AUGI AEC EDGE

AUGI has recently launched an online magazine called the AUGI AEC Edge (http://digitaleditiononline.com/publication/?i=17799) The first edition is out and you can view it by clicking on the link provided in the bracket. I got a chance to meet with the authors of the magazine at the RTC in Australia last week. The first issue is dedicated to Revit and I would personally recommend reading through it.

OBELISK@RTC 2009 - Melbourne, Australia

Maneck received an invitation to present at the Revit Technology Conference 2009, held at The Sebel Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia. The conference dates were

from Jun 18 to Jun 20, 2009.. He presented a paper on “Outsourcing Revit” (Collaborating with Andrew Harp from ARCHdoc) and shared his research on Industry standards, pros and cons, issues and best practises. The event was a big success and Obelisk got an opportunity to exchange ideas with the Australian AEC Partners.

Power of BIM

Obelisk had showcased one of it's projects at the AIA 2009 Convention. The animation was a great attraction for visitors and below is a link to the animation on youtube.

Please take time to view the 3 minute animation and post your comments either here or on youtube.

BIM Team

ANIMATION LINK

Interesting discussion on BIM

Hi everyone,
I came across this interesting discussion on www.linkedin.com and posting the link below.
http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestionAndAnswers=&gid=98421&discussionID=3154297&sik=1242326665931&trk=ug_qa_q&goback=%2Eana_98421_1242326665930_3_1%2Eana_98421_1242326665931_3_1
It is a good read to understand the different point of views for BIM in the future.

At the AIA Convention 2009

Sitting here at the Moscone Center in San Francisco I am watching the contractor work on our booth as it comes up.
We have finally completed all registration formalities and Obelisk is a registered exhibitor at the AIA 2009 Convention and Expo. Lots of exhibitors and even though these are difficult economic times that doesn’t seem to dampen the spirit of everyone working & exhibiting at the convention.
The Convention starts on April 30 and I would keep everyone updated through the 3 days of the event.
Hope to be a big event with 22000 attendees.
More later.

Outsourcing and Recession

In a recent survey that was conducted on 600 small businesses to determine how the recession is affecting their outsourcing plans. Survey results showed that 41.9% said they planned to outsource more in the near future, either because they’ve cut full-time staff (7.0%) or because they’re simply unable to hire full-time staff (34.9%). They are also outsourcing more functions than ever before – 28.5% said they are now outsourcing something that they previously thought they couldn’t.

In light of such numbers, it’s hardly any surprise that 14.6% of them report that they have replaced employees with contractors in the last year, and 14.5% have hired a contractor who would have been otherwise unemployed or a victim of the economic downturn.

Outsource more in current recession: 41.9%

Because you have cut full-time staff: 7.0%

Because you are unable to hire full-time staff: 34.9%

Outsourcing something you previously thought you couldn’t: 28.5%

Replaced employees with service providers: 14.6%

Hired a service provider who would have otherwise been unemployed or a victim of the economic downturn: 14.5%

It should come as no shock, then, that many who have lost work recently are turning to freelancing. 32.1% of the 350 freelancers surveyed reported that they’d lost their job within the last year. A majority (59.0%) said that if they weren’t providing freelance services, they wouldn’t be able to meet their financial obligations and nearly a third (32.4%) said freelance earnings are their primary source of income. A vast majority said that there are enough freelancing jobs to meet their needs (73.9%) and feel they are earning fair rates (77.9%).

They cited “flexibility to live and work anywhere” as the number one reason for their survival, followed by guaranteed payment for hourly work and the ability to set their own hourly rate.

Lost their job in last year: 32.1%

Freelancing is my primary source of income: 32.4%

Wouldn’t be able to meet my financial obligations without freelancing: 59.0%

There are enough jobs under freelancing to meet my needs: 73.9%

I earn fair rates on freelancing assignments: 77.9%

American workers seem to be doing well in the global marketplace. 53.9% of the surveyed small businesses reported employing at least some U.S.-based contractors, while 84.3% of U.S. contractors are working for a U.S.-based buyer. Outsourcing nearly tripled during 2008, and the trend looks likely to continue.

These results certainly look good for the future and similar businesses.

(Source: The source of this information is the oDesk Blog www.odesk.com/blog posted on March 24, 2009)

This blog, including any attachment(s) hereto, is intended only for the visitors of this blog. Any comments or statements made in this are not necessarily those of Obelisk or any other Obelisk entity.

Waiting for the Perfect Answer ???

On one of my flights I read this book about one of the biggest business leaders of our times. He is an ex - CEO of one of the largest company in today's times.
I just wanted to write these few lines I read by him and which hold good for all new and old entrepreneurs and for all of us who want our company to grow into a strong and large organization but scared to take decisions for the fear of being wrong.

“There is no formulaic answer to a question in science.
The same holds true for most business problems. There are rarely black or white answers. Business is often smell, touch and feel as much as or more than numbers.
IF WE WAIT FOR THE PERFECT ANSWER THE WORLD WILL PASS US BY”

Obelisk in USA

Greetings everyone from the Windy City (Chicago).
It has been a long and hectic week but finally managed to climb the first step of the ladder. Congrats to all we have a small place in downtown Chicago and even though I am alone here, trying to find clients and get them to hear about Obelisk, the thing that keeps me going is the support and vision of all of you.
Going by our values I am following the frugal way and saving up on small costs like transportation, resources and making that extra effort to get things done.
Starting this week I would be trying to meet a lot of architects and firms to network with them till the AIA convention on April 30, 2009, which will help us create awareness for Obelisk. Not sure how much this would be of help in today’s scenario, but this is the only approach we know off and by god we are going to make this work.
So like an intelligent entrepreneur once said to me, “Better to be wrong than confused”, Obelisk is going to go ahead and try all possible routes to success.
Best of Luck
Maneck

AIA Connvention 2009

Maneck along with the Sales team would be attending AIA Convention 2009 at San Francisco. Obelisk can be reached at booth 234 located in the South Hall, Moscone Center. We look forward to meeting everyone who will be attending the convention between Apr 28 and May 2.

Mindset