In this economy, projects seem to be either very small or very large, without much in between. With the establishment of my new firm last year, I have embraced small projects with enthusiasm because I know what lies ahead. The client-consultant relationship can be a fragile one, and a great deal of trust and confidence is placed in the consultant. That trust must be earned over time and this is where the small project comes in…a stepping stone to building trust.
I have been busy with small tenant finish (1200 to 2000 sf) projects and small design projects over the last six months. This has allowed me to be competitive on fees, as well as very attentive to details on behalf of my client. Most of these projects have been with new clients and its providing me the opportunity I seek to merely show how I do things a little differently. Thus far its been met with overwhelming success.
As the economy improves, projects will become a little bigger. When a client looks around to see who they can trust for their new deal…they’ll look to the consultant who has been earning their confidence through completed projects. I’ll be ready to jump in head first to help…still competitive and with the same enthusiasm.
I equate it to Cardinal’s baseball in the 1980s under the management of Whitey Herzog. Whitey liked to play “small ball” to win games, and win he did. He would take a game full of singles and a handful of stolen bases instead of big power hitters and home runs. I believe the formula for winning in today’s, and tomorrow’s, economy is hitting for singles and earning your runs a little at a time. Every once in awhile, that home run will come…
The bottom line, you’ll be creating a stadium full of fans by winning with small projects.
