Sunday, June 17, 2007
Irony
Signing into my blog I noticed the Google ad beside my post (see below) advertising a Chinese Herbal medicine that will help you lose 20lbs in 3 weeks. Haha...go figure!!
Friday, June 15, 2007
Side Effects Include: Leakage!
During a discussion with a co-worker today we drifted onto the topic of diet pills. She was telling me of a radio ad flogging a bottle of fat loss pills. Beyond the likely generic tag line that they all promote 'lose weight fast and easy', the thing that stood out to her was the side effects: diarrhea, headache...and...LEAKAGE!
Sorry, did you say leakage? Yup.
It should be a rule of life better stressed before Economics 100. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Or...better read as...nothing in life is free; everything has a price. Everything does. Losing weight, building a business, spending time watching TV or even sleeping, you pay for all in one way or another. If you are starting a new habit (read: diet pills) think of the costs. Think of the radio ad...think of leakage!!!
And just for kicks, here are some other common side effects of diet pills:
- nervousness
- headaches and nausea
- diarrhea
- bulging eyes
- racing heartbeat
- elevated blood pressure
- heart failure
Sorry, did you say leakage? Yup.
It should be a rule of life better stressed before Economics 100. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Or...better read as...nothing in life is free; everything has a price. Everything does. Losing weight, building a business, spending time watching TV or even sleeping, you pay for all in one way or another. If you are starting a new habit (read: diet pills) think of the costs. Think of the radio ad...think of leakage!!!
And just for kicks, here are some other common side effects of diet pills:
- nervousness
- headaches and nausea
- diarrhea
- bulging eyes
- racing heartbeat
- elevated blood pressure
- heart failure
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Opportunities = more but less obvious
Flipping through Profit Magazine's list of top 100 fastest growing companies is - to me at least - an incredible experience. To see companies that have grown between 12,000% to 33,000% in six years in absolutely incredible. This indicates a lot. It shows that there are still amazing opportunities.
Like a previous post, where I talked about how easy it is to focus on the bad in the world. Its parallel in the business world is to focus on how few opportunities there are. But as that list shows, there are HUGE opportunities. If that many companies can grow that fast, think of all the possibilities that are out there.
As the world becomes more complicated, opportunities become equally more complicated. What lies in this complication is a combination of focus - on a specific market - and searching beyond the obvious. Opportunities are less obvious than they once were, but certainly more abundant.
Like a previous post, where I talked about how easy it is to focus on the bad in the world. Its parallel in the business world is to focus on how few opportunities there are. But as that list shows, there are HUGE opportunities. If that many companies can grow that fast, think of all the possibilities that are out there.
As the world becomes more complicated, opportunities become equally more complicated. What lies in this complication is a combination of focus - on a specific market - and searching beyond the obvious. Opportunities are less obvious than they once were, but certainly more abundant.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Beep..Beep..Beep..Argh!
Ok, maybe a minor issue. But seriously, who doesnt have call waiting! I just tried to phone a supplier to confirm an urgent issue. I need to know something within the hour. Phoned him up and all I got was a busy signal. ARGH! Now, fair enough, maybe he had two calls coming in at the same time and the busy signal is the result, but I kinda doubt it. So now, I have to remember, amongst the 4,000,000 other things that I have to do, to call this guy back. Be much better if I left a message and got a call back.
One thing they dont teach you in school is that its the small things that make your business great. Calling back when you say you will. Being there when the phone rings. Being honest with your customer even when you mess up. Making sure the toilet paper is full (cause employees get very disgruntled when its not). Its the LITTLE things!
If I become a professor or dean at a school, I am going to make a course call the "The Little Things - How to do them well".
One thing they dont teach you in school is that its the small things that make your business great. Calling back when you say you will. Being there when the phone rings. Being honest with your customer even when you mess up. Making sure the toilet paper is full (cause employees get very disgruntled when its not). Its the LITTLE things!
If I become a professor or dean at a school, I am going to make a course call the "The Little Things - How to do them well".
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Do you think or do you KNOW?
I was asked a question by my boss today and I was pretty sure of the answer (pretty = not completely). I hoped, as I said it, that it would be enough to be pretty sure. It wasn't, he caught me. I wasn't completely sure and he knew it. He said this:
"Do you think or do you know?"
Knowing is ALWAYS better than assuming. Also, knowing is usually just a phone call away from assuming. Make the call.
"Do you think or do you know?"
Knowing is ALWAYS better than assuming. Also, knowing is usually just a phone call away from assuming. Make the call.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Do we take anything seriously?
As unoriginal as having an original thought in the shower is, a new idea dawned upon me. I don't take anything serious...beyond health (family, friends, myself) there is not much...
In looking at my life, I fight for no cause, I have dedicated myself to a few principles (too often not upheld) and what I lack in tradition, I make up in repetitive, yet boring, fun. It kinda worries me. Something, ANYTHING in my life should be the (main) focal point of my thoughts. Something should worry me at least a few nights a month, something should give me a reason to be angry at times but most of all something should give me cause to celebrate.
I do not believe in the idea that if you wait for things they will come to you. I will go to a cause. This cause will be in line with the truth and goodness that I base my other actions on. Some ideas that come to mind are:
1. Stop bottom trawling of the ocean (this really makes me angry!)
2. Connect mothers and grandmothers with their counterparts in Africa (they need the support!)
3. Tackle a wrong within my own community (there are MANY!)
I like the idea that if I am not willing to risk my life for something than I am truly not taking it seriously. It may be a little extreme, but the dedication of ones life to a cause does have some appeal. Makes me think of a great cello player who played before a wealthy crowd. Afterwards a lady came up to the man and said "I would give my life to play like that!" He responded, "No mam you wouldn't; I have given up my life to play like that."
What is your cause?
In looking at my life, I fight for no cause, I have dedicated myself to a few principles (too often not upheld) and what I lack in tradition, I make up in repetitive, yet boring, fun. It kinda worries me. Something, ANYTHING in my life should be the (main) focal point of my thoughts. Something should worry me at least a few nights a month, something should give me a reason to be angry at times but most of all something should give me cause to celebrate.
I do not believe in the idea that if you wait for things they will come to you. I will go to a cause. This cause will be in line with the truth and goodness that I base my other actions on. Some ideas that come to mind are:
1. Stop bottom trawling of the ocean (this really makes me angry!)
2. Connect mothers and grandmothers with their counterparts in Africa (they need the support!)
3. Tackle a wrong within my own community (there are MANY!)
I like the idea that if I am not willing to risk my life for something than I am truly not taking it seriously. It may be a little extreme, but the dedication of ones life to a cause does have some appeal. Makes me think of a great cello player who played before a wealthy crowd. Afterwards a lady came up to the man and said "I would give my life to play like that!" He responded, "No mam you wouldn't; I have given up my life to play like that."
What is your cause?
simple problem = less time, complex problem = more time
Today I talked with A/P department for one of our larger government customers. We had two invoices outstanding with them, both of which had a problem with their respective packing slips. In trying to solve the problem, the conversation went something like this:
Andrew: "When can we expect payment on these two invoices?"
Customer: "Their is a problem with the packing slips for both of them."
(pause)
Andrew:"What is the problem?"
Customer: "One is missing the sizes."
Andrew:"Ok, both of them or just one?"
Customer:"Just one."
(pause)
Andrew:"Ok, what is the problem with the other?"
Customer:"Its missing two sizes. I faxed you the one that was missing one size."
(pause)
Andrew:"Can you fax me the other?"
(pause...the customer sighs...)
Customer:"Yes."
While this doesn't blatantly outline a lack of problem solving ability, it was a 2 minute conversation that should have been 15 seconds. There was a clear simple solution that it seemed like the customer was trying to get around, for one reason or another. Maybe she was busy, maybe not. It was a poor reflection on her. If she made something as simple as this so complicated, what about a complicated problem? It reminds me to find the logical, simple answer as quickly as possible. When trying to find the quickest solution to a mutual (customer/supplier) problem, find the one that creates the LEAST mutually-combined inconvenience. Even better, take on the inconvenience, people will appreciate it.
Andrew: "When can we expect payment on these two invoices?"
Customer: "Their is a problem with the packing slips for both of them."
(pause)
Andrew:"What is the problem?"
Customer: "One is missing the sizes."
Andrew:"Ok, both of them or just one?"
Customer:"Just one."
(pause)
Andrew:"Ok, what is the problem with the other?"
Customer:"Its missing two sizes. I faxed you the one that was missing one size."
(pause)
Andrew:"Can you fax me the other?"
(pause...the customer sighs...)
Customer:"Yes."
While this doesn't blatantly outline a lack of problem solving ability, it was a 2 minute conversation that should have been 15 seconds. There was a clear simple solution that it seemed like the customer was trying to get around, for one reason or another. Maybe she was busy, maybe not. It was a poor reflection on her. If she made something as simple as this so complicated, what about a complicated problem? It reminds me to find the logical, simple answer as quickly as possible. When trying to find the quickest solution to a mutual (customer/supplier) problem, find the one that creates the LEAST mutually-combined inconvenience. Even better, take on the inconvenience, people will appreciate it.
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