Walking into a roomful of strangers can be a terrifying experience, especially for an introvert. Doesn’t matter if it’s a social event or a structured networking event or lunch with a group of clients, any of these can be intimidating. I find it helpful to have a strategy, such as “I will find Continue reading “Lima Beans”
The Value of VOC
In the realm of new product development there is heavy emphasis on Voice of Customer (VOC) outreach. Building quick prototypes to gather customer feedback early, testing concepts with real users, using different methodologies like focus groups and requirement workshops, all leading to Continue reading “The Value of VOC”
First Principles
When I say something nice to you or help you in some way that makes you feel valued, there is within you a positive experience. Call this love.
If I hurt you in some way, or hurt something or someone you care about, there is within you a negative experience. Call this hatred.
Gratitude and Possibility
Thanksgiving is a form of gratitude, not the shallow thanks that we caught more green lights on our drive across town, but the heartfelt gratitude that we feel toward people who have helped us in a time of need or unexpected blessings that didn’t have to come our way, but did. When we are grateful, it Continue reading “Gratitude and Possibility”
Organizational Muscle Memory
Simply telling people “We need a process to capture and track customer complaints” isn’t enough.
Holding a meeting to figure out which people should be involved in the process, isn’t enough.
The One About Bridges
I love bridges. I pursued a career in structural engineering in part because I was inspired by them. Bridges connect places and people. They can span small or great distances, but always they are constructed to create a connection between two points
First Ten
I’ve now heard this from at least three different respected sources so I figure there must be something to it.
As a marketing concept: Tell 10 people about what you’ve got. If those first ten tell other people, you’ve got something. If they don’t, you don’t.
Between 3-10PM
School will teach my kids vocabulary and math, time management and social skills; essential knowledge to conduct oneself in our modern world. In addition parents, teachers, coaches and others who work with youth need to help kids learn what they want to say. Consider the scene in Dead Poet’s Continue reading “Between 3-10PM”
Time Will Tell
Reading this article in the Boulder Daily Camera about Predatory Towing. The impact of a tow on a family living at or under the poverty line has to be more than just the cost of the tow. There’s the lost wages from a day of work that didn’t happen. And potentially a lost job if the boss wasn’t too Continue reading “Time Will Tell”
Choose Your Own Adventure
Every once in awhile we stumble into unexpected situations that have the potential to change us.
Like finding yourself in a used bookstore in the middle of a weekday Continue reading “Choose Your Own Adventure”
Prioritizing Initiatives
When prioritizing work, especially the key initiatives you are pursuing, it can be helpful to do a quick exercise. I’ve used this whenever I start to feel I have too many initiatives – how to choose which to work on today?
Being Tamed
When we make ourselves vulnerable to another person, they tame a piece of us. This is a marvelous experience because being tamed is not about being controlled, it is about being opened.
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