How To Help Kick Cancer’s Butt!

My friend and colleague Maria Coghill has been personally touched by cancer when her father was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.  She is doing something about it and giving us all an opportunity to participate.  This is your chance to donate and kick cancer in the butt by visiting her site: http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/Amica08/mcoghill.

Maria will be running the Seattle Marathon as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training.  My donation receipt email from them states:

Your support of LLS provides the valued resources we depend on to continue our fight against leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.  Since its founding in 1949, the Society has invested more than $550 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. We believe that innovations in blood cancer research hold the keys to curing all cancers. Treatments such as chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation, originally developed for leukemia, are now standard treatments for many cancers. In addition to research support, the Society offers support groups, financial aid, information and advocacy programs for patients and their families.

My wife works for a cancer research facility at another organizations and I have seen how important individual donations are.  Please consider this great cause. 

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The Last Lecture, Football, and Lean

I just finished the great book, The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.  One of my favorite parts was where he describes his football coach when he was a kid. 

He explains how all of the kids arrived on the field only to find there were no footballs.  The coach asked them how many players are on the field at a time.  Answer = 22 (two teams of 11).  He then asked them how many footballs are on the field at the time.  Answer = 1.  The coach advised the kids he was going to teach them what the other 21 players are doing and not just the ball carrier.

The coach focused on fundamentals.  Lean improvements are built on fundamentals.  Ever have a client want to implement a cell when they don’t even have a reliable method?  Frequent “small plays” of incremental improvements will transform your organization better than always looking for the big glories as the kicker or quarterback! 

Take a moment for some relentless hansei and think where you might have strayed from the fundamentals.

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Standardized Work = Go For The Gold

Samuel Beaird at Lean Healthcare Exchange wrote a great piece called Go For The Goldwhere he encourages standard work in healthcare.  Check it out!

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Every now and then – Funnny Cat Picture

more cat pictures

Lean and Project Management

There is a great article on PMI.ORG from Lawrence Leach, PMP.  He brings a Lean concepts to Project Management.  The two work so well together!

http://www.pmi.org/Pages/Lean_Management.aspx

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Book Review: The Back Of The Napkin

I just finished a fantastic and highly recommended book: The Back Of The Napkin by Dan Roam.  Project Managers and Change Leaders will get a lot from this book.  I see this book as a catalyst to make the workplace more visual and remove waste through clear communication.  See my full review on goodreads.

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Internet Memes Timeline

Veronica Belmont made a Twitter post about a great site with Internet Memes Timeline.  If you remember the dancing baby, trade fun Chuck Norris Facts such as “Chuck Norris’ hand is the only hand that can beat a Royal Flush”, or look at your watch and see it’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time – this site is for you! 

If you liked this post, then try:

• Funny Rickrolling Muppets

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Fun Picture Of Me!

Brian as Annas in Jesus Of Nazareth 02, originally uploaded by brianshelleybuck.

I came across this photo yesterday and thought it would be fun to share. This was me as Annas in Jesus Of Nazareth from 2004. This was an awesome show to be a part of. Too bad it has ended.

dwb.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/6455265p-5750494c…

Benjamin Zander on music and passion | Video on TED.com

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more about “Benjamin Zander on music and passion …“, posted with vodpod

 

This 20 minute TED video featuring Benjamin Zander is inspiring.  He asks how we would act and think if we believed everybody loved classical music but just haven’t discovered it yet.  I feel the same way about change and improvement.  Many people fear or hate change because they haven’t had a chance to have it done with a PDCA mindset.  PDCA can be quite liberating because it gives you a “why not” attitude!

I also love his point about how the conductor makes no noise but is always on the CD cover.  He said his power is to make others powerful.  As change leaders, we empower teams to make improvements.  We teach how to fish instead of delivering it to them.

I hope you enjoy this video as much as I did!

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