Excellence

On By scottpetersenIn Edwards Deming, ExcellenceLeave a comment

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might . . . . .”
Ecclesiastes 9:10

Edwards Deming (1900-1993) was an American engineer and management consultant who is best known for his work in getting Japan back on its feet after World War II.  I have read several of Deming’s books, watched some of his lecture videos and I remain a devotee of his management style.  He was a stickler for quality, knowledgeable effort and excellence.  And I love his words of wisdom.  “There is no finish line for excellence.”  “It is not enough to do your best.  You have to know what to do.  And then do your best.”   

Deming was a firm believer that problems within an organization come from the few at the top — not from those below.  “Hold everyone accountable?  Ridiculous!”   Deming believed that those at the top of an organization were fully responsible for pretty much everything within the organization.  “A bad system will beat a good person every time.”  “Does experience help?  NO!  Not if we are doing the wrong things.”   “There must be consistency in direction.” 

If one chooses a book of Edwards Deming – to read and absorb – it would likely be Out of the Crisis.  It is crisp and well-written and speaks to how to be a great manager and respected leader.  The reviews are abundant and positive.  Given the erratic and unpredictable direction of America, I’m tempted to send a few copies to . . . . never mind.

May I say who is calling?

On By scottpetersenIn Who's calling please?1 Comment

When you place a telephone call and the receptionist says “who may I say is calling,” you give your name.  Right? 

One day years ago, I got this question when I called a close friend.   My eyes narrowed and I responded “this is his parole officer.”   A few weeks later, I identified myself as “his tap dance teacher.”   A few weeks ago, I said “I’m from the Garden Shop and I wanna know – do I dump this load of manure on his driveway or in the front yard.”   

I called my Boy Scout pal Doctor Bill in Lexington, Ky.  “Who’s calling please?”  I said I was putting the new roof on his house.  Well – patients took a back seat for the moment.  He quickly answered and said “WHAT??”   Apparently he’d just asked for a quote on a new roof and was debating the subject.  We all gets the “who’s calling please” business and — maybe it’s just me — one day I decided to be different.  “My name is Marv McClurg from the Reader’s Digest.  I’m calling about his million dollar prize.”  And I hear in the background . . . sir – this man’s calling about your million dollar prize.   

At this point, when I call and say “This is Nelson Snodgrass from the White House,” receptionists will giggle and tell the recipient – always with a smile – “Scott’s on the phone. . . .”

Ylvis

On By scottpetersenIn Gangnam Style, Psy, What does the Fox Say?, YlvisLeave a comment

No, I don’t mean “Elvis.” Do you know about Ylvis?  Ylvis is a comedy team comprised of two Norwegian brothers (ages 33 and 36).  They’ve done some television gigs and recorded a few songs in Norway — famed hits like Kjempeform; Sammens Finner Vi Frem; and Jag Heter Finn (as I recall, this was our wedding song).   Anyway, one of their songs has rocketed this Nordic duo into the stratosphere of pop culture. 

In 2013, the boys published a children’s book titled “What does the Fox Say.”  It soared to the top of the New York Times bestseller list for children.  And then they wrote a song.  Based on the title of their book.  WHOOOSH!!    It is the song – an electronic dance video – that draws the “wows.”  Since first posted on September 3, 2013, this music video became the most intensely watched YouTube video of all time.  Today it has over half a billion (with a “B“) views.  See www.youtube.com/watch?v=jofNR_WkoCE  (you may have to copy and paste this link into your browser).  The music videos I referenced on January 5, 2014, aren’t even in the same league. 

If you don’t know Ylvis, you may not know Psy – the South Korean phenom.   “What does the Fox Say” pales in comparison to Psy’s incredible “Gangnam Style” video (see  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0 ).   Psy’s electronic dance video is the most watched – ever – video with 2.2 billion views.  Very cool.  I really gotta learn to speak Korean. . . .    

 

Hip Hip Hooray

On By scottpetersenIn Hip replacementLeave a comment

On Thursday morning (2/26), Donna had a total hip replacement. The hip had not been painful but it had been “giving out.” What made matters worse was that the bone-on-bone hip socket was causing “transferred pain” to the knee joint and to the IT (iliotibial) band.   The pain was sometimes a 9 out of 10.  Seriously.  Soooooooooo, the decision was easy. 

Donna got a brand new hip in the morning and in the afternoon she was up walking.  It was a few steps, but she was walking.  Friday she walked with a walker down the hall.  Today – Saturday – she got out of the hospital and went to a rehab facility for some intensive physical therapy.  Tomorrow she starts the tennis program but it will only be doubles for a while. . . . .    

No Guns Allowed!

On By scottpetersenIn No guns allowedLeave a comment

It must give some folks a warm and fuzzy – and safe – feeling when they walk into an office building, shopping mall or store and see the sharp red circle and diaganol line superimposed over the image of a handgun.  “Pfew – nobody has a gun here.”  And it must give politicians and store owners that sense of I’m gonna make a political statement.  And they smile as they adhere their signs to door after door.   Some folks even put these signs on their windows at home.    

Prohibited Area Sign

But I have to wonder if those who post – and favor – these signs are fools, stupid or just uneducated.  Tell me — what do these signs convey?  Are people that dumb to believe that the bad guys will see such a sign and go “oooh oooh – Khalid tell Hasam we better not go in there. . . .”   With the increasing, dark drumbeat of threats against America, our citizens and “soft targets” (and the horrific and massive carnage we’ve already witnessed), we actually have people in America who want to make these targets more vulnerable.  For my part, I’d prefer to leave the bad guys guessing.  And if something bad happens, wouldn’t it be refreshing to have a few brave souls stand up to the bad guys as the masses stampede toward the exits.  

Birthdays

On By scottpetersenIn Birthdays1 Comment

I had a birthday this week.  Funny how music brings things home.

I remember with clarity listening to John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High.”  The music opens “He was born in the summer of his twenty-seventh year . . .”   At the time I was 26, recently married and I wondered what being 27 would be like.  A few years before, the Beatles had released “When I’m 64.”  And I thought wow is that old.  And now 64 is history.  Pretty soon, God willing, it will be Paul Simon’s “how terribly strange to be seventy.”

There’s the classic question posed to Maurice Chevalier on his 80th birthday – “how does it feel to be eighty years old“?   To which he replied “sure better than the alternative.” And now he’s long gone.

We are but flickers of light. Our task – if not obligation – is to shine as brightly as possible for family, friends, the underprivileged and our world.  And then be remembered.  Monsieur Chevalier also said “you don’t stop laughing because you grow older.  You grow older because you stop laughing.”  That’s pretty good counsel.

Time Out

On By scottpetersenIn Time Out1 Comment

For the last 3-1/2 years, I have been posting 2 or more times daily. Until mid January, it’s been every Wednesday and Sunday – for two years. A combination of “stuff” put posting on hold. I hope to be back on track shortly.

Animals

On By scottpetersenIn Evil, TortureLeave a comment

In Pakistan, 145 students (mostly Muslim children) are slaughtered by the Taliban. And the civilized world calls the perpetrators “animals.” In Western Iraq, 322 men, women and children (all Muslim) are massacred by ISIS and dumped into a well.  And we call the perpetrators “animals.” In the Syrian town of Abu Hamam, ISIS assassins murder every male over the age of 15. More than 700 victims. And the media calls the perpetrators “animals.”  In France – Islamic radicals just murdered 17  And the world decries the “animals” who did this.  Thousands killed by Al-Qaeda in Pakistan.  Thousands exterminated by Boko Haram in Nigeria. And let’s no forget 9/11.  Mercy – when will this madness stop? 

When you read and hear – day after painful and sickening day – of massacres and horror beyond belief perpetrated by Muslim extremists (and their insatiable craving for more blood), one comes to the conclusion that some people really are “animals.”   Yet using that term is an insult to a lot of respectable dogs, cats, lions, frogs, turtles, porpoise, jellyfish and pigs.  These “people” are worse than “animals.”  These “animals” are rabid.  And we all know what we do with rabid animals.  They are destroyed.  I don’t think even the ASPCA or PETA would object. . . .   

9.5

On By scottpetersenIn 9.5, Scoring points1 Comment

Last Saturday, Donna asked if I would want to make dinner.   I was quick to say “sure.”   And I trotted off to Fresh Market to reconnoiter. The result was a 9.5.

I took flounder filets, rolled in gluten-free bread crumbs, basted lightly in olive oil and then baked for 14 minutes at 375.  Flounder is a buttery, tasty fish.  Hard to go wrong.  My vegetable medley was a take off on a prior theme.  Fresh shiitaki mushrooms, washed, dried and sliced; a sweet onion – sliced; and some organic carrots – chopped. All was put into a covered skillet, smothered in olive oil and nipped with pepper and turmeric.  After about 40 minutes (stirring frequently), I drained and added a wee bit of honey to caramelize. Finally it was my fresh guacamole (avocado, cilantro and lime juice) with gluten-free hummus chips.  And a few slices of fresh mango.  We enjoyed a Liberty School pinot noir and some San Pelligrino.   Dessert was a Talenti Sicilian pistachio gelato to which I added small chunks of 72% dark chocolate. 

It didn’t hurt that I hand crafted a menu with my usual art work, put on a little Gato Barbieri, lit a few candles.  And I did the dishes. 

I know what you’re thinking . . . .”Petersen – you &@^$x#!% – you’re making me look bad.” 

There Goes the Neighborhood

On By scottpetersenIn Illinois gets an F, Inversion, Taxes, There goes the neighborhoodLeave a comment

You live in a neighborhood where every time you step out the door, a group of thugs grabs you and take your money. They leave you a few bucks but they take much of it.  The same thugs dictate where you can go, what you can do, who you can hang out with and how you may spend your life. They are on top of you. Always.  Jamming new rules and demands down your throat.

And then someone from the neighborhood says “I moved to a new neighborhood. There are thugs but they’re not so bad.” And so what do you do? What would you do? Move?  Hmmm?   And so we have “inversions.”

The United States is one of the most heavily-taxed and heavily-regulated countries in the world (if you disagree – try Google).  The corporate tax rate is now the highest in the world.  And we punish and demonize the shrinking number of businesses and individuals who actually pay taxes (think Pareto’s Principle).  We are lurching toward the insidious social system that has wrecked Europe’s economy.   So you tell me — what is corporate America supposed to do?  American businesses are under siege.  Regulatory walls are closing in.  Roofs are collapsing.  The smart move is to get out of town.  So some do.  Moving operating headquarters overseas or at least to states which are conducive to business.   After all – why stay in a neighborhood that hates you?    

There’s a big difference between evading taxes and avoiding taxes.  The ignorant say that corporations (and individuals) are evading taxes.  That’s a lie.  Businesses take advantage of legal exemptions (do you cheat because you take a mortgage deduction?).  And they avoid taxes.  Legally.  If those in Washington were smart, they would revise the punishing tax code and make America competitive with the rest of the world.   But that’s expecting way too much.  Ideology and politics get in the way.  Great.