blog.
The Importance of Acknowledging Mistakes in Project Management
In project management, the path to success is often paved with challenges and, inevitably, mistakes. Recently, I had an experience within a non-profit regarding a minor issue where I voiced my opinion about the importance of inclusivity in a group project. There was certainly no malice or intent at malice by the project team—they just did not consider all aspects important to a group when they embarked on the project—but an oversight led to a product that did not include all appropriate elements.
Something Personal . . .
Hello to my readers. I’m very pleased to share a glimpse into the world behind the words, as I had the pleasure of answering a few questions from my Marketing Guru before my upcoming book signing. It’s an exciting journey, albeit filled with its ups and downs. So here is our version of a ‘sneak peek’ into those inspirations, challenges, intricacies of my creative process, and all the joys that have molded my career as an author.
Using Lean to Save Time and Money
The Lean methodology is the most common sense approach for saving time and money. Taiichi Ohno, a Toyota executive in Japan in the 1940s and 1950s, developed Lean in the Toyota Production System. This system became the foundation for Lean manufacturing but quickly spread to other sectors. It is a valuable framework for businesses across various industries. Lean’s core concept is maximizing customer value while minimizing waste.
The Evolution of Ideas: Tracing Themes Across My Trilogy
Pursuing a fulfilling and purpose-driven life, I embarked on a transformative journey, writing three insightful books that have shaped my understanding of wealth, time, and productivity. Each book in the Beyond Success series—Considerations in Making Money, Acquiring Time, and Lean Productivity and Efficiency—has played a pivotal role in moulding my perspectives and influencing how I approach these crucial aspects of business and life.
Christmas Season Rush - The Before, During and After
As someone well-versed in “doing” Christmas to the nth degree for many years, I can tell you it’s exhausting and financially draining. For example, pre-COVID, we used to have dozens of people for Boxing Day dinner; this was after making dinner for around 15 family members on Christmas Day. But allow me to clarify, please.
A Recession is Looming: What Does This Mean For You?
The first warning sign of an impending economic downturn often emerges in rising inflation. We know we’ve hit inflation when we see prices rising. For example, you have likely noticed gas and grocery store price increases. To gauge the extent of these price fluctuations, experts rely on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to measure inflation, which calculates the changes in prices we pay for goods and services.
Why Lean?
In some respects, saying businesses must adapt to constant change and evolving market dynamics sounds like a broken record. When haven’t businesses had to adapt to change to remain competitive? Change is inevitable.
However, the saying seems more relevant today because technological change seems unprecedented. Regardless of how you approach the saying, one thing is certain: businesses that don’t continuously adapt will not thrive. Thus, I am a big proponent of lean methodology because it makes sense.
Efficiency and Productivity - Why They Matter
My previous blog dealt with productivity, a vital concept in achieving goals and, ultimately, leading to a fulfilling life. However, it may surprise you that efficiency is also a paramount concept permeating nearly every aspect of our lives. From how we manage our time to how businesses operate and even how nations develop—it all hinges on efficiency. It represents the ability to accomplish tasks, processes, or objectives with minimal waste of resources, be it time, energy, or materials.
Productivity: What’s in it for You?
Productivity is a term that resonates deeply in personal and professional spheres of life. It is the key to achieving goals, realizing ambitions, and, ultimately, leading a fulfilling life. This article delves into why productivity is crucial for individuals and organizations. It explores three practical ways you and your organization can incorporate productivity into your daily routines.
Lessons from the Management Consulting World
Being a management consultant has its perks. For one thing, we can be selective of our clients. If we’re good at our jobs, clients will also seek out those with exceptional academic qualifications, professional experience, and problem-solving skills.
Finding Balance: Navigating the Fine Line between Money and Fulfillment
In today’s world, we often pursue financial success at the expense of personal fulfillment. I have been guilty of this pursuit for many years, perhaps driven by ambition but mostly by the work itself – the more I did, the more I felt I could do more – and true story, I honestly enjoy working. However, this constant chase for profits and material wealth can sometimes overshadow the importance of finding meaning and satisfaction in our lives.
Exploring the True Meaning of Prosperity
In “Considerations in Making Money,” I delve into waste in organizational processes, the importance of employees in corporate profits, the need to streamline operations, and so forth. However, perhaps the more interesting take on profits is whether money truly makes us happy.
The Power of Lean: How to Streamline Your Work Processes
Lean is a methodology that focuses on reducing waste and increasing efficiency in processes, and we can apply it to a wide range of work environments. While Lean principles started in manufacturing industries, they have since been adapted and used successfully in various settings, including healthcare, construction, and service industries. Any organization or workplace with processes that can reduce waste and increase efficiency can benefit from Lean principles.
The Client Dilemma
As anyone in business can tell you, there are differences between clients. Some are a dream; they work with you and cooperate to produce superb results. Then there are other clients who question your every move. The former client is the one you want to nurture; the latter is in the “handle with care” category.
Reinventing Business
The pandemic was the tipping point for many. It forced individuals and businesses into introspection and a pivot. Businesses that were already flexible in their operations did well. Not surprisingly, technology companies excelled in profits, with Apple, Amazon, Alphabet (Google), and Tencent in the top five earners (see Insider Monkey for details). Tesla was also in the top five. However, many industries experienced severe business impacts due to prolonged lockdowns and preventative measures like vaccinations and masking.
When the World Turned
The year 2019 seems so long ago that it’s hard to imagine what life must have been like back then. I sometimes think that maybe this is all just a bad dream and I’ll wake up one day to realize the past two-plus years didn’t really happen. Were we stuck in a Matrix movie since 2020? I mean, it happens. In movies. I never imagined that our leaders could create such distress, discord, disunity, and divisiveness in society in such a short time.
Fear States and What to do About Them
Fear increases our body’s stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, raising our blood pressure and heart rate; we start breathing faster. Even our blood flow changes—blood flows away from our heart and into our limbs, making it easier for us to elicit the fight or flight response.
Going with the Flow
Are you a going-with-the-flow kind of person? If you are, you are likely more relaxed and accepting of situations; you don’t try to alter or control what’s happening.
In the continuing pandemic warfare of who’s-right-and-who’s-wrong, it seems that those who accept what they’re told fare better emotionally and dare I say, mentally than those who demand more information, more data, more explanation, just more logic.
Angry People
(This post first published on Substack on March 14).
Lashing out at people does not help anyone.
Stress, Fear, and Uncertainty
First posted on March 11, 2022 on Substack.
Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency.