Hello Reader,
Happy Sunday.
Last week, I posted my word of the year on LinkedIn. If you missed it there, I wanted to make sure you saw it here. This year, my word is Cultivate. ๐ฑ
I've been thinking a lot about giving myself grace. About letting go of the pressure to have everything figured out on some arbitrary timeline. Every day is a new opportunity to show up differently than you did the day before. You don't have to wait for a new year, a new quarter, or a Monday. You just have to begin.
Cultivation, to me, is about tending intentionally. It's patient and purposeful. It asks us to choose what deserves our energy and attention, and just as importantly, to let go of what doesn't. This year, I'm focused on cultivating myself, my energy, and my capacity to lead with intention. And I'm bringing that same clarity to Practice of Architecture as we sharpen our point of view and build offerings that create real impact.
What word is guiding you this year? Hit reply and tell me. I'd love to know.
Speaking of showing up differently: in last week's newsletter, I shared the wrong date for our upcoming webinar with Gelt. It's actually happening January 27th at 10am PST / 1pm EST.
If you haven't registered yet, there's still time: Q1 Tax Blueprint for Practice Owners: Expert Guidance for Optimization. We'll cover what you can do now as you prepare your 2025 taxes and how to set yourself up for a stronger 2026.
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In this session, you'll learn the most important Q1 tax moves to optimize your 2025 outcome, how firm structure impacts your tax strategy and cash flow, key systems to get right now (tax reserves, clean books, documentation), and common early-year mistakes architecture practice owners make and how to avoid them.
โRegister HEREโ
A few more Practice Disrupted episodes dropped while I was wrapping up 2025, and I wanted to make sure you didn't miss them.
๐ง Episode 214: David Sellers on Rebuilding Smarter
David's path to architecture wasn't traditional. He worked as a mechanic and on Alaskan fishing boats before studying architecture in the Netherlands. Now, as founder of Hawaii Off Grid and co-founder of Surf Block, he's turning necessity into innovation. His firm mandates net-zero for all new buildings, and Surf Block is transforming recycled surfboard foam into resilient building materials now being used in Lahaina's rebuilding efforts.
๐ง Episode 215: Erin Agdinaoay on Pay Transparency and Shared Leadership at Work Program Architects
What does radical transparency actually look like in practice? At Work Program Architects, it means 100% open books, full salary visibility (even during the hiring process), and a rotating Raises and Bonuses Committee. Erin shares how this approach demystifies firm operations and empowers every team member to think like an owner.
๐ง Episode 216: Mark Collins on The Art of Drawing in the Digital Age
Mark is the co-founder of Morpholio, born from a group of architects at Columbia who saw the revolutionary potential of the iPad as a creative tool. By staying bootstrapped and small (under 10 people), they've built a suite of apps now used by over a million designers. A great conversation about how technology can enhance, not replace, the art of drawing.
And looking ahead: Season 13 of Practice Disrupted launches the first Thursday in February. More to come on that soon.
Keep learning and growing,
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Evelyn M Lee, FAIA | NOMA
Founder, Practice of Architecture
Host, Practice Disrupted & Fractional COO
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/// PoA Partner Webinar: GELT ///
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Architecture, Technology, and the Future of Cities
How can architects remain relevant in a world where cities are as digital as they are physical?
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/// PoA Podcast - Practice Disrupted ///
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Rebuilding Smarter: David Sellers and the Architecture of Necessity
What does a career path look like when it's guided by necessity, unconventional experiences, and a deep respect for place?
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From Pay Transparency to Shared Leadership, Erin Agdinaoay on WPA's Model
What does it really mean for an architecture firm to be transparent?
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The Art of Drawing in the Digital Age with Mark Collins
How do you build a tech company that champions, rather than replaces, the analog craft of drawing?
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