Michael Phinney
Phinney Design Group
Saratoga Springs, NY USA
"There’s no such thing as perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. At the end of the day, just do the best that you can do."
Career Roadmap
Michael's work combines: Design, Environment & Nature, and Building Things
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
When I worked on my first green building, I was a young architect and was heading the project. I had tough days and sleepless nights because, as a perfectionist, I was always thinking about how I could've done things better. People much older than me were expecting me to get the answer. I was afraid of getting it wrong. I've learned that there's no such thing as perfection. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone has good days and bad days. At the end of the day, just do the best that you can do.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Architecture
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
From a young age, I loved to draw and thought I would become an artist.
2.
When I was 15 years old, my guidance counselor suggested I look into studying architecture because I was very artistic and was also good at science and math.
3.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where I did my thesis on environmental awareness in architecture.
4.
After graduating, I started my career as a project architect working primarily on large office buildings.
5.
I did that for about 10 years and also worked on some college university projects.
6.
I was pitching green ideas at work with little response until my boss asked me to become his right-hand man for the new headquarters of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
7.
Shortly after, I decided to start my own company focused on green design and sustainability.
8.
I’ve been leading my company, Phinney Design Group, for about 20 years now.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
Am I making the right decisions? I need to be perfect or they're going to judge me.
How I responded:
When I worked on my first green building, I was a young architect and was heading the project. I had tough days and sleepless nights because, as a perfectionist, I was always thinking about how I could've done things better. People much older than me were expecting me to get the answer. I was afraid of getting it wrong. I've learned that there's no such thing as perfection. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone has good days and bad days. At the end of the day, just do the best that you can do.