The art of dishwashing :
Our dishwasher stopped working a while back, as I have some time on my hands (not for long I hope), I wash the dishes by hand and I have a process, I prepare the water, sort out the dishes in order, and then get started, when I have a back upon the drying stage, I stop washing and dry off the dishes and cutlery, and so on. My wife does not have a process, she throws them all in the basin, I get perturbed, how can I wash the dishes if you don't follow the process, you need to do it my way, oops. So in business, there is a process, you turn resources into cash if you are good, there are many stages in between, and you do it your way. I suggest that you should review the processes that you have on a regular basis (CI) and you may find someone has a better way than your way (human resource utilization) it maybe you keep using the manual process or move to an automated process if you can, you may get someone to review for a different viewpoint, get the HR Manager to walk the process or the FD, and vice versa. It can be enlightening and you may make more money in the process.
Personal request also
I need some help, I was made redundant two years ago, over 50 and struggling to get back to work, I have been getting interviews, even progressing to last two, but never getting it over the goal. I am a senior manufacturing/operations manager, I have experience across a wide variety of technologies and I have worked in Europe and America with strong networks in China. I have included a brief summary of my experience if you know a company that is looking for my experience please get in touch, I am open to location.
Sticking plasters and duct tape:
I have a guitar pedal board for the collection of effects pedals for my guitars, I have used a variety of methods to attach the pedals to the board, not all have been successful, but it has always been a "sticking plaster and duct tape repair" until I was touring, and a friend had one look at it and said he would fix it for me, I was afraid of the cost, but it was cheaper than I thought it would be and it was a solid job, no ground hum and no movement. The point I am trying to make, there are many things in life, especially business where we skimp and try to save money, time, resource but in the long run, it is a dripping tap of waste, we need to fix it properly the first time. This is a prime requirement, whether it is, software, hardware, infrastructure, personnel, take the time and fix the issue. Once it is set properly, you can forget about it, rely on it, and relax a little. Think about the small things that are irritating you whether personal or business how much energy/resource is it causing you to waste in worry and duct tape.
I was enjoying my "free" cooked breakfast yesterday at my local greasy spoon, it was not free to start with, but it ended being my fee for some consulting with the restaurant owner and chef. I had noticed the owner was not as loud as she usually was and looked ill, I spoke to her as I paid, and asked how she was keeping and how was the business performing as you do. (she knows I am looking for work and has offered driving employment, payment COH, I pass each time) I received the full story, and it was not pretty, but what was worse she did not see a way out of her trouble, I recognised the fundamental problems of someone running there own first business, with a low margin and high staff turnover. I asked if she would take some advice, she nodded but said what did I know about running a catering business, I said I used to run a full-service guest house, she smiled. I then proceeded over fresh coffee to give her the small recovery plan, prioritising, relieving her main pain points quickly, and breaking down her next set of actions. The way forward for her will not be easy for her; this is real life and complicated, but as she said, getting her "head out the sand." makes a big difference, and getting a simple vision established, with objectives and goals in place has helped her.
A happy New Year to all my friends and Students
Well, the Newyear is rushing at us with the ferocity of a steam train, 2019 is going to be a very interesting year for many of us in the UK, the good thing for many of us that our own personal adventure the chapter has not been written, you are in control, as Viktor Frankl said in very dark times, "we can choose" never let anyone take away your ability to choose. Last year was not great for me, and for some of my friends, a similar story can be said for many of those on my network, but I choose to do my best to write my next chapter, better, with more passion, with more energy, with more thoughtfulness. I hope you choose to do something similar, I wrote a post early in the year regarding the mirror and whom we see in the reflection, well you can choose for the next year.
I hope all my network has a positive, fun-filled and healthy Newyear.
Gordon
