Sybase Turnaround

My hat is off to CEO John S. Chen I love a great turnaround, and this story is even more exciting for those of us who love the products of the company that invented stored procedures! Like Sun, Sybase has not set any records the last few years. But there is a lot of light in the tunnel (or is that, sales funnel?) for both companies. I have always loved rolling out apps that just run. And run. Then run some more. I recall learning at Lexis-Nexis that if you wanted the hottest setup, get both Oracle and Sybase to bid on your project. Then, take the equipment spec'd by Oracle (it was bigger and faster by a large percentage) and run Sybase on that platform. Why? Sybase always spec'd the least amount of hardware required to get the job done. Probably hoping to the win the contract based on lowest overall costs. But it caused a lot of folks to complain how poorly Sybase performed. But I digress... Need a robust, secure, scalable RDBMS for your next web app? Consider Adaptive Server Enterprise (ASE). They have tons of white papers to help better understand their approach. Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.ThroughputPress.com P.S. Tell John, "SKI sent me." tag: Sybase

Vista No Show

Yahoo!Finance Survey suggests Buyers are a No Show

These numbers from Yahoo!Finance indicate to me that someone is going to have trouble making their numbers this fiscal year... keep your eyes open for more illegal activities.

This might be a good time to remind everyone of my "best practices" choices for small business technology departments (I have been on this soapbox for over 10 years):

1. Move all users to Apple Mac (except CFO and their immediate staff)
2. Replace all servers with RedHat Linux based servers
3. Replace mission critical RDBMS apps with Sybase on Sun
   

I know what you are thinking, "Why be so cruel to the bean counters?" Until IBM's Lotus re-releases Improv for the Mac, they will just have to make do with XP based tools.

If you really like the folks in finance, buy them each a Mac mini.

Not a very realistic solution for your organization? The hand has been writing on the wall for some time. When will you be ready? Unless you plan for it: never.

Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
www.ThroughputPress.com

P.S. Yes, I am serious.

tag: Apple Mac
(c)Copyright 2007, Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey.
All rights reserved.

Chrysler Nassau

Concept Car

Awesome! Yet not exciting enough to displace my love for the Pacifica, but a great looking vehicle just the same. Now if they want to sell it, they ought to steal a page from the BMW play book.

In fact, compare these two youTube commercials, then tell me which moves you to visit the nearest dealership:

• Chrysler Nassau
• BMW X5

Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
www.ThroughputPress.com

P.S. Yes, as an American, I prefer to buy domestic goods... but sometimes the penalty is just too high. Should I buy a fuel efficient car from a U.S. manufacturer, when they had the thing built by a foreign enterprise? All good questions. For another day.

tag: Chrysler Nassau

Business Wanted

Wanted to Buy

A small, privately held manufacturing business in Northeast Ohio. Basically within a 50 or 60 mile radius of Bolivar, Ohio.

The ideal business will have been in business for at least twenty (20) years. It may be a case where the second generation has no interest in taking over the business. Or, it might be a case were competitors have caused great turmoil.

In fact, it may just be time for the owner to head south and enjoy the sun! Or spend time with the grandkids.

Better yet, if you are thinking of selling your labour of love, you tell me why. I am interested in acting within the next ninety (90) days.

Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
www.SKIconsulting.biz

P.S. Principals only.

tag: Business Wanted

Boot Camp

Mafia Offer Boot Camp 2007 by Dr. Lisa of Science of Business There are a select few people that one might call friends... and fewer that are truly gifted in an area to such an extent, that you find yourself inventing ways to participate just to experience the brilliance first hand. Dr. Lisa is one such person, on both counts. I am actively searching my prospect database for folks to invite to Dr. Lisa's new year of Unrefusable Offers (aka Mafia Offers) Boot Camp. Not only is it "first come, first served," but you may enjoy a significant discount for acting quickly. One attendee remarked: “Developing a mafia offer saved my company! My sales doubled the first year!” Contact Dr. Lisa today for details. Have your calendar in hand! drlisa@scienceofbusiness.com Tell her, "SKI sent me!" Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.ThroughputPress.com (330) 432.3533 P.S. This boot camp is designed for those that have determined that their constraint is external (resides in the market). If you are unsure if this is your scenario, call me. tag: Mafia Offer Boot Camp, Dr. Lisa Lang

Marketing 2007

Marketing Outrageously by Jon Spoelstra Must read Marketing book for 2007. And every year (at least once per year) since July 4, 2001 when I bought the book. I remember the family outing to Barnes & Nobles on the North end of Hilton Head Island. It was a Wednesday, as I recall. I talked with Jon a few years ago, and was hoping to get him as the keynote for an event that I was holding. Too expensive for my effort. Someday, I hope to do an event worthy of having Jon participate. His thought process (based on uncommon, common sense) is among the most refreshing I have ever had the pleasure to study. This book is a call to action for those seeking to make a difference in the world. I cannot overrate its importance. Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.ThroughputPress.com P.S. What's it gonna take to get you to buy this book? P.P.S. What's it gonna take to achieve your goal? tag: Jon Spoelstra

CRM

For years, CRM has been a hot button for me.

With my recent switch back to the Apple Mac (and its ease at installing great open source apps), I had to leave my ACT! contact manager behind. Plus, as my efforts on Throughput Press gain speed, I needed a distributed, robust, and secure app. Enter SugarCRM.

One that puts "first things first."

Ever notice how many articles exist on failed (or less than stellar) CRM implementations? I have. Am I the only one smart enough to see the problem? Or the only one dumb enough to expose it?

Failed Focus.

The very first word in CRM should be a hint. A clue. As in the point of focus: the Customer. Yes, take a few minutes to read some of the those articles, and hear what they say. They talk of failure to get all the internal players hooked up. Or the diverse technology roadblocks to overcome in house. Not a mention anywhere about the customer.

Many years ago, I was pitching a CRM solution to a client. I explained how we would use it to address customer issues. You know the ones, where the customer calls back to your office, and gets another person on the phone. A different one than the one they talked with just moments ago. And now the customer has to relate the problem all over?

Or how about when your "customer service rep" (notice the lowercase letters) calls the customer to see how your Buell motorcycle is performing, and learns (from you!) that it has been in the Service Department for over two weeks! A real story that happened to me. Want to know where NOT to buy a Harley-Davidson or Buell? Call me. But I digress...

CRM is about the customer. First. Period.

Always.

Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
www.ThroughputPress.com
(330) 432-3533

P.S. Need help implementing a CUSTOMER relationship management solution?

tag: CRM
(c)Copyright 2007, Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey.
All rights reserved.

BMW X5

Durbin on Brandstorming "Just a good look at the experience of driving the ultimate driving machine on the ultimate course." One of the neat things about folks blogging, is the ability to learn about new stuff in record time. Better yet, is seeing these new products through the eyes of another. "Iron sharpens Iron." In this case, there little else that I could add. Other than make mine, white. www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfdJKqDusDQ Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.ThroughputPress.com tag: BMW X5

Villanova

Six Sigma and TQM At least that was my search query. However, the link returned the course offering "Six Sigma and Lean." Stranger yet, the only mention of Lean was in the course title. Nowhere to be found in the course description? Reminder: All three of these tools bring a lot of value to the table. However, without a systems orientation, you cannot achieve breakthroughs in throughput. Until 2003, I would have suggested that everyone investigate Eli Goldratt's TOC (Theory of Constraints) to gain the proper holistic vantage point. Today, TOC has evolved into the Constraints Management Model (CMM), whereby H. William Dettmer has turbocharged TOC with John Boyd's OODA Loop. OODA, as in Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act. Whatever your results with Six Sigma or Lean (TPS) or even TQM (Total Quality Management, or the U.S. Marine Corps variation, TQL: Total Quality Leadership), those results would and always will pale by comparison. By using CMM's call for action to determine strategy, any and every organization must exceed all expectations. A recap of a recent APICS magazine article got the headline wrong (it is not about one over the other, it is about the synergy of using TOC to guide the other efforts), but still highlights much of the good news. With CMM, I am convinced the results would have been significantly higher. As in triple digits. Now, if Villanova were to offer such a course... Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.ThroughputPress.com tag: Villanova

Winter in Ohio

At 8:00am this morning, I gave up!

Normally, I get up, check email for urgent matters, then head off for a cup of coffee and some time to reflect. To think. To plan.

Not today. It is just too cold!

This time last year, I was in Ft Lauderdale. Where this morning at 8:00am it was a balmy 50. Not the bold chilling 15 that I face this morning.

I wonder how many surveys have been taken to determine the weather's affect on productivity? Or maybe, I am the only one who cares. I grew up in Ohio. That does not mean that I am use to the change of seasons. In fact, I have not spent a winter in Ohio for the last 11 years.

When it is this cold, I simply have trouble thinking.

I know I have a coffee pot around here, somewhere...

Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
www.ThroughputPress.com

P.S. How do you cope with winter?

tag: Ohio

Deficit Improves

According to the shopfloor.org blog the deficit outlook for 2007 is improving This blog is on my "A" list for daily reading. As Pat points out, mainstream media will bury this piece of good news. Why is that? -ski

State of the Union

President Bush delivers a message of Hope I recall one of Jimmy Carter's last such speeches. He told us that "America was over." That we must learn to make do with a lot less in the face of run-away inflation. That Americans must face difficult times and make the best of them. Then a Knight on a white horse rides onto the scene by the name of Ronald Reagan, and declares that America and Americans can and will take back our prosperity. That hope has not been destroyed by temporary struggles and a lack of leadership. The great communicator restored our faith in ourselves by expecting great results from us, and then actively removing the barriers that prevented us from achieving those results. President Bush has not always on the top of his game. But last night, Ronald Reagan would have been so proud. Passages like the following restored my faith in our ability to move forward in the coming year: "Deep in the American character, there is honor, and it is stronger than cynicism." Let freedom ring. Call on your representatives to work with our President. Together, we can make a difference. In America first, and in our world. Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.ThroughputPress.com tag: State of the Union

Logical Thinking Class

A Six-Day Workshop
Leading to Self-Sufficiency
in the Logical Thinking Process

Tentative Schedule: April 4th through 11th

Instructor: H. William Dettmer, Jonah's Jonah
Assistant: Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah

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 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.

A word from a couple of Jonah3+3™ graduates:

• Christoph Steindl, Jonah
• Eric Brasch, Jonah

Lessons taught and applied during the hands on workshop:

• Successfully identify the true causes of unsatisfactory out-comes in YOUR system, whether personal or professional, using logical, verifiable cause-and-effect
• Identify and resolve daily and chronic conflicts that hinder you from achieving your goals
• Evaluate the potential for success before initiating change (risk mitigation), either in your personal life or in your organization
• Uncover the pitfalls that could result from any change you might consider making and determine what you should do to "navigate" around them
• Identify the "roadblocks" to change and the ways to over come them (and in what order)
• Lay out a detailed implementation plan for change and persuade others to help with it
• Improve your odds of success before even beginning to take action
• Quickly identify questionable or ill-considered proposals from others

Seating will be limited. Please contact SKI to determine if this course is right for you.

Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
consultski@yahoo.com
(330) 432.3533

(c)Copyright 2007, Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey.
Jonah3+3 is a trademark of Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey.
All rights reserved.

Global Warming

You could make this up, but why would you?
NAM's shopfloor manufacturer's blog is a must read.

-ski

Sun and Intel

Sun Microsystems, Inc. and Intel Corporation
today announced a broad strategic alliance ...

This is a good thing. Add the Apple Mac now running "Intel Inside" and the consumer wins again. I have shared my love of Sun and its Sparc boxes. I recall porting some apps from Sun OS to Solaris (back in the day!)...

Now, if the sales process re-org goes well (Jonathan, I could help with that!), and they get the biz startup Essentials program back on track, things could get exciting. We know that the vista thing is not going to win friends once the real heartaches start to gain national press.

Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
www.ThroughputPress.com

P.S. Now where did I put that Sun credit app...

tag: Sun Intel
(c)Copyright 2007, Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey. All rights reserved.

Nicholas Boothman

I bought this book on December 15, 2002 At the Barnes & Noble on Route 17 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I skimmed it back then... picked it up a time or two since... but finally got around to reading it this past week. Wow! In chapter eight, Nick finds himself at the Cape Times in Cape Town, South Africa. In the midst of a defining moment. He makes a bold claim to his boss, "I could take better pictures than that." He does not even own a camera! Did not know "the first thing about photography!" What are you waiting on? Life to line up in front of your door, perhaps in the form of all green lights, all the way to unlimited wealth? If that does happen for you, please send me a link to your blog! Otherwise, may I suggest you have to "get out there" into the world, and make it happen? Some have said that if you are not growing, then you must be dying. There is no such thing as status quo. Jim Collins and Jerry Porras gave us BHAGs. I offer the Purple Curve Effect. What is your contribution? Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.ThroughputPress.com P.S. I recall during the coding of my RMS2WEB (Open Source) app, there were numerous roadblocks to overcome. As I had already publicly made my "I can do better" remark about interfacing to the API of the in house resort management system, all that was left to do, was to just do it. tag: Nicholas Boothman (c)Copyright 2007, Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey. All rights reserved.

Purple Curve Insight One

Ramona Harmon to the Rescue

In the winter of 2003/04 I was in Ft Lauderdale (on my motorcycle) finishing the edits on Purple Curve Effect. I needed an illustrator in order to finish the book. I was actively attending an evening Toastmasters chapter and sent out word that I was looking for an artist to help complete the project.

Ramona answered the plea. She hit a grand slam! I gave her very specific thoughts, and insight into what I thought was needed. Three illustrations for inside the book, and the cover art. Compelling. That is my reaction to the chart that became the cover. That wrinkled chart paper was a neat touch. The "purple curve" of unending upward growth captures my message.

The "purple curve effect" is the growth (or throughput) when an entity applies focus to finding and fixing the weakest link, and only the weakest link. Yea, that is the overly simplistic answer. Buy the book for the longer explanation.

Well, chapter 15 starts part three of the book, and offers hands on exercises for applying the principals to the readers' organization. In the first two parts, we learned thirteen tenets that should be applied, now in conclusion, the "insights" that should take the concepts in the book from the "that sounds interesting" phase to, "Now I see!"

Purple Curve Insight #1

"You alone decide your success.
Or happiness. Or throughput.
Make a decision."

Interesting aside, it was this chapter where I shared my passion and desire to create a custom VTwin motorcycle company. Those that know me, will attest that I did just that. With a twist. I became a dealer and then created a unique brand with a number of unusual yet popular options. So without the overhead and expense of creating an intensive manufacturing operation, I still had all the benefits. Plus got to ride my first creation at Sturgis'05!



It really is about "making a decision."

Still not sure? Buy the book. I am happy to talk with my blog readers about their unique challenges... and owners of my book get to move to the front of the line.

Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
www.ThroughputPress.com

P.S. Repeat after me: "If it is to be, it is up to me."

tag: Purple Curve Effect

Shorting Alltel

Note: I do not give financial advice. I do not own stock in Alltel. Or any wireless provider. However, if I did own Alltel, I would sell, and short them too. Customer Service Defined (by Alltel) I log in to pay my phone bill. Use my previously configured (and formerly working) wallet. Get a payment blocked message of some sort. Not a very informative message. I notice my address is missing the directional indicator "SW" and add that to my account. Decide to switch my wallet from the checking account to my credit card. Am told by the Alltel computer that my credit card number is invalid. The credit card that I have been using for years. That does not expire for many, many months. Re-enter. Same error message, "credit card number is invalid." Call 611 and get to an operator. Explain problem. She directs me to go to that screen (on my computer) and we try again. Same error. She says that she will transfer me to finance. I am then cut off. I call back, get another operator, and ask that he have finance call ME rather than transfer me. He says he cannot do that. But he investigates, and sees that the credit card processing system is off line for some reason. So, I remain calm and ask, "Let me just understand what is happening. Your credit card processing system is off line, so your computer tells me that my credit card number is invalid?" "Yes." I gotta say, "So, that is Alltel's idea of customer service?" He offers to take my card over the phone. Now, if the system is down, why would I give him my credit card number over the phone? I thank him for nothing, and hang up. So, I gotta ask you: "How's your company's customer service?" Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.ThroughputPress.com P.S. I am having trouble waiting for my iPhone with Cingular service! tag: Alltel

Results defined

How do you spell "results?"

As this dashboard chart from SugarCRM shows, there are a variety of components to track in order to prepare for, and eventually achieve results. Are "results" the sum of the parts? A portion of the whole?

Can the term "results" be properly defined?

I vote, "Yes." In fact, it should be possible to write for days without end on the concept of producing results. Of course, as I have other more pressing requirements, this will be an abridged version.

In chapter 17 of Purple Curve Effect, I wrote about visualizing the end result. Until all parties agree on what the final product or solution looks like, how can they be expected to agree on the results? Or even the steps required to get there? They cannot.

I claim to be a guru in the arena of creating results. I prefer to define it as "throughput," which I often label for my clients (and prospects) as "more money in your pocket." Which opens up the whole systems approach to attacking challenges. Which then brings us to John Boyd and his OODA Loop:

"The observation step is a process of gathering information, from both within and without. This information can come from a variety of sources: the media, research, direct observation, experimentation, or clandestine intelligence activity, to name just a few."

The first "O" of OODA is Observe.

My reading of late keeps circling back to a concept (perhaps even a law) that one cannot process negative commandments. For example, consider man's best friend. There you stand, ready to kick the dog. If I said, "Kick the dog," your mind will race to an image of you kicking the dog. Okay, for those unable to kick a dog, even after it destroyed the Sunday newspaper, lets change the example.

Consider petting the dog. See the scenario in your mind? Great.

Now, what do you see when I say, "See yourself not petting the dog."

It is impossible. You can see yourself standing beside the dog. But there is no such thing as "not petting." I am still working on getting my mind to grasp this concept, but so far, it makes a lot of sense. Similarly, I have heard Mike Murdock say that one cannot think "away from a thought." You are not able to think about, "not thinking about" something.

In chapter 17, I use golfing legend Jack Nicklaus to make the point. For those hackers among us (golf, not computer), consider his ability to see the result of his shot before he even addressed the ball! What do us "weekend warriors" do? We tell one another, "Stay away from the lake."

Not possible. Your mind only hears (and therefore focuses on) the lake. Want to increase your results? Focus on the end product. Hitting the center of the green. Or nailing that challenging new product introduction. Then, work backwards.

Develop the habit. I always lock my car door. Always. It is a habit. I never have the thought half way through a meeting, "Did I lock my car door?"

Producing a result is simply a habit. I cannot, not, produce results. There is only inaction. Or inappropriate actions. Tell me the challenge, and I will show you results. How can I be so sure? Because if I am personally unable to solve the problem, I know how to find someone that can. Or someone that will show me how to solve the challenge.

As Dan Aykroyd said in The Great Outdoors, "That's what I do!"

Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
www.ThroughputPress.com

P.S. Need help? Write me.

tag: results defined

Vista broken

Grygus reports that Vista was actually broken by design: "But it gets worse: a Vista computer polls various hardware and drivers 30 times a second to make sure nothing has changed that might indicate an attempt to break DRM protection." --Andrew Grygus I would suggest that I have more important things for my computer to do. Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.ThroughputPress.com P.S. Time to check out the new Apple Macs ...

Podcasts

Collection of Great Podcasts

I have been collecting great podcasts for over a year, and find myself talking to others about these great sessions, but as I wrote my own code to capture them, it was tough to share.

No longer. I have added a link to my consulting page called "Podcasts of Value" that will launch a mini window of all the podcasts in my library. The neat thing about my app, is that I do not host the actual audio files. I simply point the listener to the original source. Saves me a lot of bandwidth.

For those that would like to tap the actual XML feed, send me an note and I will point you to my XML feed. It is not listed on iTunes as these are not really my feeds. I found them, wanted them on my iPod, so I wrote a few scripts to process them.

To listen to any one podcast, just click on the title. You can also open the stream in iTunes. But if you are on an Apple Mac, the MP3 will play right inside the mini window. It may act likewise on your PC, but as iTunes is my default app for MP3 files, my PC launches iTunes.

Need help, drop me a line.

Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
www.ThroughputPress.com

P.S. I do actually have a Podcast listed on iTunes. Go to the iTunes Store and search for "jeff ski kinsey" -- without the quotation marks.

tag: Podcasts

Forrest Whitaker

Forrest Whitaker wins a Golden Globe "Another underdog, Forrest Whitaker took the best actor award for his role in 'The Last King of Scotland'." --CasinoGamblingWeb.com Now, maybe more folks will check out this great (unique, funny, and at moments, sad but entertaining) movie: Ghost Dog. Maybe now, they can correct the spelling of his name on the movie jacket! tag: Forrest Whitaker

Martin Luther King, Jr.

http://blog.lextext.com/_attachments/1676937/IHaveADream.mp3

Deming's 13th Point

Out of the Crisis
by W. Edwards Deming

From his 14 points for Management; number 13:

I guess I would have called them fourteen points for Leadership. Who I am to second guess Deming? Just a guy with way too much time on my hands!

The other day I stopped in Wendy's for lunch and bumped into a retired business owner and acquaintance. Let's call him "Bob." Bob is a Democrat. Somehow we got onto politics, and that led Bob to remark about my dad, Myron 'Sonny' Kinsey, who passed on to his reward this past May.

Sonny the Big Cat, as I affectionately called my dad (and a fan of Deming), met Bob when delivering packages to Bob's business (my dad was a UPS driver at the time). In fact, dad learned of Kennedy's assassination on November 22, 1963 when he made a delivery at Bob's store. But I digress...

Well, Bob shared his sympathy on my dad's passing as we have not seen each other in almost a year. And then remarked he had a lot of respect for Sonny, in part due to a comment he made concerning William Jefferson Clinton's impeachment. Sonny agreed that it was wrong for slick Willie to have lied about the affair, and stated that he should have simply said, "It is none of your business."

Yep. Common sense is not all that common. I miss you dad.

Back to our regularly scheduled message: Leadership. Leaders do. They "walk the walk." What is the easiest way to implement Deming's 13th point? Start with yourself. I have known a lot of business owners, and a lot of leaders. All business owners are not leaders. Few have taken this 13th point to heart... at least few of the ones that I know.

For me, it starts with me. I read a lot. But more importantly, I think. About a lot things. Some days about just one thing. Every morning (when ever it arrives, like 5:21am today) I get moving by heading out for a cup of coffee. I take a book along (like A Better Way by Terry Acord today) and my iPod. After my personal and private brainstorming session, I drive by one of my next dreams: The Chrysler Pacifica.

Nothing happens without a dream.

Then back to office to make something happen. Like the Purple Curve Workshop. If you are trying to make something happen, help may come from the most unlikely sources. Like the inspiration for Post-it® Notes. My dad was always asking when I would take time to write my first book. His constant inquiries helped birth it. The workshop based on the book might just be the inspiration you need to make a difference in the world.

The clock is ticking...

Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
www.ThroughputPress.com

P.S. What are YOU doing this Friday, January 19th?

tag: W. Edwards Deming

Tenet Number 13

The 13th Hole at Harbour Town Golf Links

When I played this hole a number of years ago, my approach shot to the green was a sight to behold. However, there were no blimps or cameras around to record my amazing second shot. As I recall, I was too far to the left, but in the fairway. I do not recall the club, probably a 7 iron, but I do recall the sound... as my ball hit about one inch from the top of the wooden planks that help form this "island" green. The ball bounced back hard enough, that it landed in the grass and not the bunker!

It would be great to end the story with a comment about a chip and a putt for a par, but that did not happen. Maybe that is the reason my book does not have a thirteenth chapter.

TENET #13:


I wanted to stop at just twelve tenets, but this one needed told. And frankly, I could not bring myself to delete any of the others! In chapter 14, there are insights into the creation of the Jonah3+3™ course, featuring H. William Dettmer. There really is no chapter 13.

I recall working in Myrtle Beach when I get this impassioned phone call from Dettmer. He orders me to the local bookstore (I may have already been in the bookstore when he called!). Tells me to order the new book, Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War.

Amazing.

Next book out by Dettmer, Strategic Navigation, weaves Boyd's OODA Loop and Eliyahu Goldratt's TOC (Theory of Constraints) into the Constraints Management Model. Boyd's reading list for his colleagues was over 300 books. Yes, over 300 books in order to grasp his leap forward in warfare. Some have commented on Dettmer's attention to (too much) detail!

All that was necessary (in my mind, at least) to say, there is a gap out there in the world, that you are perfectly matched to close. I created the Jonah3+3™ course because a lot of us have been excited (even teased) into a frenzy over the logical thinking processes. Dettmer is the one systems oriented professor that I know, poised to equip the world's business leaders with the knowledge required in this age. But he needed help marketing his services in his arena.

So I jumped in with both feet.

An amazing aside, I have had folks discover this great course by simply buying a two dollar PDF of the Purple Curve Effect. They might never had learned about the availability otherwise. If they go on to change the world in a positive manner, then it could be said that it was a requirement that I write my book. To fill a gap.

When I created TOCreview magazine, I felt that there was a need to get those articles out into the world of business. The stars aligned briefly, and I believe that history was made with the premier issue. One of the missions for the "new & improved" Throughput Press will be to relaunch TOCreview. But not as a TOC rag.

As a results oriented magazine.

Because a gap exists in the world of results.

You need to be at the upcoming Purple Curve Workshop. Why? Because you need the information that will be presented. Well, it should be qualified that, if you seek true breakthroughs in throughput, you will find a way be present at the event.

Details and registration: www.PurpleCurve.com

What effort needs you to stand in the gap?

Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
www.ThroughputPress.com

P.S. Maybe I should re-start TOCreview (several new titles {based on RESULTS} under consideration) by asking folks to start sending me notes about their success stories...

tag: results

Family Office Equipment

I am pleased to report that Family Office Equipment, Inc. of New Philadelphia, Ohio has signed on as a lead sponsor for next week's event.

Read the details on the Purple Curve Workshop web site.

-ski

P.S. A little history: Jeff Tedrow won a contract back in 1982 for one of my first clients with a complete manufacturing accounting package via his Cado C.A.T. offering! I ended up modifying the "average cost" pricing module, written in CADOL (a compiled language that required each program to fit in a 256 byte record) to handle LIFO and FIFO. This was the beginning of the code that became a great system: Open Systems Accounting Software. For those that have programmed in BBx for OSAS, you now know why OSAS has all those small programs, calling all those other small programs. The original logic required subprocesses that would compile down to 256 bytes!

In other words, the team at Family Office Equipment have been doing this technology thing successfully for over twenty years. That is a record that deserves my vote of confidence.

I am pleased to have them on board.

tag: Purple Curve Workshop

I wonder ...

Clarke Ching wonders. I do not. When a good friend (and business partner) Ed McCullough and I attended a session by Eli Goldratt, Ed remarked as he gazed at the studious attendees, "How many of them will be able to harness this energy when they get back to the office on Monday?" 20% at best. For me, it is a given that no one is operating anywhere near "their true potential" on any given day. But that is not the sixty-four dollar question. Just as asking if Lean or Six Sigma is the answer to more throughput is not the question. Or asking if Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone (he did not, but he was the lone gunman). Regardless the testimony of Gerald Ford. No, the question is much simpler: "Does the leadership of my organization know the true (and always present) weakest link facing our corporation today?" Every business is a system of silos or departments (or functional areas) that must orchestrate numerous activities to achieve the missions determined by the stakeholders. Every business is like a link chain, where each link plays a role in the accomplishment of those missions. All links are necessary. However, no one link alone is sufficient to create success. Business is a team sport. Superstars alone are not enough. Utility players alone are not enough. Everyone deciding to do more each day to achieve "their true potential" is not the key. If the Accounts Payable clerk gives 100% for all eight hours, "giving it their best" and all other such clichés, it may have zero affect on throughput. Yes, if you are not addressing the weakest link, all attempts to improve your department's performance is a waste of valuable and limited resources. Be careful here, and do not misquote me. You need to perform your charge effectively. A smooth running accounting department requires talented and dedicated team members. That is not my point. If that clerk requests funds to implement EDI (electronic data interchange) in order to increase the effectiveness of the department, and the request is approved and implemented, throughput better increase significantly. Or heads should roll! This is just so much "common sense." However, how many organizations understand the ramifications. During an assignment in retail, I made the statement concerning replenishment of stock, that a given retail outlet (lets call it "A") should trade "positions" with another outlet ("B"), if the we all understood this basic premise. Why? Store "B" had a better history of selling goods. Better manager. Its that people thing again. Outlet "B" could turn the inventory quicker and therefore at better margins. So by trading places, the "systems approach" to the challenge would have rewarded the organization with more profits. More throughput. Every reader (no matter how recently they discovered this blog) already knows what happened: outlet "A" was replenished ahead of "B" mostly because "that's the way we always do it." Now Clarke, all bets are off if management has not identified the weakest link. In those cases, fine. Let them debate how everyone can be more effective. It really does not matter. Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.ThroughputPress.com P.S. I love the Dilbert-like examples that speak to these issues in Debra Smith's Measurement Nightmares! P.P.S. Thanks Clarke. This is the longest post for me in some time. Thanks for bringing an interesting question to the forefront. FYI: For me, it is better to approach such debates via independent blog entries rather than by way of comments within a given post. IMNSHO, it provides more freedom. Also, I cannot wait to get my hands on Made to Stick. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. tag: Clarke Ching, Made to Stick

IBM vs Apple

Ever take a knife to a gun fight?

First, I do not own stock in either company. I do not give financial advice. And I definitely do not take myself too seriously.

I bought an Apple Mac in March 1984. A lot more of them since. My Mac Mini (Intel inside!) this past October. Bought an IBM PC clone around 1986. I do not actually recall ever owning a true, blue IBM computer, but a lot of clones. All but my laptop were converted to Linux.

Bought my iPod Mini in December 2003 (as I recall), and have been looking to upgrade a video iPod. My cell plan's two year agreement is up. I have used all major carriers, except Verizon, and have been looking to drop Alltel... until they came up with the "circle" of ten free numbers. But I miss the superior service of Cingular. Yet, they dropped my favorite feature: two phone lines! I was living on Hilton Head Island, but working on a contract in Myrtle Beach. For just five bucks per month I added a local Myrtle Beach number to my phone. As an aside, if you know anybody offering such a feature today, drop me a line.

So, like a lot of folks, I watched Steve Jobs the other day do what he does best: demo insanely great products. I must admit, the iPhone exceeds my wildest expectations. The hardest part? Can I wait til June or July.

Well, I said all that to say that the news this morning was that IBM had another record year of patent awards. 3,621 last year. Which is a good thing. I wish that I had a few.

Apple has Steve Jobs. IBM has the most patents.

I'll take people over tangibles every time. Yea, I have been burned on occasion. Still, life worth living is based on social factors. Family and friends. Personal accomplishments. Recognition. Rewards. Results.

Speaking of people, I mentioned Jobs stealing Tim Cook away from Compaq. Jobs mentioned Cook during the introduction of the iPhone. I just happened to look at Cook's compensation and stock options. Wow! I wonder what he might have earned at Compaq...

Yea, I gotta pick people over technology.

Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
www.ThroughputPress.com

P.S. Note to Steve Jobs: I am available!

tags: Apple, IBM, Steve Jobs, Tim Cook, Jeff SKI Kinsey

iPhone

Insanely Great Watch Steve Jobs introduce your next phone.

Twelfth Tenet

Twelfth Green at Augusta One would not have to be a golfer to appreciate the beauty of this setting. I remember getting to play on Harbour Town... a client blessed me with a free round: 18 holes of golf and cart, for two. She did not play, but knew that I would appreciate the gesture. I did. And still do to this day. SKI's Twelfth Tenet Ever want a deal so badly that you "could taste it" as they say? Not good. Ever been in so deep that you could not tell which way was up? Me too. I have amazed myself at the breakthroughs that have occurred after I have walked away from deals that hours or days prior were "do or die" situations! Ever been so close to the forest that you could not see the trees? When you take walking out, off the table, you cheat yourself. Most times it is important to stay the course. Keep one's focus. Forget balance; bear down on the situation and tough it out. But understand the overall (and guiding) mission. Systems thinking to max! And once in a great while, walking away may just get you closer to achieving your goal. Learn the details at next week's workshop. Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.ThroughputPress.com tag: Purple Curve Workshop

Bob Nardelli

Six Sigma gets another bad rap... The Times Herald-Record had a great story on Home Depot's golden parachute for CEO Bob Nardelli. Complete with this one liner: "So much for Six Sigma and the GE way." In fairness to Six Sigma, the tool should not be held accountable for the people using (or abusing) it. One could use a hammer to build a house, or smash a work of art into so many worthless scraps. There was a great article printed in the APICS magazine in May 2006 that showed that while Six Sigma and Lean are good tools, using a methodology like Dr. Eli Goldratt's TOC (Theory of Constraints) to find the weakest link, and applying force at the proper leverage point, the results are in fact quite remarkable. Want to up the ante even more, inject Boyd's OODA Loop (via H. William Dettmer's Constraints Management Model, as documented in Strategic Navigation) and turbocharge your efforts! Learn the basics at the upcoming workshop on January 19, 2007. Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.ThroughputPress.com P.S. And yet, this post is just funny. If you take this stuff too seriously, you must be a stock holder! tags: Home Depot, Purple Curve Workshop, Six Sigma

Throughput Podcast

Throughput Press Podcast Here is the link to the podcast. If you do not have iTunes, the link will offer to help you download iTunes for your Mac or PC. You do not need an iPod to use iTunes and listen to podcasts. Throughput Press is now the official parent of Purple Curve Events. TpPress now offers authors help not only publishing their book, but help with blogs, podcasts, and creating workshops around their book. The Purple Curve Workshop in Canton, Ohio on Friday, January 19th is the first such adventure. Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.SKIconsulting.biz P.S. TpPress has their own blog as well. tag: podcast Throughput Press

Supply Chain

Distribution in the Supply Chain The topic of inventory turns came up the other day, and I was reminded of this great White Paper on Distribution (free, but registration is required). In 1997, Apple was turning inventory just ten (10) times a year. Steve Jobs hires Tim Cook away from another company (with a nice sign-on bonus) and they end 1998 at 180 turns! Did I happen to mention how important people are to your success? I know, there are folks (misinformed, mostly) out there crying, "but look at the transportation costs!" I prefer to look at the bottom line. See the White paper for the details. Was it King Solomon that said "muzzle not the ox that treads the corn." Paraphrased: the worker producing results should be compensated. I am amazed how little results are rewarded in today's workforce. Yes, CEO bonuses can be extreme, but if tied to the mission statement, and based on a percentage of the gains, then I can easily justify some very large awards. But I digress... Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.ThroughputPress.com tag: supply chain

Civic Rent

One of my favorite civic endeavors: Chambers of Commerce A number of years ago, I had the chance to participate in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Leadership program (class of 2000). Then served as a Board of Regents member the following year. Just one way to pay one's "civic rent" to quote IBM's Buck Rodgers. I awoke this morning (slightly before the sun arose) with this thought: when will I again, make a deposit on my civic rent? That thought has been near the front of my thoughts most of the day. I have been active in several other projects since, but I just love Hilton Head Island. And as the sun has long ago set, the burning question is still there to be answered. Soon. Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.ThroughputPress.com tag: civic rent

Publishing

Throughput Press blog launched 01/01/2007 A little bootstrapping... a little "thinking out loud"... and a lot of soul-searching and Throughput Press becomes a full-fledged small business, catering to the guy or gal wanting to make real (and positive) changes in the world. www.ThroughputPress.com http://TpPress.blogspot.com -ski Update 01/02/2007: Throughput Press now also offers a Podcast. tag: publishing