Have a Cup of Morning Revit…and don’t share it with anyone else!!
Sep 4, 2009 BIM, Customization, Revit
Hey All. As we prepare for the long Labor Day weekend, I had a thought: let’s stop selling Revit. I’ll be more specific: let’s stop “preaching” Revit. The different groups have been established and have pretty much dug their feet in. First we have the, “Early Adopters”. They’ve been using Revit since the Hoover Administration and bleed Revit purple (or dashed blue). Next, we have the, “Whatevers”. Their motto is, “You want us to use software package B now instead of software package A? OK. Whatever!” After them we have, “The Tryers”. These people recognize the benefits of it and are willing to try it. If they like it, they’ll not only continue to use it, but they’ll insist on using it for all of their projects. Finally, we have the, “Nay Sayers”. They don’t want to be bothered. They aren’t interested. To put it bluntly, they don’t care. From these people you’ll hear phrases like, “I don’t have the time,” or, “I’ve heard it takes too long to learn and use,” or, the one that gets my blood boiling the most, “I know Revit is a cool tool, but…”
As Ayn Rand once said, and I’m paraphrasing here, “I’m not here to convince you that this philosophy is the best one or is the one you must adopt. It is logical.” As James T. Kirk once said, “People can be very frightened of change.” (He also said, “What does God need with a starship,” but we won’t hold that against him because he also said, “FIRE!!” and “KHAN!!”). Anyway, the point is, do you think there’s anyone left who doesn’t know what Revit does or how perfectly suited for Architecture it is? Let’s move on to what it took us a long time to realize that AutoCAD needed: standards and best practices. Basically, what Revit needs to be pushed ahead is a better architecture firm framework within which to work and excel. Now, here’s the stimulus package-sized dollar amount question: Which of the previously mentioned groups are the best to do this? The answer is, “the Tryers”. They’re the ones who will adopt the software as time goes by and will tell the BIM Managers (who came out of the Early Adoptets group…you know who I am…I mean, you know who you are!), what features and standards they need. Their the ones who will develop the best practices simply by using the software everyday and participating in round tables and user group meetings. Also, they’re the ones who already work with the Nay Sayers, and know how to communicate with them best. Let’s face it, as Early Adopters (of which I am one), we tend to say phrases that sound to the Nay Sayers as, “You absolutely must use this! It’s the greatest thing since sliced bread! It can do anything and everything.” Clearly that’s not what we mean, but that is most definitely what they hear. Let’s try this phrase on for size, “You know what Revit does, I’m not going to try to sell you on it. Use it or don’t use it. And, if you decide you want to use it, I’m here to help.”
What do you think about this? Let me know.
– Posted to CADuzer.com From My iPod Touch (proof-read on my PC)
Tags: BIM, Commentary, Revit
September 4th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Honestly, that’s been my attitude since I don’t know when. I’m in the “Tryers” group. I’ve always had the attitude… that if something is truly better it will sell itself… admittedly at a slower pace. But it will have a solid base from which to build. I was once asked to try to persuade others to better recieve Revit’s capabilities and limitations. Under the mindset that you just wrote about… I politely decilined and expressed I wasn’t interested in swimming upstream in a waterfall.
September 4th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
(not a duplicate, html screw up on other comment)
Great posts Scott. I tell people all the time now to not try to convince the laggards that they need to switch to Revit. If at this point in time, people still don’t get it, to hell with them. They’re the same people using AutoCAD R14 and they just draw lines, circles and arcs and copy and paste.
If we convince them to use Revit, and heaven forbid they do, it’s going to be the same thing over again. They won’t build full models, they won’t insert 3d content, they won’t pay for training or implementation. Basically, they bastardized Revit and undercut everyone else on proposals. They’ll lowball their fees because the won’t hire Revit MEP and Revit Structure engineers and will cut corners. That won’t help get buildings built.
Let’s keep Revit a secret. The laggards/naysayers will soon be extinct designosaurus wrecks and that will mean more business and more realistic fees for true BIM firms.
As I’ve been writing about a lot lately in my blog (shameless plug for : http://www.revit3d.com)it’s all about teamwork now. As we progress into LEED and IPD, it is going to take a more concerted effort by the entire design, engineering and construction team to work together on the owner’s behalf. Anyone using 2D linework to get that job done, is just going to muck it up for everyone else. Creating buildings is a business.
I still find myself making blog posts trying to convince people to switch to Revit, but I’m talking to contractors and design build firms. As they show it to owners and the real decision makers, then the owners will really see the light on how CAD vs BIM affects their bottom line.
I’m amused that you, at a firm of your level of excellence would have anyone in your close or peripheral range even having that discussion. I’m out on the front line every day seeing those who just don’t get it. I say to everyone, spend your time educating the contractors if you want to thin out the herd.
How is that people are so afraid of change yet shrug their shoulders to a project with 200 change orders.
BIM is the difference between those who create construction documents and those who document construction. We’ve moved on to 4D, 5D and 6D (IPD) and when I really want to mess with someone who’s still on AutoCAD, I just have them look at http://www.BIMcycle.com). If they think they’re not late to the party with Revit, when they see the 43 different products that all tie into BIM, well, that’s when I tell them to have a nice day and give them a copy of the AutoCAD 90 tips in 90 minutes book.
Please don’t waste your time on these issues. Your last post on file linking is the PhDDD level stuff you need to focus on. I’ll take care of the laggards because they certainly aren’t getting any free training. They’ll certainly be paying the price for a long time to catch up to people like yourself who were wise enough to figure it out very early on.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
The hardest sell, I feel, has been in offices where the lead architect has never used a computer in his life. Email is still cumbersome, and yet he wants his firm to grow and compete. I have tried whole heartedly to establish standards in AutoCAD and ALL have been met with avoidance that proliferates through the office and delegates me to be “crazy”. Yet I need the experience of Revit to move on to another firm…..so the cycle goes….and I’m learning it alone. Prepared to pitch projects we designed in 2D, simultaneously I copied them in 3D, and we will see who loves what…….isnt this a little bit like research funds spent to prove smoking was unhealthy???? Didn’t we already know that by default??? Whereas dont we KNOW AutoCAD is postmortem as we speak???