The Simpsons cartoon show is a great show, I like it. Well, truth be told I enjoy it so much I quote from it constantly. But that got me thinking, and that made me scratch my head and write this article.
The Simpsons is a good thing because it is all things pop culture. It is us so it can be a good medium for poking mankind in the eye with a light-hearted jest and still make us laugh and cry about the whole situation. It speaks to people and situations because it addresses ideas and feelings that are universal.
How it got that way is simple, it assimilated everything in mankind - even going so far as to try and skirt copyrights by making things like "Blocko" blocks instead of Lego ( We all know its lego they are refering to). "In Flanders Field" is a famous WWI poem, "When Flanders Failed" is an episode. Clancy Wiggum is the actor Edward G. Robinson in a poorly fitting uniform.
The Simpsons is a bad thing because in some ways it is the most devoid of original content platform out there. People know who Chief Wiggum is when they should know the crafty character and influential artist Edward G. Robinson was. And the biggest irony is that The Simpsons copyright material is guarded by the same copyright law they skirt when they need to. How much of the content is foreground intellectual property when it is so derivative of all of pop culture? Am I going to get sued simply by stating the name?
In this reality lies the paradox, make it universal to all but at the same time decrease its internal value to an asymptotic value of zero? Will people watch it, of course they will. Will they continue to "borrow" from everything else, of course they will until we stop asking for more episodes.
And the big question is not what is The Simpsons, but is it a force for good in society? I believe that The Simpsons meets the human need; it is entertaining. I think the Simpsons creators have spent a lot of time and effort trying to talk about things we all see everyday and maybe make us change our thinking. So if the greater good is served we can all sit down and laugh at the next eye-poke and smile. But we should also remember where it all came from. If mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery, then The Simpsons remembers where the inspiration came from.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
The Art of War for Business 4
Sun Tzu said:
"Before the engagement, one who determines in the ancestral temple that he will be victorious has found that the majority of factors are in his favor. Before the engagement one who determines in the ancestral temple that he will not be victorious has found few factors are in his favor.
If one finds that the majority of factors favor him will be victorious, while one who has found few factors favor him will be defeated, what about someone who finds no factors in his favor?
If I observe it from this perspective, victory and defeat will be apparent."
There are many ways to interpret this passage; I will focus on what I believe is the most important interpretation here.
What he is saying in this passage is a common theme I will impress upon you: it is less about the state of things but more about the truth of the situation that determines outcome. It is imperative to plan in advance and to know what the likelihood is. Of course, if you are aware of the "few factors" in your favor beforehand, that should stop you from launching what will be a doomed plan. Instead, go back and plan accepting that eventuality, and recraft your tactics until there are more factors in your favour than your opponent's. That is the art of war. You are not defeated until you allow yourself to be beaten.
This passage also brings up a very important point for business that is being trampled under the ever-increasing weight of manners and politeness: the truth. The truth is vital from everyone in your organization and it is vital for more than hurt feelings, it is vital for survival. You need the truth to come to the right conclusions about your plans in business. You should instill a truth policy for everyone in the organization: and you should reciprocate with the same to your employees - if you don't you won't last in the long run.
It is natural for people to try and protect their jobs, and in certain poisoned work environments - some of which I have occupied - management was their own worst enemy when it came to employee mistrust and ultimately to the downfall of the company. A ship can't survive if everyone is protecting their own personal safety first; nor an army in the field. And it is so with a business.
I guess I am different from most people, I find it disrespectful to not speak the truth: diplomatically if necessary. I encourage and reward truthfulness and suggest you do the same to instill the right corporate attitude. No one can be right all the time, and if you assume that you can then you are fooling yourself first and foremost. Your employees won't see you as perfect despite what they tell you. So treat them with the same respect and courtesy by being as straight as you can with them. You should never outright lie to them: that will never be forgotten nor forgiven.
"Before the engagement, one who determines in the ancestral temple that he will be victorious has found that the majority of factors are in his favor. Before the engagement one who determines in the ancestral temple that he will not be victorious has found few factors are in his favor.
If one finds that the majority of factors favor him will be victorious, while one who has found few factors favor him will be defeated, what about someone who finds no factors in his favor?
If I observe it from this perspective, victory and defeat will be apparent."
There are many ways to interpret this passage; I will focus on what I believe is the most important interpretation here.
What he is saying in this passage is a common theme I will impress upon you: it is less about the state of things but more about the truth of the situation that determines outcome. It is imperative to plan in advance and to know what the likelihood is. Of course, if you are aware of the "few factors" in your favor beforehand, that should stop you from launching what will be a doomed plan. Instead, go back and plan accepting that eventuality, and recraft your tactics until there are more factors in your favour than your opponent's. That is the art of war. You are not defeated until you allow yourself to be beaten.
This passage also brings up a very important point for business that is being trampled under the ever-increasing weight of manners and politeness: the truth. The truth is vital from everyone in your organization and it is vital for more than hurt feelings, it is vital for survival. You need the truth to come to the right conclusions about your plans in business. You should instill a truth policy for everyone in the organization: and you should reciprocate with the same to your employees - if you don't you won't last in the long run.
It is natural for people to try and protect their jobs, and in certain poisoned work environments - some of which I have occupied - management was their own worst enemy when it came to employee mistrust and ultimately to the downfall of the company. A ship can't survive if everyone is protecting their own personal safety first; nor an army in the field. And it is so with a business.
I guess I am different from most people, I find it disrespectful to not speak the truth: diplomatically if necessary. I encourage and reward truthfulness and suggest you do the same to instill the right corporate attitude. No one can be right all the time, and if you assume that you can then you are fooling yourself first and foremost. Your employees won't see you as perfect despite what they tell you. So treat them with the same respect and courtesy by being as straight as you can with them. You should never outright lie to them: that will never be forgotten nor forgiven.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Application of Tactics #1: Anderson Silva
Ok; so let me put my mouth where my article is. I have a great appreciation for mixed martial arts; it is real, it is raw and these athletes follow the spartan tradition more than any other sport.
Now the current Ultimate Fighting Championship Middleweight Champion is a Brazilian fighter named Anderson Silva. I respect his skill and his heart, and I would probably need a gun to make it a fair fight with him. I believe he can be beaten, and he has in the past. But he is very good warrior and an extremely skilled striker, he likes to defeat his opponents by pushing from his toes and throw his long arms into the face of some other extremely talented men. Here is his bio:
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Anderson-Silva-1356
I understand Anderson won't fight too many more times, so it may not happen but here is how you beat him.
Here are his strengths: he is tall and has long arms and like I mentioned a lot of skill. He can find your face from behind your arms even when you know the punch is coming. And he picks the tools from a large toolbox to pick opponents apart. He varies his tactics and he defends for the first minute to determine the best way to beat his opponent. He is in shape and will not give up easily. He uses his jiu jitsu for defence mainly but can submit people when pressed. He has a well-deserved aura of invincibility but anyone can be beaten. I believe his mental game (something people don't mention often) is really what sets Anderson Silva apart from the rest. I think he follows Sun Tzu's art of warfare by being ready for anything and varying his tactics to meet his end. I believe this is his hidden talent.
Now people have tried to beat him at his strength: to stand in front of him and trade and then go to plan B at which time he has figured out which way to destabilize his opponent and then pick them apart.
Here is Anderson Silva's worst opponent: a faster stronger wrestler with large thigh muscles to hold control and who is extremely quick at takedowns. The UFC tried this with Dan Henderson, whose shorter arms and lower striking skill did not pay off, but when Dan executed the game plan I am proposing he had the best of Anderson Silva. But Dan gave up and tried to strike and then got rocked and submitted. Travis Lutter also had the right game plan, but he was exhausted and got caught as well.
You can still beat him by knockout; but you need to get inside his game plan and out think him. He will move back and counter punch - another strength - if he thinks you are driving for a takedown. To beat Anderson Silva you need to get inside his arms and legs and drive take down after takedown to wear him down and get him thinking wrestling when the punch comes in. You need to press against him at all times where his longer limbs can't move to hit you. His main goal is to finish by knock out every time so you can use this to your advantage and make him try for that knockout when you put him off balance and mount him. He can be beaten then in the mount by knock out or after many takedowns get him to counter a fake takedown and leave his chin open for knockout blow.
So this tactics example demonstrates how to pick apart the truth of your opponent and use his/her strengths to your advantage. The hard thing about being a champion is everyone has seen what you used to get to the top. A challenger can be unpredictable. And the truth is there for people who seek and accept it.
Of course, there is a large gap between planning and execution, at the end of the planning - you gotta do it.
Thales Leites has a chance to execute this weekend at UFC 97.
Now the current Ultimate Fighting Championship Middleweight Champion is a Brazilian fighter named Anderson Silva. I respect his skill and his heart, and I would probably need a gun to make it a fair fight with him. I believe he can be beaten, and he has in the past. But he is very good warrior and an extremely skilled striker, he likes to defeat his opponents by pushing from his toes and throw his long arms into the face of some other extremely talented men. Here is his bio:
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Anderson-Silva-1356
I understand Anderson won't fight too many more times, so it may not happen but here is how you beat him.
Here are his strengths: he is tall and has long arms and like I mentioned a lot of skill. He can find your face from behind your arms even when you know the punch is coming. And he picks the tools from a large toolbox to pick opponents apart. He varies his tactics and he defends for the first minute to determine the best way to beat his opponent. He is in shape and will not give up easily. He uses his jiu jitsu for defence mainly but can submit people when pressed. He has a well-deserved aura of invincibility but anyone can be beaten. I believe his mental game (something people don't mention often) is really what sets Anderson Silva apart from the rest. I think he follows Sun Tzu's art of warfare by being ready for anything and varying his tactics to meet his end. I believe this is his hidden talent.
Now people have tried to beat him at his strength: to stand in front of him and trade and then go to plan B at which time he has figured out which way to destabilize his opponent and then pick them apart.
Here is Anderson Silva's worst opponent: a faster stronger wrestler with large thigh muscles to hold control and who is extremely quick at takedowns. The UFC tried this with Dan Henderson, whose shorter arms and lower striking skill did not pay off, but when Dan executed the game plan I am proposing he had the best of Anderson Silva. But Dan gave up and tried to strike and then got rocked and submitted. Travis Lutter also had the right game plan, but he was exhausted and got caught as well.
You can still beat him by knockout; but you need to get inside his game plan and out think him. He will move back and counter punch - another strength - if he thinks you are driving for a takedown. To beat Anderson Silva you need to get inside his arms and legs and drive take down after takedown to wear him down and get him thinking wrestling when the punch comes in. You need to press against him at all times where his longer limbs can't move to hit you. His main goal is to finish by knock out every time so you can use this to your advantage and make him try for that knockout when you put him off balance and mount him. He can be beaten then in the mount by knock out or after many takedowns get him to counter a fake takedown and leave his chin open for knockout blow.
So this tactics example demonstrates how to pick apart the truth of your opponent and use his/her strengths to your advantage. The hard thing about being a champion is everyone has seen what you used to get to the top. A challenger can be unpredictable. And the truth is there for people who seek and accept it.
Of course, there is a large gap between planning and execution, at the end of the planning - you gotta do it.
Thales Leites has a chance to execute this weekend at UFC 97.
The Art of War for Business 3
Sun Tzu said:
"If they are substantial, prepare for them; if they are strong, avoid them.
If they are angry, perturb them; be deferential to foster their arrogance.
If they are rested, force them to exert themselves.
If they are united, cause them to be separated.
Attack where they are unprepared.
Go forth where they will not expect it.
These are the ways military strategies are victorious. They cannot be spoken of in advance."
What he is saying is that there is always a way to win. There is always a way to turn your disadvantages to your favor and your competitor's advantages against them. It is not important what you start out with but where you finish up; victorious. It is no different than when two opponents step in the boxing ring: upsets happen for a reason, and that reason is more often than not a better strategy. What should be noted with this paragraph is that its imperative that you plan to succeed and be ready for the tough road you start down.
Believing you can do it is the first victory.
"If they are substantial, prepare for them; if they are strong, avoid them.
If they are angry, perturb them; be deferential to foster their arrogance.
If they are rested, force them to exert themselves.
If they are united, cause them to be separated.
Attack where they are unprepared.
Go forth where they will not expect it.
These are the ways military strategies are victorious. They cannot be spoken of in advance."
What he is saying is that there is always a way to win. There is always a way to turn your disadvantages to your favor and your competitor's advantages against them. It is not important what you start out with but where you finish up; victorious. It is no different than when two opponents step in the boxing ring: upsets happen for a reason, and that reason is more often than not a better strategy. What should be noted with this paragraph is that its imperative that you plan to succeed and be ready for the tough road you start down.
Believing you can do it is the first victory.
The Art of War for Business 2
Sun Tzu said:
"Warfare is the Tao of deception. Thus although you are capable, display incapability to them. When committed to employing your forces, feign inactivity. When your objective is nearby, make it appear as if distant; when far away, create the illusion of being nearby."
"Display profits to entice them. Create disorder in their forces and take them."
In business, as in warfare companies spend a lot of time, officially or not, thinking about what the other guy is doing. As with the first post interpreting Sun Tzu, the key to getting ahead lies in how we manage our affairs. If you are a small company, and your competitor is big - does it not make sense to appear just as big and capable as they are? If you want to enter a market and compete with an established rival, does it not make sense to appear as if you had been in that new business for a long time. Some of the modern word equivalents for what Sun Tzu is talking about can be applied to simple things like "brand name" or "goodwill" .
"If XYZ Corp makes that, then it must be good."
There is nothing stopping your company from outperforming a larger "better" (bigger bankroll, longer tradition) company when you can appear as if you have all the advantages in your corner.
When it comes to tactical moves, such as which real estate to buy or which market to saturate, again as I mentioned it is more important to make sure the other guy can't beat you to the deal or realize your full plan in advance. It may seem like extra effort to plan out how your strategy/tactics will fair against an opponent, but in these difficult times it is more important than ever that you economize resources and maximize planning to make sure you succeed. Unless you are favoured to get a bailout, and those companies have more than demonstrated they are not worth saving, then you must plan ahead and plan hard for your company's survival as well.
"Warfare is the Tao of deception. Thus although you are capable, display incapability to them. When committed to employing your forces, feign inactivity. When your objective is nearby, make it appear as if distant; when far away, create the illusion of being nearby."
"Display profits to entice them. Create disorder in their forces and take them."
In business, as in warfare companies spend a lot of time, officially or not, thinking about what the other guy is doing. As with the first post interpreting Sun Tzu, the key to getting ahead lies in how we manage our affairs. If you are a small company, and your competitor is big - does it not make sense to appear just as big and capable as they are? If you want to enter a market and compete with an established rival, does it not make sense to appear as if you had been in that new business for a long time. Some of the modern word equivalents for what Sun Tzu is talking about can be applied to simple things like "brand name" or "goodwill" .
"If XYZ Corp makes that, then it must be good."
There is nothing stopping your company from outperforming a larger "better" (bigger bankroll, longer tradition) company when you can appear as if you have all the advantages in your corner.
When it comes to tactical moves, such as which real estate to buy or which market to saturate, again as I mentioned it is more important to make sure the other guy can't beat you to the deal or realize your full plan in advance. It may seem like extra effort to plan out how your strategy/tactics will fair against an opponent, but in these difficult times it is more important than ever that you economize resources and maximize planning to make sure you succeed. Unless you are favoured to get a bailout, and those companies have more than demonstrated they are not worth saving, then you must plan ahead and plan hard for your company's survival as well.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Boot Camp IV for Business a Success
http://www.medicinehatchamber.com/events.htm
April 2nd, 2009
Boot Camp IV - Basic Training for Business
The Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede, and Medicine Hat College, Continuing Studies, is proud to present Boot Camp IV.
This one-day event, now in its fourth year, brings local businesses and organizations together to enthusiastically deliver powerful and practical skills that can enhance the workplace and improve the bottom-line.
Place: Grandstand Ballroom at the Stampede Grounds
Time: 9 am - 4:30 pm
Price: $65 for Chamber, Stampede or College Members
$75 for Non Members
$25 for College Students (must register through College)
Our featured speaker, for the morning session, is Dave Erickson, a defence scientist at Defence Research & Development Canada Suffield. Dave will be joining us to offer a workshop on Business Decision Making, Army-Style. Dave will be speaking on tactics, the art and science of decision-making taught to leaders in the military. Those who attend Boot Camp IV will learn what the study of Tactics is all about and how it can be applied to their situation. Planning isn't something that you do once and admire, it is a discipline that managers and decision-makers at all levels must embrace as part of their business reality. Plans must evolve as the situation changes. This is an opportunity to learn a battle-tested way to plan for your business and adapt to rapidly changing situations.
This presentation went well, for the first time through my slide decks. If anyone is interested in a custom tactics course, then please let email me here
The Art of War for Business
Sun Tzu said:
"It is essential for a general to be tranquil and obscure, upright and self-disciplined, and able to stupefy the eyes and ears of the officers and troops, keeping them ignorant. He alters his management of affairs and changes his strategies to keep other people from recognizing them. He shifts his position and traverses indirect routes to keep other people from being able to anticipate them."
In my humble opinion, Sun Tzu is talking about how a leader must project himself / herself towards others that are lead and just as importantly to potential rivals and especially opponents. He is not saying that a leader should not communicate clearly with team members, but a leader does not have to reveal the underlying reasons or intentions of the plan that is underway. It is important that every team member believe that the manager is important to the operation or they lose faith in their organization and eventually they question the value of the leader - we all do it, it is inherent. Proving that you can do it better, in fact, that you have many ways to do it better, can quell that doubt in subordinates.
The second recommendation of this paragraph goes to the way a leader plans and executes the work. It is important not to adopt a predictable style or method, and to have several techniques available to meet the same end. Potential rivals in other departments have a chance to play politics if you are predictable. Opponents, business competitors, can also find the weakness in your tactics if you use the same way all the time. It is important to be flexible and to choose from an array of methods to achieve the end. This philosophy will improve your odds by making it harder to derail your plans.
If you don't have a ready tool chest of techniques to guide your business, then you need to find them somehow.
"It is essential for a general to be tranquil and obscure, upright and self-disciplined, and able to stupefy the eyes and ears of the officers and troops, keeping them ignorant. He alters his management of affairs and changes his strategies to keep other people from recognizing them. He shifts his position and traverses indirect routes to keep other people from being able to anticipate them."
In my humble opinion, Sun Tzu is talking about how a leader must project himself / herself towards others that are lead and just as importantly to potential rivals and especially opponents. He is not saying that a leader should not communicate clearly with team members, but a leader does not have to reveal the underlying reasons or intentions of the plan that is underway. It is important that every team member believe that the manager is important to the operation or they lose faith in their organization and eventually they question the value of the leader - we all do it, it is inherent. Proving that you can do it better, in fact, that you have many ways to do it better, can quell that doubt in subordinates.
The second recommendation of this paragraph goes to the way a leader plans and executes the work. It is important not to adopt a predictable style or method, and to have several techniques available to meet the same end. Potential rivals in other departments have a chance to play politics if you are predictable. Opponents, business competitors, can also find the weakness in your tactics if you use the same way all the time. It is important to be flexible and to choose from an array of methods to achieve the end. This philosophy will improve your odds by making it harder to derail your plans.
If you don't have a ready tool chest of techniques to guide your business, then you need to find them somehow.
Friday, April 3, 2009
What is a business mercenary?
Let's start off with explaining what a consultant is. A consultant, generally, is someone that is paid to coach, analyze, plan, and so on to help a business succeed. The idea is if you like our ideas and our service you will to continue to use us - month after month - for a serious fee to help but have no ownership like an employee.
What does it say about a business model that a consultant wants to feed off your business every month to survive? Do you want to keep paying a consultant when it is your business - THAT IS YOUR PROFIT YOU ARE PLAYING WITH!!!
A business mercenary is someone who is honest about their intentions right off the bat: We get paid to do a hard, dirty, or specialized skill service over a short period of time and then move on. If you succeed, then your success story is our biggest advertising and if you fail well then we weren't a parasite sapping your business month after month.
CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVES
If you need someone to help in the short term at a serious fee, with full indemnification, and then get out of your way and let you run the business then consider a mercenary over a long term consulting partner.
Another method of using a business mercenary is to hire them to train your staff. It amounts to the same thing, a large outlay versus the improved performance of your entire department.
Or, if money is still what you don't have, consider finding a capable person and invite them to be a member of your board of directors. They will win if you win, or lose if you lose, but either way you can delay paying them in part until you have made a profit and can share the benefit.
What does it say about a business model that a consultant wants to feed off your business every month to survive? Do you want to keep paying a consultant when it is your business - THAT IS YOUR PROFIT YOU ARE PLAYING WITH!!!
A business mercenary is someone who is honest about their intentions right off the bat: We get paid to do a hard, dirty, or specialized skill service over a short period of time and then move on. If you succeed, then your success story is our biggest advertising and if you fail well then we weren't a parasite sapping your business month after month.
CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVES
If you need someone to help in the short term at a serious fee, with full indemnification, and then get out of your way and let you run the business then consider a mercenary over a long term consulting partner.
Another method of using a business mercenary is to hire them to train your staff. It amounts to the same thing, a large outlay versus the improved performance of your entire department.
Or, if money is still what you don't have, consider finding a capable person and invite them to be a member of your board of directors. They will win if you win, or lose if you lose, but either way you can delay paying them in part until you have made a profit and can share the benefit.
Evergent Technology
Welcome to the blogspot for Evergent Technology
The only focus we have is novel ideas applied to your business success.
Our services include:
The only focus we have is novel ideas applied to your business success.
Our services include:
- Business mercenaries
- Automation
- Training and Coaching
- Custom systems design ; if you can dream it, we can build it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)