2 What Makes A Business Successful

WHAT MAKES A BUSINESS SUCCESSFUL?
EVERY INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATION THAT GOES

INTO BUSINESS DOES SO WITH HOPES THAT THE
ENDEAVOR BECOMES A SUCCESS. THE REALITY
HOWEVER, IS THAT NOT ALL BUSINESSES MAKE IT.
SOURCE: THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE (YOUR GUIDE TO A FINACIALLY SUCCESSFUL FIRM): K.D. DIXON, T.A, KEPHART, K.L. MOODY
SIX BUSINESS PRACTICES THAT PAVE THE WAY FOR SUCCESS
1. HAVE A CLEAR VISION.
THERE’S NOWHERE FOR YOUR COMPANY TO GO IF YOU ONLY HAVE
THE VAGUEST IDEA OF WHERE YOU WANT TO BE OR WHAT YOU WANT
TO ACHIEVE.
• CREATE A BETTER EVERYDAY LIFE FOR THE MANY PEOPLE? (IKEA);
• BRING INSPIRATION AND INNOVATION TO EVERY ATHLETE IN THE
WORLD? (NIKE); OR
• ACCELERATE THE WORLD’S TRANSITION TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY?
(TESLA)
2. PROVIDE STRONG LEADERSHIP.
LEADERS STEER THE COMPANY INTO THE DIRECTION IT SHOULD GO, AND THE
GOOD ONES ARE ABLE TO DELEGATE EFFECTIVELY WHILE ENCOURAGING
COLLABORATION.
GREAT LEADERS ARE BOTH AGILE AND RESILIENT, ABLE TO ADAPT TO THE
CHANGING LANDSCAPE WHILE CONTINUING TO CREATE STRATEGIES THAT
ARE FULLY IN LINE WITH THE COMPANY’S VISION. THEY MOTIVATE EMPLOYEES
INTO BECOMING THE BEST VERSIONS OF THEMSELVES, DEVELOPING A
CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE AND A CUSTOMER-FIRST MENTALITY THAT
RESONATES WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION AND ON TO THE CUSTOMERS
THEMSELVES.
3. PUT TOGETHER A GOOD TEAM.
AN EFFECTIVE LEADER CAN ONLY BE AS GOOD AS THE PEOPLE BEHIND
HIM OR HER. SUCCESS CAN BE MORE EASILY ATTAINABLE IF THE PEOPLE
AROUND YOU ARE ALSO AIMING TOWARD THAT GOAL.
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GREAT PEOPLE. TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE
THEMSELVES DILIGENT WORKERS, POSITIVE THINKERS, AND DRIVEN BY
GOOD WORK ETHICS CAN ALSO GIVE A BOOST TO YOUR OWN
PRODUCTIVITY. IF YOU HAVE RELIABLE COLLEAGUES AND EMPLOYEES IN
YOUR TEAM, YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO ALL OF THE HEAVY LIFTING.
4. KEEP OPEN COMMUNICATION LINES.
MAINTAINING OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE IS
A CRITICAL KEY TO ESTABLISHING TRUST. WHEN YOUR PEOPLE ARE
DOING A GOOD JOB, LET THEM KNOW. AND WHEN THEY’RE NOT, LET
THEM KNOW TOO. BE SPECIFIC IN YOUR PRAISE OR CRITICISM SO THAT
THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU’RE COMING FROM.
IT ALSO COUNTS FOR A LOT WHEN TEAM MEMBERS KNOW THAT THEIR
SUPERIORS ARE RECEPTIVE TO FEEDBACK THEMSELVES. BY EMPOWERING
YOUR EMPLOYEES TO SPEAK UP, YOU WILL HAVE A BETTER IDEA ON
WHAT IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE IN THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS.
5. DOCUMENT YOUR BUSINESS PROCESSES.
NO MATTER THE SIZE OF THE ORGANIZATION, MAKING BUSINESS
PROCESS DOCUMENTATION A COMPANY-WIDE PRACTICE CAN BRING
ABOUT SEVERAL BENEFITS. FOR ONE, IT ERASES ANY AMBIGUITY IN
HOW KEY OPERATIONAL PROCESSES SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT.
WHEN THE DOCUMENTATION CLEARLY OUTLINES NOT ONLY THE
IMPORTANT STEPS BUT ALSO THE SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF EVERY
EMPLOYEE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS, THERE IS LITTLE ROOM FOR
MISCOMMUNICATION.
6. DEVELOP THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE OPPORTUNITIES.
WHILE THEY SAY OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS BUT ONCE, IN BUSINESS, THERE
CAN BE SEVERAL OF THESE INSTANCES. HOWEVER, MANY PEOPLE TEND
TO IGNORE THESE CHANCES SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY CAN’T RECOGNIZE
THE POTENTIAL THAT SUCH OPPORTUNITIES BRING.
THE BETTER YOU KNOW YOUR PRODUCT AND MARKET, AND THE MORE
YOU GET INVOLVED IN YOUR BUSINESS OPERATIONS, THE BETTER YOU
WOULD BE ABLE TO EVALUATE WHETHER AN OPPORTUNITY THAT
COMES ALONG WOULD BE A BOON OR BANE TO YOUR CURRENT
SITUATION.
ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR A START-UP FIRM
IT’S AN EVEN MORE OF AN UPHILL CLIMB TO SUCCESS IF YOU ARE JUST
STARTING OUT. THE SAYING THAT THE FIRST TIME IS ALWAYS THE
HARDEST RINGS SO TRUE WHEN YOU APPLY IT IN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL
SETTING. BUT BEING AS PREPARED AS YOU CAN BE WOULD HELP TO
TAKE SOME OF THE STING OUT OF THOSE START-UP PAINS.
1. BOOTSTRAP YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS.
START WITH THE BARE EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL NECESSARY, KEEP
EXPENSES TO A MINIMUM, AND PLOW WHATEVER INCOME YOU EARN
BACK TO THE BUSINESS.
2. CASH IS NEEDED.
KNOWING HOW MUCH MONEY IS GOING OUT VERSUS HOW MUCH
IS ACTUALLY COMING IN DOESN’T REQUIRE ANY SPECIALIZED
ACCOUNTING KNOWLEDGE. BUT IT’S ONE THING THAT YOU HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUSINESS REMAINS AFLOAT.
HAVING A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF HOW YOUR BUSINESS MODEL
WORKS WOULD BE A GREAT HELP IN KEEPING YOUR CASH FLOW
POSITIVE.
3. HIRE WITH PRUDENCE; FIRE WHEN YOU NEED TO.
THIS IS CLOSELY TIED WITH THE THIRD ITEM IN THE PREVIOUS SECTION
ON SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH A GOOD TEAM. BUT WHILE
ESTABLISHED COMPANIES HAVE MORE LEEWAY IN BEING ABLE TO HIRE
GREAT PEOPLE, NEW BUSINESSES DON’T HAVE THE LUXURY OF TIME
AND RESOURCES TO DO A TRIAL AND ERROR WITH THEIR PEOPLE. THE
BEST WAY TO DO IT? TAKE YOUR TIME WHEN HIRING.
AND IF A HIRING DECISION TURNS OUT TO BE A FAIL, DON’T HESITATE
TO LET GO. THE SOONER BOTH OF YOU MOVE ON TO MORE SUITABLE
ENDEAVORS AND PEOPLE, THE BETTER.
4. TAKE KINDLY ADVICE.
ACTIVELY SEEK IT IF NEEDED. AS AN OWNER AND/OR PRINCIPAL, YOU
ULTIMATELY HAVE TO TAKE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY (OR IN COMBINATION
WITH YOUR PARTNERS) FOR YOUR BUSINESS DECISIONS. BUT IT DOESN’T
MEAN THAT YOU CAN’T LEARN FROM THOSE WHO’VE GONE THE SAME
ROUTE BEFORE. YOU’VE GOT NOTHING TO LOSE IF YOU ASK FOR
INPUTS FROM FELLOW ENTREPRENEURS, YOUR FORMER BOSS,
COLLEAGUES IN THE INDUSTRY, MARKETING PEOPLE, AND OTHERS.
5. KEEP YOUR PASSION ALIVE.
IT’S EASY TO GET LOST IN THE DAILY GRIND OF RUNNING A BUSINESS.
WHEN MOMENTS LIKE THIS GET TO YOU, DIAL UP YOUR ENTHUSIASM
BY REMINDING YOURSELF OF WHY YOU’RE DOING THIS IN THE FIRST
PLACE. PASSION ALONE DOES NOT CREATE SUCCESS BUT IT DOES HELP
YOU STAY ON TRACK EVEN WHEN THE EVERYDAY CHALLENGES
WEAKEN YOUR RESOLVE.
A QUICK GUIDE TO RUNNING AN ARCHITECTURE FIRM
A. SET GOALS.
THERE IS SO MUCH TO THINK ABOUT AS SOON AS YOU’VE FULLY MADE
UP YOUR MIND TO START AN ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE ON YOUR
OWN. IF YOU’RE DOING IT WITH PARTNERS, THEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF
MEETINGS AHEAD OF YOU. AMONG THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO
ADDRESS RIGHT AWAY IS ESTABLISHING YOUR IDENTITY AS A FIRM.
THINK OF ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS LIKE:
• HOW SMALL YOU WOULD LIKE TO START AND HOW LARGE YOU
WOULD LIKE TO GROW IN THE FUTURE?
A. SET GOALS.
THINK OF ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS LIKE:
• WHAT TYPE OF WORK AND PROJECTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE
ON?
• WHAT TYPE OF CLIENTS WOULD YOU BE MOST COMFORTABLE
WORKING WITH?
• HOW MUCH REVENUE ARE YOU SETTING YOUR SIGHTS ON?
• HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE KNOWN AS A FIRM?
B. GET STARTED.
ONE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL MATTERS TO CONSIDER WHEN
ESTABLISHING A FIRM IS HOW MUCH MONEY YOU WOULD NEED TO
GET STARTED. BUSINESS EXPENSES TEND TO RUN HIGH ESPECIALLY
WHEN YOU’RE IN THE START-UP PHASE AND WITH A POTENTIAL CLIENT
LIST THAT’S PROBABLY GOT ONLY TWO NAMES FOR NOW, YOU’D NEED
MORE TO SURVIVE THE FIRST FEW MONTHS. SO SURE, IT’S DEFINITELY
EASIER TO HAVE AMPLE FUNDS WHEN STARTING YOUR FIRM. WOULD
THE FEW THOUSANDS SAVED FROM YOUR PREVIOUS DAY JOB SUFFICE?
MAYBE A LITTLE MORE?
B. GET STARTED.
TRUTH IS, YOUR START-UP COSTS WOULD DEPEND A LOT ON WHAT
YOUR NEEDS ARE INITIALLY, WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO DO WITHOUT
FOR THE MOMENT, AND WHAT TASKS YOU CAN DO YOURSELF. FOR
INSTANCE, CAN YOU MAKE DO WITH A TINY OFFICE IN A LESS-THAN-
IDEAL LOCATION IN THE CITY, OR WOULD YOU RATHER INVEST IN A
PRIME DOWNTOWN SPACE WITH AMPLE PARKING AREA? ARE YOU AND
YOUR PARTNERS DOING ALL THE WORK FOR NOW, OR DO YOU INTEND
TO EMPLOY A STAFF OR TWO? CAN YOU DO YOUR OWN
PHOTOGRAPHY?
C. ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENT.
WHEN YOU’VE GROWN YOUR ARCHITECTURE FIRM ENOUGH TO MERIT
HIRING MORE PEOPLE, BEAR IN MIND THAT A BUSINESS CAN ONLY BECOME
AS GOOD AS ITS BEST EMPLOYEES. TRUE, YOU AND YOUR CO-FOUNDERS
COULD HAVE THE COMBINED TALENT THAT COULD BRING MORE CUSTOMERS
THROUGH YOUR DOORS, BUT EVENTUALLY YOU WOULD HAVE TO DELEGATE
SOME OF THE WORK TO THE OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR TEAM. THAT’S WHY
WHO YOU WELCOME INTO YOUR FIRM IS OF UTMOST SIGNIFICANCE. IT’S
NOT JUST ABOUT THE SKILLS THAT THEY OFFER, BUT ALSO THEIR PASSION FOR
THE WORK THEY DO, AND THEIR OVERALL FIT INTO YOUR COMPANY’S
VISION.
D. USE TECHNOLOGY.
IT’S EASY TO FORGET THAT ALL DRAWINGS WERE ONCE
PAINSTAKINGLY DONE BY HAND USING THE ARCHITECT’S BASIC
DEVICES: TRACING PAPER, PENCIL, ERASER, T-SQUARE, AND SO ON.
TODAY HOWEVER, TECHNOLOGY HAS PERMEATED ALMOST EVERY
ASPECT OF OUR LIVES, AND SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS HAVE
DRASTICALLY RESHAPED THE NATURE OF WORK ENVIRONMENTS,
REGARDLESS OF WHAT INDUSTRY YOU BELONG TO.
SUMMARY
AT THE END OF THE DAY HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO
HARD AND FAST RULES WHEN IT COMES TO RUNNING
YOUR BUSINESS OR ARCHITECTURE FIRM. AS THE
PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT, BUSINESS OWNER, OR
ORGANIZATIONAL LEADER, YOU ARE IN THE
POSITION TO DETERMINE WHAT COURSE OF ACTION
WOULD BEST LEAD TO YOUR SUCCESS.

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2 What Makes A Business Successful

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WHAT MAKES A BUSINESS SUCCESSFUL?

EVERY INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATION THAT GOES

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