We’ve known for a long time that periods of stress in the American economy accelerate change in a way that’s sometimes generational. Think about the Great Depression and the resulting economic protectionism. Or the women World War II brought into the workforce. Those were really good things that came out of exceptionally tough times. It’s …
Last weekend, I watched an interesting piece by Ted Koppel about how communication style and mastery of current mediums has affected the presidency. Franklin Roosevelt and his famous Fireside Chats made radio an effective political communication tool with a warm embracing tone that helped families though some tough years. Dwight Eisenhower brought campaigning to television, and JFK …
When I was a child growing up in Atlanta, the Lenox Square Shopping Center opened. At the time, it was one of the most remarkable retail centers in the southeast. There were two department stores–Rich’s, which was still owned by Mr. and Mrs. Rich, and Davidson’s, which is now Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s. There was also …
Students in the design world learn about an interesting effect described as “1 + 1 = 3.” This means that when two objects are placed close together, the space in between them creates a visible interaction, almost like a third object. You are perceiving information that wouldn’t be there without the proximity. I’ve always thought about …
Herbert Stein was an economist who served as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. He was also a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a contributor to the WSJ. Herb was father to comedian Ben Stein, so he must have had an interesting perspective. He …
Winston Churchill was first credited with saying, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” It’s my hope that we’ll all find a silver lining in the extra time as we are all hitting the pause button. In the meantime, I am working in my yard in the evenings and parallel planning for the future. …
It’s easy to focus on the person at the head of the table. That person is undoubtedly important, but I would argue that he or she wouldn’t be there without the team of people sitting nearby. I’ll add that for us, it’s a long table. Those in leadership make big commitments, but someone must back …
Strange indeed. We are all facing this same trifecta, a worldwide pandemic with severe health implications, crippling markets and now oil wars to top it off. I got to thinking about my own parents and others who spent a decade scratching out a living after the Depression, then they had to fight a world war …
When we made the decision to trade our offices in a corporate environment for a 16-acre campus, a garden was part of our plan. We saw a garden as part and parcel to the building, a place of beauty where we would all learn to eat a bit better. Beyond the fruits and vegetables that …
In the construction business, it can be common to ask for a Fee & General Condition proposal prior to the plans being finished so that a customer/owner can bring a contractor on board. This is very analytical, and the question I ask myself is, “Where’s the matrix for the heart?” In any business transaction, there …
We are currently involved with the rebuild of a major United Way campus. This involves bringing an existing multistory office building constructed in the 1950s to current standards, including a new skin. Most of our projects that have a new curtain wall as a component are structural steel frames, but this project is reinforced concrete. …
Last Saturday, I got to attend a symposium entitled, “Faith Meets Business: Climate Solutions for the Common Good.” One of the panelists included our friend Dr. Jim McClintock, an endowed Professor of Polar and Marine Biology at UAB. Jim is recognized internationally as one of the leaders in this field. Coincidentally, I read this past …