05/05/2024
In life, you can ride under or on the bus…there are choices to make. Speaking for myself, ever notice I’m behaving in a manner that isn’t acceptable…toss me to the wheels till I learn to make corrections.
What’s on my mind? On-top the pile: qualifications, obligations and where does or is there a possibility to hybridize a personal / professional relationship?
Qualifications. There are a lot of us in the industry who over the years hear similar things like, “I’m having a professional cabinet builder design my aquarium stand, fish room, etc., which is great. However, most have the building chops but only 1% have the Intel necessary to affectively translate from human to animal or from a humid to dry environment for example. In this case, you could be Frank Lloyd Wright, iconic American builder and I’d say, “Frank, love your works, sir…but based on experience, I need to take the lead at least on advisory so together we can knock another iconic build out of the park. If he doesn’t know how it needs to be built he can’t properly utilize his skill set. The affect of ,Frank, building something without knowing or understanding the animal or care the environment needs…well, if we’re burning money and time, why not? You end up burning a lot if Frank builds the enclosure without information he doesn’t possess.
In a nutshell, if you design effective enclosures for the purpose of storing dishes, doesn’t mean you have the intel necessary to build one that holds water on-top and potentially underneath. Or, while you might be sharp at building a small office for people…building one that will function like an indoor pool…not on par w/ the usual, great builder’s skill-sets.
Sadly, too many get overly comfortable over time with what they feel like their qualifications are w/o developing all the areas necessary to have the comfort. Let me tell ya, I can build an exceptional room…for people or life outside of us…but will it be to codes? See, I don’t have that intel so as a professional…im at least going to approach one so I can augment my skill-set so that my lack of awareness isn’t an impediment to my friend or my professional.
I love passionate people. I do. However, I don’t appreciate those with passions that launch from the couch into someone’s professional work place with them. Even worse, when a team is available to include myself…yet, for whatever reason parties couldn’t get past themselves to approach. Choices, to not approach was one, doesn’t matter the reason, what matters is that the choice went against what was best for the professional / friend the work was
being done for…short and long-term. Paid or not.
Personal / Professional. We all like free so when someone approaches with pro-bono it has a shiny feel to it. However, sit down and be sure to develop terms and standards for pro-bono and expectations of said individuals rendering said service … because if you dont…you might discover that applying no standards leaves you, the friend and project on a very long leash in regard to what to expect. Example, if you’re in the second year of when a 3 - 7 day project started…define friend and while we’re at it define: professional. Usually the two tend to intermingle. Your personal traits are often the foundation of your professional ones. Truth.
Personal / Professional. I get that my standards are my own…I don’t expect people to adhere to a majority of things I’d hold myself accountable for but I do expect respect from people. I tell you that I’ll do it, it’s getting done expediently …whether I’m billing for it or not…friend or an employer. Again, have a two party agreement, set standards for a mode of function for each. However, always takes me back to…just because “they” could behave this way towards doesn’t mean that “they” should have.
To close, if you’re a professional needing professional services I’d suggest really listening to statements like this, “it’s not my profession, it’s my passion,”…it’s self admission for…”I’m not really qualified but if I’m doing it on your time or dime or both…why not,”? Truth.
Knowing is half the battle.
