifically there is no doubt that you are making the world a better place. I thank you.