Is yours 212 Degrees

What is your boiling temperature? I feel that mine is real high. It takes quite a bit to get me stirred up. Even when I find this happening, I try and get away and let a night pass before I deal with the issue. (Jenifer will tell you this seems only to apply to work)

Sometimes I wonder if this high boiling point can be a problem. Is it avoidance of confrontation? If I wait the issue will work itself out? It seems that this has come back to haunt me lately. These un-confronted issues tend to grow and get worse.

It is hard to find this balance. Perhaps this balance is what makes a great leader. Not over reacting on things that are trivial and will work themselves out. However identifying issues that will fester and grow.

I think I have to add another group to "Who Gets It"

Thanks Patty and Phyllis from Toshiba for the great call yesterday. We joked, talked a little business and really had a good connection. I have to admit that Toshiba really gets our business.

Their FYI website is easy to navigate
The applications help desk is easy to use and the people are good
Product works as described
They appreciate the business they get
Want to help you succeed

Over all this is a great relationship. I look forward to working with Phyllis and knocking it out of the park in 2009.

Kitchen Nightmares (Arlin must be the chef?)

Kitchen nightmares is a TV show I follow every week. If you are not familiar, Gordon Ramsey a successful famous chef/restaurant owner goes to struggling restaurants and helps them turn it around. There are so many similarities in this to the IT industry. Some of my comparisons are;

1. Complicated menus / Complicated IT solutions
2. Dirty kitchens / messy offices
3. Working in the business / duh
4. Cash flow / Cash flow
5. Poor customer service / Poor customer service
6. Poor food / Poor installation
7. Owners ego getting in the way / Ron getting in the way (Just kidding Ron)
8. Slow kitchen / Slow delivery
9. Employees lacking passion / Employees lacking passion
10. Selling same dishes over and over / Selling same solution over and over

Gordon goes into these restaurants and samples the food, visits the kitchen, revamps the tables and works with the employees. 8 out of 10 times the problem with the restaurant is the same formula;

Simplify the menu
Have something you are better at than any one else at
Advertising
Get a process for the staff and kitchen to work well (Sales and service?)
Owners/Management usually have a show down because they think they have the right way however clearly that doesn't work (Ego) then Gordon shows them success and eventually they see success and follow

So, my question is this. Is our own Iron Chef Arlin the Gordon Ramsey of the IT Kitchen?

Does this work?

So yesterday at the game, I saw a company advertise on the Jumbotron that they are the official Chiefs Brick. Yep, that's right, they are the only brick company that the Chiefs use. Sure, lots of jokes could be made here....They can't BLOCK anyone, made of such a poor foundation.

Anyway, do people really buy their bricks because they are the official brick company for a NFL team? I wouldn't think so... It probably cost that company 10's or 100's of thousands of dollars to do this advertising every game.

I guess my point is, couldn't this advertisement be done in a better way? More focused on people/companies that buy lots of bricks. Maybe not! I clearly do not understand the brick industry.

Food, Friends and Victory

As I mentioned on my previous post, I went to the KC game today. Thanks to my neighbors (And season ticket holders) the Bainters. So thanks. Sure, KC may be BAD this year. And yes, I was expecting a loss today against Denver. However, it was a great game!

Going to a game is more than just a win or a loss. It is spending time with good friends, tailgating with good food and of course the game.

Looking at business, do you want people who support you in good and bad? Or just in the good. Being a Chiefs fan, you learn quite a bit about supporting your team in the bad.

PS my 49ers are 2 and 2! Its a start?!

Time for bed. Early rise at 4am is catching up with me.