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The Architect Mindset: Six Skills to Make You a Stronger Salesforce Professional
One of my favorite parts of working in the Salesforce ecosystem is the opportunity to work with many incredibly talented admins, analysts, consultants, developers, project managers, and architects.
As I grew in my Salesforce consulting career, I started to see a pattern. There were specific individuals that consistently delivered successful projects. Some were project managers, others were architects, and others were consultants or developers. And their success didn’t really depend on the project size, industry, or team. These “Rockstar” team members each possessed their own unique mix of skills. I surveyed colleagues and clients to help identify the skills that help someone succeed. The survey identified six specific skills that were found in top performers.
Each one provides benefits to any Salesforce role. But the combination of multiple skills shapes the way one approaches problems. I call this combination of skills “The Architect Mindset”. It provides a framework to tackle problems, work with stakeholders and achieve successful Salesforce projects.
In this book, we’ll be diving deep into each of the six skills outlined by the survey. Where appropriate, I’ll share real-world examples and scenarios that I’ve encountered. First, we’ll discuss the process of setting expectations. In my opinion, this is the most critical factor in the success or failure of a Salesforce project. If expectations aren’t set and maintained, projects are at great risk.
Next, we’ll dive into database architecture. Knowing how databases are constructed, and how that translates to Salesforce provides crucial context for design decisions. This foundational knowledge informs the logic behind Salesforce best practices and limits.
With that background, we will talk about balancing technical debt in chapter 4. Every customization in Salesforce carries some debt, so it is crucial to understand the impacts. You’ll learn how to merge processes and systems in the best way possible.
Understanding the impact of debt will often require you to deny requests. So, in chapter 5, we’ll discuss the importance of saying “no, but…”. You need to protect the org, but present alternatives to keep things moving forward.
In chapter 6, we’ll talk about the importance of designing for your end users. Adoption is a key metric in any Salesforce project. An incredible solution that goes unused is just wasted effort. So, go directly to the source when you try to solve a problem.
Finally, we’ll talk about the importance of documentation. From project documents, to internal Salesforce documentation, making things accessible and useful for your audience will reduce rework and issues.
As I grew in my Salesforce consulting career, I started to see a pattern. There were specific individuals that consistently delivered successful projects. Some were project managers, others were architects, and others were consultants or developers. And their success didn’t really depend on the project size, industry, or team. These “Rockstar” team members each possessed their own unique mix of skills. I surveyed colleagues and clients to help identify the skills that help someone succeed. The survey identified six specific skills that were found in top performers.
Each one provides benefits to any Salesforce role. But the combination of multiple skills shapes the way one approaches problems. I call this combination of skills “The Architect Mindset”. It provides a framework to tackle problems, work with stakeholders and achieve successful Salesforce projects.
In this book, we’ll be diving deep into each of the six skills outlined by the survey. Where appropriate, I’ll share real-world examples and scenarios that I’ve encountered. First, we’ll discuss the process of setting expectations. In my opinion, this is the most critical factor in the success or failure of a Salesforce project. If expectations aren’t set and maintained, projects are at great risk.
Next, we’ll dive into database architecture. Knowing how databases are constructed, and how that translates to Salesforce provides crucial context for design decisions. This foundational knowledge informs the logic behind Salesforce best practices and limits.
With that background, we will talk about balancing technical debt in chapter 4. Every customization in Salesforce carries some debt, so it is crucial to understand the impacts. You’ll learn how to merge processes and systems in the best way possible.
Understanding the impact of debt will often require you to deny requests. So, in chapter 5, we’ll discuss the importance of saying “no, but…”. You need to protect the org, but present alternatives to keep things moving forward.
In chapter 6, we’ll talk about the importance of designing for your end users. Adoption is a key metric in any Salesforce project. An incredible solution that goes unused is just wasted effort. So, go directly to the source when you try to solve a problem.
Finally, we’ll talk about the importance of documentation. From project documents, to internal Salesforce documentation, making things accessible and useful for your audience will reduce rework and issues.
168 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2021
26 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Chris Gardner
56 books215 followersChristopher Gardner is the owner and CEO of Gardner Rich LLC with offices in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. Conquering grave challenges to become a successful entrepreneur, Gardner is an avid motivational and aspirational speaker, addressing the keys to overcoming obstacles and breaking cycles. Gardner is also a passionate philanthropist whose work has been recognized by many esteemed organizations.
The amazing story of Gardner’s life was published as an autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, (Amistad/Harper Collins) in May 2006, and became a New York Times and Washington Post #1 bestseller. In paperback, the book spent over twenty weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into fourteen languages. Gardner was also the inspiration for the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness,” released by Columbia Pictures in December 2006. The movie is the #2 all-time domestic grossing drama. Will Smith starred as Gardner and received Academy Award, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations for his performance. Gardner was an associate producer on the film.
Gardner’s second book, Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be will be published on May 12, 2009.
Born February 9, 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Christopher Paul Gardner’s childhood was marked by poverty, domestic violence, alcoholism, sexual abuse and family illiteracy. Gardner published his autobiography out of a desire to shed light on these universal issues and show they do not have to define you. Gardner never knew his father, and lived with his beloved mother, Bettye Jean Triplett (nee Gardner), when not in foster homes. Gardner is indebted to Bettye Jean for his success as she provided him with strong “spiritual genetics” and taught him that in spite of where he came from, he could chart another path and attain whatever goals he set for himself.
Gardner joined the Navy out of high school and then moved to San Francisco where he worked as a medical research associate and for a scientific medical supply distributor. In 1981, as a new father to son Christopher Gardner Jr., he was determined to find a career that would be both lucrative and fulfilling. Fascinated by finance, but without connections, an MBA or even a college degree, Gardner applied for training programs at brokerages, willing to live on next to nothing while he learned a new trade. Chris Jr.‘s mother left and Gardner, despite his circumstances, fought to keep his son because, as he says, “I made up my mind as a young kid that when I had children they were going to know who their father is, and that he isn’t going anywhere.”
Gardner earned a spot in the Dean Witter Reynolds training program but became homeless when he could not make ends meet on his meager trainee salary. Today, Gardner is involved with homelessness initiatives assisting families to stay intact, and assisting homeless men and women who are employed but still cannot get by. It is estimated that 12% of the homeless population in the United States is employed; in some communities that estimate is as high as 30%.
Gardner worked at Bear Stearns & Co from 1983-1987 where he became a top earner. In 1987 he founded the brokerage firm Gardner Rich in Chicago from his home with just $10,000. Gardner Rich LLC is an institutional brokerage firm specializing in the execution of debt, equity and derivative products transactions for some of the nations largest institutions, public pension plans and unions.
Dedicated to improving the well-being of children through positive paternal involvement, Gardner is a board member of the National Fatherhood Initiative, and received the group’s Father of the Year Award in 2002. He serves on the board of the National Education Foundation and sponsors two annual awards: the National Education Association’s National Educational Support Personnel Award and the American Federation of Teachers’ Paraprofessio
The amazing story of Gardner’s life was published as an autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, (Amistad/Harper Collins) in May 2006, and became a New York Times and Washington Post #1 bestseller. In paperback, the book spent over twenty weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into fourteen languages. Gardner was also the inspiration for the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness,” released by Columbia Pictures in December 2006. The movie is the #2 all-time domestic grossing drama. Will Smith starred as Gardner and received Academy Award, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations for his performance. Gardner was an associate producer on the film.
Gardner’s second book, Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be will be published on May 12, 2009.
Born February 9, 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Christopher Paul Gardner’s childhood was marked by poverty, domestic violence, alcoholism, sexual abuse and family illiteracy. Gardner published his autobiography out of a desire to shed light on these universal issues and show they do not have to define you. Gardner never knew his father, and lived with his beloved mother, Bettye Jean Triplett (nee Gardner), when not in foster homes. Gardner is indebted to Bettye Jean for his success as she provided him with strong “spiritual genetics” and taught him that in spite of where he came from, he could chart another path and attain whatever goals he set for himself.
Gardner joined the Navy out of high school and then moved to San Francisco where he worked as a medical research associate and for a scientific medical supply distributor. In 1981, as a new father to son Christopher Gardner Jr., he was determined to find a career that would be both lucrative and fulfilling. Fascinated by finance, but without connections, an MBA or even a college degree, Gardner applied for training programs at brokerages, willing to live on next to nothing while he learned a new trade. Chris Jr.‘s mother left and Gardner, despite his circumstances, fought to keep his son because, as he says, “I made up my mind as a young kid that when I had children they were going to know who their father is, and that he isn’t going anywhere.”
Gardner earned a spot in the Dean Witter Reynolds training program but became homeless when he could not make ends meet on his meager trainee salary. Today, Gardner is involved with homelessness initiatives assisting families to stay intact, and assisting homeless men and women who are employed but still cannot get by. It is estimated that 12% of the homeless population in the United States is employed; in some communities that estimate is as high as 30%.
Gardner worked at Bear Stearns & Co from 1983-1987 where he became a top earner. In 1987 he founded the brokerage firm Gardner Rich in Chicago from his home with just $10,000. Gardner Rich LLC is an institutional brokerage firm specializing in the execution of debt, equity and derivative products transactions for some of the nations largest institutions, public pension plans and unions.
Dedicated to improving the well-being of children through positive paternal involvement, Gardner is a board member of the National Fatherhood Initiative, and received the group’s Father of the Year Award in 2002. He serves on the board of the National Education Foundation and sponsors two annual awards: the National Education Association’s National Educational Support Personnel Award and the American Federation of Teachers’ Paraprofessio
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