I saw a great comedian this weekend. He is clean and hilarious. His name is Michael Jr. Check him out!
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Monthly Archives: September 2008
Want To Know More About Visual Workplaces?
I have been writing a lot about the power of communicating with visuals. I am now looking to learn more about visual workplaces and visual management displays.
I recently discovered Gwendolyn D. Galsworth, Ph.D from visualworkplace.com who was just in Seattle the week before I found out about her. I hope she comes back soon! It appears she has some great books and training products that I will be exploring soon.
Mark Graban at leanblog.orgrecently interviewed her in a couple of 25 minute podcasts: Podcast #45 and Podcast #49. The interviews are very thought-provoking and stirs up my creative juices. Check out these podcasts if you would like to dip your toes into the waters of visual workplaces!
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Filed under Business, Visual Systems
The ten and a half commandments of visual thinking
This is a great presentation to give you an idea behind the basics of my current favorite book THE BACK OF THE NAPKINby Dan Roam. RSS readers will need to open this post to view. In case of squinting, you may need to view the presentation in full-screen mode.
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Filed under Business, Communication, Visual Systems
Need help with PMP Exam Formulas?
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a name you should know if you are a project manager. He provides a lot of free information to learn and grow. He also has some great products. His Five PMP® Exam Formulas Explained presentation is extremely helpful (RSS readers will need to open this post to view).
He has more information like this at PM Study Guide and Free PMP® Exam Questions.
I am currently listening to his PM PREPCAST and find it incredibly helpful since he translates the dry PMBOK into something I can understand (with a great price). I have been a fan of his free PM Podcast for about two years, and really enjoy his interviews with other PMs.
He recently launched a new site PM Lectures which looks interesting but I haven’t had a chance to sample or purchase anything. Based on his history of quality and ability to communicate complex ideas simply, I am sure this will be a valuable site.
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Filed under Business, Project Management
How To Facilitate A Meeting
This is a great slideshow that will help improve your meeting facilitation skills. RSS readers will need to open the post to view. I discovered this on slideshow.net.
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Filed under Business, Communication, Learn Leadership
Automaker Bailout
I do not want to use my blog for political musings but I thought this article was relevant since Lean came from the Toyota Production System. Michelle Malkin’s Obama and McCain both support $25 billion automaker bailoutpost says both GOP and Dems are stupid with this idea. Read comment # 11 from bradley for a great chuckle!
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Filed under Business, Improve With Lean
Japanese Culture: Samuri Bushido Code
I have been taking a keen interest in Japanese culture on my Lean Improvement journey. There is a great post from Tim Clark at The Art of Manliness called The Bushido Code: The Eight Virtues of the Samurai. Check it out for more details behind Rectitude or Justice, Courage, Benevolence or Mercy, Politeness, Honesty and Sincerity, Honor, Loyalty, & Character and Self-Control.
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Filed under Improve With Lean
Great Chart Design: Starbucks & Good
Starbucks started a new program this week where they give a free short newspaper every week from GOOD. The current issue has an outstanding chart due to the design. Check it out here.
Regardless of your stance on carbon emissions, this chart inspires me as a template for communicating data to base change. I think Edward Tufte would like this dense chart. Many times we push our explanation of data in presentations instead of designing charts to allow teams to pull their own assumptions.
I like the progression built into the chart. It shows where CO2 comes from, the big picture (comparisons), the author’s interpretation of impact with awesome graphics explaining from bad to worse, and suggested next steps. There is so much to look at, it allows the viewer to navigate to what inspires them the most.
I know Excel can’t make a chart like this but there may be a possibility of posting similar graphics together in an area to come close to the same effect.
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Filed under Business, Communication, Pull Systems
Great Triple Contraint Atricle
Thomas Cutting just posted Back to the Basic: The Troubling Triangle and I suggest reading it. I am always inspired by reflecting on the impact of balancing time, scope, and cost. We can not only improve how we manage the triple constraint but also how we communicate to clients/customers the need to balance the three.
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Filed under Other
Guest Post: Andon’s & Project Management
I am excited to have written a gues post on Ron Holohan’s pm411.org blog and podcast. Please check it out: How To Avoid “Stopping The Line” On Deliverables”.
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Filed under Andon, Project Management
How To Improve Your Public Speaking
Ron Holohan at pm411.org has two great podcasts with typed transcripts for improving your public speaking. He interviews Joe Friedman from Zehren-Friedman Associates, Ltd and the advice is very easy to remember and follow.
Follow the links for Part 1 and Part 2.
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Visuals Have Punch!
I want to encourage EVERYBODY to read The Back Of The Napkin by Dan Roam. I finished this book a couple of weeks ago (see my review) and I have been applying it since then. The results have been tremendous!
I used drawings to show problem & opportunities of a process and the audience showed a greater understanding than I have seen before. I used them in project planning to determine which tasks will be handled by role and it helped us see the balance of work. It is becoming second nature to use drawings, but most importantly, I feel like I am communicating in a more effective and clear manner. One of my goals is to begin scanning my drawings and showing them on this site.
I hope you read this book and put it into practice because it is a great skill for solving problems (project, improvements, sales, ect).
Please comment if you have read it. I would love to see what you think of the book as well!
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Filed under Business, Communication, Improve With Lean, Project Management
Back From Vacation
I am back from vacation and will have some new posts soon! Thank you to all of my readers!
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Filed under Other
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