Unpacking Design

In this episode, Mike briefly talks about Tim Ferriss’ book, Tribe of Mentors, and asks Tim 10 questions that Ferriss asks all of his guests in his book. From books to one message on a bill board and advice for a young person entering the “real world”. Learn more about Tim through his answers to these 10 questions from Mike and discover why and how these quotes impact their lives in this episode.

Where might you find ideas for a potential side hustle in your life? Sometimes, the answer is right in front of us and we’re already building a set of skills that could be used to start a small business. In Mike’s case, his experience developing multiple websites in the past for friends and clients as well as his experience as a licensed architect is shaping his latest venture in website design called paperook.

What does it take to start a side hustle and juggle it with a full time job? In this episode, Mike and Tim talk about the different ventures that they’ve developed and juggled with their full time careers as architects. From developing online courses to writing and releasing a book and starting a retail company, all of these ventures require a significant amount of time and sacrifice.

It’s time to give thanks! What are Mike and Tim most grateful for in 2018? In this episode, Mike and Tim talk about the things in their lives that help them both personally and as designers. And thank you for listening!

Have you ever wondered how much time you spend on your projects? Whether you work for someone else or you’re self-employed, knowing how much time you’re spending on specific tasks for a project can help you work more efficiently and accurately setup your fees.

Ever thought about starting a retail company where you make and sell your own goods? In this episode, Tim talks about the next product line he’s coming up with for Mars Leather Company and gives some insight into the differences and similarities between large and small products.

How do you know if you’re designs will be accepted by your client? What about society? How many times do you ask yourself if your designs are “good enough”? Mike and Tim reflect on how doubt affects us as designers and how they’ve overcome their self-doubts in their lives as designers.

How do you take an idea from its inception, execute it, and bring it to completion? Every designer has their own process for starting a project, refining their ideas, and eventually creating the final product. Here’s how Mike and Tim design their architecture projects from concept to completion.

In this episode, Mike and Tim talk about the importance of mentoring others and providing guidance to younger and lesser experienced creative professionals. They share their experiences both being mentored and mentoring others throughout their career.

In this episode, Mike and Tim talk about how they’ve burned out in their lives as creatives. Mike’s personal journey through burnout came from his decade long pursuits related to his career as an architect and his sacrifice of his health and relationships. Tim talks about his close encounter with leaving his life as an architect during his time as a sophomore student in college.