Totally Results :: Tony Rizzo

Have a Project that needs help?

Like yesterday!

Who you gonna call?

If I were you, I would call me.

What I mean to suggest is that I have the answer you seek for all your project management problems. Yes, all of them. In fact, I have answers to questions you have yet to discover need addressed.

Mind reader?

No. It is the fifth tip that I shared in my book, Purple Curve Effect: Involve others.

Once upon a time, in a far away state, there was a problem of the engineering sort. A nightmare of a challenge that was costing thousands of dollars each day for which it went unresolved. So, the company brought in a respected engineer to solve the problem. Now, when the engineer arrived, the chief operating officer suggested that the gentlemen first break for lunch as it was almost one o'clock in the afternoon. Then he stated that they could return and devote full attention to the challenge.

The engineer refused. He suggested that he take a minute to correct the problem, and that would then allow them plenty of time to enjoy their meal. And that is exactly what he did!

I met the engineer in this story many years ago. He has long since passed on to his reward in the "here ever after"... but that caliber of expertise may still be employed on a contract basis. I know several independent contractors with that kind of talent.

More importantly, I am willing to put them to work for you.

Today, I would like to bring to your attention, one such guru: Tony Rizzo

As part of my "virtual buzz" assistance role for him, I have created the Totally Results blog to share his availability. In case you did not know, he is the creator of the Total-Matrix planning process and a software developer, having written the TMx application.

Visit our store front at totallyresults.blogspot.com and let me know if I can put Tony Rizzo to work on your most pressing projects.

-ski

----
Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
www.throughput.us
+1 330 432-3533

tag: Tony Rizzo
©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved.

Art in Action

The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki I love my Apple(1) iPod. It holds a lot of music, but almost as many (if not more!) podcasts like Kawasaki's Art of Pitching from this book. In fact, just this morning over coffee I listened to my most recent TV appearance, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s I have a Dream and this chapter of "Art", read by the author. Why? I am on a mission. Those that know me, know that means I am focused like a laser for the next ninety days on making something happen. Something that should prove of great value for a number of folks. I would have said for a "number of businesses" except that my mind is not wired that way... for me, a business is a dream by one or more individuals. A dream of serving one's fellow man. A dream of results that leave planet earth in better shape than that condition in which it was found. Yes, I understand that not everyone has so pure of intentions. Not my problem. I only must answer for my actions. To Do: create a press release Last week I was sidelined by yet another cold. Seems that my visit to Ohio is not agreeing with my health. One would expect that May in Ohio would be full of sunshine and warm weather. Wrong. It is not expected to break seventy degrees in the next five days. But I digress... I need a press release unlike most others. The subject is most interesting (at least to me): Tony Rizzo and I have agreed to a joint marketing effort on behalf of his Product Development Institute. I have become an agent (non-exclusive) for PDI with the mission of reselling his services. Hence, my study of great messages by great leaders... in search of the perfect "voice" for the press release. A release worthy of the occasion. A document that will move others to action. What might be called, "Art in Action." -ski P.S. Although the PR is not yet complete, feel free to contact me immediately if your projects are not progressing as required. Your success is the key to our success... and the sooner we start, the sooner you will experience breakthroughs you might be tempted to consider impossible. They are not. ---- Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah www.throughput.us +1 330 432-3533 tag: Tony Rizzo ©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved. (1) Disclaimer: I own Apple (AAPL) stock.

PMconnection for Projects

PMconnection :: Connecting the PM World

Thanks to Jack and everyone at the PMconnection for the opportunity to get the word out on Tony Rizzo's TMx Project Modeling tool.

-ski

P.S. I love it when a plan comes together. Thayer Bennett slaved over the perfect message, and kept Tony and I on topic... a major accomplishment! And thanks again to Lana Lewis of Lana Lewis Design for great visuals. The absolute best, brightest and right people for the task.

New TMx Logo

It takes a Village...

It is mostly about people. Business that is. For me, business is about solving problems for money. Solve more problems than the next guy, make more money. Of course, address the concept of "throughput" and you get to keep more of the money. But I digress...

Part of the village on the TMx adventure was Thayer Bennett. Her desire to build a great marketing plan around Tony Rizzo's Total-Matrix planning tool known as TMx. Also, Lana Lewis of Lana Lewis Design created the final artwork. Please visit WWW.PDITMX.INFO to see the graphics up close and personal.

As many of you know, I built the eCommerce back end that allows those suitably impressed individuals to convert the free download into a fully licensed product with just a few clicks of the mouse.

Finally, thanks to Tony Rizzo for staying true to the vision. In fact, if you want a sneak peek at the future of "help systems" you must download this app. This thing will practically build project models by itself! Hit the "what's next" button and it takes control. Kind of scary.

Actually, quite profound. But maybe not for everyone.

I was talking with a friend (lets call him, Harry) and asked which project planning software he used. He said, "Pad." I queried further, "Pad? I am not familiar with that. Who makes it?"

A paper pad and a pencil

Ouch.

TMx can even help my friend Harry.


Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
Throughput.us LLC
(330) 432-3533

©2008 Jeff SKI Kinsey. All rights reserved.

Wednesday :: February 27th

The Big Red X Marks the Spot

Better project models while you wait? Not really. Some assembly required.

What is the value of knowing which link in your business processes will break next? Priceless? Absolutely. Unless you have given the circumstances surrounding managing projects in our matrix driven world as much thought as Tony Rizzo, why try to reinvent the wheel?

Eliyahu Goldratt gave us the vantage point of the "constraints oriented" mindset. First, in his first book "The Goal". Among his breakthroughs in the years following, the Critical Chain project management (CCPM) approach.

CPM (Critical Path Method) advanced the ability of teams to focus on the proper steps to create successes otherwise impossible. Think U2 spy plane. Critical Chain showed us that few organizations have unlimited resources. Our toolbox ought to reflect this fact. Tony Rizzo took CCPM to the next level... an order of magnitude (at least) beyond any thinking on the problems facing multiproject environments: Total-Matrix driven organizations. Like yours!

Do you have just one boss? Or, just one direct report?

Of course not.

So why (try to) manage your projects as if you do?

WEDNESDAY :: FEBRUARY 27TH :: 2PM EST

We all have the exactly the same problem: "We don't know, what we don't know." Hence I am pleased to offer an hour's worth of interaction with the master of all things "project".

Revelation in three parts:

1. Introduction to the Total-Matrix Planning process (PowerPoint)
   
2. How To Use TMx (a gotoMeeting session)
3. Free Fully Functional TMx add-in for MS-Excel (30 day eval)

Seats are limited, get yours: ski@throughput.us

Requests for private (and confidential) demonstrations will gladly be considered. Again, contact SKI and make your curiosity known.

Already using TMx, but struggling with the rigors of such a highly efficient process? One on one tutoring is available in 3.5 hour sessions via gotoMeeting. I am embarrassed to share the price of this offering (it is that low)... but I digress.

Have a company that needs turned around? TMx might just be the required catalyst.

Call me.


Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
Throughput.us LLC
(330) 432-3533

TMx Demo slots available

Wednesday, February 20 at 9:00am EST

Thursday, February 21 at 2:00pm EST

Only Eight slots for each session. First come, first signed up.

Requirement: Hi-speed internet. Using gotoMeeting dot com, you will "dial in" to Tony Rizzo's computer for a one hour overview of TMx.

Contact me to register: ski@throughput.us

-ski

Faster or Not

I love the business of business. It is rarely dull or boring. However, there is a penalty for taking on too much business. Or trying to rush through the business of business.

How do you approach business?

For me, it is all about relationships. When I launched eDivision dot net in 1998, an eCommerce business with the tag line, "The power behind the Submit Button", I expected my virtual organization would allow me the freedom to never have to meet face to face with a client.

Yes, one of the advantages of our lean structure was the freedom to eliminate the time consuming function of actually engaging the client in person.

How stupid!

Fortunately, light dawned over marble head, and I quickly realized that my business structure provided the freedom to spend almost all of my time with my prospects and clients. An international network of talent, bidding on my various projects, provided the perfect business model for true success. Then comes the events of 911... and I decide "life is too short"... and close eDivision.

Well, after five years of wondering around these United States of America on various motorcycles, spending winters in great places like Ft Lauderdale, Myrtle Beach and Britt, Iowa, I have rejoined the hunt. The hunt for business nirvana.

Success

Due in large part to the connection of Constraints Management gurus that I had met during my adventures at the helm of TOCreview magazine, one of the business ventures funded by eDivision in 2000 and 2001.

Last night one of those gurus, Tony Rizzo, called with a business idea. Tell me that you recall he is the world's leading expert on Project Management. Rizzo was the first to implement multiproject Critical Chain Project Management. His TMx offering could save your business millions, and because your gross annual revenues might only be a couple million dollars, you have already dismissed this fact.

Shame on you

But I digress. The point I want to make, and that I made to Rizzo last night (and many times to him in the last six months), is simple: "Its relationships." Period.

Often we are so close to a given situation, that we cannot see the trees for the forest. We get moving, and moving faster and faster, stuff happens and we loose focus. We loose our ability to maintain focus or to properly select the best focal (or leverage) point.

Shame on us

Today, I seek to help one person at a time. Just one. Yet your reaction may be, "How could that work?" The money you can make from helping just one person, is huge. In part, because everyone you know, knows at least one other person. Every business in America is part of a much larger system. And every country, part of the world's system.

There is an expression in sales that goes something like,

"I do not want to close every sale, just the next one."

Which does in fact imply that you really do want them all! Your answer is simple, in fact they even made a movie about it: Jerry Mcguire. The beginning of the movie shows the creation of a great mission statement: Less is More. Cuba Gooding, Jr. took home the Oscar for his "Show me the Money!" character.

Life is simple. (I did not say easy.)

Want an Oscar? Focus on the money. One client at a time. Solve just one problem. For one person. In one business. And within 90 days, you will be amazed at your throughput. Which I define as "more money in YOUR pocket."

Need help?

Download TMx. Then call me. Do I expect everyone in the world to call? Of course not. I just expect you to call.

Enthusiastically,


Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
Throughput.us LLC
(330) 432-3533

P.S. I had to pass on Rizzo's latest offer to participate in a new adventure. As I explained, until TMx is used in every business in America, I still have a lot of work to do...

TMx :: Part II

Tony Rizzo presents TMx

SKI endorses TMx

Throughput.us LLC requires TMx

Disclaimer: Tony Rizzo is a client. I profit as a direct result of each and every copy of TMx that is licensed. Forever. And when big brother buys TMx, I get my pound of flesh, without any blood loss.

Now that the small talk is out of the way, lets get down to business.

Last week (actually January 31st) I was in Las Vegas for the surfaces2008 event. Earlier in January I was in Minnesota. Now, write this from Ohio. And tomorrow, the good Lord willing, I will be back on Hilton Head Island. But I digress...

Show of hands, how many of you know the name Warren Tyler?

He was one of the reasons that I braved yet another shoeless adventure and over 5 hours of flight (each way).

If you have been in the flooring business for more than about two minutes, you should. And, if you are in a retail environment involving sales to consumers, you should. Tyler is good. As good as Zig Ziglar, in his niche. Almost as good as me. And, he gets it!

Including a reference to Good to Great by Collins, and his "the right people" being your greatest asset assertion. But I digress.

One of the many topics during Tyler's presentation: tools. Giving your team the tools that they need to be successful. But more than just successful, effective. Are you sitting down? This is profound:

"Does your team have the proper tools for success?"

No small matter. Not a random thought. Not for the faint of heart.

Somewhere in the recent past (last few days or weeks), I commented on a time study that I did many years ago for a manufacturing firm. Two operators on basically identical machines, performing the same operation on the same lot of material. One operator completes the task in five "turns" of the material. The other just four turns.

One operator had better fixtures.

Better tools.

And so it is with TMx.

If you work with projects, in most any enironment, you need Rizzo's TMx. Work from an Apple Mac? Buy the cheapest PC you can find, get MS-Excel and download TMx.

Recall Stephen Covey? And the lumberjack story? If not, basically, it talks of the need to stop in order to sharpen your saw. You can only go so fast for so long. No matter how good your skills. The race does not go to the swift. It goes to the smartest, swift contestant.

I guarantee that if you download the 30 day evaluation copy (a fully functioning copy) of TMx, schedule a free one demo session with Tony Rizzo, and spend just eight (8) hours learning how to use TMx, you will save at least one full 40 hour week on your very next project.

YES. YOU WILL SAVE ONE FULL WEEK!

Or your money back.

Did you catch that? You are going to download TMx for FREE. Schedule one (1) hour with the brightest mind in the world of projects for FREE. And tackle your next project with an unfair advantage. What is the risk?

Yes, for the Eli Goldratt fans listening in, this is all about local optima. But it is more than that, it is your ticket to that corner office. The one with the fake rubber tree. Membership in the local Country Club. Court side seats at the next NBA game that your company supports.

Better yet, let me ask a simple question:

"What is going to take, to get your attention?"

What is it going to take to get you to download TMx?


Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
Throughput.us LLC

TMx: Bullet Proof Project Plans

P.S. Please be sure to share your success stories.

P.P.S. If you are somehow unaware of Tony Rizzo's "Total Matrix Planning Process" and its use within TMx, Rizzo offers half-day sessions (3.5 hours) that are one on one, web based, for just $1000. In other words, get the exact training that you, and you alone need to be successful.


(c)Copyright 2008 Jeff SKI Kinsey. All rights reserved.

Tony Rizzo's TMx

Total Matrix Planning :: The Tool :: TMx

First things first (disclaimer): I am compensated for my efforts in the promotion of TMx.

When Tony Rizzo calls, I make every effort to take the call. Regardless of my other activities. He rarely finds it necessary to call without emailing first, to see what time might work best.

A few months ago, Rizzo called out of the blue, and wanted me to apply some of my eCommerce expertise to a problem he was facing. I told a bit of the story in this TV talk show interview with good friend Ed McCullough:

ed-mcculloughs-talk-of-town.html

Long story, short: I added the real-time online invoicing component to TMx. Then, I started playing around with it... and got no where! So I called Rizzo back, and said, "Show me how this thing works!"

He did. Now, it is a major component of my Critical Chain project management efforts. Do you have any idea how much time (and therefore, money) is wasted by starting on projects that should never have been released, simply due to inadequate project plans? I do.

Thousands of man-hours per year. Wasted.

Guess what? TMx is available for free. Yes. Free. A 100% complete and fully functional TMx is available (with a 30 day evaluation period) for download on Rizzo's web site:

TMx Download

Check it out. BTW (by the way), it is now light years ahead of what I first experienced just 90 days ago... but if you still cannot "make it work", Rizzo's email is included with the tool, and he encourages the end user to contact him with any questions. Or concerns.

Or enhancement requests.

-ski

P.S. Do check out the requirements section, it does not work with every possible configuration. And yes, I have asked for an Apple Mac version.