The Final Curtain Falls on This One-Man Show

During the nine years I have been in business I have always been a one-man show. I learned to leverage technology to seemingly eliminate the need for employees and somewhat free up my time so I could knock out the best 3d models possible. Endless tasks outside my realm of expertise fell on my plate. As a one-man show I ate them up by learning new skills and chalked up those unbillable hours to a learning experience.

During this time I convinced myself that my one-man show saved me money and gave me full control over every aspect of my business. In hindsight I realize that most times I was stretched so thin that this was just an illusion of control. I didn't have enough time to make a decision let alone take action, which inevitably lead to missed opportunities.

[Enter Daniel Tal]

I met Daniel at the 2011 AIA conference in New Orleans on a bus headed back to the hotel. His reputation as being “the man” for organic and site modeling preceded him. You haven't lived until you have watched Daniel model the Disney Opera house in real time.

After chatting about the events of the ongoing conference, Daniel wrapped up our conversation by saying, “you need to write a book, I can help you”. I agreed but doubtfully thought to myself, “how is that ever going to happen?” Within three weeks of our chance encounter I had submitted a book proposal and received a contract from Wiley.  I was amazed at Daniel’s ability to aim high and follow through strong. In my opinion it is very rare to see this kind of immediate and selfless action. I truly appreciated it.

During the two years it took to grind out “The SketchUp Workflow for Architecture”, Daniel and I would meet about once a month at the REI Starbucks.  We bounced ideas around, fished for advice, and at times griped about the challenges that we both faced daily as a one-man show.  Once we had published our books this past spring we continued our monthly meetings and eventually asked each other a simple question, “why are we still doing this alone?”.

In the past I had considered partnering, but it always seemed impossible to find an equal, yet complementary skill set and work ethic in someone else. I have worked with many talented professionals over the years, but never found the right ally until Daniel Tal. (Bonus: We live 15 minutes from each other in Denver)

We incorporated as “Brightman Tal” in May 2013, opened our doors in June, and hired our first employee in July.  Over the summer we have been jamming out projects and evolving in ways I never could have imagined on my own. It still blows my mind when tasks are completed without me lifting a finger, something I can easily get used to!

I bring experience in architecture while Daniel brings a background in landscape architecture. Collectively we have published three books, worked on hundreds of projects, and trained thousands of professionals to use our custom techniques and workflows.

My past endeavors, See Before Building and Bright Ideas Consultants, and Daniel’s company, Ambit 3d, are now rolled into one tasty burrito of streamlined services smothered with 25 years of combined 3d experience. Brightman Tal offers modeling, rendering, drafting, and training services. Visit www.brightmantal.com to learn how we can help you make your projects a success. Follow us on several social media platforms to stay casually informed. Finally, don’t hesitate to call today to discuss your project!