Knowing People Matters More Than Knowing Stuff

After about a month break, here is the second post in my series from what I learned at the Young Architects Forum Transitions Round Table 2009. Panelist Deb Kunce is a Program Manager at Schmidt Associates in Indianapolis and current President of AIA Indiana. She started out life on a dairy farm but went on to become an architect (as I relate with from my upbringing). Deb enjoys non-traditional architectural services such as program management and other ancillary/additional services. She emphasized finding what you really enjoy doing and do it. Be involved; serve on Boards in your profession and in your community to make connections. When you see something that needs to change work towards it and remember that small changes can lead to real change down the road. Be persistent. Do what you say you’re going to do, follow-up. You don’t know why you’re called to something, follow your heart, but don’t make choices just about your passion, look at the big picture.
When asked about how to balance work and personal life (a question I’ve asked the past three years), Deb works to strike a balance from a whole year point of view. But, she is also shifting her time this fall to be home in the afternoon when her child comes home from Kindergarten. We just have to shift our burden, to be home in afternoon we’ll need to make agreements with our office to shift that time to early mornings, working from home, or a flexed hours workweek. There isn’t a magic formula.
And as this post is titled, knowing people matters more than knowing stuff. Deb was laid off from an early job a month after receiving an award for being the outstanding intern. Knowing everything about everything won’t guarantee success. At this time with a bleak job market we need to work harder to know people and be known. Seek opportunities to meet people and follow your interests.