tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15145597728651899992024-03-12T18:50:45.066-07:00the business of it all.Business served with a side of random interjection.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-61553811495148419362013-05-11T06:28:00.004-07:002013-05-11T06:28:33.233-07:00Moving to Word Press<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Thank you for following my blog. Based on features, and functionality I have made the decision to move to Wordpress.com.<br />
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I have imported my favorite posts to that location, and will continue to update the blog at that location.<br />
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Thanks,<br />
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<a href="http://thebusinessdude.wordpress.com/">http://thebusinessdude.wordpress.com/</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-43551573426030953972013-02-23T06:09:00.001-08:002013-02-24T15:09:25.660-08:00the situation<p dir=ltr>When getting ready to go into a problem or situation consider the following. </p>
<p dir=ltr>1. Have the right people involved.  Communicate a heads up if needed.  Your boss may want to know right away. </p>
<p dir=ltr>2. Get the facts.  What is the general time line? Keep your opinion separate. Your expert opinion will be asked,  but do not mix the two. </p>
<p dir=ltr>3. What's next?  X has happened and there is no changing it. A solid plan for execution of what is next helps show control. It also gives you a step by step.</p>
<p dir=ltr>4. Problem Solve the situation. How did it happen? Get stakeholders involved. This is a good place to put together cross functional teams. </p>
<p dir=ltr>5. Implement the process or bring attention and solution to failures. </p>
<p dir=ltr>6. Set steps to sustain. How will you check up some time from now to make sure all of this is still in place? </p>
<p dir=ltr>Without a good process you may end up repeating this over and over. Take the time to do it right the first time.  If you do not have time to do it right now,  how will you have time to do it again later?</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-61477564313400990512013-02-22T16:19:00.001-08:002013-02-23T06:28:16.440-08:00learn to filter <p dir=ltr>A filter is a very important tool.  The good stuff goes in and the bad stuff stays out; nothing too complicated about it. There are various types and sizes for a wide array of jobs. The concept of filter is also used by many when referring to a person's sense of control or tact. I have found that not only is this important when approaching a situation but also when someone is coaching (group or individual setting). Most importantly know when to just take it.  Be quiet. An act of being candid often is a land mine,  even with familiars. There are also people in every organization that you just take it from,  unless a mission critical detail they are coaching you on is wrong...  just listen. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Along the same lines I would like to toss out the goat. DO NOT blame shift. If you have employees do not always throw them to the wolves. Most likely people know who was involved. Assigning the fault without being asked or making sure you vocalize "who" can have adverse effects. Your people's view may see you as selling them out and other people may look at how you failed the people; how did your leadership fail. The later will probably happen anyway but accept the coaching opportunity for what it is.  PDCA and move on. </p>
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I once read an article which stated during a shark attack seals would leave ground and jump to the water to swim for safety ; despite the fact sharks cannot swim on land. I have not been able to find the article again nor know the validity of it. I did, however, find much truth if you apply it to humans. <br />
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If you think about how we handle things on average we tend to take the comfortable method for us. It does not matter that a better way may have been identified. We love the way we always have done it. Simple really. Shoes need to be broke in... jeans have the stretched waist... and our jobs have that one nuance we refuse to let go of. Comfortable. </div>
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To be new and great may be uncomfortable at times. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-40093007949341364782013-02-18T16:36:00.001-08:002013-02-19T18:32:52.341-08:00creative hour<p dir=ltr><br>
Daniel Pink, in his book DRIVE, mentioned an interesting concept that many companies have adopted. Free time.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Motivation is the fuel to invention. Consider the output if employees loved what they were doing. Well if you are struggling... we call that person an artist. We flock to see their art. Some companies understand this. Google has had many of its current projects created utilizing this creative time. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Consider letting employees get to the goal their own way using different paths.  Set aside time for people to work on passions - they can be work related. What could it hurt? </p>
<p dir=ltr>This was in USA Today:</p>
<p dir=ltr>From USA TODAY Treating employees well can pay off There's good evidence that companies who treat employees well see their stocks prosper. http://usat.ly/UEIrFg Get USA TODAY on your mobile device: http://www.usatoday.com/mobile-apps</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-35060438959485492682013-02-16T13:45:00.003-08:002013-02-17T07:21:32.863-08:00sustainability<p dir=ltr>We are quick to problem solve and fix the situation. Whether it's at work or home we want to move to the next thing.</p>
<p dir=ltr>How often do we create a step in our plan to verify our plan is still in place? How many times have issues came up and someone in your group remembers the last time this was an issue? The problem is the completion of the circle.  As a part of your plan make sure that an additional step at the end involves coming back to the problem for a review later.  If your solution was embedded into the culture <u>then</u> the situation will have been addressed based on the original plan. If the issue came about again then the solution was not correct or being followed. </p>
<p dir=ltr>What are you doing to sustain your plan? </p>
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The key to any process is the ability to measure the results. Not an opinion based, fan liking grade, but a measure that indicates your trend. Are you in the green - or in the red? If the desired output or goal of a task is not measurable then how can you create personal or team building plans? In the end the job is subjective only to the review. The performance is based on your boss or peers and the perception created by you.<div>
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When you create a KPI (key process indicator) you are stating the results in a measurable form. Maybe that will be a graph with desired numbers as the baseline and the weekly results from your team. The KPI allows reaction. When you are not making the goal - troubleshoot the process. Bring in the "big guns." In the end, it is very clear when action should have been taken and when results were going in the right direction. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-25790814711195436392013-01-08T06:00:00.000-08:002013-01-08T06:00:05.111-08:00What are we waiting for? Re: Seth Godin's Blog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I do not know what we are waiting for (before we start something). There is no reason for waiting other than the... well nothing. We find reasons to halt, or postpone, or not do whatever it is that we "wanted" to. Sometimes people boast about an idea to bring purpose or quite possibly attention to his or her situation. The idea is just that - a mental image of creation with no roots. The planting of the idea is work and the non committal will let it cease at that. Stake your claim; name it and claim it. Take the idea and break it out of the box. Create a small process map - use some stickie notes... just get it down on paper. With a road map you are more likely to take a piece by piece until the idea is a reality. Take the road map and make some actionable items. Of course, there is more to it than just thinking about it, but without the inspiration to create and the dedication to start down the yellow brick road we will never make it to your Oz.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There is an old formula that I have always appreciated: Work = Force X Distance. It does not matter how much you push, or think about it the lack of actual movement does not create the desired solution.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent;"><a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/12/what-you-waiting-for.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29">Seth's Blog post can be found here.</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-56834883932706948102013-01-07T06:00:00.000-08:002013-01-07T06:00:13.269-08:00Silently leading can be misleading<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
At a young age children<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kids_Say_the_Darndest_Things" target="_blank"> kids will say and do the darndest things, which also stems from a show hosted by Bill Cosby.</a> The things that they say may seem to be no big deal while they are little but remember that they will grow up. "What is not cute at 3 will not be cute at 13," my wife says to me.While on break at work one day I started to think about, what is called in the business world as, Silent Leadership. Silent Leadership is the type of leading, managing or supervising a person or situation where your lack of attention to a detail can actual send the wrong messages.<br />
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<a href="http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/images/20111225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/images/20111225.jpg" width="400" /></a>Consider a younger child and how we may take certain phrases or actions into consideration for their age. A three year old that hits or is mean to animals. A eight year old that continuously destroys his or her things. Or quite possibly a two year old that says "I don't like you." First - if you have older children - what would you say if the older child said that to you? "They're a kid...just let them be." This may not always be the case. By not acting at early stages in some cases we often let seeds grow that will be much harder to address later. The Silent Leadership, or lack of leadership, is accepting of the behaviors simply by doing nothing at all. As the child grows so does the forest that was planted prior. Behaviors are the fruits of seeds planted long before.The same theory would apply to sin. Most hideous sins as an adult do not start out grotesque but simple. In no way am I proposing that taking a piece of gum at the store at age two will end up at prison, only that we should take heed to much more than some do. The same way that I am not saying to be the office police. I am only suggesting that we either stand for the right - or accept the consequences later.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-44589388318069251292013-01-06T14:10:00.000-08:002013-01-06T14:10:02.528-08:00Speak the Same Language: Units of Measure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://thebingomaker.com/bingo-cards/tools-bingo-cards/units-of-measurement-bingo-cards/Units-of-Measurement-bingo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://thebingomaker.com/bingo-cards/tools-bingo-cards/units-of-measurement-bingo-cards/Units-of-Measurement-bingo.png" width="200" /></a>When having a conversation with someone it is imperative that you are on the "same page." When explaining the cost to your boss - or a team - what is the common metric understood? If there are 10 pallets or boxes of product identified in this discussion will everyone understand the details? How many cases are on the pallet? How many units in the box? If you are the line manager or directly involved with that process or it is your product you most likely will know. However, in our complex operations that is a false assumption, that everyone will know. The other members of management are not directly involved and will not comprehend. Consider using pounds, or discussing dollars involved. Using those examples each member can relate to what a pound is, and everyone understand dollar significance. Once the same terms are levied an agreeable outcome can be determined with the same end in mind.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-50873067402869078632012-12-09T17:37:00.000-08:002013-01-01T08:03:24.120-08:00Planning is a guess<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.baymard.com/blog/ab-testing-problem-hypothesis-full-size.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://assets.baymard.com/blog/ab-testing-problem-hypothesis-full-size.png" width="141" /></a></div>Planning is an educated guess, an informed hypothesis. When an outcome differs something went wrong in the design of our thoughts or the formation of things as they were supposed to happen. We need to be adaptable. Able to move swiftly and reorganize using the new situation, game pieces, or objects. The best ideas were formed over time. Each one proofed by trial and error. Theory becomes law once proven or debugged.<br /><br />Simply put: PDCA.<br /><br />God Bless,<br /><br />Joe</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-1321948919249882522012-11-18T07:52:00.001-08:002013-01-01T08:13:18.544-08:00Young Bird Dogs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.filson.com/filson-life/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/A_080909_8872B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www.filson.com/filson-life/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/A_080909_8872B.jpg" width="320" /></a>There will be many things that come your way in life that sound great. So great, in fact, that you want to jump on the idea. The next step is the defining moment. A bird dog in his or her career (well it is) faces this same thing every hunt but the defining moments are based on the age, training and overall experience of the dog. The younger bird dog will go after the first set of birds and then if another set were to raise jump at those losing some control in the situation. Everything is an opportunity worth hunting! The older bird dog takes a group and patently stalks until the right opportunity. The veteran is not distracted until the right moment - regardless of other set backs along the way, such as a neighboring group stir...<br />
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We too, do this. Sometimes the most amazing offers or ideas will come your way. It is OK to pass if it does not feel right or fit the current plan (now). It will not be the only thing amazing or creative to ever happen. The house that seems perfect but a little out of your range, is just that - out of your range. The business idea that is out of scope of this project should be put on a parking lot list. Whatever your situation, remember the "new" will fade. Once that does - would it still be the right decision?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-14436945677215608592012-11-07T02:00:00.001-08:002013-01-01T14:50:08.003-08:00Failing (Forward!)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
While watching the outcomes of the election this year I heard a phrase that I like. Regardless of who I prefer in an election, I do like, and always have liked, the thought of<a href="http://www.barackobama.com/forward/" target="_blank"> "Forward!" Popularized by President Obama</a>, I think that this plays a large part in our lives as parents. In fact, there is a popular <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Failing-Forward-Turning-Mistakes-Stepping/dp/0785288570/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352261285&sr=1-1&keywords=john+maxwell+failing+forward" target="_blank">John Maxwell book entitled <i><u>Failing Forward</u>. </i></a><br />
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The concept is this: Learn from the present and adapt. Take the so called failures and use them towards our advantage. This is more than a "learn from your mistakes" concept. Own the failure and adapt. Make a plan on what you want to happen.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDCA" target="_blank"> Take that plan and perform against it. Check the results from the plan you performed. Make some adjustments and start the plan again. This is not a science, but a business proven model to continually improve the results.</a> If we were to simply acknowledge a mistake and take a completely new path then you are essentially starting over. If you were to do nothing and continue the pattern that lead to the failure then you are insane, as<a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/alberteins133991.html" target="_blank"> indicated by Albert Einstein. (His idea of insanity was to perform the same actions expecting different results.) </a></div>
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Adapt. Fail Forward!</div>
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God Bless - Joe</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-21270751130959382092011-09-08T21:16:00.000-07:002013-02-15T20:16:27.293-08:00Work = Force X Distance<p dir=ltr>We can look busy and not be doing anything.</p>
<p dir=ltr>I have always enjoyed the formula w = f x d. The definition of work is an effort applied with movement.  To simply imply work without results is almost agreeing with Einstein's insanity. <br>
One may say that work needs a proof.  Results show that we did something.  Regardless of the amount of dedication or efforts applied no results do not indicate the needed proof. Thus, an invalid formula.  So in all that you do for yourself are you getting anywhere?  If you are not then why pour the efforts into it? Maybe it's not work and it's just craziness. </p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-19779629399754757812011-08-26T16:11:00.000-07:002011-09-08T09:10:35.999-07:00A Career Poker Hand: Play to stay in the game.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So you are in a position that you never thought you would be in. Whether it is a job that pays less or possibly new assignments that you do not feel deserved. Or quite possibly you are in a place where your manager and you do not see eye to eye. Maybe you are uncertain of a future - or worse, worried about changes you think may happen. Simply put: Don't gamble.This week I have found myself handing out misc. advice that was handed to me by a very wise person in addition to what I have learned through trial and error. <br />
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<a href="http://www.vinodnarayan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/A-game-of-poker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.vinodnarayan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/A-game-of-poker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Some time ago I realized what my mentor was saying and how impacting it was! I was used to being a key player but found myself slipping through the cracks. At the time, of course, it was all my manager's fault; worst manager ever - had to be... I realized later that was not the case I had a lot of learning to do. If you find yourself struggling here are a few quick tips to get you through the tunnel.<br />
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<b><u>1. Play to stay in the game.</u></b> There will be points in your career that you will never feel like you are ahead. Other times may be working in a position you dislike. Regardless, this is the time to manage your poker hand. Don't put all your loot in the pot making big risky decisions; be conservative. You simply want to focus hand by hand and outlast the other players or issues.<br />
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<u><b>2. Learn how to prioritize and maintain tasks.</b></u> This is usually the beginning of the dominoes. When people start missing fundamentals it is a good indicator that a priority system is failing. I am still trying to grow in this field but have developed a couple of tricks that have worked well for me.<br />
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Organize your emails by folders. I have several folders that help me to keep up with emails needing reply, outstanding follow ups etc. A couple examples are Follow up, Follow up - completed, My Manager, Safety, etc. However, be careful not to create so many folders that you lose track of where you actually filed it! For the My Manager folder, I have set up a rule in <a href="http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/">Microsoft Outlook</a> to place a copy of each email my manager sends. My thoughts are this, in the event that I miss an email, I chose for it not to be one that my manager sends. In the Follow up email folder I drag to do's; as they are completed I move to the Completed folder. With a few clicks I can delete those to avoid taking up any space. In addition I put routine tasks on my calendar so they will "pop up" to remind me. For items with action items and dates (usually longer term than the follow up folder) I drag the email to my calendar and set up a due date.<a href="http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/"> A good source for how to use Microsoft Outlook, follow this link</a><br />
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<a href="http://lifeatthebar.wordpress.com/2006/07/03/urgent-or-important/">Understand the difference between urgent and important and urgent, but not important.</a> For example if there is a shortage of a production supply or presentation deadline I would propose that to be pretty urgent and important. A ringing phone is also urgent yet even though the urgency is there it is most likely less important than what you are doing. Use a quick check to see: If you were in a self review meeting with your boss - would you answer that phone call? If the call is your boss I would probably answer it, yet I may ask him or her if I could call her back. Next, remember to make a note to call him or her back. <a href="http://sidsavara.com/personal-development/nerdy-productivity-coveys-time-management-matrix-illustrated-with-xkcd-comics">Covey explains this very well.</a><br />
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<u><b>3. 3P (Cache).</b></u> I use a clipboard to keep up with the things that I need to accomplish. You may use a briefcase, or a portfolio style organizer. On the clip board I have three folders. One is labeled <b>people, </b>another <b>process </b>and the last is the current <b>project</b> that I am working on. The <b>people </b>folder is a combination of things to do with my staff. As I collect things I place them in this folder and then pass out or complete them as needed. The <b>process</b> folder is the same as people but daily operations. As emails, forms, audits etc. are handed to me they go in there; again they are emptied out as they are completed. Lastly, the <b>project</b> which is dedicated solely for the current thing I am focusing on. The <b>project</b> folder will most likely contain the most data as it will continue to grow. Once the <b>project </b>is finished it will be stored away in a file cabinet. There is a warning though with these folders. Aside from the noted <b>project</b> folder the others are <b>TEMPORARY.</b> As items are completed they need to be shredded or filed but not stay in the folder. If you do not use the cache as designed - it will become an overwhelming mess. Much like an unattended email inbox. Longer term files need to be stored in a cabinet or like device. Name the files whatever you wish - the cache concept is the key take-away.<br />
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Even with the ideas that have worked for me; I am still continually adapting and growing my discipline to stay on top of things in this multi-social-communication world. Sometimes in the chaos of the current situation, no matter how dismal there is a solution that will solve it all. Other times, however, one must go back to the basics, get some discipline and play to stay in the game.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-3520905653818772082010-02-21T15:51:00.000-08:002010-02-22T17:57:26.177-08:00Updated Links: Barter & Trade: Bring it back.A few days ago, I posted an<a href="http://thebusinessofitall.blogspot.com/2010/02/barter-trade-bring-it-back.html"> entry about Bartering</a>. Since, that time I have created a<a href="http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages&tid=1254669322550#%21/group.php?gid=353945472500"> Facebook page</a> to support that concept and looked into several websites that embody the concept of barter. Below, you will find the links, and also a short description about them.<br />
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<a href="http://help.barterquest.com/attachments/token/0mzjv5elrz2s0f6/?name=summary_05trade.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://help.barterquest.com/attachments/token/0mzjv5elrz2s0f6/?name=summary_05trade.png" width="200" /></a><b></b><a href="http://www.barterquest.com/%20"><b>BarterQuest </b>is a cashless trading site</a>. A trade occurs when a user makes an offer (or counter offer), another user accepts the offer, and the first user confirms the trade. (In the case of a MultiParty trade involving three or more users, the trade is automatically confirmed when all parties have accepted.) The following explains how to use our site.<br />
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You can also view more information about trading by visiting the help desk portion of their site. <a href="http://barterquest.zendesk.com/forums/29911/entries/93557">http://barterquest.zendesk.com/forums/29911/entries/93557</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.swaptree.com/images/howdoesthiswork.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://www.swaptree.com/images/howdoesthiswork.gif" width="320" /></a></div><b><a href="http://swaptree.com/">SwapTree.com</a></b> is another barter trading site. I could not find a true "about me" other than the photo below, so I signed up and began experimenting. It is actually much like a dating site. You put up your wants and likes, and it will match you with someone who has the opposite. (Your want is their has, and theirs is yours etc.) This one appears to be the best. However, I cannot tell you a success rate of traded items at this point.<br />
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This site does seem to be a bit more limited than <a href="http://barterquest.com/">BarterQuest.com</a>, yet much more user friendly. <br />
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Lastly, I will briefly mention <a href="http://www.paperbackswap.com/">http://www.paperbackswap.com</a> which is a paperback book trading site. I never really enjoyed the idea of this site. I have been a member for some time and yet to make a trade. It has always been much easier to go to <a href="http://www.halfpricebooks.com/">Half Price Books. </a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-34984366355961953212010-02-20T07:24:00.000-08:002010-02-20T07:24:39.442-08:00Powerful SpeechesAmazing speech. Examine how he empathizes with the team, exploits his weaknesses. Yet, he shows knowledge, and determination and pulls the team back in. Consider what you say - how you say it and realize in 2 mins. the team turned around and won the game.<br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vVkh8nkKPW0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vVkh8nkKPW0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-42110884179920332682010-02-16T15:33:00.000-08:002010-02-16T17:32:26.989-08:00Barter & Trade: Bring it back.I have heard about it in a text book as a way of life "back when." I can only relate to trading my entire baseball card collection for a Dynamo bike. (That is a stunt bike). Yet, the idea does have promise... What would it be like to barter now, in today's world?<br />
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Well, consider the world as you know it. Everything requires cash. Even cash is not accepted in some areas - where electronic funds or plastic are required. You purchase a house, you must have the money - or have someone with money to pay for you. Then you pay them money for the money they paid you to pay someone else. Well - it's the truth. The same applies to most major purchases. So, in light of breaking it down to smaller level because no one that I know has $100,000 to toss around, what about going to the grocery (or grocery store, depending on what part of the country you are from)? When you want to purchase meals for your family to eat, or foods to prepare the meal, cash is tendered to the store of choice. Now, try to follow me as I paint outside the box...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thesneeze.com/art/loose_art/hobo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.thesneeze.com/art/loose_art/hobo.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>The item you purchased... Let us say that it is a can of soup. What ingredients are in the soup? What about the can? Label? As I break down each item below, I will take a look at it from a high view. Granted, I do not know the entire process per item, but am simply trying to paint a picture. Each portion of the process adds money, which will later lead to the topic sentence that I laid out to write this. <br />
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The Label: Pre printed from a supplier of materials to the company making the soup. The soup company buys from the material supplier and incorporates into the cost model, or cost to make the product. The material supplier creates fees or cost of making the label based on the inks and paper (more than likely two separate companies), which are purchased from another company who then pays his or her employees (X's 2 remember we are looking at paper <b>and </b>ink) <br />
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The Can: Purchased from a supplier of materials to the company making the soup. The soup company buys from the material supplier and incorporates into the cost model, or cost to make the product. Let's just assume that that can material is purchased material and Jim Bob's Ore company makes some money and pays his/her employees.<br />
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Now look at each of the other items. The above two were merely to get you thinking. What about the meats? Further processed by the soup maker from the "ready to eat" company which may or may not be the slaughter facility... Each of these has employees. Many of the other companies involved have multiple materials - but look at the salt, corn syrup, hydrogenized... and every other word you cannot say. There are SEVERAL other material suppliers involved. Not one supplies all of them, but some many supply more than one. Each of these companies has to pay the bottom line. Which means that a cost is instituted, and passed on to the next person or company until it gets to you who pay for each part of the processes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/LaborNote.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/LaborNote.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Now, where the heck am I going with all of this? I have had, for some time, a fetish for bartering. Most PC's that I work on have bartered fee's. The websites that I have done, are based on some form of barter. <a href="http://www.bing.com/Dictionary/search?q=define+barter&FORM=DTPDIA">Barter is by definition</a>, is <span class="DefQuick"></span><span class="DefBody">to exchange goods or services in return for other goods or services. Many cultures still do this by trading handmade garments or livestock for other items. Some of the more civilized versions used currency or notes to indicate what was owed. Still, I do not think it has to be that complex. I think the simply beauty of having your own items to give in exchange for something else is amazing. Part of this thought process comes from a movie, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0439511/">a documentary, called Commune</a>. Granted that<i><u><b> I do not agree with many things in the movie</b></u></i> - there are some great truths to the governance of life. The idea to farm and make your own produce. Why would you need to go to a store to purchase "organtic?" You would be aware of every additive to your process. You would not have to work to go to the store to purchase a can of soup which has hundreds to thousand of people involved. You would have made it. Not to mention that the time you spent away from home to get that money so the company you worked for could make profits... Or the sales tax on the money you worked for so that other people can perform their jobs... </span><br />
<a href="http://www.artistsurvivalskills.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/barter-thumb.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.artistsurvivalskills.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/barter-thumb.gif" width="155" /></a><span class="DefBody"><br />
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<span class="DefBody">Look... this subject could go on and on. I could break it down to taxes, the complex part of the processes such as companies involved, lack of family togetherness (working outside the home) or simply enjoyment of working a good days work, making your own living and being rewarded from that. The simplicity of life without the media selling you things or even being a part of your life. The community being a large<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmer%27s_market"> "farmer's market"</a> where you trade goods for goods or services. Simply put we've made things way too difficult. </span><br />
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<span class="DefBody">Bring barter back.<a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=353945472500&ref=nf"> Visit the FaceBook Fan Page here.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Soup Image retrieved from http://www.thesneeze.com/art/loose_art/hobo.jpg, on 02.16.10</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Labor Certificate retrieved from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/LaborNote.JPG on 02.16.10 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Circle of Trade retrieved from http://www.artistsurvivalskills.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/barter-thumb.gif on 02.16.10</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-6184155561741199812010-02-14T06:55:00.000-08:002010-02-16T15:33:55.552-08:005 - S Your Life<a href="http://www.bing.com/reference/semhtml/5S_%28methodology%29?fwd=1&qpvt=5+s&src=abop&q=5+s">5-S </a>- you may ask? What is that? More than likely it is something that you do - in many instances of your life. Clean out the clutter and put things away.<a href="http://www.bing.com/reference/semhtml/5S_%28methodology%29?fwd=1&qpvt=5+s&src=abop&q=5+s"> 5-S</a> stands for <i>Sort, Straighten, Sanitize, Standardize, and Sustain. </i>It is a part of a lean journey where the waste is removed. Directly, you may remove waste by the discarding of unused items. Indirectly, you may gain time, or make your task more efficient.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lizette.i.ph/photo/d/760-1/DSC02131.JPG?g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lizette.i.ph/photo/d/760-1/DSC02131.JPG?g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT" width="240" /></a></div>Consider the following: Imagine a day that you were late for work. The alarm clock "did not" go off and you are frantically running around your house. The "Flight of the Bumble Bee" is playing in the background. Thing about your clothes. Now, knowing that you are late - find what you need in the pictured room.<br />
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The very thought is a logistical nightmare! Yes, I will admit that my room does look like this, but this is not my room. However, I never claimed to be efficient in the process of keeping my room clean. Regardless, it is a point that relates from the largest of manufacturing plants down to something you do everyday.<br />
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The idea of lean, which is what <a href="http://www.bing.com/reference/semhtml/5S_%28methodology%29?fwd=1&qpvt=5+s&src=abop&q=5+s">5-S</a> is a part of, is waste reduction. In this case it is time by removing all the items that you are not using. If you find that you are using all the items - great - except we must now organize. It is an art as well as a discipline. When you begin this journey in your home it will take some time to establish. Consider small things first. Go through your sock drawer and remove all the unmatched socks. Match all the socks while you are there. Make sure your socks have a certain spot, your shirts, your jeans, your shoes, etc. Everything has a<b> SPECIFIC</b> place. This is not the hard part by the way. The use of the system is the easy part and you will be very thankful for it when you get accustomed to it. I must warn you, the hard part, will be to put everything back the <b>SAME WAY, EVERY TIME. </b>Everything has a place, and everything in its place.Once you have the standard set - label it. Place a label that can work for everyone. Make it kid friendly too! If you set up a standard process - and find yourself deviating take a moment and revisit the process. If you place your socks in drawer 4 and your map says the socks belong in the other room - should you adjust your map? Your standard process should also be realistic, and adaptable. I caution the adaption portion - only if your plan changes the standard. If your plan does not change, and you just start adapting here and there based on "time" or "laziness" then you have broken your process and the 5-S will crumble. However, you may get to play the "Flight of the Bumble Bee" song.<a href="http://www.playlist.com/searchbeta/results/273537809"> If you just want to hear the song, go to this site.</a><br />
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One last visual to help you understand the effects of 5-S. Consider a word search puzzle. Consider the length of time that you spend looking for the words. The diagonal, vertical, and horizontal words that cross or share letters - even the really tricky ones that go backwards. Now if the words were already circled, or listed out in the same order or manner so they were easy to pick out - how long would that puzzle actually take?<br />
<a href="http://webscripts.softpedia.com/screenshots/Word-Search-Game-24400.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://webscripts.softpedia.com/screenshots/Word-Search-Game-24400.png" width="400" /></a><br />
Once you have this down, consider all of the other things that you could do? The garage, your tool box, the cupboards, etc. Other examples can be found by visiting <a href="http://www.tocforme.com/5s/qa5spicturesn.html">this site of "before and after" pictures of 5-S.</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Pictures found at:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://lizette.i.ph/photo/d/760-1</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://webscripts.softpedia.com/screenshots/Word-Search-Game-24400.png/DSC02131.JPG?g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-330120890119909832010-01-09T08:09:00.000-08:002010-02-16T15:34:40.790-08:00Plastic and Modeled<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p>On a recent business trip I stayed at a very fancy hotel. Of course it was not like the MGM or anything comparable in Vegas – but for my meek salary any tiny spot of positional latitude, it was nice. Now that I have stated how far down on the totem I am, I must admit the trip was paid for by the company. That which is not already paid for will be when I submit the receipts.</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now as I prop my feet up and listen to “Bama Breeze,” by Jimmy Buffet I am pondering over the day – thoughts – and events. The song really has nothing to do with the story here – other than its significance to simplicity.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">What started this train wreck of my imagination and slight frustration? Well, upon check in to the hotel, I was asked for my name and photo ID. I handed over the requested materials. The gentleman asked me for confirmation of my stay and I nodded in affirmation. The next statement was the stray bullet. “Can I have your credit card?” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The hotel has been pre-paid by the company for which I work so I just asked him to look at the file and see that all is in good order. However, he still persisted that a credit card was due. I let the man know that I do not have one (as nice as I could without making it obvious that I was a little embarrassed/irritated). His next comment sealed the deal.”So you are not going to take any refreshments out of the room?” My reply was “No.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Well Sir, I will send someone to your room to take all the refreshments out of the room.” He commented back. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My rebuttal, “Would you like me to go now and open the door for them?” (I have something more on this later...)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.fairloanrate.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/creditcarddebt-thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://www.fairloanrate.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/creditcarddebt-thumb.jpg" width="320" /></a>This event was not the end of my day but consider the impact of the situation. We live in a society that demands we are culturally sound with amenities for every situation. I must admit that if my own personal finance was in order I would have a small credit card. However, I do not have a credit card or even a cellular phone. Thinking about this event I began to illuminate all the advertisements that I have seen recently. Many of them require a credit card for the discount, or a cellular phone so that you can be “texted” a code. <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-11-26-salvation-army-credit-cards_N.htm">Heck, even the Salvation Army (in many bigger cities) has credit card swiping capability. </a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I wonder what happened. It is almost like we are reverting to the beginning of the credit card, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_card">“Diner’s Card.”</a> It makes you exclusive. The very fact that the Salvation Army has the ability to accept credit cards is an oxymoron. Understand that the purpose is to collect more money – that many people do not carry cash today. So, to keep up to the culture they have adapted. Basic business is to adapt with the culture, however, I struggle with the other side of the coin. There will be some people who give when they cannot afford it, creating more debt for themselves, or sharing their debt. I am sure that it is the middle man being cut out. The rich get richer and the poor live rich getting more into debt with the middle man taking sides with the previous.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In a world where bigger is better and faster is more – I wonder what wall we will slam up against to realize that “hey – it is ok to just be average.” Materialism is an addiction that we must come to terms with. The prices continue to rise and the customers will continue to justify the needs. Basic Business: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_and_demand">Supply and Demand. The price will continue to rise to find the equilibrium or ideal quantity for the store to have on hand that the customers will buy.</a> Then, in many cases, the stores will offer a sale when their inventories are high to turn product. Guess what – it’s a deal only to move product. The price between sale and retail is the extra profit the store makes. Most of the items at full retail have a nice sticker on them. The splendid word that feeds the addiction is “New!” Now how is all of this rant tied in to the above?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We are expected to have money available at all times based on society. If you do not have the funds available now, then simply charge it – this will help us be culturally savvy. But, before I finish my little topic - I wanted to share a small tidbit of information. In the event that you do fall behind in your credit cards and you need to settle to get out of the compound interest rates you do have options. Before you go to bankruptcy there are options. You do have options to negotiate. I have successfully cut credit card bills up to 50% off of the collected rate. According to <a href="http://creditcard.com/">CreditCard.com</a>, the profits are very large. Which means they have room to cut fees - and still make a profit. That is the beauty of compound interest.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"></span></div><div style="color: black; font: 12px/17px Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Profitability </span></b></div><div style="color: black; font: 12px/17px Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Profits or Losses at Top 10 U.S. Credit Card Issuers in 2008</span></u><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1. Chase: $780 million profit</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2. Bank of America: $520 million profit</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3. Citi: $530 million loss</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4. American Express: $850 million profit</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">5. Capital One: $1.00 billion profit</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">6. Discover: $710 million profit</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">7. Wells Fargo: $990 million profit</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">8. HSBC: $520 million profit</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">9. US Bank: $1.07 billion profit</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">10. USAA: Not listed</span></div><div style="color: black; font: 12px/17px Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black; font: 12px/17px Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Ok - I have grossly got off topic but wanted to throw several ideas at you about this subject. The point is, we should avoid a cultural view of ourselves when looking at material items. It is ok - to not be what is expected by the worldly view or status quo. And just to cap off the blog - remember when I mentioned "more of this later" about the hotel stay. They never did remove the refreshments. He was "calling my bluff." </span></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Images of credit card trap as viewed: </span><a href="http://www.fairloanrate.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/creditcarddebt-thumb.jpg"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.fairloanrate.com</span></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-12984697591434188132009-12-31T16:25:00.000-08:002010-02-16T15:35:24.604-08:00The Dangling Carrot<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Consider a goal. Imagine the goal was able to be completed in the desired amount of time. Or maybe, the completion date would be ahead of schedule and this would be much needed "r&r" time. How does that feel? Good right? The idea of success in this picture probably makes you want to achieve the imaged goal. The reciprocal, however, would be that the goal was nowhere near completion and no definite items on the action list completed. You may be cancelling a vacation to make a deadline or putting in longer hours that you are used to. Some may the light at the end of the tunnel as a hope, or a "carrot."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/jko/lowres/jkon675l.jpg"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-decoration: none;"></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/jko/lowres/jkon675l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/jko/lowres/jkon675l.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Chest Elton and Adrian Gostick have even written a book, entitled, "The Carrot Principle." Now, that book examines more about reward systems and engages talent. The contrary would be Alfie Kohn's, "Punished by Rewards." The opposite is stated in this book. From my initial readings A+'s, Stickers, Star's etc do more harm than good. We put the focus on getting the grade, or being number 1 vs. what it means to actually do it. We, as a geo-culture (there are exceptions), focus more on the finishing line than the extended training to get there. However, this is really an age old battle of the science. Skinner or Pavlov? Do we shock them to results or build a system to reward them for results with expectations from both sides?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">My opinion is that we need to look at it as a business decision. We want to set goals, where we can. For example, let us say that you have a production workshop where you make those great items Peeps. (I could have picked anything but secretly I have a fascination / curiosity with how they are made - yucky cute sugared dipped marshmallows.) In this magical Peep Production there are two shifts, 1st and 2nd. This week you have received word that your customer is shorting orders. "INCREASE THE PRODUCTION!" Shouts the production plant planning teams. Let's explore a couple of scenarios.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">As we explore there are a couple of terms that many people will not know.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Lean is the process of removing tangible and intangible waste in a process. How to work faster, smarter, with the same results. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Efficiency is how well you are operating or doing, as compared to how you could be doing. If my machine is capable of making 100 Peeps per hour, and I only make 50, then I have a 50% efficiency. This number does not reflect the cost of making it, only machine capability. Cost would be linked, considering now that it is taking you twice as long to complete the task.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Scenario 1: The demand is there - we need production. As the foreman (or supervisor, manager, boss etc.) you instruct your crews that we are in a grave crisis situation and need all the Peeps that are possible. The shifts start. Production continues to go on, and on, and on... Every case made is one that was needed. There is no end in sight. The crews are getting tired. They enjoy the pay check but never the time to spend it. The numbers are average, about 70-75% efficiency barring any real issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Scenario 2: The demand is there - we need production. As the foreman (or supervisor, manager, boss etc.) you instruct your crews that we are in a grave crisis situation and need all the Peeps that are possible. So the schedules are placed with a 6 day work week with 500 cases per day, or 250 per shift if we were looking at it from a lean perspective 500 cases is enough to fill orders and create a safety stock. The efficiencies are running higher than normal. The shifts are averaging 80-90% efficiency. Each shift looks at the schedule and runs half.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Granted, in this example we are assuming the repeatability of the process. We are assuming predictability and sustainability. In your life, your business, or your home, you will need to make "what works best" work for you. Human form requires hope. Look at your current process or situation. Is there any incentive to continue the daily grind? This does not have to be the monthly office award for the "most (fill in the blank) completed." That will simply single out one person, annoy the rest, and actually hinder your desired goals. The annoyed will soon become numb to the incentive program and only a few will continue to get that once sought after prize. Look at the scenarios above. A simple change in the thought process allowed for everyone to partake. The schedules were attainable in less than a full shift without the risk of quality. The employees would produce the same quality of product (reference to lean) in less time and feel good about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Sometimes the grind and a paycheck are not enough to sustain a "quality of life." Consider the bigger picture when you dangle the carrot or the employees will hunger for something else or the very rewards you are going for may be a hindrance. Humans need the light at the end of the tunnel – even if not meant as a reward. They need to know that if they give it their all, sweat relentlessly for extended periods of time – they can enjoy moments away from the normal.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514559772865189999.post-6164523871807823642009-12-29T18:02:00.000-08:002010-02-16T15:35:51.335-08:00The Precautionary Principle<div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">"</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">The <b>precautionary principle</b> states that if an action or policy has suspected risk of causing harm to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public" title="Public"><span style="color: #002bb8; text-decoration: none;">public</span></a> or to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_environment" title="Natural environment"><span style="color: #002bb8; text-decoration: none;">environment</span></a>, in the absence of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_consensus" title="Scientific consensus"><span style="color: #002bb8; text-decoration: none;">scientific consensus</span></a> that harm would not ensue, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burden_of_proof" title="Burden of proof"><span style="color: #002bb8; text-decoration: none;">burden of proof</span></a> falls on those who would advocate taking the action. Effectively, this principle allows policy makers to make discretionary decisions in situations where there is evidence of potential harm in the absence of complete scientific proof. The principle implies that there is a responsibility to intervene and protect the public from exposure to harm where scientific investigation discovers a plausible risk in the course of having screened for other suspected causes. The protections that mitigate suspected risks can be relaxed only if further scientific findings emerge that more robustly support an alternative explanation. In some legal systems, as in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_European_Union" title="Law of the European Union"><span style="color: #002bb8; text-decoration: none;">law of the European Union</span></a>, the precautionary principle is also a general and compulsory principle of law."</span></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: black;">(As seen on "</span></i><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precautionary_principle"><i>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precautionary_principle</i></a><i>")</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Recently, I was listening to the radio when I first heard about this principle. For example, the “Y2K bug.” The interviewee started rambling on and how many people would argue that we never had the issue to begin with. Of course the world was going to end at the stroke of midnight on January 01, 2000. However, nothing happened. We waited.... some purchased water, food, extra health supplies, flashlights... and nothing happened. Could it have been that we blew the entire thing out of proportion? Yes, that is quite possible and even probable in that scenario. However, the other option is that we put the efforts into the problem to fix the root cause prior to the needed evidence to suggest facts that an issue could occur.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">I would hope that in the event of a discovery significant enough to attract merit of potential we would act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15463507600096739233noreply@blogger.com0