Nobody Ever Gets Credit for Fixing Problems That Never Happened
^ADJ: This article is about system improvement, but also offers a cautionary tale in the form of a case study from DuPont about benchmarks, and the need to dive deeper and understand the complex relationships (in this case planned maintenance, versus un-planned, and why planned and proactive maintenance is put off with competing demands).
Whilst this is a manufacturing / process orientated case - the same thinking applies to systems and software!
Don't Wait for Motivation, Act for Momentum
Start with a tiny task, then ride its momentum.
Waiting for motivation is a losing game.
^ADJ: Included this article as a prompt to get you to think about when are you most productive, when is your team the most productive. What environment do we need to create to get the very best work done, how can we boost energy levels, but also how can we create an environment where we get rid of busy un-necessary work.
5 Tips to Improve Profit
5 practical tips that may have an impact on your bottom line through confidence in making key decisions.
^ADJ: I have included this clip, because they are good reminders about getting the basics right, assembling the data and hopefully a prompt to think about things differently.
The hidden cost of complexity. Complexity is an abstract and elusive…
Why should I read this? To better understand the real and deadly cost of complexity. By noticing our biased perception of both simplicity and complexity. And also by modeling complexity to uncover some of its characteristics. Mainly it’s exponential nature.
^ADJ: I often say “this is a really simple business, except for … “ complexity kills, it kills momentum, teams, makes commuication that much harder, yet we put up with it, and spend very little time trying to make things simpler.
Lunch is the most important break of the day
^ADJ: My biggest takeaway from this article is being intensional about meal times and planning for them
Was Jack Welch the Greatest C.E.O. of His Day—or the Worst?
^ADJ: Jack Welch was revered, but his legacy was a mixed bag of results for GE and ultimately his succession plan fell apart, some interesting insights.