Recession Proof your Biz

The one Book to Own Purple Curve Effect Of course once you own it, you must read it. Apply it. Repeat. Coming to Canton, Ohio, the whole 30 minute infomercial for this great book on producing results. Side-stepping diasters and focusing on results. Coming to cable TV WIVM52/WIVN29. WIVM52/WIVN29 appears as Time Warner digital tier channel 365, Massillon Cable channel 21, and Dover/New Phila channel 99. -ski ---- Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah Strategy, Tactics & Execution Dover, OH | Hilton Head Island, SC | Las Vegas, NV Cell: +1 330.432.3533 ©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved.

Guest Commentator Bob Wood

The Market today, Sept 30, after Failed "Bailout" Adding my 2 cents to the bailout mess Why are our elected officials willing to just throw taxpayers dollars at the problem without addressing the reason we are now in this mess? I, for one, would like to know what or who created the mortgage crisis? Only after the root of the problem is identified and fixed should tax dollars be considered as one source of many for funding. If the government created this problem by forcing lenders to write bad paper as some have suggested then those who created such a policy need to be held accountable. Identify the idiots who thought it would be a good idea to lend money to people who could not show a means of repaying their loans. Eliminate the policy and get the government out of private enterprise. If the problem lies at the hands of the lenders they need to be criminally prosecuted and the government needs to go after "all" their assets. We the taxpayers need to be made whole. Anything less is a blind government unable or unwilling to protect the American way of life. And those who stand idly by need replaced. Bob Wood Hugo, MN ---- Editors Note: I do not normally accept comments. This post was emailed to me and deserved a place in the spotlight. Thanks Bob for sharing. --ski

Who me? I Blame Pelosi

Speaker Pelosi is not a leader She should resign. Repeatedly, she has proven to be absolutely clueless when it comes to leading the House of Representatives. Most recently on energy. Now the failure of the "failout" tragedy. Yes, I blame President Bush and his 'system' (I use the word system very loosely here) for a significant portion of the meltdown in the financial market. His appointment of Secretary Hank Paulson of Goldman Sachs to chief of the U.S. Treasury was a huge mistake. Happen to notice how many times the Goldman Sachs firm seems to be "inside" on big giveways of late? Bernanke should also resign. While I am at it, Jim Cramer (Mad Money) needs to buy a clue... Wachovia died and was buried years ago when the crooks at TransUnion bought them out and kept the name to hide the dirty deeds performed under the TransUnion banner. Cramer should have known better. Now, once those changes are made, we can start to piece the solution together. Newt Gingrich is the only other person that I can recall that has asked for the repeal of Sarbanes-Oxley. It has robbed more productivity from American businesses than any other single law in history. And as Newt points out, its requirements did not ring a single alarm at any of the businesses that have ceased to operate in the last 60 days. Do we need to pull T. Boone Pickens off his efforts to fix our energy crunch? Is there no one in America that has a clue? -ski P.S. Like 90% (or more) of the taxpaying U.S. Citizens, I apposed the bailout/failout. Yes, we need something... but to throw more money at the idiots in charge is not the answer. We need a plan. Directed at the core problems. Not a $700,000,000,000.00 band-aid. P.P.S. Just discovered this letter from some of the leading economists in the country.

More John Boyd for Biz Leaders

Waiting since March 2006... I bought this book and skimmed it for relevant insight over two years ago. It is another one of those books that you must take your time reading. It engages the human mind on most every page. So much so, that I am just now getting around to investing the time required to read AND comprehend its message. When I first skimmed it, it seemed too focused on war strategies. Today, I see it more as effectively using war time analogies to convey important (if not extremely important) business concepts. Chet Richards gives credit in the dedication, "To the late John Boyd, who encouraged me to start this project..." Richards was a close associate of Boyd, going back to the mid 1970s. He quotes another colleague of Boyd, Bill Lind, and the author of Maneuver Warfare Handbook:

"A maneuver warfare military believes it is better to have high levels of initiative among subordinate officers, with a resultant rapid Boyd Cycle, even if the price is some mistakes."

It could not be any less true for business enterprises Certain to Win is not for everyone. At least not right out of the gate. However, it is a great follow up to H. William Dettmer's book, Strategic Navigation. And of course, I am assuming that you own and consume my book on a regular basis. Another aspect that I failed to pay enough attention to during my first reading (skimming) was the concept of trust. For me, it is an absolute. I am learning each week that not everyone understands the value of trust. Eli Goldratt (and others, myself perhaps the most vocal) have preached that we must not think in terms of laying people off when the economy sours. Richards provides some great pearls of wisdom concerning the need (no the) requirement for trust in order to be effective. Trust is a component of the Boyd OODA Loop If you do not own this book, and your role is that of setting or implementing strategy in a business environment, you are working with at least one hand tied behind your back. Honest. -ski P.S. Chet also wrote a great review of Dettmer's The Logical Thinking Process ---- Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah Strategy, Tactics & Execution Dover, OH | Hilton Head Island, SC | Las Vegas, NV Cell: +1 330.432.3533 tag: Certain to Win by Chet Richards ©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved.

The Classic that got Away

Sundays are for Dreaming of Classics This is the 2006 Red Horse Corsair 250 (vin#616) that I had built for my Turismo Cycles dealership in the fall of 2005. I have shared photos of me on this bike at Sturgis. It is 100% perfect Based on the fourteen motorcycles that I have owned, my experiences working for Red Horse, plus my experiences working the parts counter of a metric dealership in Ft. Lauderdale and then my sales job for a Harley Davidson dealership in Northeast Ohio, this American custom Pro Street fat tired, Twin Cam powered steed is the best of the best. If you now own it, please drop me a line. I would love to hear of its latest adventures... During my tenure as Director of Manufacturing at Red Horse Motorworks, I watched more than 30 bikes roll out of Britt, Iowa. And my selection of the components for this bike was influenced by each and every one of this bike's predecessors. Here is the factory "build sheet" for this classic:

• Corsair 250
• Softail frame with 38 degree rake and 2" stretch
• Harley TwinCam 88" Black & Chrome
• Six speed Trik Shift Tranny; Right Hand Drive
• Hydraulic Clutch; vRod Chrome hand controls
• 18x3.5" Fat Front Tire
• Blade Chrome; Weld Racing Wheels
• Midwest Growler Drag Pipes
• Midwest "Pro-One" like front forks
• Electronic Speedo/Tach combo
• Gel Touring seat
• Midnight Black paint
• Chrome rear fender struts
• 6" Pull-back Drag handle bar
• MSRP: $29,970

I still have visions of me cruising the boulevard on this ultimate street machine... -ski

more on Pricing

Please read the first Part, first Then, the second part will make sense. Honest. For those in manufacturing, my thoughts on pricing should be second nature. But they might not be... so, please give them a once over to make sure your strategy (tactics and execution) are in line with the Constraints Management Model approach. This is just one possible pricing mistake; it may explain how your business could be very busy yet making very little money. -ski

More Wally Bock

Finally got around to it... Every Friday Wally sends me his latest leadership tip via email. Okay, sure, he sends it to a lot of people. I finally got around to reading it a few minutes ago. I make it a point to find time to read every one he sends. This one speaks to the heart of my approach in business. It was most excellent... Made to Stick, too As always. As a parent (of two or more kids), you learn this Law first hand. It is simply brilliant. And Wally sets it up nicely in his post. As I was speaking in Chicago earlier this week, I mentioned a few "common sense" practices that I use to produce results beyond all reasonable expectations. It is not always the flash of creative (and elaborate) insight that moves organizations to victory... sometimes, policies that are profound for their elementary nature are due the credit.

"Think about the Law of the Loaf the next time you're tempted to draft long, complex regulations or instructions to deal with an issue in your organization. Remember that the best rules are simple to understand, simple to follow, and use human nature as a self-regulating force." —Wally Bock

The key to more (and more) throughput for your business is simple: take advantage of human nature! Remember that what gets measured (and rewarded) gets done. -ski P.S. Need a keynote speaker for your next biz function? Give me a call. P.P.S. Sorry, USA only. P.P.P.S. Is your business under performing? I can help with that, too. ---- Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.linkedin.com/in/consultski Dover, OH | Hilton Head Island, SC | Las Vegas, NV Phone: (330) 432-3533 tag: Wally Bock ©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved.

No clear winner

First debate produces no clear winner No real answers or any breaking news or insights either; just more of the same. Would one person anywhere in America stand up and say that because of the debate last night, they had changed their mind? I don't think so. Would even one undecided voter claim that they picked their candidate last night? I doubt it So while both camps claim victory (and therefore, no one lost), we return to the campaign trail. Maybe the Biden Palin debate will offer some real insight...

WaMu seized by FDIC

Color Washington Mutual gone The WaMu web page now welcomes former customers to JP Morgan. Which is a good thing. An interview on TV with a former WaMu CFO today was quite interesting. One point mentioned: the press. He stopped short of declaring that the media deserved some credit for the two runs on the bank that helped end WaMu's life. I won't: The press deserves some credit for the mess we are in. Repeatedly stupid statements about being in a recession when that has not, and is not the case, should be a crime. The resultant (press induced) panic helped to heighten the damage. As I said on April 30, 2008, Brian Williams was wrong. No one in the media is picking up on the ramifications of their own actions. How sad. It is always easier to blame someone else. We all do it. I have done it. You have done it. But like all bad habits, the pattern can be broken. It must be broken. -ski

Can't see the trees

Can't see the trees, For the Forest Join me for a short journey around the economic mess that we American's find ourselves facing today. Allow me to share a limited vantage point: mine. First, I am not a financial wizard. Wall Street does not hold my attention... at least not for more than a few minutes at a time. But I have been telling folks for years (since I first heard about the concept), that "home equity" lines of credit are bad news. All for a tax deduction. How stupid. The "meltdown" on Wall Street cannot be fixed by throwing money at it... especially when as Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said, it was caused by the "system" that our leaders have created. Until the system constraints are addressed (like home equity lines of credit and bogus home loans to the unqualified), we will only make it worse. Bite the bullet, stop the presses, fix the weak dollar, and remove requirements to actually make stupid loans; then, and only then, would a bailout make any sense. In other words, we are no where close to fixing the REAL problem. -ski

President Bush Speaks

President Bush addresses the Nation "Yes Houston (and the rest of America), we have a problem." However, Bush and his advisers are not smart enough to solve this problem. They have yet to properly identify the core issues in marketplace. Just like attempts to fix the educational system in America, "throwing money" at the problem is not the answer. Yes, we need a solution. No, this proposal is NOT the solution. In fact, many polls are showing well over 90% of "We the People" are against this bailout. Therefore, we need to determine the real cause of the problem. And craft solutions that will attack the core problem. Not simply grab a plausible (however, unlikely) cause and rush patches into the marketplace. Where is the next Milton Friedman? When we need him most! -ski P.S. I am Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, and I approve this post.

I vote NO on bailout

Just say, "No!" to the bailout How did the 15% of 'bad' mortgages cause this meltdown? It did not. This is old fashion "pile on" — the game you played as a kid... when someone with the football got tackled, everyone piled on! These institutions are cleaning house at our expense... piling on the results of all their mistakes into a massive plea for help. Ben Bernanke (et al) is asking the government to make the crooks 'whole' at my expense! The taxpayer Not gonna happen. Let them all fail. Then, go after all those obscene bonuses paid less than a year ago to the idiots that ran those companies into the ground. Then, send Bernanke packing for coming up with such a stupid plan. -ski

What drives you

Coffee with SKI Coming in October to the Greater Canton Ohio market. On WIVM52/WIVN29. WANTED:

• Guests to Interview
• Advertisers that want Results
• World Peace

If you have a B2B (business to business) business, lets talk! I learned years ago that you can sit around and wait on something to happen, or you can get "out there" and make it happen. The later has a lot more appeal. At least to me. So check out the "back story" on our new web site, and sign up today. -ski P.S. What drives me? Business! If we have great goods and services locally, then we need to tell people. Don't ask someone to buy from you simply because you live here; show the community why your offerings are the best!

Live from Chicago

Right about now, I should be on stage... Gotta love that "scheduled" post date & time feature on blogger. Look for SKI on Throughput to return tomorrow. The good Lord willing, and if the creek don't rise, as we say back home. -ski P.S. If you missed the presentation (or I guess even if you are here now, you may), request a copy of my presentation by sending me a request via email: ski@throughput.us

Road Trip Chicago Style

Last week, Pennsylvania This week, Chicago Next week, who knows! October 7th, Coffee with SKI Speaking of road trips, this was a great post on various modes of transport. I was hoping to take the vRod on the trek to Chicago, but as it is not a bagger, no place for important stuff like my Apple Mac mini... or a change of wrinkle free clothes. In fact, here is a link to all my posts on road trips. I was surprised to find that I had not waxed poetic on the book I hope to co-author, using the road trip as a tool for planning business strategy. The quiet time in the car (or on a motorcycle) gives one the freedom to think through a variety of issues. But I digress... Hope to see you all on Tuesday in session #204 on Real Time Performance Management. My case studies are sure to amaze... as Zig Ziglar says, "Like the cross-eyed discuss thrower, my presentations may not set any records, but I do keep the crowds alert!" -ski

Curves and Testing

Case Study in Results As I prepare for Tuesday's presentation at National Manufacturing Week in Chicago on Real Time Performance Management (where I explain this chart; session #204), I am reminded of the importance of testing. More testing is almost always better than less. Which brings us to modeling. And my friend Tony Rizzo, the master of business modeling with emphasis in the project management arena. If you are not aware of his Total-Matrix process, you really owe it to yourself (and your business) to check it out. But I digress... In this chart representing 90 days, as Director of Manufacturing for an American OEM, I was able to do a lot of real time observation, testing, and ultimately, implementation. The Y axis is measured in dollars. When I walked into the company, they had over a quarter of a million dollars tied up in WIP (Work in Process) inventory. Yet they were regularly running out of important parts... and they produced about $70K in throughput (gross monthly profit). Do you know what "good" looks like? Each business is unique. Templates can be a good thing, however, unless you apply them dynamically, they can cause more harm than good. This OEM was cash constrained plus, the simple act of getting products out the door was not very high on the priority list. What measures do you use? In this plant, the key assembly operation was on piece rate. So far, so good. However, humans being... well, human, the employees did not like the fluctuations in pay (and with good reason, as critical parts were often delayed for one or more days). So, they were set up on a draw against the actual earnings. After the end of each month, a 'bonus' check was issued. It was like free money! Or so was the mind set. Enter SKI The 'reward' system was sending the wrong message. Besides some restructuring of the 'bonus' system, I immediately placed emphasis on completing assemblies and shipping them ASAP. In fact, given the nature of the high ticket price of a completed unit, I started taking everyone to lunch each day that completed units were shipped. Expensive? Not compared to status quo! I am willing to put my money on the line. But I digress... Bottom line? By spending time on the shop floor (in real time) and seeing the challenges through the eyes of those trying to make products as well as a decent paycheck, I was able to determine this company's weakest link. That is the core concept of my book, Purple Curve Effect — SKI's Throughput on Command. Fix the weakest link, and only the weakest link. For the biggest bang! By reducing WIP, valuable cash was free to be applied at the greatest leverage point: the weak link. Which resulted in production more than doubling to $150k in throughput per month. Simple? Sure. Easy? Not so much. That's why they call it work! See you Tuesday. -ski P.S. Before its too late. ---- Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah Strategy, Tactics & Execution Dover, OH | Hilton Head Island, SC | Las Vegas, NV Cell: +1 330.432.3533 tag: Manufacturing Help Available ©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved.

Outtake from upcoming Infomercial

Purple Curve Effect Infomercial Check out this outtake from an upcoming infomercial for my book, Purple Curve Effect. The timing could not be worse for the financial community. Which, is the exact reason you need to own my book! 30 Day Money Back Guarantee! Quick & Efficient google checkout! Don't delay! -ski ©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved.

Takt Time or Not to Takt

Six Sigma spin on Lean's Takt Time My research this morning on improving operations of a manufacturing facility lead me to this post on calculating Takt Time. In which the author states:

"... in order to accurately determine the optimal crew size..."

Okay so far. Once you arrive at the optimal crew size, what next? Send everyone else home? Hire more people? Or simply do more calculations? The reason Constraints Management Model is important (dare I say crucial?) to effective business strategy should now be clear: businesses rarely operate under optimal conditions! Look around your shop floor... is it getting better? Or worse? More importantly, how can you tell? Ever win each and every challenge only to loose the race? In the Marine Corps we had to pass a physical fitness test every six months. My last test, just prior to discharge, I wanted to be cute. In case you are not too sure, the Corps does not do "cute"... all Marines are first trained how to follow orders, then how to kill people (in that order). Then, you get occupational specialty training. Every enlisted recruit goes through the same 90+ days of boot camp. Transfer in from another branch? Fine, after you complete USMC basic training. Well, I decide to do the minimum in each of the three events. Three pull ups. In 1975 it was 40 sit ups and run three miles in less than 33 minutes. The problem? Hitting the minimums will not give you enough "overall" points to pass! Again, the Corps (rightly so) does not have a sense of humor. So I had the privilege to do the test over the next day. Yes, I passed. In business, everyone hitting their individual goals is not enough. Local optima is not a strategy that will provide success in the business world. Bottom line? Do the Takt calculations but don't stop there... what are the requirements of the whole? As in a holistic or "systems approach" to success? Not sure? Call me. Together, we can plot a path to success. -ski P.S. Before its too late. ---- Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah Strategy, Tactics & Execution Dover, OH | Hilton Head Island, SC | Las Vegas, NV Cell: +1 330.432.3533 tag: Constraints Management Model ©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved.

Eric D. Brown

Must Read Blog One of those "must read" bloggers is Eric Brown. I do not recall how we met, but he often brings a vantage point to the table that never occurred to me... and that is a good thing. Sometimes even a great thing. I just got around to reading his post from yesterday (thanks bloglines for reminding me!):

"There is a disconnect between the line workers and senior leadership. That said, I don’t think the disconnect is intentional… I think it comes from senior leaders not having the visibility into the daily lives and challenges of line workers."

Maybe not unintentional, the result is the same. Of course, what if it is just a lack of interest? You know, as in why should I bother? Methinks the survey begs that we ask more questions. Enjoy. If you drop Eric a note, tell him, "SKI sent me." -ski ---- Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah Strategy, Tactics & Execution Dover, OH | Hilton Head Island, SC | Las Vegas, NV Cell: +1 330.432.3533 tag: Eric D. Brown on Leadership ©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved.

Off to Work we Go

Manufacturing Help Available Two heads are usually better than one. Three? Not so much. But sometimes. Having trouble hitting those projections that were made in a more "rosy" frame of mind last December? Before you give up, give me a call. Lets chat Who knows, I might just have a slightly different vantage point on the circumstances. Not better. No worse. Just different. Templates have there place in business, but always remember to pay attention to the dynamics at play. Implementing a "standard" solution could be the exact wrong thing to do... or implementing it too soon or too late, another issue. Dynamic means applying the exact amount of force, at the perfect leverage point, and the exact moment in time required for maximum effect. Not getting enough of the "right" results? Call me. -ski ---- Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah Strategy, Tactics & Execution Dover, OH | Hilton Head Island, SC | Las Vegas, NV Cell: +1 330.432.3533 tag: Manufacturing Help ©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved.

blog maverick on Finance

I do not always agree with Mark... But today is different. I respect his accomplishments and his passion. Our politics are at odds. But not this post on the financial chaos.

"One last point, has the irony of 3 of largest companies in the country who make their money giving financial and insurance advice to companies and individuals, are facing ruin from the advice they gave themselves ? If this isn't a lesson to every individual who is taking advice from an investment firm, I don't know what is."

Forbes on the U.S. Dollar

Steve Forbes and I agree He wrote this or publication on September 11th...

"Most immediately, the Treasury and the Fed should explicitly strengthen the dollar. The White House must resoundingly put an end to the Administration’s highly destructive weak-dollar policy. The instability of the buck hinders business investment. It undermines markets for dollar-denominated assets. If the dollar isn’t restored, this Fannie-Freddie fiasco won’t be the last horror of the credit crisis."

Then Lehman & AIG... what next? Steve knows finance.

Who fiddled at AIG

As a taxpayer, I gotta ask... What was management at AIG doing the whole time the financial market (that the Fed claims is the heart of the insurance business???) was showing significant signs of weakness? Waiting for a bail out? -ski P.S. Hey guys; time for a new slogan.

Lehman Bros to file Chapter 11

Not a very nice picture After 150+ years, Lehman Brothers to reorganize operations. It will be interesting to see what kinds of bonuses (and what amounts) have been paid out in just the last ten to twelve months for 'exceptional' performance. The stock market is still above 11000, but where will it close today? In a related note, Merrill Lynch agreed to a buy out by Bank of America. The good news? Crude oil prices continue to drop. -ski

Kent State University on Excellence

Received this brochure in the mail

"Excellence in Action"

Great tag line... but not sure how it relates. More to the point, how does it relate to me? Is your message cute but slightly off center? Is my "Simply Results" too vague? Off center? -ski

YAS

Yet Another Sunday (YAS) This sunrise on Hilton Head Island is one of my favorite photographs. It is the definition of throughput for me. How so? Each day's sunrise is your wake up call! Remember the movie, Wall Street, with bad boy Gordon Gecko? He calls Bud Fox from the ocean's edge at sunrise and tells Buddy boy, "This is your wake up call!" How you gonna make a dream come true, if after setting your mind on a goal, you fail to get up and get moving? You cannot. Remember that Sunday's are perfect for dream building. What are you passionate about? Write it down. Study it. Interview people that are living it. Make the dream come alive! This is Sunday, dream. Dream big dreams. Then awake with the sun and get moving! -ski

People Power

I finished the ROWE book... Why Work Sucks and How to Fix it by Cali Ressler & Jody Thompson The conclusion of the book about making change happen will take some additional study (as well as the core of the book, as I mentioned the other day). In other words, this is hard work! But what is the alternative? Status Quo? I hope not... More of the same is hardly ever the key to success. Colonel John Boyd talked of, "People, ideas, and hardware. In that order!" I started re-reading the book, Big Change at Best Buy, to get a better handle on change. But I digress... Every successful business turn around that I have studied could be oversimplified to this elementary statement: People Power Think of Apple when Steve Jobs returned as iCEO... It is Jim Collins' "The right people are your greatest asset" argument all over. Stuck? Ideas are a dime a dozen. Actually, Seth Godin points out a web site that will email you a new idea each and every day. Hardware is a generic term that means tools to implement ideas are necessary. But again, the key is people power. Why do companies send key people to workshops around the country? For the tax write off? Hardly. To spark them to greatness! Or so I tell myself every time I speak. Ask anyone that has attended one of my sessions, "What was the message?" You can make a difference And only you! If your mind is stuck in "wrong headed thinking" mode, give it a shake! Get to my session in Chicago on the 23rd (yes, this month: September!). You are going to hear about Boyd. And ROWE. And Lean Six Sigma as well as the Constraints Management Model. But mostly, you will hear about results Driven by People Power See you then. -ski P.S. There is still time to register. ---- Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.linkedin.com/in/consultski Dover, OH | Hilton Head Island, SC | Las Vegas, NV Phone: (330) 432-3533 tag: Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson are People! ©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved.

Key to Progress

Colonel John Boyd defines Progress:

"Do you know what I say progress is? Confusion at a higher level."

The four video clips of Boyd on YouTube™ are simply amazing. I converted them to MP3s for my iPod... so now, when I take a road trip, I can take Boyd along with me! -ski

Do you OODA

Following the 2008 Presidential Election? Then you must have heard references to Colonel John Boyd's OODA Loop. This article by Michael Barone is one of the best explanations on the net. Plus, it wins extra points for using a current news affair as the case study.

"Then they failed to Orient. Palin, as her convention and subsequent appearances have shown, powerfully reinforces two McCain themes: She is a maverick who has taken on the leaders of her own party (as Obama never has in Chicago), and she has a record on energy of favoring drilling and exploiting American resources." —Michael Barone

For those idiots not-so-well-informed persons that think that Boyd was "all about war" or that his tactics are only applicable to war, you MUST see this four part series on YouTube™ featuring actual footage of Colonel John Boyd. Talking about Shingo and Ohno, Lean Manufacturing (Toyota Production System), as well as "Just in Time" to name a few business concepts that Boyd was extremely familiar with, and quite knowledgeable. Caution, he does use some profanity: Part I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbb48uUOkqQ Part II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5c3yMy-llA Part III: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5TTeMCoRhM Part IV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbbh9bYOOok So, regardless your preference in the up coming election, this article on townhall dot com does a great job of explaining why I preach Boyd and his OODA Loop everywhere I speak. -ski P.S. Need a keynote speaker for your next biz function? Have OODA, will Travel! Give me a call. P.P.S. Sorry, USA only. ---- Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.linkedin.com/in/consultski Dover, OH | Hilton Head Island, SC | Las Vegas, NV Phone: (330) 432-3533 tag: Boyd OODA Loop ©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved.

Results-Only Work Environment :: Part 3

Why Work Sucks and How to Fix it by Cali Ressler & Jody Thompson I lied It was my hope to finish this book by today. Did not happen. It is too good! Ever read a book that requires you to skim (in some cases at very high speeds!) in order to stay awake? This is not one of those I do have a few "Yea, buts" of my own to submit to Cali and Jody, but first, let me tell you that I am on page 161 (out of 201). I stopped this morning with the section break towards the bottom of the page where they ask, are you now "... asking yourself what you can do to bring ROWE into your life." Great question But no, I am not. For two reasons. First, I am a serial entrepreneur and a company of just three: me, myself, and I. So I am already living a ROWE of my own design. And I must admit that all the "warm and fuzzy" feelings that the authors talk of (and the people that they highlight throughput the book also share), are "spot on" as they say. I work 24 hours a day However, I also play 24/7 too. I get ideas at all hours of the day and night. If I showed the posting times on my blog, you would find entries made in most every hour of the night and day. So Cali and Jody were preaching to choir on this aspect of ROWE. I do consider myself more productive when I am not watching the clock. The second reason (why I am not ready to ask that question) is simple: one reading is not enough to take in all the salient points. Like a H. William Dettmer book, this is not a fast read. I have read longer books in a couple of hours; this one has taken me... oh, right. We need to drop that watch watching thing! {grin} Buy the book There I said it. Now, you may continue reading this post (and at least one more that I will write when I do finish the book), or do your own research. Allow me to highlight a couple of points that align with my Purple Curve Effect:

"It's one of those ROWE paradoxes. Give people more freedom and they respond not with less focus but with more."

I could not agree more. As I ask (over and over), "How do you get more done with less?" Focus. The effect I documented in my book is very simple. In fact, if you discounted it as "too simple" to be effective, guess again. The old expression that what gets measured gets done is only part of the equation. As I have repeatedly stated, the Balanced Scorecard approach is flawed. Yes, large Fortune 500 companies like Intel can revise it almost into something that works better than a lot of other tools (most of the time), but why bother? Remember the U2 spy plane? Kelly Johnson applied focus to those measurements by eliminating bad multitasking. The good news, people need to multitask. The bad news, when like a computer's CPU, a human is sent an outside "interrupt" notice, we get derailed. However, most often when we naturally reach a natural "forking point", it will turbo boost our performance. But I digress...

"Jokes about time—even really, really funny ones—erode trust."

Buy "Why Work Sucks" Then, write your own review. Send me your link. -ski P.S. Need gift ideas for that hard to buy for superior? Buy this book! ---- Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.linkedin.com/in/consultski Dover, OH | Hilton Head Island, SC | Las Vegas, NV Phone: (330) 432-3533 tag: Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson ©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved.

Update on Yahoo Cash Crunch

My refund was issued Thank you, Yahoo. -ski

Remembering September 11

National September 11 Memorial

The Memorial Museum Mission "The National September 11 Memorial Museum at the World Trade Center will bear solemn witness to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993. The Museum will honor the 2,981 victims of these attacks and all those who risked their lives to save others. It will further recognize the thousands who survived and all who demonstrated extraordinary compassion in the aftermath. Demonstrating the consequences of terrorism on individual lives and its impact on communities at the local, national, and international levels, the Museum will attest to the triumph of human dignity over human depravity and affirm an unwavering commitment to the fundamental value of human life."

No event in my lifetime has had the impact on me as did this horrific series of attacks. Yet, I do not personally know anyone that lost their life as a result of those attacks. However, my outlook on life on this planet has forever changed. I pray that I never forget... -jeff

More on Communications

Never read the Tower of Babel story? Download the PDF of Purple Curve Effect (for Free) and read it, starting on page 23 (which in the PDF will be the 33rd graphic page). Basically, when the people of earth were of "one language" nothing was impossible to them. We are told that the Lord "confounded" their language, and due to the confusion, the people quit building the tower. Not hitting your targets? Maybe you could use more communications... but do not confuse the volume (quantity) of correspondence with the act of communicating. Until your message is understood, you have not yet communicated. -ski ---- Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah Strategy, Tactics & Execution Dover, OH | Hilton Head Island, SC | Las Vegas, NV Cell: +1 330.432.3533 tag: Better Communications ©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved.

ROWE :: Part 2

This is a good book About half way through... and picking up speed! I am a big fan of results. On page 85, Trey relates his experiences in a ROWE. He is twenty-something and has been in a ROWE for two years. He is part of a development team that creates Flash based content.

"Before we started working in a Results-Only Work Environment we could do ten, maybe twelve courses a month. We recently put forty-three courses out in a single month."

That gets my attention. I also love the "Yeah, But..." blocks that are starting to appear the further I progress into the book. Again, hope to have my conclusion by Friday. -ski

Not just in the South

It is said that in the South, people do not return phone calls... True. It is also true in Ohio. On a scale of one to ten, how important is communications to your business? If I take the time to email you a proposal, then follow up with a phone call, and must leave a voice mail (you were on another call), please acknowledge my communique. Even if your remark might be: "No." Is that too much to expect? -ski

Pro Motorcycle Parts

SKI does it again Some people sit around and wonder what is happening in the world... some folks look around at the world and wonder what is happening... SKI says, "This is happening!" What is it? My return to the custom American motorcycle scene. There are a lot of moving parts (no pun intended), but it starts innocently enough, with a web site: http://proMCparts.com

ROWE your Business to Success

Cali & Jody on Results Saturday was like Christmas: my copy of Why WORK SUCKS and How to Fix It arrived in the mail! But it would be Sunday before I would have time to even open the packaging. I am not disappointed. When others discover common sense and share their breakthroughs, it makes my life seem more valid. I know, I know. It should not have any bearing on my value, at least not in my eyes. But, guess what? I am human. But please don't let it get around. My daughter has always struggled with exactly what it is that I do for a living. I guess kids have to share that sort of thing with their friends. After the movie Armageddon came out, I told her that I simply, "Think stuff up." As if I work for NASA. Great line Bruce Willis. My freedom (at work) has always been important to me. As I wrote in Purple Curve Effect, upon getting into business (after the U.S. Marine Corps), I looked forward to early retirement. Today, I know better. I have only completed the first chapter (and the preambles) but I am duly impressed. The concept of Sledge^SM is most interesting. Putting a face on one of the enemies of productivity is an interesting construct. I look forward to seeing how this works out for getting folks to actually take action on the book. That is always the biggest challenge, right after getting people to buy the book. I look forward to reading the portion where, as they say on the cover, "... the simple change that can make your job terrific." As a consultant (thinking 'stuff' up), my career is really about getting business owners to make changes. Yes, they all say that they want to change. They all know that they must change to achieve their goals, and they all assume that once they see "the light" they will take action. But they don't Not always. Or worse yet, they start down the new path, making great progress, then stop. Look back, and see something that they miss, and turn around. How sad. So it is with much enthusiasm that I look forward to reading more about ROWE (Results-Only Work Environment). Stay tuned for my final evaluation (by week's end). -ski P.S. Maybe sooner... ---- Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah Strategy, Tactics & Execution Dover, OH | Hilton Head Island, SC | Las Vegas, NV Cell: +1 330.432.3533 tag: Why WORK SUCKS and How to Fix it ©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved.

Using a RSS Reader

Why repeat yourself? Get bloglines How do keep track of the changes happening around you? At least the changes that are important to your business (profession, life, community, etc.)... Me? I use bloglines It has been several years, but I think my favorite protagonist and arch friend Clarke Ching introduced me to this great product. Clarke and I are like oil and water (do not mix well) for some reason, but we both have tremendous respect for the work of Dr. Eli Goldratt. He finally has adopted my favorite term: Constraints Management. For me, TOC (Theory of Constraints) has evolved. But I digress... Over the years, from time to time I have set up my browser's "home page" to point to bloglines. But like most folks, I have too many RSS feeds on my account. RSS is "Really Simple Syndication". Which in English means that when a web site changes, or someone blogs about something, or press release is issued, a "newsreader" like bloglines can notify you of the changes. No news is no news If a blog that I follow has no new posts, nothing happens. However, once a new post is made, within minutes (usually; sometimes it takes closer to an hour) I am alerted. Hence when I fire up the browser in the morning, I get the latest updates... or more accurately, the notification of an update. I get to decide whether to view the post, or save it for later. Or email it to a colleague. In this image, you can see how I am notified: Notice that at this moment, I am following 117 feeds. Again, this is too many. I need to purge ones that never really provided the insight that I had hope. As I have mentioned, I use twitter. There is a RSS feed service that allows me to know if anyone has directly referenced me in a "tweet" (as messages are called) on twitter. The answer is no "unread" tweets. How do I know? There is no number after the item description. Balkhis has five new (actually unread) posts on his blog. See how this item is in bold, and has the "(5)" indicated after the description? Ron McDaniel's' Buzzoodle web site has four new/unread (by me) posts, plus four additional posts that I have marked to keep "active" so they can be quickly referenced by simply clicking the Buzzoodle item description. The first "(4)" in bold are unread. The next "(4)" is not bold. Bottom line: Need to know what is happening around you? Get bloglines. Once I know that you have it, and follow my postings, I can stop repeating myself! -ski P.S. There are a ton features that I have not mentioned. Plus a bunch I do not even know how to use! But I love the simple, clean interface. I use it like a dashboard to tell me at a glance when something has happened. Programmers can also set up a variety of reports and make them available via bloglines. I also use it for podcasts. It handles video too. P.P.S. Did I mention it is free? ---- Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah Strategy, Tactics & Execution Dover, OH | Hilton Head Island, SC | Las Vegas, NV Cell: +1 330.432.3533 tag: bloglines ©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved.

TV Commercial as Intro

Do you speak CCPM? Lets say that you have been in project management circles your whole adult life. Maybe 10+ years (just for the sake of argument)... and yet this "Critical Chain Project Management" (CCPM) thing is a foreign subject. Not good There are a lot of reasons for projects to fail to hit the target with regard to budget and/or time and/or functionality. But as W. Edwards Deming mentioned, success (or failure) is 94% of the time, a function of the system (or lack thereof). A poor system most often equals poor results. If you are in a matrix management model, you need to explore CCPM. Today! Start here. Then, you will have a better appreciation of what you need to do next. -ski P.S. You may jump start the learning curve: download my book. P.P.S. Did I mention the PDF version is free? ---- Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah Strategy, Tactics & Execution Dover, OH | Hilton Head Island, SC | Las Vegas, NV Cell: +1 330.432.3533 tag: Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) ©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved.