A quick tour of an historic home

Just click on this link to view how you can earn more money with the office that you are already working in ----> Here is the link to MY Designed Office website


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Why Architects are Unemployed

I have recently needed to update my architectural license in NY State. This is a very straight forward thing to do and it requires me to prove to the state board that I have attended at least 36 hours of continued education during the past 36 months.

Today, I received an email from the state board that affirms that I am in good standing. It also reminds me that I have to obtain 36 more continued education credits before the next 36 months come around.

Then, it paraphrases what type of continued education would NOT be acceptable in their eyes. They include:

Risk management, limiting the design professional’s liability, project management related to profitability and maximizing fees, marketing and public relations, insurance, laws related to arbitration, mediation, liens (unless they relate to safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of the public), real estate, real estate development, expanding a design professional’s business, basic AutoCAD, personal development, general office management, accounting/financial planning, succession planning, zoning as it relates to increasing a developer or architect’s profitability, design build (unless 75% of the course content relates to the laws related to design build in New York State) are not acceptable subjects.

So, generally speaking, I cannot get any continued education credits if I want to learn better ways to make a profit and to protect my income as an architect. Hmmm, perhaps that is why we have so much unemployment in the architectural profession today. It is expected that unemployment of architects is at least 30%. Since the survival of the architectural profession as a business is not a priority, its own "club" (the American Institute of Architects, AIA for short)does not have an accurate count of how many architects are unemployed. Here is an article that discusses this further, http://archrecord.construction.com/news/daily/archives/2010/10/101025real_employment.asp

Perhaps that is why, even in a good economy, architects continue to view themselves as crusaders of good design with great goals of creating a better world but with no earthly idea how they are going to support themselves and their families while exposing themselves to frivolous lawsuits with low compensation.

In spite of the architectural board's point of view of our profession's priorities, I wrote a book that is for not only architects but for everyone that has a business and wants it to prosper. The book shares ways we can use our own offices as an additional marketing tool. It is titled, "The Designed Office." Heck, I might not get any continued education credit for writing this book, but you can get the benefit from the gems shared in the book. Oh well, my loss is your gain (sorry, that's my architect training talking, not my business mind). Never the less, go get your copy at...

Click Here to get your copy at Amazon.com.

Click Here to get your copy at Barnes and Noble.com.

Or, just click on this link and get a lot of cool free gifts at My Designed Office website


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In-Depth Look - Renewable Energy Companies - Bloomberg

How is your business doing during this recession? Do you need a bail out from Obama? While your are waiting for that Fed check to come in the mail, here are somethings that you can do.

Did you know that there are ways that you can build your business with the office space that you already have? In fact, you can turn it into a marketing tool. Here's how...

Get the tools that you need by clicking on "Give me the tools to turn my office into a marketing machine"

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Pulling Back the Curtains

What a pleasure to meet and visit with some people that share something in common with me last night!

OK, let me back up and explain who these people are. In order to do so, I have to open the curtain a little bit so you can grab a small glimpse as to why I do the things that I do….

There is a brilliant individual and corporate coach that teaches how you can achieve things that may seem impossible or out of your reach. Her name is Dr. Sharon Melnick.

The gathering last night was made up of a small, handpicked group of people who share in common a fulfilling experience of learning her methods in her classes, through her monthly workshops, teleconferences, and her web site.
"Click Here to check out what Dr. Melnick has for you"

One thing that was great about this mixer of like minded people is that we were able to share how we have applied what we learned while in her classes. Everyone had their own inspiring story to tell.

One common theme that has always been said about her methods is that it helps people remove their own self- doubts and other self imposed barriers that prevent most of us from achieving what we are all truly capable of achieving. In a sense, Sharon helps us learn how to “Get out of our own way.”

I shared with the group last night that what I got out of her classes was receiving the affirmation that I really don't need other's affirmation to pursue my dreams and goals. Conflicting statement, I know. Let me explain...

Her methods gave me a way to break open the vault, open new opportunities, and share unique services that are not normally provided by other architects. Therefore, we are not just another architectural firm, we are the “go-to” for our clients in order to empower their lives.

“Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.”
- Margaret Mead

Being a "me - too" person only makes one a commodity and gives us very little value to offer that is more beneficial to our clients than the next guy. Unfortunately, the only thing that allows the "me - too" people to stand out from their competition is their discounted prices. You get what you pay for.

While they are cutting their prices, we have been building resources for our clients that can be used to enrich their lives – both at work and at play.

For the folks who what to find and/or renovate their home, we have developed a personal journal that anyone can download for free. “The Experience Architecture Journal” gives people seven simple but important steps to follow to create an extraordinary home. It is free and can be downloaded as an e-book by clicking on the image with the yellow house at the right column of this blog.

For our corporate clients, having an edge over their competition is ever more important now during these challenging economic times. My book, “The Designed Office,” shares 35 profit power points that show how their office can be transformed into a marketing tool. Take a peek at the book by clicking on the book image on the right column of this blog. Be sure to grab the dozen free gifts there. It is also sold at BN.com and Amazon.com.

Another value that I have developed for my clients is my podcast. During this weekly 15 to 30 minute live web based radio show, I share new ideas that people can use in their everyday life. At the time of writing this post, I have over 11,000 listeners. All of the content in the show has something to do with architecture. You can download the shows through iTunes for FREE and listen to it at your leisure at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Lanearchitecture. Be sure to click on the iTunes icon while there. Go to this link to download the podcast to listen at your leisure... "Click Here for the Podcast"

The list goes on and on. Youtube TV show at http://www.youtube.com/LarryLaneTV, this blog, facebook, twitter, LinkedIn,… you should find me almost anywhere. Feel free to click on the links on the right column of this blog.

If you have something that you would like to share with my audience and clients, contact me at info@LaneArchitecture.net to help them get out of their own way.”

You can see that there is no “wizard” behind those curtains who is pulling levers and watching dials, but me and my associates working to build more value that you can use in your everyday lives.

We do not only pour out all of this over the top information to the special people as yourself who are wise enough to use it, we use it too. And from the testimonials that we have received from our clients, they appear to be glad that we do.

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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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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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How to Fill Vacant Commercial Properties

There is no place you should rather be than in Liberty, NY on November 1st and 2nd this year.

Liberty, NY is the town that was had to lend a helping hand to the wayward hippies that found themselves cold, hungry, and in need of first aid during the famous Woodstock concert.

Liberty, NY is now the destination of many movers and shakers who want to learn from experts how to revive their dying downtowns and create massive profits within their central business districts.

Come join other forward thinkers, NY and NJ state officials, town planners, merchants of downtown shops, architects, and leaders of a lot of townships throughout the east coast to become a leader of progress for your community.

For the third year in a row, I have been invited to speak at the Main Street Forum that is Monday, November 2nd, 2009. My topic will be for advanced thinkers at the Catskill Artists Gallery at 11:00 AM EST.

The title of my talk is, "How to Make Your Workplace Work for You."

As retailers close stores and corporations downsize, what are some new and productive uses for this excess space? We’ll look at new concepts, new uses, and old but half-forgotten solutions that can turn vacant properties into cash-flowing asset during our information packed 40 minute disussion.

You will also learn some key green design solutions that others are doing that immediately puts money back in their pockets for ZERO personal investments, and see successful case studies that will make you want to go make it happen at your own hometown.

Be sure to sign up for this event NOW! Just click on the black and white Main Street Forum icon at the blue column of information to the right of this blog post.

Oh, by the way, we will also be talking about some key proven stategies found in the book, "The Designed Office." Get your copy by clicking on the book icon to the right of this post to get a head start. Then, we can build upon what you already read from the book.

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Recession Relief

What can we do to fill all of these vacancies in commercial properties that we see popping up everywhere? This video will steer you in the right direction.



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Soaring with the NJ Nets

This is Brook Lopez of the NJ Nets next to me. He is at least a foot taller than I. Brook was the first round draft pick in 2008 and is the Center for the team. He soars at 7'-0" in height.

I asked Brook an experience architecture related question. He related to his own perceptions and past experiences. This is exactly what I discuss in my book, "The Designed Office." Check out the today's radio show (9-14-09) to hear his answer.

Also, during today's radio show, I will be sharing 10 fast money saving tips that you can implement right away to keep the green stuff in your pockets.

Oh, by the way, get dozen free stuff at www.MyDesignedOffice.com.

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Increase Profits Even During the Recession!

With the current recession, we really need an edge with our commercial real estate investments. I found some really cool ways to increase profits within our offices and wrote the book about it. Check it out at http://www.MyDesignedOffice.com.

If you can't wait to get your hands on your copy of this book, just click on the book icon at the top of the right column of this blog.

By the way, there are a dozen fee bonus items that you really need to see at that web site. Go now!

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What a banner weekend!

Yesterday, I joined in to celebrate my oldest son's 13th birthday. My, oh, my! Now I have a teenager in the house.

Another exciting thing happened yesterday too. I launched my book titled, "The Designed Office." It is a book written to help people find, design, and build an office that will explode their profits even in these recession times.

Feel free to click on the book icon to the right to get a closer look at it.

Create an Experience that will Empower Others

A while back, a friend of mine, Steve, was visiting a mutual friend who was suffering Parkinson disease at a NYC hospital. Our friend, Betty had a roommate whose bed was nearest to the window.

When Steve came into Betty’s hospital room, the curtain was drawn that divided the room into two parts. In a few minutes, he heard someone singing to the lady behind that curtain. The music was soft, sweet, and comforting. It was a woman’s voice.

When visitation time was over, the lady who was singing on the other side of the curtain walked pass Steve, nodded, and left the room.

It was Carly Simon.

She was singing to her mother in the bed nearest to the window behind the curtain. What a blessing it was to be in the still room and experience the tenderness that only a daughter can share with her mother! She was using the gifts that were only hers to offer.

What gifts do you have to share that are unique to only you? Have you shared them with the people that mean the most to you?

Have you experienced things in a room that were so profound that you will remember it for a lifetime? Circumstances and settings can influence how you experience a place. That is what I mean by Experience Architecture. It can affect the way you work, shop, play, and rest.

My new book, “The Designed Office,” covers this topic for office spaces. It will be in a bookstore near you really soon.