Tips for being an Architect and a Regular Person

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,