skills development Archives

The Educational Imperative

'It's great that more and more people in the watershaping business are interested in becoming custom designers. The way I see it,' wrote David Tisheman to start his May 2001 Details column, 'the future of the industry rests in the hands of those who strive for creativity and excellence in their work.' 'Unfortunately, however, there are those out there who are brash enough to declare themselves

Why Good Competition is Great

Not long ago, my friend and Genesis 3 co-founder David Tisherman was in Miami. We took the opportunity to drive around and look at some of my jobs. As we moved through the Coral Gables area, really enjoying that beautiful waterfront community, he said, "This is nice. I'd really love to work around here." Now, in case you don't know, Mr. Tisherman is one of the finest pool designers and builders anywhere. My first reaction to his remark was, "Jeez, what would

Value by Design

Consider this scenario: You call up an interior designer. In the course of the conversation, you ask him or her to come to your home, walk around, take measurements and listen to your ideas about a new look for your home. That done, you want this design professional to go back to the office, draw up a plan, select materials and price the job. Would you be expected to pay for this service? If you know anything about interior designers, you know the answer is a loud (and not inexpensive) "Yes!" It's a trade where nobody works for free: Whether you buy 100 yards of carpet, a gallon of paint or nothing at all, you have to