Back to the text message.  He was on his way to school.  My wife and I were on our way to the airport leaving Honolulu after a short trip to attend the RCI Hawaii Winter Workshop. Yes, we will be home to celebrate his birthday.  We do love him!

As I fly over the Pacific, I feel compelled to post this Industry Blog about the last 2 days of furthering my education.  I have done this for years; attending classes, workshops, presenting information to groups, but this one was different.  How you ask?  Here are some key factors: 1)  It didn’t feel like 2 pain filled days of lecture.  Mix in a little Hawaii, it helps! 2)  RCI provided a format and overall idea that were new, I believe for RCI of course! 3)  The information wasn’t new, but with the new format became fresh and relevant. 4)  I was accompanied by my wife, Janick.  This was the second time we did this.  It does work, and it was fun. 5)  I had three D 7 Consultants there as well.  Their interest and comments over dinner were great to hear. I am excited that they were interested and hopefully learned some new things.

And finally, one big thing!  It reaffirmed to our people that we are doing the right things!  Taking home the outline material and key information, we will be able to see that what D 7 does as a company is right in line with the top companies in our field.  And we can build on that having attended this function.

Where – Let’s talk about these factors:  mix in some Hawaii!  If you are considering your next conference or class and you only do one or two a year, or less!  Make it count.  Go somewhere special, some cities are nice, but attend a class in a city where you a) haven’t been before b) your wife or family hasn’t seen or c) provides a change of weather or recreation that you enjoy. 

Format – The format was a key factor.  Since 1990, I have been attending classes at either RCI or UW-Madison, etc.  This was the first for me.  A fictitious project, Faulty Towers, allowed the presenters to “construct” all the problems we might find on a project, but in smaller portions.  This allowed all to draw from personal experience, utilize great examples of deficiencies (we all have our hall of shame roofing & waterproofing photos) and provided symmetry to the program.  Now granted, there were the little glitches (cold room, audio hiccups) but hey, we aren’t working in Hollywood sound studios.  But they were minor and didn’t bother me too much.  I digress.

Having some of the top consultants as presenters*, doesn’t always work.  You know the drill, great mind – poor performer.  Well, these guys were able to make it work because of the format. And it allowed them freedom from thinking too much.  Even the lawyers (almost all of them) did a good job and their information was critical and brought value. 

D 7 has provided services to many forms of clients and on a myriad of projects.  As I walked along Waikiki Beach on my morning workout, I realized several things about life: 
-You need a plan, even if it is for just a day, a month, or a year.  Follow a plan.  You will get wherever you want to go much faster.
-Use a successful program in business.  Find one that works and use it.  Inventing new, especially in our business, doesn’t work.  If this program taught me anything, it is that we do a good job of what we do.  I have been following the same program for years.  Nuff said!
-Don’t be afraid to make changes or try to improve!  You don’t have to scrap everything you’ve tried.  If it doesn’t work, stop.  Figure it out why and try again.  People get hung up on failure.  Not one success was immediate, there have always been failure that have lead to progress or opened the door to a success. 

Work to improve on what you do.  Have someone or somebody review your work, your company.  We all can improve on something, even if it is just overall attitude adjustment.  I am looking forward to exchanging ideas with our D7 staff and making some changes (albeit small ones) related to our business model.  Nothing like being energized after a couple of days in Hawaii, listening to good sound information presented in a great format.  Check back in a few days or weeks to hear more results of this journey.

*David Knox, AIA Knox Hoversland; Jim Reinhardt, AIA Architectural Diagnostics; Richard Cook, RRC, RWC, CCS LEED AP of ADC Engineering; Karim Allana, RRC, REC, PE of Allana Buick & Bers; John D. Shepherd, RRC, RRO of Shepherd Consulting Services; Austin Sloat, AIA of Neumann Sloat Achitects, LLP; Christopher Shea Goodwin, Esquire of Christopher Shea Goodwin AAL LLC; Colin Murphy, RRC, FRCI, LEED AP of Trinity ERD; Keith Hunter, Esq., of DPR; Dana Bergeman of Allana Buick & Bers; Larry Good of Trinity ERD; Roy F. Hughes, esquire, of Hughes & Taosaka, LLC.