Your Beginning-of-Summer AEC Tarot Pull
Summer in the AEC industry is its own strange little season. The traffic gets lighter. PTO calendars fill up. Kids are out of school. Summer Fridays are rampant. Somehow, despite all of this, we still have work to do.
So naturally, I consulted the cards, here’s what the universe has in store for our AEC teams this summer:
The Sun
Traditional Meaning: Joy, success and optimism.
The Sun arrives with lighter traffic, happier clients and suspiciously high confidence levels heading into Summer Fridays.
This is the season of shortlist notifications, relationship-building lunches and convincing yourself you can absolutely finish that proposal before heading to the lake.
🦊 Fox Tip: Use the slower summer pace to strengthen client relationships before pursuit season ramps back up in the fall.
The Fool
Traditional Meaning: New beginnings, spontaneity and blind optimism.
The Fool enters the chat immediately after someone says:
“Don’t worry, it’s basically done.”
Vacation schedules are overlapping. Deadlines are floating. The PM is forwarding attachments with file names like FINAL_v2_USETHISONE.pdf.
🦊 Fox Tip: Before anyone logs off for PTO, confirm deadlines, owners and the actual final file version.
Justice
Traditional Meaning: Balance, fairness and accountability.
Justice reminds us that the universe eventually restores balance.
For every 4:52 PM addendum issued before a holiday weekend, there may also be a merciful deadline extension.
🦊 Fox Tip: A clean PMP, organized file structure and proactive communication will save more pursuits than last-minute heroics ever will.
The Devil
Traditional Meaning: Temptation, attachment and unhealthy cycles.
The Devil appears when you realize you are emotionally incapable of ignoring your inbox.
Even in summer.
Especially in summer.
🦊 Fox Tip: Not every “quick update” needs to derail your entire Friday afternoon. Protect your time and your team’s bandwidth.
Temperance
Traditional Meaning: Balance, moderation and inner calm.
Temperance encourages you to embrace the mythical Summer Friday responsibly.
Take the PTO. Log off for a minute. Resist excessively checking Outlook at the airport gate.
🦊 Fox Tip: The best pursuit teams pace themselves. Burnout is not a marketing strategy.
The Star
Traditional Meaning: Hope, renewal and inspiration.
A dormant pursuit suddenly requests interviews. A client actually responds to your follow-up. Your export works correctly on the first try.
The Star reminds us that miracles are possible.
🦊 Fox Tip: Summer is a great time to revisit old connections, dormant opportunities and pursuits that may still have life in them.
— Happy summer from Emerald Fox!