Category Archives: Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Listen to the Music #10

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On Oct 25th I started a post series that would be about the 37 live rock concerts I have attended in my life so far.

Over time, I am listing the next three best. Nine posts so far covered the top twenty seven (listed below), today’s covers twenty-five to twenty-seven.

Just a reminder; 1) Paul McCartney, 2) Led Zeppelin, 3) Elton John 4)Alice Cooper 5) Al Stewart 6) Queen 7) Bee Gees 8) Deep Purple 9) James Taylor 10)Blue Oyster Cult, 11)Johnny Winter, 12) Uriah Heep 13) The Monkees. 14) 1910 Fruitgum Company 15) Allman Brothers Band 16) Kansas 17) Styx 18) Wishbone Ash 19) Trooper 20) Brave Belt 21) Nazareth 22)BTO 23)Peter Gabriel 24) Bad Company 25) Paul Rogers 26) Jethro Tull, 27) Lady Gaga

And today’s list

28) Jeff Healey – On of the best blues musicians for me his guitar playing lets you feel the emotion and his voice is the epitome of what a blues singer should sound like.  jeff is blind but it did not hinder him at all from giving an awesome, spellbinding performance.

29)Roger Waters – I saw his theatrical performance of the wall.  What a show, as much about the performance as it was about the music.  Competently performed and enjoyable.

30) Procul Harum – One of the bands most popular albums was recorded live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.  This was in the early seventies and was a favorite album of mine.  I did not see them live until the mid nineties  in Toronto and I was not dissapointed at all.  A fabulous show with their biggest hit ( A Whiter Shade of Pale) still resonated – timeless.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

It’s not about winning or losing

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Growing up my parents used to say “It’s not about winning or losing, it’s how you play the game”. Seems like a good value to adopt.  Probably not for a professional athlete or olympic contender, but for an average person this is probably a good attitude (my own opinion anyway.

The Oscar Wilde Twist

I was reminded today, of a delightful twist on this common wisdom from nineteenth century playwright, novelist and poet, Oscar Wilde.

“It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you place the blame” – Oscar Wilde.

Tongue firmly in cheek

Yikes, stating the obvious.  Humour often has a foundation in truth and this statement truly resonates with me as a more accurate description of natural human behaviour.

Trying  hard and playing fair is a noble sentiment, after-all,however,  as I have noted before, for most folks, it is all about the royal me. What, me at fault, unlikely.

Living Together

Avoiding the laying of blame is probably a more effective way to collaberate with others.  Blame is a kind of attack.  It’s not unusual to get a response in kind.

And so the vicious circle begins – ” it’s your fault, is not” and so on.  A little witticism like this one from Oscar Wilde can often help us identify odd behaviours that we should avoid but actually sometimes just practice naturally.

 

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Solutioning solutions

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Most issues are resolved either through a point in time solution (PIT) or elimination/resolution of the root cause, that is a solution based on root cause analysis (RCA).

Both methodologies result in issue resolution, however each have both benefits and drawbacks.  Which approach to use for problem resolution depends on the desired balance between effort and results.

Point in Time

Typically implementing these solutions requires less effort but might not result in a sustainable resolutin.  Basically this usually just puts and bandaid in place.  It works but the wound might still fester.

Adressing Route Cause

This method requires more effort and takes longer to implement.  First the root cause must be determined so a solution can be devised and implemented to specifically address and resolve the issue directly.  This is typically a permanent resolution.

Which Approach

Issues result in negative effects.  While you are taking the time to determine and then devise a solution for the cause of the issues the negative effects continue to compound.

Can you wait?  Perhaps the magnitude of the issue and its associated  negative effects do not justify  a significant effort to resolve.

Perhaps a combination of RCA and PIT methods is in order to first addresssome issues quickly (short term) while tackling the problem more permanently over  longer term.

Or strategically a permanent effective solution might make the most sense.  The approach is very much dependent on the number, nature and complexity of the issues together with their associated impacts.

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Selling Stuff

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The Canadian prairies have been hit by a deep freeze.  It’s estimated daytime highs will range from -15 to -20 degrees celcius.  On the celcius scale 0 degrees is the tempurature water freezes at.

This got me thinking about my cars block heater.  In the past I usually plug it in before I go to bed and leave it on overnight.  The recommended optimal usage is only 2 to 3 hours before you start the car, so this overnight use is not environmentally aware.

For convenience a block heater timer is suggested.  This way you can plug the car in the evening but the electricity flow can be scheduled to start at the appropriate time, say 5:00 A.M. for example.

Google to the Rescue

I quickly identified a fabulous sale at Canadian Tire, $10 for a timer with a regular price $30.  Amazon, Walmart and other major retailers products were all in the $25 to $30 range.

Off to Canadian Tire’s Wyndemere location, aisle 52, with 133 items in stock. The display was there with the product name and price, no product.

Making a long story short, after 15 minutes of me waiting while he looked, the sales rep located the timers by the cashiers where they had all been moved to take advantage of impulse sales.

While I waited for the sales rep at aisle 52, I counted 10 disappointed customers who probably saw a flyer or found the item on the web site, went to the advertised location and found themselves out of luck.

Seems like the strategic positioning of ALL the product away from it’s normal location was not such a good idea.  I did suggest this to the sales rep who clearly thought I should stick to my day job.

What do I know about selling stuff?

More on this saga tommorow.

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Check your environment

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In a collaberative discussion today, a collegue and I came up with a simple model for team environments.  We theorized three types of environments based on key performance traits.

Understanding the organizational team  environment can be a great asset when deriving a strategy to develop a high performing team.  That is understanding the starting point can guide the most effective performance enhancing behaviors.

First the performance Traits

We hypothized that all teams members can be catagorized into one of three groups relative to their desire to accept change and improve.

  • receptive, open to all ideas for change and improvement from any source whether directed from granted or earned power
  • limited, largely require direction from a source with granted  power.  Otherwise happy with the status quo.
  • resistant, improvement or changes are not adopted, earned power is not recognized and ways are sought to circumvent direction from those with granted power.

The team overall

We believe all teams will have a majority of individuals within one of the categories.  An even balance is unlikely. This defines the baseline effectiveness of the team.

So as a leader, whether leading from the front based on organizational heirarchy or leading from behind leveraging your ability to impact and influence while relying largely on earned power; understanding the morphology of the team is really valuable.

On the whole, is the group receptive, limited or resistant?  Understanding this can inform your actions as you work to lead the team (actively or indirectly) to higher performance.

That is the approach to changing and improving performance of the team can spiral forward naturally where they want to participate or could require more coaching or stronger tactics.

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

If your happy and you know it……

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Clap your hands.  A simple but accruate lyric to what is often thought of a little ditty for children to sing.  It is a motivational song with a purpose.

Happiness is a state of mind.  Really it is that simple.  To paraprhase the song, if your happy others will know by the way you behave.  Happy behaviour is much more pleasant than any other kind.

Constantly Happy

Let’s check the assumptions.  If happiness is a state of mind, it is your mind and only yours so you could choose to be happy all the time.  Is this a realistic assumption?

Obviously external and environmental factors, for example being subjected to  physical torture or starvation make the choice more diificult, perhaps even impossible.

Staying Happy

Admittedly,  there are factors that can impinge on your ability to maintain a state of happiness.  However, given happiness is a state of mind, you do have a lot of influence.

Consider:

  • through personal meditation, self talk or just deep thought be very clear what makes you happy
  • plan your behaviour around seeking and attaining happiness
  • remember always, not matter what rhe circumstances, environmental or contextual nothing can make you unhappy, really only you can do that.

YOU ARE IN CONTROL, no matter how hard it may seem, you DECIDE, no one else.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Organizational Behavior

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Regardless of type (e.g., charitable, corporate, social, government, etc.) organizations all share a set of common traits.  These influence the way the organizations members behave.

Heirarchy

This always exists in some form.  The structure could be pyramidical (most common) or relatively flat with shared authority and accountabilities.

The details of organization vary depending on type but ultimately there are rankings of authority (leaders, managers) and various other member levels.

Overall the relationships and authorities associated with the organizations members are defined .  This may be crystal clear or vague, either way, whether strictly defined or loosley defined a structure will exist.

Culture

The organizations leaders and managers, those recognized to have greater power, together with the organizations stated goals and objectives set the tone for how the members behave.

The Individuals

The organizational culture is further influenced by the capabilities and personalities of the entire membership of the organization.

Group Behaviour

The combination of the influences of the heirarchy (leadership structure, cultural and individual members personal traits) dictates the basic overall personality of the group (i.e, the group behaviour)

This ultimately impacts the organizations effectiveness.

When the combinations of structure, culture and individuality gel effectively, typically the organization itself over achieves. A key point here is no one factor alone can influence success.

For example having  effective leadership or an open and vibrant culture or a group of individual super people alone does not necessarily make for greatness.

Real success lies in the balance and integrated combination of all the above factors playing off each other like an orchestra.

Typically great leaders, skilled resoures or a stellar environment alone will not succeed unless the balance exists that binds them  and enables them to work seemlessly in concert.

 

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Might makes Right

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My quote of the day calendar yesterday, had an excerpt of this  quote :

“Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it”  – Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States.

This quote is taken from Lincoln’s Cooper Union address of 1860, three months before he was nominated as the Republican candidate for the Presidency.

Anti-Slavery

The speech was an emotionally powerful statement against the expansion of slavery, supported by well reasoned argument and logic.

My quote calendar simply stated “Right makes Might” attributed to Abraham Lincoln.  Taken out of context, that is removed from the surrounding sentence and associated goal of the full speech , I struggled to associate this phrase with a great leader like Lincoln.

Fortunately, research into the context gave me a different perspective and all made sense.  I was reminded how important both context and perspective are to assisting with interpreting spoken and written communications.

Historically I would view Lincoln as a collaberative leader who sought consensus.  Reversing the standard “Might makes Right”  which is an arrogant and self righteous proclamation,  is nothing short of brilliant.

Arrogant and Self Righteous -Not

In the context of a reasoned treatise on the evils of slavery, this statement fits for me.  While a bully might believe “Might makes Right” the reverse “Right makes Might”  is clearly more about standing behind your ideals than forcing your will on others.

This is all about using the power of “right” to make positive change.

 

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Attention to the Details

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In todays digital world a high volume of communication is conducted through some form of digital messaging.  From e-mail, text messaging to video conferences we are bombarded with communication.

While I don’t pine for the days of paper documents and snail mail, the high volume of digital communications  resulting from the ease of transmission impacts the quality of responses.

Often, it is apparent from the response the message was only skimmed.  The recipients, many forging through hundreds of email messages each day, regulary reply without correctly addressing the question or issued raised.

On a number of occassions I am convinced the response, although in good faith, was based on very quick assumptions.  Bypassing the detail in the original communication, for reason of haste and efficiency just result in more digital messages.

A sense of Urgency

Snail mail and related communication forms typically do not have the same percieved urgency associated with them because the time to deliver and return the message is varible ( that is the transit time).

Expectations for speedy postal mail reponses, or even internal paper mail are not the same as that for email or instant messaging where it is possible to get almost instaneous response.

Volume and Percieved Urgency Impacts

The high volume resulting from the ease of crafting and despatching messages coupled with the unreasonable expections for speedy response (because it is possible) cause confusion, frustration and rework.

This is compounded by a real pet peeve of mine, multiple simultanous conversations.  These are initiated by the fact adding numerous recipeints to messages is easy and often every recipient has something to say and says it, writing in parallel.

 And the solution

Hold your finger off the keyboard.  If a digital communication needs more than an acknowledgement, it most likely requires a conversation, i.e., talking face to face, and should be treated as such.

I practice this rule of thumb personally and it works like a charm.  As a result my volume of digital communications is low and rework resulting from misunderstandings rarely occurs.

Give it a try.  Practice giving up email reponses for a week.  If a response is neede communicate to the other party directly.  I believe you will be pleasantly surprised with the results.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Selling Stuff

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Black Friday has become a North American retail phenomenum.  The premise is simply; retail revenues for the calendar year exceed expenses after black Friday.

From an accounting stand point retailers profit and loss statements move  from  red ink (losses) to black ink (profits).  Typically in the retail business profitability depends on robust holiday season sales.

In this context, I the holiday season is the annual public buying surge that occurs during November and December.  Sales during other months help keep the lights on and pay the rent, holiday sales spell profit.

Marketing Brilliance

Years ago, astute U.S. retailers noticed the biggest increase in sales started after thier Thanksgiving holiday.  This created an interesting marketing opportunity.

Given consumers obvious proclivity to increase thier amount of shopping around this time of year; what a great time to give them added incentive.  That is increase the percieved value of shopping right after Thansgiving.  Hence Black Friday sales.

So were born, Black Friday sales. It is important to remember the merchants are not giving away the merchandise and the goal here is still profit.

Driving Volume

Obviously inreased volume allows merchants to lower margins, assuming they move more stock profit can be constant or depending on the volume increase, even better.

Remember there is a base operating cost retailers pay regardless of sales volume.  Once the volume needed to covered those costs is reached the rest is at a much higher margin.

Thus enciting consumers to buy large amounts in a short period is a smart strategy. Black Friday histeria is a tactic to do just that.