You can't do step 3 before step 2...You just can't!

In Corporate America, there is one way that things should be done, the companies way. Now, if you don't know the company's way, I am sure that there is a "process flow" you can reference.

Process flows are a great way to create uniformity, efficiently, and productivity. The down side is that if these processes are too stringent, your employees begin to function more like robots than educated, free thinking humans. Have you ever wondered why some job postings require a certain number of years of experience or education? The reason is simple. The position should require these skills. Now, if the company is going to teach you how to do each process with line by line uniformity, do you really need the education or experience?

The reason why people start up businesses and succeed is because there are multiple ways to get to the finish line. Sometimes, a start up business has the free thinking creativity to find a better way of getting to the finish line. It may not be the fastest or cheapest way, but it may be better for the customer. Think about it; micro brews, Patagonia, custom built furniture, the list is endless. All of these things are created by people who know the "processes". These people know the rules, but they used their grey matter to make the end result a customer pleasing experience by putting a their own spin on things.

The bottom line is important. It is how we stay in business. However, providing products and services that we are proud of is why we are in business.

Did you get that memo on the TPS reports?

Reports give us information to help evaluate our past and provide direction for our future. Reports are a good thing. However, just like most things, everything is good in moderation. When reports overtake your ability to be productive, there is a problem. Now, why isn't there a report for that? A report showing the number of reports that a person can comply with before that employee starts to lose productivity.



Micro managers love reports. Why? Simple, a report thinks for them. If you have no connection with your workforce, the only way to grade yourself and your team is with reports. The downside of reports is that they never tell the whole story. Reports are only as good as the people who analyze them.



So, as employees, what are we to do? I think that we should time ourselves doing our jobs at our best without worrying about any reports. The next day, time yourself while reviewing and complying with all of the reports that came across your desk. Now which day where you a more efficient employee? I thought so.



I apologize that I did not post the last few days....I was busy reading reports!

TGIF...as long as the Man doesn't have you work on Saturday.

Everyone has something that they do to separate Friday from the rest of the week. I remember back in high school, I had a Spanish teacher that would have the class repeat this phrase every Friday. Hoy es viernes y tengo que trabajar, pero mañana es sábado y voy a descansaré.



On Friday afternoon on the drive home, Radio Margaritaville plays, "It Five O'clock Somewhere". Friday is also casual dress for many offices. Friday is the light at the end of the work week that gives us an energy rush to finish strong and sprint to the finish.



Now, there are some things that can dampen the Friday energy. So, I would like to identify these so that we can try to avoid these at all cost.



1. Injured animals on the side of the road. (I know this sounds cruel, but remember rabies is not fun on Fridays!)



2. Meetings before 1pm. (After 1pm is OK. You are not paying attention after 1pm anyway)



3. CAA tournament score updates (UNCW lost in the first round. Good job guys.)



4. 5 day old milk (Breakfast is important, but not that important.)



And finally,

5. the office (The best Friday after all, is one where you are not in the office!)

Is it Groundhog Day?

Groundhog Day was a great movie. The concept is a guy (Bill Murry), is stuck repeating the same day until he figures out what makes him happy. Have you had on of those weeks, months, or years where you felt that you were stuck in repeat? I certainly have. I think the interesting part of this film is that Bill Murray tries everything that he can think of to end this day, but chooses true happiness last. Why is that?



So many days at the office can seem to be the same day over and over again. The clients, the desk, and the problems are the same day after day. The difference is you! You have the ability to spice up the daily grind.



Now, there is a different holiday and "national week of something" almost every day. So, lets embrace the daily holiday to keep life in the office from being the same everyday.



This week is National Procrastination Week, Return the borrowed book week, and Friday is National Name Tag Day. In honor of Name Tag Day, we should all wear name tags with our "adult film star" name. For those of you that don't know your name, it is the name of your first pet and the street you grew up on. I would create a name tag, but I will not. After all, it is National Procrastination week.

For English press 1......For Polish, press 12

How often have you hung up the phone and said, "I have no idea what they just said". The hardest time to give customer service is when you have no idea what the person is saying. Sometimes it would be easier if they were not speaking English at all. At least then you would not be expected to know what they were saying. So, what can we do in this situation?

There are many good options, so I listed some of your best choices. Option 1, nicely ask the person to repeat themselves as many times as needed. Option 2, offer to transfer the customer to a translator. Option 3, offer to communicate only by e-mail and hope that they know how to write in English. Finally Option 4, ask all of your questions like Yoda. Granted, this option will not get you anywhere with the client, but at least it will be funny.

Ask good questions you must. The right answers you may receive.

Why rappers should run the corporate PR department.

When was the last time that you received a corporate communication. Now is it just me, or are most of these communications as generic as they can be? Its like they want to communicate a message but they don't really want to say it. So, they just create a lot of fluff and expect you to know what they are saying.

Now, we have all heard a Lil Jon song. After 3 1/2 minutes of Lil Jon rapping, he has not really said anything. Or in the words of Dr. Dre; "Its like this and like that and like this and uh." If that does not sound like a corporate e-mail, I don't know what does. At least a rapper can make it sound good.

So, the next time that you receive a corporate e-mail that makes no sense, read it out loud, then say "Make em say UNGGGGGGH, Na-nah na-nah".