After browsing the roster of the names under which Texas surveying firms do business, I'm of the opinion that nearly all of them fall into the following categories :
1. Names chosen to be near the top in alphabetical order.
2. Names suggesting high accuracy
3. Names suggesting vigor or energy
4. Names based upon uninformative terms of surveying or technology
5. Names involving plants
6. Names with a quaint-sounding historical reference
7. Names based upon a place or service area
8. Names based upon the initials of the principal(s)
9. Names based upon that of the principal(s).
Right now, I'm thinking that the horizon of professionalism is probably around category 6, with those following No.6 being increasingly professionally acceptable until No. 9 is reached. Can anyone recall a firm name that doesn't fall into the above classification scheme? What about one that is beyond reproach from a professional standpoint that falls into 1 though 5 ?
I've worked for quite a number of firms and almost all fell into category 8 or 9. A couple of those were not so professional. From 2004-2011 I was with a firm whose name best fit your category 4, and that firm was extremely professional. So there will be exceptions to any rule.
I think that if you are selling soap your firm's name is probably a lot more important than it is when you are selling professional services.
So, where would the following names (none of which are, I hope, in use in Texas) fall in the above typology?
Lon Dinsmore & Associates, Land Surveyors
LD Land Surveying
Sutton County Surveyors
Camino Real Surveying
Cactus Patch Surveyors
Traverse Line Surveying
Super-Pro Surveyors
Precision Plus Surveying
All-Pro Surveying.
Mark Mayer, post: 377296, member: 424 wrote: I think that if you are selling soap your firm's name is probably a lot more important than it is when you are selling professional services.
I think that the point is that the nature of offering professional services is one of an open and honest transaction in which the roles are inherently unequal. That is, the surveyor should know one heckuva lot more about the service that he or she will actually render than the client may be reasonably expected to. So, any name that implies something that in fact is untrue or intended to create a false impression distorts the representations made to the client and is inherently unprofessional.
There is also an entire class of firm names that essentially misrepresent the nature of the profession. "All-Pro", for example, would be a name that implies there is something noteworthy about professional surveyors being involved in .. land surveying and that other firms may not actually meet professional standards while being, of course, required by law to meet them.
Kent McMillan, post: 377298, member: 3 wrote: So, where would the following names (none of which are, I hope, in use in Texas) fall in the above typology?
Lon Dinsmore & Associates, Land Surveyors
LD Land Surveying
Sutton County Surveyors
Camino Real Surveying
Cactus Patch Surveyors
Traverse Line Surveying
Super-Pro Surveyors
Precision Plus Surveying
All-Pro Surveying.
Super pro will obviously be the best.
Me thinks Mr. McMillan doth protest too much...about names, anyway. But could this be an indication he is attempting to conceal possibly poor business practices closer to his home base?
Would anyone in their right mind actually seek any sort of professional survey services from an immoral, shady or crime prone firm or individual? The prudent property owner would of course steer clear of such practice. I have researched statistics when it comes to individuals bearing Scotch-Irish surnames. Some of the statistics listed are quite staggering.
At one point in time more than half of all crime committed in New York City was by Irish-named individuals and accounted for 35% of all of the prostitutes arrested in that city.
At the time of the study more than half of all those committed to NYC prisons had Scotch-Irish surnames and 74% of those convicted of drunk and disorderly conduct in the study area had Scotch-Irish surnames.
Statistics don't lie. These figures indicate anyone that operates a professional practice with a name that begins with "Mc" might just be a crime waiting to happen and not have your best interests at heart. Do your homework. There is a good chance employing or seeking services from such individuals could be a disastrous endeavor.
You've been warned. Be wary of the name. 😉
It's someone else's company. Why do you worry so much about what someone else names their company? Consider using your energy on something a little more positive for betterment of the profession. Yeah I'm sure that is your intent but there are many other areas of improvement rather than worrying about names.
paden cash, post: 377305, member: 20 wrote: Would anyone in their right mind actually seek any sort of professional survey services from an immoral, shady or crime prone firm or individual? The prudent property owner would of course steer clear of such practice. I have researched statistics when it comes to individuals bearing Scotch-Irish surnames. Some of the statistics listed are quite staggering.
So, what you're saying is that anyone who chooses to offer his services to the public under his own name is telling the public too much? Should I be considering something more generic and reassuring like "Non-Oklahoma Surveying"?
TXSurveyor, post: 377309, member: 6719 wrote: It's someone else's company. Why do you worry so much about what someone else names their company?
Well, aren't many firm names essentially representations as to the firm's professional credentials or qualifications? As professional representations, they fall squarely within professional ethics and some representations that can be shown to be false or to leave a false impression would be unethical from a professional standpoint.
Naturally, if a surveyor is not working in a professional role, but is selling chicken wings or oil changes, no such restriction would apply.
Kent McMillan, post: 377332, member: 3 wrote: So, what you're saying is that anyone who chooses to offer his services to the public under his own name is telling the public too much? Should I be considering something more generic and reassuring like "Non-Oklahoma Surveying"?
Not at all. What I'm saying is that statistically there is a good chance that surveyors who utilize their Scotch-Irish surname are into possibly illegal or immoral activity, according to at least one study...possibly more.
Prospective clients need to look long and hard at whom they are hiring with fees and property values being what they are. Steering away from an obvious criminal element; I would suggest a surveyor that has a more refined sounding name, like Rothschild or Williams. With names echoing aristocracy one probably could not go wrong.
paden cash, post: 377336, member: 20 wrote: Steering away from an obvious criminal element; I would suggest a surveyor that has a more refined sounding name, like Rothschild or Williams. With names echoing aristocracy one probably could not go wrong.
Okay, but would "Sotheby's Estate Surveying" work in Oklahoma if there is a surge of orders for ALTAs there? How do Oklahoma surveyors manage to give the impression that they aren't actually FROM there? Do you use Texas mail drops or just rely upon a name that could mean Kansas or North Texas, also?
I can see how "Louvre Land Surveying - Every Survey a Masterpiece" would stop the Oklahoma client at the unpronounceable first word.
This thread requires a submarine instead of waders as the BS is too deep.
+o(
When listing positives about one's self the following may be used as desired:
Never convicted of human trafficking in the U.S. (It makes one wonder why the U.S. is singled out.)
Never confined to a maximum security penitentiary. (Perhaps a minimum or white-collar type of facility.)
Never arrested for impersonating a Supreme Court justice. (Male or female?)
Never charged with running at the pool near the sign that says, DO NOT RUN. (May have torn that tag off of a mattress, though.)
So your stance is that since you operate under your name that the public would tend to believe that your are a professional to the utmost degree? A simple Google search of Kent McMillan would lead a person to this forum, where they would find out real quick that you are far from professional and that you are difficult to communicate with, childish in the fact that you love to cause a stir and often times would rather show someone how smart you are rather than carry on a meaningul conversation.
Maybe just maybe people do a little research before hiring a surveyor down around Austin and your lack of work is what has you so bored that you spend a large amount of time on this site composing pages upon pages of runbish hoping to have someone agree with your illogical way of thinking so you can pat yourself on the back in congratulations for being the "Super Surveyor" that you always wanted to be.
Kent McMillan, post: 377333, member: 3 wrote: Well, aren't many firm names essentially representations as to the firm's professional credentials or qualifications? As professional representations, they fall squarely within professional ethics and some representations that can be shown to be false or to leave a false impression would be unethical from a professional standpoint.
Naturally, if a surveyor is not working in a professional role, but is selling chicken wings or oil changes, no such restriction would apply.
A Harris, post: 377340, member: 81 wrote: This thread requires a submarine instead of waders as the BS is too deep.
No, believe it or not there are several Oklahoma surveying firm names that come to mind that most likely were chosen to convey the impression that the firm is actually from somewhere else. I strongly suspect that the names were thought to sound classier for just that reason.
TXSurveyor, post: 377350, member: 6719 wrote: So your stance is that since you operate under your name that the public would tend to believe that your are a professional to the utmost degree?
No, my choice to practice under my own name instead of some deceptive trade name means that the public have the means to know what they are getting. If they hire me to perform a professional service, that is what they get. If you hire "All-Pro Discount Surveying", what do you get? Is it Larry, Curly, Moe, or just the tech-du-jour?
I agree there are names that don't sound professional, most of those are in and around the big cities, but just because i call Jimmy's Plumbing doesn't jimmy is showing up instead of Daryl.
A Harris, post: 377340, member: 81 wrote: This thread requires a submarine instead of waders as the BS is too deep.
+o(
Like I've always said, if you can't run with us "big dog" bullchitters, stay on the porch!
Kent McMillan, post: 377352, member: 3 wrote: If you hire "All-Pro Discount Surveying", what do you get? Is it Larry, Curly, Moe, or just the tech-du-jour?
As a savvy client; I know that the surveyor I hire must perform to the minimum standard set by the state. If they don't I am well within my full legal right to sue the firm for all damages. Why wouldn't I shop around for the cheapest? If they do a good job, I've paid the minimum. If they don't do a good job, I get them to fix it for free and I also get my money back; it's a win win for me...
Yes, Kent, you are clearly bored with your lack of interesting work!! I think being called names by an anonymous person here pretty much proves your point.
