Jon discusses the importance of attending events like the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists' (CIAT) AT Awards, even if you're not a nominee or an architectural technologist. Jon shares his positive experiences from the 2023 AT Awards, highlighting the friendly atmosphere, valuable networking opportunities, and unexpected benefits such as new business connections and professional growth.

Episode Highlights...

00:00 Introduction

01:28 Overview of the AT Awards

02:39 Common Misconceptions About the AT Awards

03:10 Personal Experience at the AT Awards

05:23 Networking and Opportunities

08:35 Excitement for the Upcoming AT Awards

09:32 Encouragement to Attend and Final Thoughts

11:33 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

Key Takeaways...

Value of In-Person Networking: Attending events like the AT Awards provides unique opportunities to connect with industry professionals in person, which can lead to unexpected and valuable opportunities, such as meeting online connections, industry leaders, and making new contacts. Jon shares his experience of meeting influential figures and gaining new opportunities, underscoring the benefit of face-to-face interactions over virtual ones.

Dismantling Misconceptions: There are common misconceptions about industry award events, such as they are only for nominees or they are too formal and boring. Jon's personal experience dispels these myths by highlighting the friendly atmosphere, the networking opportunities, and the enjoyable aspects (like free drinks and after-parties!) making a strong case for attending even if you’re not a nominee.

Personal and Professional Growth: Attending events can also serve as a break from the usual routine and promote personal growth. Jon mentions how stepping out of his comfort zone to attend the AT Awards proved beneficial, not only socially and professionally but also by providing inspiration and motivation. These events offer a fresh perspective and new ideas, contributing to the growth of an individual's career and business.

Links Mentioned In The Episode...

👉 Click here to grab your ticket for the AT Awards 2024

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Interested in working with Jon?

👉 Book a chat with Jon to explore working with him 📞

Resources…

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In The Next Episode...

Next time, Jon is joined by Martin Huntbach to talk about lead generation.

Why would you attend an event run by the chartered Institute

of architectural technologist or CIAT?

If you weren't an architectural technologist.

And even if you were an architectural technologist,

why would you bother attending?

AT awards event.

If you were not nominated for an award.

You might be surprised to hear.

There are plenty of reasons to attend in-person events.

Even if they're not run by your own professional body.

And also to attend award events when you're not opt for untoward.

And that's exactly what we're going to cover in this episode of architecture

business club, the weekly podcast for solo and small firm architecture

practice owners, just like you.

He wants to build a profitable future proof architecture business

that fits around their life.

I'm John Clayton, your host.

If your small practice leader or sole practitioner in architecture,

struggling to find clarity or reach your goals, consider working with me.

Our for personalized one-to-one support for coaching consulting and mentoring.

This tailored approach helps you navigate your unique path to success.

Whether it's growing a practice working for your hours or building

your team, I've got you covered.

Just click the link in the show notes to book a call with me to discuss

your options or email Jon that's J O n@architecturebusinessclub.com.

For more information.

Now let's talk about the AT awards.

Hey, everyone.

Thanks so much for tuning in today.

Today.

I wanted to talk about C I a.

forthcoming AT awards event.

So that you can understand who the event is for and why you might consider going.

Even if you're not a nominee for an award.

Or even if you're not an architectural technologist.

So what is the AT award?

So the AT awards showcases the technology of architecture at its best.

It's going to be held at Christ church spittle fields in east London in

the UK on the 25th of October, 2024.

The event happens around this time of year.

Every October in London, in the UK.

But this, this year's event is coming round fairly soon at the time when

this episode is being published.

The event recognizes the exceptional contribution, the architectural

technology practices and professionals make to the built environment as

well as outstanding achievements from students studying the discipline.

And at the event itself, the winners will be announced and

presented with much excitement.

I think whenever you have an event like this, there's often some common myths

or misconceptions about the event.

Things like.

It's just for the award nominees.

Or this particular event is just for architectural technologists.

That it's going to be a stuffy formal occasion.

That the speeches are going to be really long and boring.

And.

Unless your nominee is just not worth paying the ticket price to attend.

So I wanted to share with you my experience of last year's event.

I did attend the AT awards.

In London in 2023.

And I didn't know what to expect.

I'd not been to the AT awards before.

Uh, I hadn't, I don't think I'd actually been to any awards event before, so

I really didn't know what to expect.

And what I found was that.

First say it was at a fantastic venue.

I believe the venue has changed this year, but I'm sure that it's going

to be equally just as good as last year, but it was a really great venue.

It was a friendly atmosphere.

It didn't feel too formal.

There was a dress code.

Like you, you know, they didn't want you to turn up in your, your

shorts or your ripped jeans and, you know, your muscle Vestal, whatever

you like to wear on the weekends.

So it was kind of a.

Smart formal dress code, you know, sort of smart trousers and a

college shirt, that sort of thing.

But it wasn't, it wasn't a stuffy formal event.

It was really friendly.

There was great atmosphere.

I recall there was a free bar for at least part of the time.

We went out to go and buy a drink and it's no, it's free bar.

Just help yourself.

Though there was food, there was nipples that was going around this.

Little things like that.

It's important.

Isn't it.

If you're going to an event like this, you have all those thoughts thinking like,

oh, do I, do I need to go out and eat?

Or do I need to factor in.

You know the expenses for, for that, like there was nipples there as well.

There was an after party.

There was an after party, which I believe was sponsored by, um,

building material manufacturer.

But.

Everyone was invited.

So after the ceremony finished, people could go to, um, Um, nearby venue and

the conversations carried on that.

I got quite a lot out of it.

I would say that I, I was pleasantly surprised by what I got out of it.

I mean, I think firstly.

It gave me an excuse to get away from my desk and have a doubt in London.

And as somebody that mainly works from home, just having a reason to

get out and go somewhere different.

Which was fantastic in itself.

I got to hear about.

Amazing projects that architecture technologists are working on.

I did get the opportunity to meet some existing friends that

I have in the industry that were attending the event as well.

So the team at studio 11 architecture were there.

So it was great to catch up with Chris and the rest of the team.

And I also met some online connections in-person so these were people that

I'd been connected with online either recently or, or been connected for a

little while and never actually had chance to meet them in real life.

Remember.

Don't forget to download the architecture business, blueprint the

step by step formula to freedom for architects, architecture, technologists,

and architecture designers.

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forward slash blueprint.

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rating wherever you listen to podcasts.

Now, back to the show.

So I met people like.

And Vanna.

And, Ryan Godfrey which was really cool.

And I got this chance to meet some of the staff from C I.

So I, I am a member of the Institute.

And occasionally you'll get emails from team members.

Um, or you might need to phone them up to talk to them about something or the two.

It's really nice to get, to meet a couple of people from CIT as well.

People like Adam and the coats and Donald Chappelle.

So it was nice to meet those people.

I, I also made.

Valuable new connections that I, I just didn't expect that led to

some really great opportunities.

And I think this is the magic of attending in-person events.

You really get to connect with people.

In a different way than you do online in the DMS, or even over zoom, you just can't

beat the, the connection that you get with people when you meet them in person.

I met, Dan rigger Monte, the current editor, art designing

buildings, construction, Wiki.

And that led to being invited to be a guest editor on that website.

How amazing was that?

That was something.

Really unexpected.

And then that then led to being introduced to Stephen Drew, the

founder of architecture, social, who was also there the AT awards as well.

And he invited me to be a guest on his live stream podcast.

Now.

At that point I'd.

Never.

Been on the live stream before I'd never been on a podcast before.

It was actually a little bit before this particular podcast was launched.

So that was a really exciting opportunity that wouldn't have come around.

Had I not gone to that event?

Do the thing that it did for me was that.

it was around the time, a little bit before launching this very show.

Gave me an opportunity to, to share that news with a few

people before the launch date.

To build a little bit of excitement about that new thing, but I was,

I'm putting out into the world.

So that was really great for me too.

Um, Particularly excited about this year's event, though.

And, um, without being too self-indulgent.

I just wanted to share that if you didn't know already that I actually

am one of the nominees this year.

I've actually been nominated, as a finalist in the chartered architectural

technologist of the year category.

Which, I'm hugely honored about and I have to Fang thank, fellow

architectural technologist, Travis Smith for the nomination.

So thank you very much, Trevor, for that.

It's much appreciated.

But the basis for the nomination is for the work that I've been doing.

On this very podcast.

So I'm hugely proud of that in itself and whether or not I win or not.

Doesn't really matter.

Just going to raise the level of excitement on the day for me.

So I'm thoroughly, thoroughly looking forward to it.

And I wish all the other nominees, the best of luck.

So.

If you sitting on the fence about going to an event like the ATA awards

then, or the ATA awards itself.

And you haven't been to something like this before.

Uh, maybe, maybe it feels a little bit outside of your comfort zone and you

sort of wondering, well, If I'm not a nominee, like why would I bother,

like, I was not a nominee last year.

And it was.

It was outside of my comfort zone a year ago.

But I went anyway.

And I was so glad that I dates.

I got, a great opportunity to meet.

Like-minded people that are all the same industry that I've been

working in for many, many years.

And it was a real pleasure to just spend some time with them.

And it was just a really fun social event.

Friendly.

It wasn't, it wasn't too formal.

It was really relaxed.

It wasn't stuffy and it was just a heck of a lot of fun.

I've been even at a, a great band in the background as well.

The awards part, the speeches and things.

It didn't go on for hours.

It wasn't like, oh, you know, oh, here comes the boring bit.

We're going to have to set a weight now for ages.

It wasn't like that at all.

So it was a really good event.

And I would say if you are sitting on the fence about coming to the ATO

awards, Or any of the similar event, but your professional organization or,

Another professional body within the architecture industry, this being run.

I just get yourself a ticket and get yourself there.

Like you really got nothing to lose.

If you do want to go to the AT awards in particular though this year

you are going to have to hurry up.

If you don't already have your ticket, I believe the tickets are.

Available for a round about a week.

I think maybe you've got sort of seven days to grab your ticket from the day

that this episode has been published.

So you really do need to get your skates on.

I'll put a link in the show notes.

If you are minded to go and grab yourself a ticket.

And if you do, then I look forward to meeting you there in person.

Okay until next week.

Take care guys.

Next time I'm joined by Martin hunt batch to talk about lead generation.

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