Greg's Right FIT Newsletter #155

Quick notes to help you get more done in less time. . . next week. 

In this issue: 

- Techniques for FIT
- Being Human
- Random Stuff

Techniques for FIT

• How is it that a perfect strategy can get so far off course? In the real world, strategy runs into your culture. Manage that interaction between strategy and culture.
• Every manager should be focused on encouraging staff behaviors that produce results. To do this your manager's need a clear vision of the company's future. 
• Start 2019 with a time based goal by setting an end of the year goal. Have your managers start at the end, the drop-dead due date, and work backwards, generating milestone tasks that can be done by day or week. 
• Then, set some destination goals. Longer term objectives that can be completed in parts your managers can reflect on weekly. Working without a time limit can lead to jump in progress. 

Being Human - Framing it

It's probably not the end of the world. 

Carl Sagan, the famous astrophysicist, had a show in the 1980's called Cosmos. In it, he described the "cosmic calendar" where he put the history of the universe into a 12 month, 365 day, calendar year. On the very first day of the year is the Big Bang. On the last day of the year, December 31st, at 10:15am, the apes appear. Columbus sets sail at 1 second before midnight. 

Perspective. 

As we enter the new year, the challenge is not to take ourselves too seriously. In Omaha, we just passed the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year in the northern hemisphere with 9 or so hours of daylight. Stepping back, my friend just outside of Sydney had over 14 hours of sunlight that same day. However, this guy in Suzhou, China didn't give a rip either way. 

I understand that all is not well and there is plenty to be concerned about, but before throwing your hands up in disgust, take a minute to consider the good things happening in the world. They're out there. Swear.  

Happy New Year! 

Random Stuff

I don't know why it's not working

Every year, as part of my Christmas decorating duties, I haul out the twinkle lights and as you can guess, it's 50/50 as to whether or not the lights still work. If they don't work, I get new ones. It's a waste, but it's what I did until I saw this tool at Lowes. 

Looking at the instructions, it tells me light strings can be repaired. I get startled when I run across information that seems obvious in hindsight. Of course these things can be repaired, I think, and then shame myself into making a purchase. After all, we have a pair of five-foot tall pre-lit trees on the porch that have less than 1/3 of the lights working. 

The first nice day we have, I get to work. The tool has a built in light bulb tester, a voltage checker, a fuse tester, some things to help pull bulbs, and built in storage for bulbs in the handle. It beeps, lights up, has a trigger and looks like a toy phaser. Very clever. This should be fun, right?

Well, the good news is the tool works. I stand on the porch, chat with the neighbors, and describe what I am doing to the old men walking their dogs. I am able to get both trees about 75% lit before my interest in the project wanes and I run out of replacement bulbs.

The bad news is with 9 days left before we start putting decorations away, the trees are now zero-point-zero percent lit and I have absolutely no interest in playing with my toy gun anymore. 

I give up. 

Booking Calendar