Has It Helped?
June 30, 2010
Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to have received quite a few very nice emails from people describing how they believe they’ve benefitted from the advice offered and ideals described in my articles. Since the whole purpose for my writing these articles is to help people to aspire toward betterment—better understanding, better practices, better results—those sorts of messages really make my day.
Well, today I have what must surely seem like a self-serving request. If you’ve experienced any benefit from putting into practice the sorts of ideals and practices I describe in my articles I would sincerely appreciate hearing from you with whatever details you care to share.
As some of you know, I’m currently in the process of preparing a treatise on design professionalism. While my thoughts on the subject are drawn from direct experience, observation, and results, there are detractors who publicly and privately disparage the notion that what I prescribe in my articles is anything more than utopianism; with no “real world” application. Based on my articles, some have labeled me an idealist; as if that were an insult. Ha.
In any event, I know how my approach serves me and my direct peers and employees with desirable, largely-predictable results; results far better than others I read and hear about. However I would very much like to learn of other specific examples of how these sorts of standards and practices serve others well. Also, if any of my articles has influenced your practice and if you have thereafter experienced improved results, I’d love to hear about it.
If you are willing to answer my request and if any of my writings have been useful, I would ask that you:
- describe the issue you were experiencing
- describe the sort of information, advice, or encouragement you found in the article(s)
- describe the results you have experienced as a result of adapting your process or practices, or by expanding your understanding
- if possible, reference the article(s) that may have helped
If you otherwise already have been putting these sorts of ideals, standards, or practices into use, I’d enjoy hearing about how you believe they serve your results.
To be clear, I’m not necessarily looking for fodder for publication. It is possible, however, that I might want to contact some respondents, seeking permission to cite some accounts in my published work. In other words, please don’t feel that you’re risking having your words published if you respond. It’s just that I’m genuinely curious about others’ experiences.
and look forward to reading your accounts of success and betterment.