lean journey

Lean Whiskey Episode #29

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 08-20-21

Episode 29: “Yellow Cards, Coffee Cocktails, and a Barrel Down the Drain”  In Episode 29, it’s been a little while since Mark and Jamie got together for Lean Whiskey. We catch up on what’s new, which includes Mark’s new certification with distinction with the WSET Level 2 Spirits certification, and

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Do you coach intuitively or by a process?

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 08-12-21

Coaching is a very personal thing. Some coaches are more driven by their intuition. Some coaches are more driven by a process. Where do you fall on that spectrum? This is a question I ask participants in our coaching workshop. There is no right answer, but there are limitations based

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The Many Meanings of the Word “Coaching”

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 06-10-21

Coaching means many different things to different people and within different organizations. Often I find someone believes they are coaching when in fact they are just sharing their experiences and points of view at opportune moments. I remember one executive I was coaching, who is now retired, saying “People can’t

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The History of PDSA, PDCA, and Dr. Deming

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 06-02-21

PDCA, or “Plan Do Check Act”, is perhaps one of the most well-known concepts in lean and continuous improvement. Not the most understood, but well known about. Anything this ubiquitous and broad is with understanding its historical use and origins. I love diving into histories like this; read economics and

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Lean Whiskey Episode #27

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 05-21-21

Episode 27: “Lean Coffee: Pour Over Edition”  In Episode 27, Mark and Jamie switch things up a bit with a morning recording of the show. While we could have just started our whiskey early, instead we decided to switch to a beverage that shares much of the same culture, craft,

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One Question That Will Change How You Think About Strategy

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 05-19-21

The easiest strategic choice is to just keep doing what you’re doing. Stay the course. And sometimes that’s also the right choice, but when it is the wrong choice, it often sneaks up on you. By the time a current or future competitor makes you irrelevant, it is likely too

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My Definition of Entrepreneurship

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 05-11-21

A famous, but false, anecdote about entrepreneurship is when George W. Bush told Tony Blair that the problem with the French economy is that they don’t have a word for entrepreneurs. This would have been funnier if it were true, but this French word has grown in popularity over the

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The Future of Work, and the Workplace, Post-Covid

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 05-05-21

The future of work post-pandemic has been much anticipated and has caused legitimate concern for many. Working conditions for some have been improved, for others, it has been stressful. As for many, working conditions have been impossible as the unemployment numbers for women while kids learn remotely have demonstrated. Companies

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4 Steps for Small Daily Investments [from the archives]

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 05-04-21

What do you do when one of those little fires pops up? It’s not a big deal, it’s just a small problem. Put the fire out, move on to what’s next. After all, there are many important projects to complete. But of course, before you get to them, another fire

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Setting Goals, and the One Minute Leadership Lesson [from the archives]

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 04-13-21

How do you set goals? Think about it. If you actually had to describe it, how do you do it? Most people that set them don’t really know. Something goes in both inside and outside their brain, and goals come out the other side. Last week I posted on Forget the

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