Thursday, November 26, 2009

Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Live!


Here is the link to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade LIVE right now!

http://www.inquisitr.com/49503/watch-the-macy%E2%80%99s-thanksgiving-day-parade-live-online/

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Saturday, November 21, 2009

Design Like an Architect with Us - Please Take a Quick Survey



Cut, paste, and go to this link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=AW2dFCmNGomZCIaSqRVZ_2bQ_3d_3d

Did you know that even our US president, Obama, wanted to be an architect before he went into politics?

Everyone has a dream.

Yeah, I have heard a lot of people tell me throughout the years that they once thought about being an architect before they decided to take their current career path. I bet this includes some of you.

Obviously, to become an architect later in life would be a little overwhelming but wouldn't it be awesome if someone created a long weekend where all you had to do is show up at an architecture studio where there is a staff of draftsman ready to draw up the dream house that YOU designed?

You can be like an architect in your own design studio surrounded by inspiring people and buildings that you thought would only be available to you in magazines.

Cut, paste and go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=AW2dFCmNGomZCIaSqRVZ_2bQ_3d_3d

Be a Starchitect for a long weekend by coming to our Fantasy Architecture Summit retreat.

In order for us to design the perfect get-away for you, we first need to your opinion.

Please take a minute to watch the video above and to fill out a quick survey found at this web link. You can also just click on the link on the right column of this blog under the title, "We need your opinion."

For taking the time to help us know how to create an experience of a lifetime for you, we will send to you a FREE copy of our new book, "The Designed Office" to the first 5 people who email to info@LaneArchitecture.net a copy of the filled out survey. Let us know where to mail the copy of the book and we will get one shipped to you.

Thank you, again, for helping us create and design the time of your life.

Cut, paste and go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=AW2dFCmNGomZCIaSqRVZ_2bQ_3d_3d

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Something For Nothing: Ambition


Here is a good article from Brian Tracy that describes the type of office workers exists. Which type are you?

Theory X versus Theory Y

In the 1960’s, Harvard Psychologist Alex Mackenzie suggested two visions of people in the workplace, each leading to different forms of motivation in organizations. McGregor called these two views of mankind, “Theory X” and “Theory Y.

“Theory X was defined as the idea that employees were basically lazy, and had to be continually motivated to do their jobs by using the “carrot and stick” method of rewards and punishment. McGregor postulated Theory Y, which said that people are basically positive, desire to do a good job and will strive toward excellence in their work if the proper incentives exist.

McGregor divided working conditions into two categories, hygiene needs and motivators. A hygiene need was defined as including things such as a secure work environment, a decent paycheck, pleasant surroundings, and proper work tools. His conclusion was that the presence of these factors did not motivate people to work harder, but if they did not exist, workers would be demotivated, and would not do their best work. McGregor defined a “motivator” as something more. It was a factor such as special attention from the boss, praise and encouragement, opportunities for promotion and advancement, greater responsibility, and recognition by bosses and coworkers. He concluded that by practicing “Theory Y” management, managers could bring the very best out of their people, and achieve the very best and highest quality results.


Theory Z Management

Based on my experience with hundreds of companies, I suggest a third factor, which I call Theory Z. Theory Z says that people are neither good nor bad. They are neither positive nor negative. They are neither motivated nor unmotivated. They are merely expedient. In everything they do, mentally, emotionally and physically, they are subject to the overwhelming force of the E-Factor. According to this assessment, people are lazy, greedy, ambitious, selfish, vain, ignorant and impatient, and they will manifest these qualities in a positive or negative way depending upon the structure of financial and non-financial incentives in the organization.

Money as a Motivator of Behavior

It has been said that, “Money may not the most important thing, but it’s way up there with oxygen.” The fastest and easiest way to get the things you want as quickly as possible is almost always to have enough money to be able to buy them, whatever they cost. For this reason, the desire to acquire money, quickly and easily, and as much as possible, is a major motivator of human behavior. But it is not usually money that people really want. Sometimes I will ask my clients why they want to acquire a lot of money. After thinking about their answer for a couple of minutes, they finally conclude that what they want more than anything else is “freedom.” In reality, they see money as a means to achieving the freedom they really desire. They define freedom as having enough money so they can get everything they want. Having enough money will enable them to be completely free from worry about safety, security, comfort, leisure, love, respect and fulfillment. They see having lots of money as the fastest way to the good life.

Ten Million Dollars

In our Advanced Coaching and Mentoring Program, we do an exercise in Values Clarification. When everyone is seated, we hand out individual checks made out to each person in the amount of $10 million dollars. Of course, the checks are not cashable, but the idea of receiving $10 million dollars cash gives people an opportunity to fantasize about what they really want in their lives.

We then have the participants break into groups, discuss what they would do if they suddenly received $10 million dollars, and then report back to the group. We go around the room and write down their answers on a white board or flip chart.

Here is the most amazing discovery: almost everything that our clients would want to do, have or acquire does not cost any money! When people think of suddenly being financially independent, they immediately think about quality of life issues.

As we go around the room, the answers that come back are: “I would work shorter days and spend more evenings and weekends with my family; I would take a long vacation with my wife; I would join a health club and exercise every day to lose weight and get fit; I would write the book I’ve always wanted to write; I would get more involved with my church or political party; I would take up painting; I would write poetry; I would reorganize my business and my life; etc.”

This is an exercise that you can do, as well. Imagine that you received$10 million dollars cash, today. What would you do differently in your life if you had all the money that you could ever need? You may be surprised at the answers that you come up with.

Please watch the video on “ambition”

[See post to watch Flash video]
To receive the rest of this video series: Click Here....

Something For Nothing: Ambition

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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

How to Create an Office that will Increase Your Profits


You don’t have to go to your nearest office depot, office max, or staples office supplies in order to pick up a valuable office resource that can transform your office into a marketing tool. Just pick up a copy of the book, “The Designed Office” to find at least 35 profit pointers that can immediately start putting money back into your pockets.

Here are some things that you will learn from the book:

• How to find the best location for your office.
• How to have an eco-friendly office.
• How to control the construction costs and get it built the way you want it built within your budget.
• How to get office furniture for free or at a steep discount.

This book can help you even if you work out of a home office.

If you only saved an average of $150 per month by implementing each of the 35 Profit Points from the back of the book, you would save $63,000 in one year. Can you imagine if you saved an average of $2500 per item per month? You would be putting over a Million Dollars back into your business. The cost of the book is at a near give away price of only $19.95 at http://www.MyDesignedOffice.com.

Be sure to pick up your FREE dozen BONUS gifts at that web site too!

This book is also found at BarnesandNoble.com and Amazon.com at possibly reduced prices.

You might even find it FREE at a local library.

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Friday, November 13, 2009

Was Frank Lloyd Wright an Alien?



As I was dropping my older son off at school, I asked him if he has any big plans today. He said that he was looking forward to hearing a friend of his share his talk during their Communications Arts class about Area 51.

If you are as clueless as I was about what Area 51 is, here is the quick rundown.
Area 51 is an area in Rachel, Nevada that is a restricted site where it is believed the government holds a top secret collection of UFO’s and aliens from outer space.

Since I cannot sit in on my son’s friend’s presentation about Area 51, I did a little research of my own on the web. It turns out that there is a lot of information about this place. There are blogs, photos, even TV shows including one with Larry King. Some of the information may be true, some not. But almost all of the information that I found was sensational. The findings of UFO’s inspired the TV series, “the X-Files.”

Here is one of the cover up stories that has been circulating around about Area 51; the US government has modeled their planes after found UFO’s. Some of these super-secret planes include the U-2, SR-71 Blackbird, and the F-117 Stealth Fighter. The “Aurora” has been rumored to be in production that will be a high altitude/high speed plane.




Another conspiracy theory has been that the Aliens have secretly taken over our world and cross-breed with humans.



Can you imagine the impact that would have on the design of our cities if that is true? Frank Lloyd Wright's later designs had a futuristic flare to them. Like the Guggenheim Museum and the Broadacre City. Hmmm. Maybe….Nahhh, that’s just too over the top.



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Sunday, November 8, 2009

Experiences in Scouting and Architecture


(Image above is the "Tooth of Time" at Philmont Scout Ranch)

I am a big supporter of the Boy Scouts organization. Having gone through all of the ranks of Cub scouts and Boys scouts – Bobcat to Eagle then beyond into Explorers as a kid, a lot of good memories were made and skills learned that help me in my day to day living even now.

Be Prepared, the Twelve Scout Laws and many more oaths and sayings are permanently engrained into my mind. Currently, I am a Cubmaster for my 10 year old son’s Cub Scout pack and an Assistant Scout Master for my 13 year old son’s Boy Scout troop. It keeps me hopping and allows me to enjoy scouting as a big kid.

When I was about 16, I went to the world famous Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM. My tent partner was a guy named Danny that went to a different high school as I, so we really did not know much about each other before the trek.

Long story short, Danny and I remained friends throughout the years (well over 30 years now).

Danny’s and my lives have cris-crossed throughout the years. Danny and I got our Eagle Scout award about the same time.

He went to the Air Force Academy while I went to Texas Tech. He was first stationed in Lubbock’s Reese Air Force Base while I was finishing up my last year at Tech.
Later, Danny and I became housemates in a small town named Wichita Falls, TX while he was at the base there and I was with an architectural/engineering firm.

Now, Danny is a captain of the largest commercial airliner in the Delta Fleet. He flies the 777 to various international destinations from JFK Airport. Again, crossing paths with me being in NYC.

Yesterday, I he called me to see if I was free to have dinner with him since he had the rare opportunity to play during a long lay-over in NYC. It was great to see him again and catch up with what he and his family has been up to between the years that we have not seen each other.



Danny has been really involved with scouting too. It was a thrill to hear about all of the high adventure scouting trips that he has done. His recent trip was a week trek in Europe. There, he had to technical climb sheer icy cliffs with pitons and ice shoes. What a trip.

Perhaps, you will see some designs that I am developing for his 10 acre estate in the hill country of TX sometime on this blog.

I guess what I enjoy most about my friendship with Danny is that we have created similar experiences throughout our lives. Some together, but mostly in different circles that seem to keep overlaping.

These experiences of life really form our perception of where we are and where we have been. My "Experience Architecture" is no different from this. When we design a space with the "Experience Architecture" philosophy, we are tapping into memories and trigger points that our clients have experienced that they want others to enjoy. Our designs help them have those desired experiences.

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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Seven Proven Strategies to Fill Vacant Office Spaces in Dying Downtowns



Have you started to notice more vacancies in your local office buildings and strip shopping centers?

If you watched one of my latest YouTube videos, you will see me in front of a vacant office/warehouse building that is 720,000 SF. It used to be a major distribution plant for K B Toys before they went out of business in NJ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEH3u7XgS7s

How can we fill our vacant offices in our dying downtowns?

That was the subject that I spoke about last Monday at this year’s Main Street Forum. Although my new book, The Designed Office, will give you invaluable tips on how to find the best office space for your business needs, give you critical design principals to have your architect/engineers/interior designers to follow, how to build-out your new office space on time and within your budget, and many other maintenance and “green” ideas, you won’t hear much from my book when reviewing the DVD of my Main Street Forum talk, “Making Your Work Place Work for You.”

Instead, I spoke about the changes of our economy, challenge the notion that “green” design is of any benefit to the tenant or to the landlord, and I give some strategies that towns can begin to implement now to boost the sales and leases of their commercial real estate within their central business districts.

Here are seven strategies that towns can implement to help reduce vacancies in their downtowns:

1. Create a safe environment. If people have any reason to fear of their safety, any other strategy will not help fill vacancies.

2. Don’t have a blocked up Main Street that forces drivers to park their cars behind the commercial district while creating a pedestrian mall where Main Street once existed. This might have worked successfully in a couple of places in American, but for the most part, the result of this urban experiment was a disaster. People just found other places to shop.

3. Follow the LEED requirements for Existing Buildings if possible. My talk will illustrate how building owners have filled their office buildings faster than their competition while increasing the value of their building’s bottom line.

4. Have a nice variety of stores and offices that compliments, does not compete, and surrounds an anchor store or industry.

5. Resist having Real Estate offices in prime locations of the CBD. Real Estate offices can often afford to lease or own prime downtown real estate. But when they do, they attract on time shoppers who are not interested in mingling around the downtown shops over and over again. They are there to only buy a home that is not even located in the central business district.

6. Have a good partnership between the local government officials and the private sector (merchants, residents, civic groups, corporations). For example, if you have townspeople who have lived there all of their lives and don’t want change while also having young and up-in-coming professionals who want to transform the town, you will be constantly in conflict while the vacancies continue to climb.

7. Good Ambiance. The Main Street must have a soul. This can be done with landscaping, events, sidewalk cafes, street lights, historical references, plenty of parking, and the use of our Experience Architecture design philosophy.

If you would like a copy of the DVD, just email me at info@LaneArchitecture.net to inquire about it.

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