This Focused Performance Weblog started life as a "business management blog" containing links and commentary related primarily to organizational effectiveness with a "Theory of Constraints" perspective, but is in the process of evolving towards primary content on interactive and mobile marketing. Think of it as about Focusing marketing messages for enhanced Performance. If you are on an archive page, current postings are found here.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Slack Off, He Says -- So I will and save time by just pointing you to Steve Hardy's piece on the need for slack time to really accomplish worthwhile stuff.
(Damn. Wrote too much.)
posted by Frank - Permanent Link -
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Tuesday, March 14, 2006
In Praise of Laziness -- I've always thought that the best industrial engineers, efficiency experts, process improvers, and kaizen teams are the laziest ones. Fred agrees. Someone once said that progress comes from dissatisfaction. What greater source of dissatisfaction than unnecessary effort?
posted by Frank - Permanent Link -
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Monday, March 13, 2006
Looking for Travel Recommendations - China -- Shortly, we're heading off for our sixth vacation to the region since 1996, and while I'm getting to know my way around a bit, the place is big enough to keep me from thinking I really know my way around. Any suggestions for Beijing, Pingyao, Chengdu, Leshan, or Wolong will be appreciated. (The problem with these flickr links is that I'm going to be second-guessing myself taking pictures, trying to make sure I'm taking some that are unique.)
posted by Frank - Permanent Link -
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Book Recommendation: Behind Closed Doors - Johanna Rothman and Ester Derby are long-time blog-buddies, and I've been remiss in not mentioning their new book, Behind Closed Doors: Secrets of Great Management. It covers a range of subjects - delegation, feedback, goal-setting, developing influence, and more - that all belong in a Management 101 book, as well as in an Advanced Management Refresher book. Check it out! posted by Frank - Permanent Link -
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Start Your Day Differently -- It's the little things that matter in pushing your mind into new places.
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Thursday, March 09, 2006
Everyone's got their price (or two or three) -- A good observation on price from Seth Godin:
"...price is a signal, a story, a situational decision that is never absolute. It's just part of what goes into making a decision..."
Price is what the market will bear. And by "market" is meant each and every "market of one." The trick of "marketing" is to determine which little bits of your product, your service, or your offer make it more valuable to which people. What are the value-adding "wow factors" that make different people decide to go with your offering?
posted by Frank - Permanent Link -
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Some New TOC Resources -- Shameless Amazon links to new books on Critical Chain Project Management (Projects in Less Time) and TOC in health care environments (We All Fall Down)...
Cognitive Biases -- A Widipedia list of sources of erroneous assumptions. (via Cutting Through, who suggests it "should be compulsory reading for anyone involved in making decisions".
posted by Frank - Permanent Link -
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. It covers a range of subjects - delegation, feedback, goal-setting, developing influence, and more - that all belong in a Management 101 book, as well as in an Advanced Management Refresher book. 
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