It’s that time of year…the leaves are changing, a chill is
in the air. Holiday decorations are going up, and turkeys fear for their lives.
Stress sets in as you realize that Christmas is only 38 days away…and you have
no clue what to get the kids, the dog or your crazy aunt. Fears creeps up as you
remember you’ve got to get that donation to the thrift store or make that tax
payment…and the in-laws tell you they’re coming to stay from Thanksgiving to New
Year…and it’s your turn in the rotation to host the office Christmas Party.
And then, for the geeks in the crowd…Autodesk University is
only two weeks away. If you’re a speaker, it’s a special time of year.
A time to reflect on the thoughts and ideals you wanted to
share…until you realize you left that key sentence out of your handout, “the
opinions expressed in this document are only those of the writer”.
A day to plan out how you want to go through the right
series of steps to get a point across…and the Autodesk Application Manager
installs Revit 2016 Release 2, which changes the dialogs you captured 6 months
ago.
A minute to polish your presentation…and you see a hole in
the corner of your sport coat’s armpit…and you’re an arm waver.
A second to consider using the latest model you worked on…and
realize you never got permission to use the file from the client.
But putting all the fears aside, you plug through your PowerPoint,
make sure your teeth are brushed, that you have plenty of business cards, and
get your tablet or iPhone updated with the AU application that will keep you
from getting lost for the next several days.
For me, this year’s reflection goes back to the classes I
have. The two that Autodesk selected. The ones that were almost an afterthought,
fillers for what to use if they didn’t want the ones I really wanted to teach
this year. And it got interesting…why did these get picked? What it something
that they believe the industry wanted to hear and needed to know? Or was it
just eeny-meeny-miney-mo?
There are two, but the first one is the one I wanted to
cover the most. We talk about worksharing in a Revit project, and networking,
and collaboration solutions the design firm should consider, that offer the
best return on investment. And it wound up being the hardest presentation I’ve
had to write to date…how do you make this topic interesting? Challenging?
Inspirational? And Valuable?
As I was writing it, I realized how intense the topic could
become, and how easy it is to get lost “in the weeds” drilling down to too much
detail. I had to back myself up, and realize, from my layman’s perspective,
that sometimes it’s not about presenting yourself and how “smart” you are.
But rather, it’s about being able to relate to the same
problem someone else may be having, and how insight we provide could help them
avoid the same problems later. AU isn’t about the classes…it’s about the
networking, the personal connection and the shared mindset we all have. It’s
about coming to a common place, that we all have the same goals. To get better
at what we do, making the most of our time so have more time later to do…something
else. Sort of a “love what you do, to get to do what you love” mindset.
I realized that going back to the beginning helped me understand
better what it took to get where we are, and just how much life has changed
since the garage so many years ago.
And I as was reflecting back on the class, I thought about
what I had seen this year. I got to meet the original creators of Revit, and
tell them how big of an impact they not only had on my life, but on thousands
of others. I got to spend time with some awesome co-workers, who seized the
moment, jumped on the bandwagon, and continue to push me – and the firm – to the
next level. And we’ve been having a great time doing it, too. But it was cool
telling Leonid and Irwin just what we were doing with the software, and seeing their
keen interest in how it was being used, so far beyond what the original expectations
were.
I turned the speed limit this year, and was able to look
back on how much has changed since 1985, when I first got the chance to sit
down at a computer and draw, and see the output on an old HP pen plotter. I
look at the fascination I had then, and marvel at how far we’ve come, in just a
generation. Not just buildings, but systems. Not just offices, but water
treatment plants. Not just piping, but distribution stations that aren’t in a
building at all. And when I come back to the handout for the class, I realize –
it’s important to share where we came from, but just as important to have clear
vision for where you want to go…and learn what’s out there for you.
I think ahead about who I would groom to take my place, to
carry the banner and lead the charge for the future of design. Would they have
the same passion? Would they be willing to commit themselves to being an advocate
for getting away from “we’ve always done it that way”? Would they be able to
blend common sense in, with the same desire for making their spot in the office
and the community a better place?
Let me make a suggestion – spend some time this year looking
for the students at AU this year. Go to the exhibit hall, and look for the
youngest person in the room. Strike up a conversation – and ask them what they
think. And realize…
That’s who we’re working for. That’s who we are teaching the
skills we’ve been lucky to learn. That’s who will carry that torch. Share your
passion, your knowledge and make sure they know – hey, this can be fun, too.
Have a good time in your class – get down off the stage, get out in the
audience, and make contact. And walk away with a lifetime of friends…that you’ll
never forget.
At least until that average temperature of summer catches up
with you…you old folks know what I mean…so get ready. In two weeks, it’ll be
time to show the next generation…this is how we roll…and ramble…;-)
See you in Vegas!
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