Such Utter Crap!

 Bunk! Absolute Bunk!

I’m contemplating our tiny, minuscule thoughts. Do they really matter?  

I think, yes.  

I think our tiny, minuscule thoughts - although seemingly insignificant by themselves - aggregate into very influential outcomes. 

No, our tiny minuscule thoughts are not expressions of our “character”. 

Our tiny, minuscule thoughts are expressions of our subconscious. Our subconscious is populated by all kinds of stuff placed into it by all kinds of people since birth on, then combined with our thoughts and feelings about these things at the time, then with other inputs added after, then our thoughts and feelings about these things, then our later in life reflections are those early experiences, etc., on and on. 

Our subconscious is even populated by our original attachment to our primary caretaker.  For example, an anxious / insecure primary attachment may influence - in not good ways - partner choice in adulthood.  

If you have been extremely fortunate, your subconscious is filled with all kinds of good, loving, constructive input.  

For the rest of us, we will need to extract and rework our subconscious thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. 

We are not aware of the vast majority of our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs.  Most never even surface into our awareness, yet they are influential behind the scenes in determining the things we do and don’t do, the decisions we make. 

To grow, we must surface and examine our subconscious thoughts, feelings, and beliefs.  

 A two sentence X Twitter post may serve to provoke our subconscious thoughts feelings, and beliefs into our  awareness. You can use this opportunity to self-reflect, to examine your reactions carefully, thoroughly.

Train your Brain to take the Better Path, not the Easier Path

 I drink coffee.  Yes, I’m after the caffeine.  I have a very interesting (to me) story about my “love affair” with coffee that I may share with you sometime. 

I rationalize and justify this drug use.  “It wakes me up, makes me more alert”.  “It enhances my cognitive performance.”  

—> Yes. It may do these things, but is it the best way to gain these things? 

Are there other ways to get the same benefits without using the drug? 

Will I be more awake and alert if I get better sleep?  Isn’t this the real problem, that you are not getting enough quality sleep? Will my cognitive performance be enhanced if I get better sleep? 

If I go for a walk / run, will my cognitive performance be enhanced?  Does the run have other benefits?  Do I become healthier? If I go for a walk-run will my sleep be enhanced? If I get for a walk-run will me cognitive performance be enhanced? 

If I rationalize drug use in the case of coffee, am I training my brain to use drugs to solve my other problems?  Can I rationalize the use of other drugs? 

If I’m anxious should I use Marijuana?  Is this the best way to manage my anxiety?  Are there better ways that also have other health benefits?  

The doc told me I had borderline high cholesterol. The doc recommended I start taking a drug. 

—> I said, “No, thanks”.  What are the lifestyle changes I need to make? 

On another visit that doc told me I was borderline-diabetic.  The doc recommended I take a drug. 

—> I said, “No, thanks”. What are the lifestyle changes I need to make? 

The drug is the easy fix.  Is there a better way to improve my cognitive functioning than caffeine?  Do I become healthier from caffeine intake?  Does my sleep improve from caffeine use?  

Drug use is often the easy path, but not the better path.  Train your brain to take the better path, not the easier path. 

I’m not opposed to medicine.

 

Quality Improvement: Transforming the Whole Organization 

***

The lead team oversees the training and development of each department head and the department-level quality team. 

The department head and department quality team oversees the training and development of all department personnel. 

The department team designs and implements a system for collecting quality improvement observations and suggestions from all department personnel. 

All observations and suggestions are welcomed from all department personnel, each of whom is encouraged to submit observations and ideas. 

The department team evaluates submitted observations and suggestions and works to seamlessly implement as many as possible in coordination with the lead team which  supervises the smooth implementation of new ideas that might impact other departments.

Example taken from a New England ski resort case study. 

#NewHampshire

Unlocking the Future: The Power of Creative Innovation

Unlocking the Future: The Power of Creative Innovation

In today's rapidly evolving world, the ability to innovate creatively is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. It's the driving force behind progress, pushing the boundaries of what's possible and shaping the future we inhabit.

What is Creative Innovation?

Creative innovation isn't just about coming up with new ideas. It's about:

 * Identifying unmet needs: Recognizing problems or gaps in the market that haven't been addressed.

 * Generating novel solutions: Developing unique and unconventional approaches to those challenges.

 * Implementing those solutions: Bringing the ideas to life through action and execution.

Why is Creative Innovation Important?

 * Economic Growth: Innovation fuels economic growth by creating new industries, products, and jobs.

 * Competitive Advantage: Companies that embrace innovation gain a competitive edge in the marketplace.

 * Social Progress: Innovative solutions can address critical social issues like poverty, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.

 * Personal Growth: The innovative process fosters creativity, problem-solving skills, and a growth mindset.

Cultivating a Culture of Creative Innovation

 * Embrace Failure: Encourage experimentation and learning from mistakes.

 * Foster Collaboration: Create environments where diverse perspectives can come together and spark new ideas.

 * Prioritize Curiosity: Encourage exploration and a thirst for knowledge.

 * Empower Individuals: Give employees the autonomy and resources they need to pursue their own creative projects.

 * Celebrate Success: Recognize and reward innovative achievements.

The Future of Innovation

As technology continues to advance, the possibilities for creative innovation are expanding exponentially.

 * Artificial Intelligence: AI is revolutionizing industries by automating tasks, analyzing data, and generating new insights.

 * Biotechnology: Breakthroughs in biotechnology are leading to new medical treatments, sustainable agriculture, and even the possibility of extending human lifespan.

 * Space Exploration: As we venture further into space, we're discovering new frontiers for innovation and pushing the limits of human ingenuity.

Conclusion

Creative innovation is not just about inventing the next "big thing." It's about constantly evolving, adapting, and finding new ways to make a positive impact on the world. By fostering a culture of creativity and embracing the challenges of the future, we can unlock our full potential and build a better tomorrow.

What are your thoughts on creative innovation? Share your ideas and experiences in the comments below.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.

I hope this blog post provides a helpful overview of creative innovation!

The Rich, Priceless Tapestry of Life

 

The past is filled with a rich, wonderful, and instructive tapestry of precious life.  

***

People are often telling me that I need to leave the past behind. 

Why?  Why would I do this?  

The past is filled with a rich, wonderful, instructive tapestry of precious life.  Why would I leave it behind?  

Absolutely everything about me today, who and what I am in this moment is the result of absolutely every moment that came before this moment. 

Without the past I am not me, I am not here, there is no now.  If I had a different past I would be a different me; and now would be a different now. 

I can only experience the now because of every moment that preceded the now. Every current neuron in my brain developed, was strengthened or weakened in the past.  All of my perceptions of the now were formed by my past.  

—> The value of self-reflection is in discovering how the past is informing this moment in the here and now; and it really is. 

When I am sitting in the forest in this moment I am experiencing the forest in a way that has been shaped by, that is only possible because of every single moment of my past. 

 I cannot experience the forest in this moment as I do without my past. It is so much richer and more meaningful.   I know what sound that is (a little red squirrel chattering high in the tree or a chick-a-dee calling out my chick-a-dee name) because of my past. I know what that rich, wonderful smell is because of my past.  That smell is linked to my past. It evokes memories of my childhood adventures in the forest or a hike I did with a loved one or alone. The smell is so much richer because of its ties to my past. 

I know which forest friends are all around me because of my past. That is my friend the oak tree, over there is my friend the pine tree, this beautiful friend is a fern, this is my friend a trillium, my friends the snake, the toad, the newt.  Oh, watch out for the poison ivy, a danger I only know about in the here and now because of my past.  Step around that little toxic friend.  I know the call of the eagle soaring far above out of  sight because of my past.

In remembering the past (“the good times, the bad times, you know I’ve had my share”), I am thinking about all of the friends that I’ve had over the years, the gift of love, kindness, adventure, learning, laughter, patience, and forgiveness they each have given me along the way, this IS my moment in the here and now. 

 I think about my past love partners fairly often. I can feel them indelibly marked inside of me, the gift of love they gave to me. It’s still there. Their love is still inside me, still shaping my heart and mind. Their warmth and caring fills me in this moment and I so appreciate the past time during which they shared some part of their journey with me.

I think about the mean fuckers too, how much I learned so much from them. I would not leave them behind in my past.  They inform my compassion and understanding of struggle and distress. I am kinder and gentler because of them, and a bit tougher too. 

Thank you childhood mean fuckers. I appreciate you. And, lest I forget, I was a mean fucker too.  

I woke up at 3;30 AM recently and sat on my bed, sobbing. I love and miss Val so very much.  I would never leave her behind in the past. Val comes with me. Val is a very real and important part of my very loving relationship today with Bridget; and so too are May, Aileen, Linda, and so on.  (I’m not naming everyone, but yes, I so truly and deeply appreciate you too.) These wonderful, loving people are all here, all a wonderful and rich part of my past and an important part of who I am today.  

In the here and now, I might be sobbing about a grievous loss, smiling about a fun adventure, feeling some past loving moment shared.  This is my moment, my rich moment is my here and now. 

I would not give this rich, priceless  moment of time recalling some aspect of my past up for anything.  

***

Some folks might get concerned because I post the past. I don’t necessarily post how wonderful my current life is.  I don’t post my plans for the future, my future trepidations, and anticipation of a wonderful life ahead.  I don’t post my thoughts in preparation for my eventual death (not imminent, hopefully, but one never knows). 

When you hike high up in the mountains, do you not stop now and then to rest and to see all the wonderful views in all directions? The trail behind, how beautiful and rigorous it was. The trail ahead, how beautiful and rigorous it will be. The mountains off in the distance to left and right, the trails not taken today. The beautiful sky above?  The tiny particles making up the ground below and the solid granite beneath your feet that has been right here for eons.  

How amazing and beautiful. I am standing on a planet traveling is space that is here now in this moment and has been for billions of years.  This moment is so much richer and more meaningful because of the billions of years of preceding existence. 

The plants and animals all around.  Is the trail behind you not worthy of deep thought in this moment?

The Glorious Vision

 The Glorious Vision

Senior  managers often have a beautiful vision … that becomes degraded, distorted, muddled, mangled, and tangled up as it passes down through the human layers toward the bottom of the organizational structure, where the workers who really need it most in order to make it happen never see it in all its glorious clarity. 

The senior managers have to manage the transmission of  the vision personally. It’s not a “fire and forget it” issue. 

In order to make it happen, it has to be actively kept out in front, at the top of the weekly conversation all the time. 

It will need to be de-muddled, de-mangled, and de-tangled on a regular basis. Even small deviations will need to be actively managed. 

It’s not that the middle tier is populated by bad people, just that it is populated by human people who are largely poorly trained and endowed with regular human flaws, stressors, shortcomings, etc. 

~ The middle tier needs its morale to be managed up, elevated regularly. 

~ The middle tier needs to hear the clarity of the glorious vision repeatedly. 

~ The middle tier needs to be trained in delivering and maintaining the vision every week. 

Human people need ongoing training g and support. 

If you neglect your people, they will neglect your vision.

K. H. Little Consulting Services

Kenneth H. Little, MA

cell: (603) 726-1006

kenlittle-nh.com

Ski Resort: Money Back Guarantee

 I proposed to the president of a New England ski resort that  a Money Back Guarantee be field tested on non-holiday, non-weekend days in January and February. 

The guarantee would be limited to equipment failure. If the resort’s equipment failed while the mountain was open,  customers impacted by the failure would be eligible to request a refund if they were dissatisfied. 

Equipment failure is a customer experienced defect, a relational discourager. 

I proposed that the resort’s maintenance team implement a proactive preventative maintenance program to sharply reduce equipment failures, reducing the number of defects the customer’s encountered. 

I proposed that the resort would be able to self-fund this guarantee by adding $1.00 to the price of every ticket sold. 

In researching money back guarantees, companies  (not ski resorts) that offer them can charge significantly more than competitors for the same product or service, in some cases 300% more. 

Equipment failures rarely impact all of the skiers visiting a resort. Only a small portion of all the skiers on any given day would be impacted, unless equipment failures were wide spread.  

I proposed that the idea be tested on non-holiday, non-weekend days to see how many customers would request their money back. Data collected would establish to the cost of the program and whether the $1.00 ticket price boost would cover the refund costs. 

I proposed that the money back guarantee would give the ski resort a competitive advantage over other New England Ski Resorts. 

What’s wrong with this idea? 

Your thoughts will be appreciated. 

#NewHampshire #NewEngland 

K. H. Little Consulting Services

Kenneth H. Little, MA

cell: (603) 726-1006

kenlittle-nh.com