For more than two decades now, my colleagues and I have worked with companies to help them improve their execution at the frontline - i.e. on the floor, in the cubical, or wherever work is accomplished. We profess no particular expertise in any industry and yet, without fail, we have been able to achieve significant gains in productivity, efficiency, yields, safety, quality, or whatever metric our clients say is the most important to their bottom line.  20% - 30% gains are minimal. [...]

During one of the recent hurricanes in the Gulf Coast Region of the US, one of my clients had major damage to their facilities. So much so that they had to replace all the siding on a very large structure before they could resume operations. The contractors they brought in all told them that it would take 3 months to do the job. So our client decided to do the job internally. They brought in a couple of project managers from other parts of the organization and hired hundreds of constructi [...]

That's what I'm calling it anyway. This financial mess that we have found ourselves in as a country. It is a pure breakdown in the Accountability Cycle across all sectors of our country - Business, Government, Personal, and Social.  The expectations were set - I loan you money to buy a home, you pay me back. Never mind that the expectations were unrealistic - Home prices will continue to climb forever, you only have to pay interest until the balloon payment hits and then we will refi [...]

This past week I spent considerable time browsing websites targeting entrepreneurs and startup businesses doing research for my Startup ConneXions venture. To be honest, I am underwhelmed at the competition and wonder just how any of them make any money. Only one, Partnerup.com, had a clear strategy. I assume that the others make money through advertising, but to make any significant money ($100,000 gross revenue) with an advertising only strategy you have to have someth [...]

I've been meaning to do it for some time now, a couple of years really. But as Barliman said to Frodo, "One thing pushes out another..." and I just never have got around to it.  I must say what a fortuitous piece of luck that I haven't done it before now. In fact I still would not have done it if I not for the fact that I found myself standing there and there they were. Just sitting there together waiting for me. I am not a big believer in fate but there are times that it s [...]

We are very pleased to announce our latest venture concept: Biz ConneXions, LLC. Biz ConneXions is a business designed to connect people, ideas, resources, talent, and financing to each other. Sort of a Match.com for business. The business will focus initially on 2 segments of the market - startups and consultants (is there any surprise here?). These two market segments compliment our exisiting businesses and will help drive new clients to each, however, they should both be profitable as stan [...]