Tag Archives: management

How It’s Made

One of my favorite Canadian imports – besides hockey and Neil Young – is a quirky show called “How It’s Made.” You can see it on The Science Channel. Basically it shows you how lots of things both common and uncommon are created. Because today is Foodie Friday, and the Fourth of July, I’m embedding the clip on how hot dogs are made:

Yummy!  You can find lots of clips on the show’s site.

But I’ll also ask you to think about a business question – do you have any sense of how the things your business produces are made?  I mean, how well do you really understand the people and processes that are responsible for your economic health?  I always felt like I should know enough about each person’s job so that I could provide guidance by asking good questions.  That doesn’t mean I could, or wanted to, do their jobs.  But I could do mine, which was to help them do theirs.

But enough business – on to a great holiday weekend!

Enhanced by Zemanta

Leave a comment

Filed under Consulting, food, Helpful Hints

Plan? I’m Wide Open

There’s a scene at the end of The In-Laws (the original, not the awful remake of a few years ago) when Sheldon and Vince are up against a wall facing a firing squad.  Shelly asks Vince for the plan – how are they going to escape?  Vince replies “Plan?  There is no plan.  I’m wide open” and it dawns on Shelly that they’re going to be shot.

That quote has stayed with me over the years because I can’t believe how often it’s appropriate in business.  The latest instance of this came just last week based on a survey by Digital Brand Expressions on corporations‘ use of social media. Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

An Understanding

Sport in childhood. Association football, show...

Like many of you I’m glued to the World Cup. Despite some horrible officiating and the US’ exit over the weekend, I still think it’s the greatest sporting event on the planet.  It’s great to see that others around the last great nation to get on the football train are waking up to the world’s game.

As with any sports, soccer has its own language which may be a bit indecipherable to the new audience.  Touch line, bi-line, a clock that’s not really the clock – all of these things may take a bit of translation.  There’s also a term you may have heard in passing and it’s that one from which we get today’s business lesson. Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Consulting, Helpful Hints