You will have moments in your life which change your direction or determine who or what you become. Some of these pivotal moments can be planned and anticipated. The moment you propose to the person you love and get down on one knee. When your child takes her first deep breath and lets out that beautiful, humming cry. Other people can happen to you without warning or suddenness. An injury from a car accident can result in rehabilitation and reorganization of your life. These difficult and wonderful moments can reveal your innermost thoughts and help you to find the strength and courage you need.
Others moments may not be as obvious or as jarring, but they can have a similar impact on your life and your professional career. These are the most important decisions in life and they will likely involve significant uncertainty and risk. Are I understanding this correctly? Are things going the way I expect them to? Or am I wrong? Although you can compile all the pros and cons lists (which is a great step), decisions can often be made based on intuition and fear. What college or university should I go to? Is it better to move to another place or find a new job? What if I feel stuck in my current job and can’t see a way out? These difficult decisions can happen throughout your life and can cause sleepless nights, anxiety, and deliberations that could affect your career. We often look to those who have gone before us when we are faced with difficult decisions. We look to those who may have forged a path for us, and who may be able to show us the way. We are looking for those who will inspire us to believe that you can do that difficult or unimaginable step right now. Here’s how!
You can’t tell from the above that these words are my professional story. After a lifelong passion for design, I received my Landscape Architecture degree. I then spent five years working in a professional practice firm and quickly became disillusioned by the corporate structure, office politics and the “soul-sucking cubicle environment” of what I was supposed to do with my career. I began to take on residential backyard projects in the 2000s. Many of them involved swimming pools, something I had no knowledge about. After some successes, great satisfaction and enjoyment, it was time to quit my job and start my own residential design business with grand visions for artistic freedom and creative expression. But, the financial realities quickly set in and I was forced to take over the construction of the backyard designs that I had created. After becoming a landscape contractor, I added hardscapes to my business, which became a full-scale outdoor living design-build company. Overall, we did well and won awards for our projects, which was fantastic! It was my dream to design and build amazing spaces, but it felt like I was swimming against the current to find a way to accomplish this task in a market that didn’t care. As a designer, I had become a contractor and it consumed my entire day. I could only do the part that I enjoyed: the design. I didn’t have anyone to guide me. I needed to feel inspired and shown that it was possible, even though it seems impossible now. Here’s how!
Ironically, the answer was always right in front me, literally every month and for eight years. I would receive the industry magazines PSN, Aqua and Watershapes each month. I would also see and read about the Genesis group. These were all contractors, designers, and leaders from across the nation. WOW! They did amazing work. I was stunned by the level of detail and size of their products. They would travel the country to design and build watershape masterpieces and win National Awards. All the while, they would dine with millionaire clients and win National Awards. They would then hold two to three educational events each year, where they could share their knowledge with anyone who signed up — and it would be a lot of fun! I was captivated by the stories of their intense classes. Then came great meals with wine and food. Finally, they had fun throwing parties where they were called pigs and wore togas to have lots of fun.
Eight years ago, I watched this group grow and change, wishing that I could be a part of it. But, for eight years, I didn’t join. Why? (Honest moment). I felt intimidated. My wife and me would go to the International Pool & Spa Expo, but we didn’t feel worthy to join in. After choosing our time, we would jump in to introduce ourselves and tell them how much I loved their work. We would then go back out to catch our breath and circle the booth. Who was this Tennessee designer who struggled to make it as an independent contractor? That they should give me the day off? I was kept from realizing the potential that was available by my mystique.
I was unable to stop myself from doing it until 2010, when I reached a breaking point. I flew to San Diego to take my first class. It was a career-defining moment that changed my professional path and defined who and what it was I wanted to be. This is where the real story lies. It wasn’t about the three-day educational class. I had already a solid foundation in the material when I took the base design class (the one I now teach). It was all about the people. After I got to know the people behind the image, I felt at ease to participate in the experience.
J. Brownlee Design
– Photo Credit: Jimi Smith Photography
I was inspired over the years. The true leaders of our industry inspired me. Skip Phillips and Brian Van Bower, the Rodney Dangerfield of pool industry education, were visionaries who started the whole advanced industry education revolution. Paolo Benenedetti, the living Bible of pool construction detail knowledge, and Bill Drakeley inspired me. Bill Drakeley set the standard for shotcrete construction 20x higher than the industry standard and exhorted us to think far beyond the minimum. Dave Peterson taught me everything I know about pool hydraulics. These classes are difficult for right-brained designers, but they were hands down the most enjoyable. It was amazing to see Rick Chafey as well as Dave Penton – two master builders behind some of the most impressive projects, which continue to be produced year after year – could also be so approachable, open-minded, and willing to learn from others. Feras Irikat’s ability to get seasoned contractors to talk about colors and client psychology and design was inspiring. Kirk Bianchi’s mild-mannered style, cerebral design-brain and gentle manner are two of my inspirations. Grant Smith was my inspiration. His meticulous, methodical approach to construction, which followed his regimented Marine Corps background, and our close friendship as we rose up the ranks in the industry together, inspired me. The three women — Lisa Ryckeley and Katie Junkers — have inspired me across many decades and organizations. They have kept the organization’s heart beating and all personalities in line. Events move forward as the baton is passed on to the next generation of leaders.
While what you know is important, it is ultimately who you know that will make a difference in your career. There will always be new “what’s”, but if your contacts are able to text/call you about the “what”, you’ll soon find out what that “what” is. This is why I believe in the industry’s advanced education opportunities. Teachers and leaders are an invaluable asset. They are examples of the vision you have for your future and are willing and able to help you along the way.
We all have a lot fun doing it! It isn’t boring in the way we design and produce our products, the enjoyment we have with our clients, the time we spend with our employees, or the time we spend with them. Even though the old toga parties and pig roasts may be overdue, these events and educational gatherings are still a great time to be involved in. We are a fraternity, which is a network of brothers from all over the country that meets several times per year to share knowledge, improve our skills, have fun, and make new friends. It is possible that the organization names, locations and educational formats of events may change. This is part of the business world and will not affect students who are fighting for their dreams and seeking to build a better future.
Take stock of where you are at work and your career. You don’t have to wait eight years for the external circumstances of your industry to change. Find the person who inspires you. Look for the people who are producing the work that inspires you. Do not let fear, cost, inconvenience, or intimidation stop you from taking the next step to unlocking your potential for your career and future. While investment costs may seem high now, they will be worth it in the long-term. Consider not only the information that you will gain, but also the leadership opportunities you may meet, and the possibility of a “lightbulb moment” of inspiration that could change your career.
Photo Credits: Jimi Smith Photography
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