Category Archives: Helpful Hints

What’s the Diagnosis?

Principle of the model-based diagnosis
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I was having breakfast with a friend last week and we were talking about some of the things I do as a consultant.  He was listening attentively as I rambled on about the various things I do for my clients in many different areas.   When I took a breath, he said to me “at your core, you’re a diagnostician.  You can call it a consultant, but in reality you are a business doctor, performing diagnoses.  Just as a kidney guy specializes in one area but knows about the rest, you do that with digital media but you need to know about the rest as well because like a kidney, it’s all connected.” Continue reading

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Sugar Isn’t Sweet

American Idol
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I admit it:  I’m an American Idol addict.  I watch every week – both nights.  OK?  You’ve got my secret vice front and center.  You happy now?  Oh wait – maybe that’s not my secret vice.  Maybe it’s really that I keep finding business lessons in fluff such as Idol! Continue reading

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Practice

Barden Ridge_Golf Driving Range
Image via Wikipedia

I used to think of myself as a musician of sorts.  I played a lot of instruments, studied a few of them privately, and actually earned a fair bit of money both performing and teaching.   I guess I have (more like had!) a natural ability with them.  Because of that, I never felt as if practice was a top priority. I could play, it sounded pretty good, what more needs to be done?   Sure, the band rehearsed a few hours a week and yes, I used to play a guitar several more hours a day.  But that wasn’t practice – that was an extension of my arm. Now, playing the sax – that would have required practice! Continue reading

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