Standardization Is The New Sexy
Standardization is the new sexy. There, I said it. We have gotten so far away from having standards and doing things in a consistent manner that what I used to consider boring, I now consider sexy. What is sexy? Something that’s desirable. Attractive. Fetching. Over...
Documenting the Simple Things
We must document the simple things. And yes, by simple I do mean easy. And if it’s easy, that means anyone can do it. Right? In theory, the answer is yes. But I think it’s important to consider that what’s easy to me might not be easy for others – and on the flip...
Beauty in a Process Map
When I reflect on my journey as a business owner and leader, I realize that I haven’t always appreciated starting with a clear view of the current state. Sometimes, you know that things need to change. Why would you "waste" time corralling all the players to...
Who Else Wants to Double Their Productivity with One Simple Technique?
How many times have you resolved to go on a diet or look for a more rewarding job only to find yourself back to your old habits within a few days? While you may be motivated to make positive changes in your life, it’s also important to use strategies that will make...
How to Have a Life Outside of Work
There’s more to life than work. But it’s not that easy to have a life outside of work in our society. People interact less in person. Everyone is obsessed with their electronic devices. Most people are genuinely pretty busy, too. However, you can have a life outside...
Working with Outsourced Providers
One of the most empowering decisions you can make in your business is the decision to outsource tasks. We enjoy outsourcing those things that we are either not good at or just have no time to do in our businesses. We have to sit down and identify our strengths and...
Detaching from the Outcome
Many, many years ago, I started reading Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch. I was really excited about reading it until I bumped into the concept of detaching from the outcome in the first ten pages or so. I couldn’t fathom a world where I should detach...
Which of the Lean Wastes Cause You The Most Pain
In the world of Lean Six Sigma, we aim to remove wastes from processes. Wastes are considered any action or step that does not add value to the customer. In other words, waste is any process that the customer does not want to pay for. For example, what if your...
Why Customers Crave Consistency
Everybody craves consistency. Sure, we like to be wowed and surprised periodically. But we don't want to be underwhelmed. One of my favorite things to do as a lover of food is to try new restaurants. I have my own proprietary algorithm for determining where to dine...