Episode 71 - Resilience and Reflection: Sherman Cawley on Architecture, Entrepreneurship, and Mental Health

The Andrew Holland Podcast

Sherman Cawley, founder of Cawley Architects, shares his journey as an architect and entrepreneur. He discusses his passion for architecture from a young age and how he never wavered in his career choice. He talks about the challenges he faced during the savings and loans crisis in the early 1990s and how he ultimately decided to start his own firm. Sherman also explains the concept of design-build and its benefits for clients. He reflects on the impact of the 2008 recession on his business and how he navigated through it with the help of strong partnerships and a focus on delivering a great service.
Takeaways
•Passion and dedication are key to success in any career
•The design-build approach in architecture enhances collaboration and ensures cost-effective and efficient projects
•The 2008 recession was a challenging time for the construction industry, but strong partnerships and a focus on delivering a great service helped navigate through it During challenging times, it is important to find ways to cope and stabilize your business.
•Having grit and grinding through tough times can lead to success.
•Empathy and understanding are crucial in managing relationships with clients and staff.
•Managing stress involves not making assumptions, actively listening, and joining people in their distress. Taking action is crucial in addressing depression and seeking help
•Society's understanding of mental health has evolved over time
•Confronting our own lies and fears is necessary for personal growth
•Work-life balance is important, and individuals make choices in pursuit of success
•Concerns about the national debt and potential confrontation with China
•Transitioning to an employee-owned company can incentivize and motivate employees
Chapters
00:20 Introduction and Background
09:45 Starting Colley Architects and the Design-Build Approach
12:08 The Impact of the 1990s Savings and Loans Crisis
27:50 Different Approaches in the Construction Industry: Design-Build vs. Traditional
30:09 Navigating the 2008 Recession and Building Strong Partnerships
36:20 Coping and Stabilizing
39:15 Grit and Grinding
41:41 Empathy in Relationships
49:10 Managing Stress and Building Resilience
54:50 Creating a Successful Workplace Environment
01:06:03 Seizing Opportunities and Performing
01:08:29 Getting Help and Taking Action
01:12:05 Taking Action to Address Depression
01:14:00 The Evolution of Society's Understanding of Mental Health
01:15:52 The Importance of Work-Life Balance and Choices
01:22:23 Concerns about the National Debt and China
01:43:50 Transitioning to an Employee-Owned Company
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