"This is a book to buy, study and and then use as a reference throughout your career. Mr. German has openly shared his formula for getting ahead in any architecture firm, large or small. Immerse yourself in fascinating tales of inner office machinations. Read about the successes and failures of a professional driven to make himself and his firm an undeniable center of creativity, competitiveness and profitability. The use of clear and simple language is a pleasant surprise coming from a pragmatic and successful practitioner of almost 40 years. Recommended for all levels, interns to proprietors--designers, managers, and those in the trenches."
Written for architects who want to succeed in this difficult profession, it is organized to parallel the progression of a mainstream career, from the first job interview just out of college all the way to senior management and/or ownership. Most of the advice is based on my 40+ years of experience in the field, culminating as managing principal of McCleary-German Architects, based in Houston.
Virtually everything that helped my career came from either a notable success, or as you might expect, from failures along the way (and there were a few!). Some of my opinions are outside the mainstream, so I invite you to take away only what is most helpful for you. The key to prosperity is recognition of your own strong points and building upon them.
I have tried to include the necessary information to direct your plan and realize your goals--to help you select the critical areas in which to invest your time and resources. Much of my advice applies to most all career professionals. Consider this an operations manual. It is definitely NOT a "how to win design awards" book.
Even the most successful architect can't or won't be the best at everything recommended. Some of the most successful architects are brilliant leaders and have partners and a supporting cast of design and document specialists. This is for certain: if you want to move up in your firm--and help your firm succeed--make some time to be at least conversant with every single topic in this book.
Architecture as a profession certainly gave me most everything a person could want. In a way, this book traces the story of my career. It is my hope you will benefit from my insights during your own journey.
Mr. German practiced architecture for 35 years in Texas. Recently retired, he shares insights that brought him success in the profession. Marketing, sales and customer relations are covered in detail, along with advice for interacting with clients and co-workers, both as manager and employee. With experience in large and small firms, and with a myriad variety of clientele, Mr. German includes not only stories of success, but also lessons learned from missteps along the way. He is both award-winning and respected for his no-nonsense approach to running a company.
About the Author: A.I.A. Registered Architect in Texas for 32 years. NCARB License and registration in ten additional states. A.S.I.D. (American Society of Interior Designers) member. Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture in Urban Design, Rice University. Texas Society of Architects Design Award, 1984. My background is primarily as a partner with McCleary-German Architects, a 15+ person office in Houston, the fourth largest city in the U.S. and with the second largest economy in Texas. Our building specialty was (and continues to be) the financial industry--banks, savings associations, and credit unions. Early in my career I worked for two boutique firms specializing in the planning of large developments, including "New Towns." For a year, I worked in the Houston offices of Caudill Rowlett and Scott (CRS), a multi-office international firm with two hundred employees and lots of fun politics. In summary, you could say my skills were learned in the office: on-the-job training. That might explain my particular slant on the profession, which may seem counterintuitive. Certainly, many things I recommend are not emphasized quite that way in architecture schools. Please take my advice with a grain of salt. You will definitely need the book learning and the professional degree that took so many years of your life. I hope you will find the lessons in this book to be equally valuable!