logical thinking process

Guest Blogger: H. William "Bill" Dettmer, Jonah's Jonah Logical Thinking Process THE ULTIMATE PAYOFF by H. William Dettmer & Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey Critical thinking is a means of assessing and evaluating the cause-and-effect relationships in complex systems. The interdependency among components of systems makes it extremely difficult to accurately evaluate the true causes behind the observed effects. A logical thinking methodology facilitates the sorting out and representation of the relationships between the system's components and the cause-and-effect that influences them. This enables an analyst to evaluate the validity of the evidence of causation and determine whether the assumed cause is, in fact the real cause. Without a means to apply critical thinking to specific situations, people can only resort to unstructured intuition - "gut feelings." The problem with intuition is that without a means to structure cause and effect, it's difficult for people to differentiate correlation from cause and effect. Correlation is the occurrence of two phenomena in close time proximity. Cause and effect is the relationship between two phenomena in which one can be demonstrably verified as the cause and the other the effect. The problem arises when correlation is assumed to be cause and effect, when in reality it is not. When decisions concerning changes in policy, allocations of resources, or financial commitments are made without a complete understanding of the cause and effect operating in a particular system - in other words, based on correlation, rather than cause and effect - the risk of undesirable outcomes dramatically increases. How can such situations be identified? During or after the fact, it's relatively easy to determine that they did happen. Did it take longer or require additional actions or decisions to achieve the desired result? If so, the true causality was probably not identified and the wrong actions or policies initiated.

"Doing the right thing the first time, with confidence, carries with it a key benefit to the organization: better cost-effectiveness of the resources applied."

In summary, the tools and methods of the "Logical Thinking Process" allow one to evaluate the potential for success before taking action! These tools are relatively quickly learned to a level of optimum effectiveness. How much money can you save (or avoid committing to ineffective activities) in just ninety (90) days?

To learn more, visit SKI's web site: www.applyingcommonsense.com/jonah

Eli Goldratt in San Diego

WHEN: January 12, 2006 Viable Vision Offer for San Diego, CA During this one day event, Dr Goldratt will reveal his concept of Viable Vision. Viable Vision is the strategy and SPECIFIC tactics to achieve, within 4 years, net profit equal to your total current sales. It sounds crazy, we know. But thousands of companies who have implemented Theory of Constraints have the results to back it up. This is NOT a seminar; it’s an opportunity to hear the world renowned business improvement expert, Dr. Goldratt, describe real cases and outstanding results. The Viable Vision Offer Event is the start to discovering how to break through your constraints using the scientifically-based, practical, Viable Vision concepts.

This is for CEOs and Presidents of firms with the desire to strategically grow their business. Register On-line with Goldratt Consulting Hosted at:

Rancho Bernardo Inn 17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive San Diego, CA 92128 Phone: 1 (800) 542-6096 or 1 (858) 675-8500 Fax: 1 (858) 675-8401 http://www.rbimeetings.com/registration.htm Group Code: 0601GOLDRA ----

There is still time for "C" level executives to register and participate. Besides, there are not too many spots in the USA nicer in January than San Diego. A true "win-win" scenario! Register now.

-ski

reduce stress

Guest Blogger: Dave Oakes from Achievers Training Season's Greetings from Dave with Achievers Here are some tips to help you reduce the stress in your life. Especially at Christmas!

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay her.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell those closest to you that you love them, at every opportunity.

Keep Your Chin Up, Dave Oakes www.achieverstraining.com

critical chain

Constraints Management meets Project Management If one could own only one book for any given author, this would be my Dr. Eliyahu Goldratt text. Actually, rather than a text, it is a business novel. It is set in a university or college setting. Most every business professional has found their way into a similar setting, no matter how briefly. It also deals with Project Management. Most everything one would like to accomplish in life, could be structured as a project. In Purple Curve Effect -- SKI's Throughput on Command, I suggested for those readers that catch the Constraints Management bug, Critical Chain should be their next, or first Goldratt book. For the reasons listed, and the fast pace that a business novel inspires. There is one more major reason: the Steel Mill example. In this day and age, as I am almost sure has always been true, there is much disbelief. Unwillingness to trust. Our collective trust has been violated as never before. And yet, I am going to tell you that there are silver bullets. Turn-arounds of unbelievable magnitude are possible in days. Yes, days. For years, I have approached projects with a "90 day mindest." Dramatic results have been delivered during these adventures. Goldratt's Viable Vision Offer explains to the diligent CEO how to achieve massive profits in just four years. But I digress... If you have not read this book, please put it on your list of things to do. If you want to create true throughput of staggering proportions, buy AND read it today. -ski

measurement business

Another must-have book on Throughput. Debra Smith brings great value to Constraints Management Method with her text on understanding measurements and accounting. Read my book review, PDF format: www.applyingcommonsense.com/consultski/measure.pdf -ski

world peace

For those that have seen my profile on ryze.com, you know that I want world peace. Who doesn't, right? Well as we have learned, there are a few outspoken jerks that don't -- but most of us do. Now, there is something that you can do. A small step to be sure. But a valueable step. Please consider joining this effort. I can vouch for Cindi Reiman and the team at AHA. If she is excited about this project, then I am excited about it. Cindi is one of those rare women that actually bring out the best in people, regardless of one's intent to watch from the sideline. Larger than life, and one of the folks that will always make Hilton Head Island home for me, she really cares. I am 100% sure that the world is already a better place, because Cindi was here. So it is with pleasure that I recommend EVERYONE check out World Peace Passport. www.worldpeacepassport.com/ -ski

catch a mouse

To Catch a Mouse Make a Noise Like a Cheese: Lewis Kornfeld ; Foreword by Clark Johnson Another "must have" for those involved in marketing mostly, sales too. My original (and brief, imagine that) review circa 1998 is still on Amazon dot com. -ski

tipping your movement

Which are you? Connector? Maven? Salesman? Malcolm Gladwell is a rare individual, applying common sense and logic where few have bothered to explore. His book, The Tipping Point, is a great business text. However, it was a little more than I could bring myself to read. So I asked a good friend, Ed McCullough to do so, and his review has become quite popular. Especially those familiar with Goldratt's TOC. Of course, his latest book, "Blink" is popular too. Since I had to shelf my magazine, TOCreview, some of the great pieces from it have been hard to locate. So, here is a new link to the review: www.ApplyingCommonSense.com/tipping.pdf Why did this article come to mind, at this point in time? I recently quoted Gladwell's article for The New Yorker, "The Talent Myth." Which should be required reading in every B School in the world... of course, it may already be required, for all I know! And this article caused me to search for my copy of Ed's review... Check "The New Yorker" archive for July 22, 2002 for the article. Of course Friday's post about throughput brought it to mind as well.

-ski

creating throughput

Association is key. We all tell our kids, "be careful who you associate with!" Surfing tonight led me to Fox News, and some great video of Steve Forbes and a panel discussing the housing situation. Boom or Bust? Neither: maybe not boom Which led me to consider some of my successes, hence the photo of the Sony handheld digital recorder. When I created TOCreview magazine, the tipping point was being able to capture my enthusiasm and brainstorming session as I drove back from hearing Eli Goldratt in 'Naptown to Hilton Head Island. What tips you to action? -ski

daytona beach bike week

time is running out if you would like to order YOUR uniquely yours, Red Horse motorcycle for Daytona Beach Bike Week in Daytona Beach, Florida. held March 3rd - 12th 2006. call in the next few days, no later than December 10th to get your bike order in progress. www.TurismoCycles.com -ski

consolidation is good

SKI takes a break in the action to consolidate... www.ApplyingCommonSense.com

The ACS home page has become my default homepage on the internet. It has links to everything else that pertains to me and my projects. Plus, I am consolidating all my email, mail, and phone addresses into one spot each, as follows:

Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey 555 W. High Ave #168 New Phila, OH 44663 Phone: +1 330.432.3533 Email: consultski@yahoo.com

-ski

turismo cycles podcast

FYI: I just created my first podcast, and what could be more appropriate for the Christmas season than a link to a radio commercial for the Red Horse American VTwin motorcycles from Turismo Cycles? There is still time to order your 2006 Chopper or Pro Street, with Harley Twin Cam 88" or one of several other engine options, and take delivery in time for Bike Week 2006 in Daytona Beach, FL! -ski

great article on success

Steve Jobs Those that know me, know I find Steve Jobs an American icon. Rumors abound that he does not approach management as an art to be practiced. I respect his accomplishments, not his management style (or lack thereof!). It appears that with the latest release of the Mac OS and the new iMacs, there is finally a computer worthy of replacing my NeXTstation. For some reason I have yet to determine, Low End Mac has a great archive of Mac history, one post talks about Jobs and NeXTstep which begat Mac OS v10.x and here is the link:

http://lowendmac.com/orchard/05/1115.html

-ski

everything is coming up rocket

YARD - Yet Another Rocket kinda Day earlier this month, i shared a great video blog site, rocketboom.com - amanda has done it again. for those of us with highspeed internet access, and appreciative of the Christmas spirit, you gotta check out today's vlog: http://www.rocketboom.com/... rb_05_nov_21.html it also has a great clip on the new United Nations $100 laptop... Linux based, of course. with big brother in an uproar, leaking bogus memos, maybe the time is right to sell short? oh yea, almost forgot to share about my wife's newest pair of shoes: rocket dogs! http://www.rocketdog.com -ski

P.S. Amanda: consider contacting Rocket Dog and offering to do a Commercial!

seth godin on pricing

Seth Godin tackles pricing in a recent blog... If you are not aware of Godin, you are probably not in the Sales & Marketing department of your organization. His observations are that profound. Still, regardless of your corporate obligations, give him a once over.

"Which leads to the current debate over how much Apple should charge for iTunes. 99 cents a song is a great signal. It tells the purchaser that this is somehow fair." -Godin

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/

I wanted to disagree on this issue, but could not. I have used several legit sources for downloading songs (and recently, video) for my iPod. I used Wal-Mart and they have a price of 88 cents per song. But it requires (as far as I know) several steps to get the music transferred to the iPod.

With Apple iTunes, it is painless to enjoy the music. On my PC, or to burn a CD for the PT Cruiser, or via my iPod.

Well worth the 99 cents price of admission. Should Apple decide to bump the price, I will probably go back to Wal-Mart. Basic Econ 101. Although, as I write this, I am listening to XM Radio online via their 3 day free trial offer. Do not ask me why, I cannot speak Spanish, but I have spent most of my time listening to channel 90.

-ski

peter drucker

"His writings are landmarks for the managerial profession." Harvard Business Review. One of the world's great minds passed on to his reward Friday. Peter Drucker was 95 years young. I will always recall the video seminar of Drucker presented at Kent State TusCampus many years ago. His common sense approach might be best summerized (if that is even possible) by this quote: "There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all." His genius will be missed. -ski

casual friday

technology is amazing... for years, i have wondered what practical value XML could offer to the business world. you are not going to believe where i found the answer. http://www.rocketboom.com Rocketboom is a "Wayne's World" kinda production from a small studio [apartment!] somewhere in the village [i assume]. but just like that classic movie starring Wayne and Garth, Rocketboom is very entertaining. educational too. a recent vlog, which unlike this text blog, is a video log, did a great job of explaining and promoting RSS - Really Simple Syndication is a lite XML version for sharing web content. And there is a ton of it out there to be shared... and in human friendly format. to witness RSS first hand, watch this Rocketboom overview: www.rocketboom.com/vlog/...rb_05_nov_10.html if you decide to try the bloglines.com news feed reader, you can then add my blog to your desktop, under the section "my feeds" by subscribing to: http://consultski.blogspot.com/atom.xml let me know what you think. -ski

be thou diligent

"Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds;" -King Solomon One of the great things about blogs, is the ability to share. Ever think that you know a subject well? Really well? Beyond what mere mortals might know that subject? We all do (I hope!) At least I often get so full of myself... That is why it pays to have smart friends! Enter Bill Vick. We met electronically first on ryze.com, which is an "ok" service. Then we traded some voice messages. Then a real phone call or two. I believe that it was Bill that shared linkedin.com with me. Maybe not. But is was definitely Bill that handed me my hat: www.goDaddy.com I have created lots of domains for less than $10 each, with this company. And, they offer a true masking with meta tags for redirection of domain names. Kinda technical, but an important concept. Write me if you need help understanding why this is important. I even [then] remembered the goDaddy Superbowl commercials... But I said all that, to say, Bob Parsons at goDaddy is one smart man. Check out his blog on success. Those that know anything about me, know that I have studied every business model that I can get my hands on, in an effort [even in my retirement!] to better understand success. Success, Bob Parsons' way: www.bobparsons.com

dreams do come true

Life happens. We each get to decide how to face the challenges. I grew up on and around motorcycles, mostly Harley-Davidson vtwins. But have also owned the efforts of Bultaco, Penton, Honda, Kawasaki and most recently Erik Buell. Yet as I recall, it was the May 2003 issue of American Iron Magazine that in the wake of the events 911 got me excited about the bikes from Red Horse Motorworks. The low, mean yet stylish lines of their Street Stallion caught my eye. Later I would learn that this model was a rigid or "hardtail" and not for my delicate sensibilities! My days of racing motorcross are long gone.

Well, fast forward to the summer of 2005, and I am pleased to be a part of a brand new Red Horse dealership, Turismo Cycles of Ohio.

www.TurismoCycles.com

A new business start-up (one of my favorite past-times) based in great measure on the Constraints Management Method, the Open Source software movement, and the love of American VTwin motorcycles. Check it out and let me know what you think. --SKI P.S. There are employment opportunties available too!

multi project management

The clock is ticking... Purple Curve Events presents North East Ohio Constraints Management Workshop on Multi Project Management featuring Tony Rizzo of the Product Development Institute. www.NEOworkshops.info

price wars

Nobody wins a price war. I grew up loving small block Chevys and the cars that featured them. I owned (among a lot of other cars!) a 1965 Chevelle with a 327 and the famous "hump back" hi-performance cylinder heads. Then there was the 1968 Chevelle with the big block, then back to a small block 350 in a 1972 Camero... General Motors decision to offer "employee" pricing to everyone is stupid. They should know that no one ever wins a price war. Marketing 101 should convey that regardless of the amount of lipstick on the pig, it is still a pig! Somewhere about ten years ago, I became a huge Chrysler fan. Lee Iacocca's efforts finally paid off. He saved the company, when I felt the government should have let it die. Okay, I was not always perfect. The mini-van is huge. My PT Cruiser is a great vehicle... but having rented a Pacifica this past January in Daytona Beach, I have a new dream! This vehicle (pictured above) is every bit as fun to drive as it looks. Chrysler has the vehicles that I want to own. As a very small group of folks know, Cadillac probably still exists today in no small part because of the efforts of Eli Goldratt. I do like the CTS. But it is the Pacifica that keeps me up nights. Come on GM, anybody can start a price war. Give us some cars worth parting with our hard-earned money! -SKI

canton ohio regional chamber

One of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce's newest member, I am pleased to once again be an active part of a chamber. As a road warrior of almost four years now, I find myself spending a lot of time in North East Ohio. Add the fact that the June 24th Constraints Management Workshop featuring the financial genius of Dr. Howard Meeks, will be held in Canton, Ohio. For those who have yet to hear, the web site for this event (and note as of this writing, seats are still available) is as follows: www.NEOworkshops.info Note that on June 16th, a Thursday, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the same facility, the Stark KSU Professional Education & Conference Center will host the chamber's "After Hours" event. I will be present and manning a table top display, selling any remaining seats (there are only 50 total seats!) and hawking my book: Purple Curve Effect -- SKI's Throughput on Command See you then! -SKI

focus is not enough

Subtitle: focus (take two) There are times when desire and focus are just not enough. Believe me, that is a tough confession for me to make publicly. I have made a lot happen in my entrepreneurial adventures over the last "twenty something" years. Many of you are aware of Malcolm Gladwell, the author of The Tipping Point and now Blink. I have shared with a number of folks about his great article on McKinsey & Company and its influence on decision making within Enron... today, let me share a new post on one of Gladwell's old articles: Charlie Wilson Please take the time to read the whole article. It is simply amazing. It is an unpleasant wake up call. One that I needed recently. -SKI

focus (take one)

It has been almost two weeks since my last post. A lot has happened. Focus. I have the ability to construct tunnel vision almost at will. For long periods of time. I consider this my greatest personal strength. You know, like that spider man-like character can shoot webs and fly around the city... I can focus on a task and stay the course. Speaking of courses, if I have failed to convey how important that it is for your career (and your business, for the entrepreneurs among us) that you attend the North East Ohio Constraints Management Workshop on June 24th, I am sorry. This event is huge. No, not in numbers. There are only 50 total workshop seats (plus 50 more "keynote only" seats). Howard Meeks is on a mission. He has focus... to save American jobs. His financial analysis workshop will open one's eyes to the REAL world. Not the GAAP induced dogma that many have mistaken for managerial accounting. If I have failed to get your attention, please take a minute to visit the workshop web site: http://www.neoworkshops.info/ Why the revisit on this subject? There is still time (and seats) available to make reservations. Dan Hanlon will amaze with his perception of the early stage business model. More than "eye candy", Hanlon will ignite the desire "to make a difference!" Howard Meeks will guide the class interactively through the proper financial analysis to make your dreams for your department or division or company (or organization) become reality. Wild claims? Perhaps. Your mileage may vary. Zig Ziglar and I both take the tartar sauce with us when fishing. -ski

P.S. Today, my focus was on moving the NEO Workshop to the top of everyone's "to do" list. Let me know if I made my point.

neo workshop 6/24

North East Ohio Constraints Management Workshop Presented by Purple Curve Events Friday, June 24, 2005 KSU Stark Campus Professional Education & Conference Center Canton, Ohio Registration $250 each, $350 for two. All attendees will receive a FREE copy of my book, Purple Curve Effect. All those early birds, registering in the month of May, will receive a FREE copy of Dan Hanlon's book, Riding the American Dream. Fine Print: I, Jeff "SKI" Kinsey have a financial stake in this workshop. "Inspired, creative, passionate problem solving skills have never been more important for business management leaders!" www.neoworkshops.info -ski

horses & such

As my good friend (and my personal professor) Howard Meeks likes to kid, I am a collector of "down home wisdom." Seems a marketing guru by the name of Paige Arnof-Fenn offers a list of nine great expressions for those serious about moving their business to the next level. Confessions of a Southern Entrepreneur www.entrepreneur.com/article/print/0,2361,320943,00.html Among my favorites: "9. Rode hard and put up wet." For the movie buffs among us, you should recognize this line from the classic, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man starring Mickey Rourke and Don Johnson. But I digress... As a marketing guru, I cannot believe that Paige missed my favorite: "You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him float on his back." Business lesson, in Ries & Trout speak (from Bottom Up Marketing): "Only a narrow thought can enter one's mind." People have, and will always, want what they want. Period. In marketing, as Eli Goldratt says, "it is all about figuring out that ducks like corn." No amount of effort (or money) will convince ducks that they should eat rhubarb. Yet we all know otherwise smart people that try. -ski

wyckoff book review

The Complete Guide to PROFITABLE Powersports Dealerships by John Wyckoff is worth reading. I won't recap my amazon dot com review here, simply jump to amazon for a look. MYOB-2 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0976530406/applyingcommo-20/ Many of us excited about the motorcycle industry are aware of Wyckoff. I was working the Red Horse booth in Cincy this year, and was unable to break away to catch one of Wyckoff's presentations at that VTwin Expo. Anyone who did so, please add a few comments to this post. I do read his articles in MPN. I do not always agree with every statement, which is a great compliment. If two people have the same exact views on everything, then one of them is not necessary! John challenges me, and that is a good thing! -ski

hey erik

My 2003 Buell XB9S Lightning. Wow. As Erik Buell says, this bike is "fun and its intense!" Buell American Motorcycles http://www.buell.com/en_us/buell_way/buell_on_buell/ What a first purchase for my eBay indoctrination. It almost did not happen. I missed out on another bike, and received [what turned out to be a bogus] "second chance" email. Suggesting that the winner did not complete the purchase, and that the seller would accept my bid. But the address was different than the original seller's address. Close call. I tried again, and decided to use the "Buy it Now" option. Flew to Dallas, paid the Buell off in Postal Money Orders and headed out on the bike for Daytona Beach and this year's Bike Week. The first week of March was lousy for riding: it was cold. But somehow it did not matter. This bike is a ton of fun on the interstate. I must confess that the D&D exhaust makes ALL the difference in the world. It sounds like a vtwin should sound. Riding the XB9S on the back roads of my childhood home, Tuscarawas county, is more fun than I imagined. Believe me when I say that is significant. Since my brother introduced me to the Buells two years ago, I have been dreaming of owning one. I went to the Demo Rides that Buell does around the country and experienced the ultimate riding machine first hand. But now, on my home turf, the Lightning is amazing. But one question Erik, why are so many motor company dealers dropping the Buell line? Ever consider selling "Buell Only" dealerships? Call me. -ski

people "take three"

Have you ever met someone and knew right off, that you were on the same page? I have. Of course, in many cases, I later found out that I was pretty much clueless! But for me, life is a lot more fun that way. Dan Hanlon http://www.ridingtheamericandream.com/ While on assignment in Iowa, I made a point of looking up Hanlon. My brother had bought his two brothers (and himself) each copies of "Riding the American Dream." I found a kindred spirit in the pages, and that ultimately lead me to contact Hanlon and request a few minutes of his time over a cup of Starbuck's coffee. Long story short, we had several meetings over the winter months, and I learned that I did not appreciate his talents. I was not clueless, but definitely lacking. His seven year ride atop the Excelsior-Henderson corporate structure honed his talents to a level that I can only dream of achieving. At our last luncheon, I left feeling that I owed Dan a debt that I could never repay. Wrong. It is my intent to co-sponsor an event in Northeast Ohio, and feature Hanlon as the keynote speaker. Details forth-coming over the next few weeks, but we can all do our homework by re-reading (or purchasing, and reading) his book. Here, from his web site: "Now, for the first time, you can read the official -- no holds barred -- hell-raising story of setting out to conquer the impossible of building a company to compete against worldwide industry stalwarts. Here you get the insider entrepreneur's view of launching and building an American company and raising nearly one hundred million dollars -- and all at the grassroots level. And not an Internet, medical or high-tech wizardry startup, but rather the out-of-fashion bricks and mortar." This event could be the one that puts your new venture on the road to extreme success! If your organization would like to co-sponsor this event, write me soon! Details will evolve on Purple Curve Events. -ski

define "cool"

In the world of blogs, everyone surfing the web seems to have their favorite sites. One that I watch on a somewhat regular basis, is Anita Cambell's Small Business Trends. She often shares posts from a motorcycle maven that many of us recognize: John Wyckoff http://www.smallbusinesses.blogspot.com/2004/10/how-harley-davidson-lost-its-cool.html I recall sharing this post via email back in October, when Wyckoff wrote it. It is just as powerful today. Do I agree that the motor company has lost its "cool"? No. They continue to enjoy great fiscal rewards, year in and year out. But the custom OEMs do offer a lot of cool bikes, starting as little as $20k. But as a throughput guru, I loved the comment [again, from October 2004] about Big Dog and American Iron Horse being sold out for about six months. Dare I suggest that they should contact me? -ski

shameless plug

The clock was ticking. It was only a matter of time. Why promote my own book in my blog? Because it is a great book. It simply works. Purple Curve Effect -- SKI's Throughput on Command http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0976069202/ Every week I find myself reviewing some passage in the text. It really is a "business leadership guide." In fact, I have caught myself remarking out loud after reading a portion, "man, this is good!" The foreword by H. William Dettmer is worth the price of the book alone. Bill shares the transition of Constraints Management Method (CMM) from beginning up through the release of my book. Thayer Bennett did a great job compiling the index. How many business books do you know that have references to folks like Abbott and Costello? Aerosmith? Dan Akroyd? Archimedes? And that is just the "A" section! Call for action Those of you that have read the book, please consider taking a minute and visiting the Amazon link to share your views on the book. In fact, the first person to post a review will receive a free DVD of my session with Ed McCullough on Hilton Head Island's Talk of the Town, where we discuss the book and talk about some of the success stories from the book. Even better, if you do not own the book [yet!], it seems Amazon is discounting it! -ski

people "take two"

Tim Sanders http://www.timsanders.com/ Talking about folks that have been important to my throughput, I must mention Tim Sanders. The original "lovecat" as he says. His best seller, "Love is the Killer App" is a must read for the serious student of business success. Why? It talks of helping others. Without thought of financial reward. Because it is the right thing to do, for those in an enlightened society. Promoting others that contribute value is a noble effort. What if each of us, individually, made a simple decision? "Instead of the status quo, of telling eight people about my bad experiences, and only two people about my good experiences, what if I reversed the numbers? What if I started sharing my good experiences with eight or ten or twenty people? What would society look like? These are the kinds of questions that run through one's mind as you read Tim's book. If fact, I had the privilege of participating in the audience last month, as Tim taped a program for WQED in Pittsburgh featuring his new book, "Likeability Factor." It was most excellent. It gave me a new found enthusiasm to share TIm's work with others. I consider Tim Sanders "for real." And that is a bold statement in today's world. -ski

the people that you meet -- "take one"

Charlie "Tremendous" Jones said it best: "Five years from today, you will be the same person that you are today, except for the people that you meet, and the books that you read." Albert Einstien felt that he had achieved some measure of success by standing on the shoulders of those that had gone before him... and so it is with me. I would like to share some links to some of the folks that have given me a hand up in the world. The world is a better place because of their contribution. Someday, it is my hope that others might say that about me, and actually mean it! Ed McCullough http://www.whhitv.com/talkofthetown.html Ed is one of those rare individuals that defies classification! Most of the folks that I know, that know Ed agree, he is "Hilton Head Island's Most Colourful Individual." Period. I have a handful of friends for which I would swim the widest ocean to simply share a cup of coffee. Ed is one. Ed is the greatest talk show host you migth ever hear or see. One of the few folks that reads more veraciously than I, Ed takes the interview process very seriously. It is my hope that someday PBS will take note, and give this master his own show.

-ski

Welcome

SKI Consulting and Implementation is all about throughput. Due Date performance. Achieving one's goals. Welcome to the "Throughput" blog. As David Letterman asks, "Is it anything?" Only time will tell. -ski