formats

Why is writing a bio so difficult?

Published on January 21st, 2012 by in FoStrategy

That was difficult; it took me about an hour to complete my LinkedIn summary. Not even an official bio, just a summary. It came out to be two paragraphs and a random sentence describing the company I work with. What’s unfortunate is, it’s terrible. This is going to take a while. Before I attempt version duex, let’s think through what the end product should be and who it should appeal too.

My hope is that the final product is a 3-5 paragraph synopsis of my professional experience. Highlighting my key attributes and successes in the work place. What quickly came was a string of awkward resume words like; detail oriented, meticulous, independent, reliable, and people person… I had to regroup and decide how I wanted to position my profile. It should also appeal to those individuals with a common background and interests, what professionals today have come to call networking.

Bios should appeal to your customer, in this sense my customer is other professionals developing strategy, conducting analysis and consulting for companies seeking operational excellence. My hope is to create a group of individuals able to help problem solve and share experiences.

Now… how the heck do I do that? Back to the drawing board…

 

 

 
Tags: , ,
comments  No Comments »
formats

It’s a Ragnar, wait what?

Published on January 16th, 2012 by in rant.com

I’m still not sure what a Ragnar is; I am not sure if I did a Ragnar, if I am a Ragnar or if I’ve been Ragnared… After letting this experience marinate for about a week and reflecting on the pictures from the weekend, some facebook acceptable, others not so much. I’ve decided I want more Ragnar, all day every day, Ragnar. To the laymen, a Ragnar was a great Viking commander. More currently the Ragnar Relay Race allows a team of up to 12, divide race legs covering 200 miles. After being Ragnared in a Van with 5 others for over 20 hours I still don’t fully understand why hundreds of teams would attempt this.

The excruciating experience left me blistered, bruised, bloody and hung over… It also left me with some great memories a few new friends and a discovery. Endurance racing should really be a social event, from beginning to end. Given a choice, which I’m pretty sure I have, the only races I plan to ever do will be relay. I have done marathons and Ironmans, and have no desire to ever complete another… I am on permanent maintenance mode and the experience of Ragnaring far exceeds any single distance race.

Ragnar… My first experience was a good one, and I cannot wait to receive my x2 medal. Keep up the good work!

 

 
Tags: , , , , ,
comments  No Comments »
formats

And the steal of the draft…

Published on December 24th, 2011 by in FoStrategy

9th round pick, Rob Gronkowski, or how ever the heck you spell his name. Truth be told, i thought i was picking the Pats kicker and turned out to be a tight end… Kidding!

Last we left off i had just completed my 2011-12 NFL fantasy football draft. One which i felt particularly proud about and was re-insured with my immediate success on the grid iron. Soon my success subsided as an risky portfolio of players fell to injury, my 1st, 3rd and 4th round pick all out multiple games. Quickly I began losing games, consecutive loses with no hope of resolve. As in past seasons I started to become disengaged after my 3rd lose, but this was only mid way thru the season surely we could turn this around…

Fast forward 2 months and I am in the championship game, how did I do it you ask, great question I’ll tell you. Luck, pure old fashioned blind, dumb luck… And proud of it! The two steals of this draft without a shadow of a doubt, Gronkowski and Jordy Nelson (not on my roster). Taking one of these two players almost ensured a spot in the playoffs, and that’s just what I did, rode his 15 TD, record breaking season right into the play offs. The addition of Adrian Peterson and the stellar performances from Arian Foster and Matt Ryan and here I sit today, Christmas Eve, enjoying a guaranteed 2nd place.

Sometimes a seemingly well design strategy falters and luck takes over, this could have easily gone the other direction and my lesson would have been learned. One, minimize risk, I drafted two injured players in the draft, I should not have done this. Two, maintain a close eye on performance and always be ready to wheel and deal, to close those gaps.

Pergaments 2012 champs? We’ll see

 
Tags: , , , , , ,
comments  No Comments »
formats

Are there no other substitutes?

Published on December 18th, 2011 by in rant.com

Seriously, wtf $30 for razor blades? Thanks Gillette… I felt sick leaving CVS today, and for some reason worse than I’ve felt leaving other establishments, cough, cough… Turning stone, Mohegan sun, fox woods, and other fine establishment I’ve left small deposits with no shot at a return.

But for some reason purchasing these blades topped all those feelings and is still with me several hours later. At least with gambling i’m able to justify the hours of entertainment as a expense… I really can’t find the justification for these razors, or what other economic folk constitute as a cost, i.e. the cost of blades is actually a raise your boss may avoid due to an unshaven face. No shot, im making a firm stance, I need to find another solution here, this is not goin to hack it, no mas! Officially occupied, razor blades…

 
comments  No Comments »
formats

An extra hour

Published on November 6th, 2011 by in rant.com

Who cares! Ha! Damn I’m getting old. Daylight savings time was a holiday at school, an extra hour of debauchery meant everything. Now the thought of staying out so late makes me ill.

I’ll take it as a good sign, hopefully that means in maturing. Late nights, all day benders… Seriously wtf!

Pretty sure midnight is the new 4am, at least I’ll make the ball drop… For now:)

 
Tags:
comments  No Comments »
formats

Really uncool bro

Published on November 1st, 2011 by in rant.com

And the second I threw on this beefy case to my new 4S iPhone, the second it loses all appeal. For like a second I believed this would be the devise I needed to relaunch my social media strategy.

Thinking back this is definitely not the first time I have tricked myself into a new purchase. Right after that great idea settles in the laundry lists of supply’s grows, a new computer, office furniture, a new bike, and all sorts of other goodies.

Just lost my train of thought, but I guess where this was going was… In a perfect world, set some goals, achieve some success, launch on a shoe string budget…

Orrrr on second thought, this is my first post in weeks and my new phone was exactly what I needed to spark the motivation. Rock on, pay later.

 
Tags: , ,
comments  No Comments »
formats

One of those crazy business ideas

Published on October 1st, 2011 by in Change Management

I got to believe there are smarter people out there than me, crazy to read I’m sure. Definitely looks crazy to type… Either way, all I have is an idea and small businesses fail all the time so why on earth would my idea succeed? It has virtually no shot, but atleast I am aware of that and can start to set the foundation for future ventures. All the experiences that come from this effort will be with me, to build on the next time out.

OK, I admit, I side tracked and now back to my hopes that people are smarter than me. Here’s my thought, why not just hit the streets, crank out some emails and speak to those who have been down this road? Why learn from my mistakes, when I can learn from your… um, “experiences”.

Alas, an unveiling the first portion of the site and its potential direction. We will devote some space specifically to ways not for first ventures to bomb miserably. Together, we (that’s right, your not getting off the hook that easy) will research and analyze small businesses operating in today’s climate. Ultimately finding ways to relate practices to what we are doing.

Let’s have some fun, meet some people and who knows maybe launch a business.

 
Tags: , , , , , , ,
comments  No Comments »
formats

A welcomed risk

Published on September 25th, 2011 by in An idea less traveled

Ducks not in a row. Cards all over the table. Exposed, lets do it. A full access look into the stages of a business cycle. Or atleast what I hope will turn out to be a business. Yesterday I cultivated an idea and since, my mind has been overcome with the endless possibilities of what could become. But to this point, an idea is all I have, acting on my thoughts seems like an endless process months away. So much could happen between now and than, how could I possibly see this through?

Annd right on cue, here come the excuses. I don’t have the funds, experience or even a clever name. There will be so much to do, so much to learn and what if I make a mistake? How could I possibly not mess this up?  It’s real easy to find reasons not to continue, but ultimately if we do not surpass our last attempt we will never breakthrough.

Win, lose or draw this is an experience and one that will set the bar for all subsequent attempts. However, I am not launching with the hopes this idea flounders, I am realistic and know over 50% of small businesses fail.  Knowing my odds,  I remain optimistic and am almost certain I will leave this trial with new improved abilities. Ones which will be used to set up future success.

 
Tags: , , , , , , ,
comments  No Comments »
formats

Strategy, why not?

Published on September 7th, 2011 by in FoStrategy

Almost a full book and a half into the world of strategy I decided to test my knowledge on the real world. Lets not be silly, not at work in Fantasy Football. That’s right, the 2011 Whitman Fantasy Draft now in its 10th season, seemed perfect. Strategy can be used in just about everything we do, its simply a way to improve our chance of success.

In past years I’ve easily navigated the first 2-3 rounds, dependent on my pick in the 12 person draft normally prioritized position. Once the low hanging fruit clipped the subsequent rounds would prove difficult. The draft environment is dynamic and players projected to be available often are not, and we are left to quickly analyze the remaining players and make decisions.  Add in the additional elements of competition, positions selected, projections, next available options and the always present alcohol and we have ourselves a little business case. Well minus the alcohol…

Sparing the details regarding my selection process, and mainly because after the fact I am making these these connections. My simple strategy draft day was to leverage average draft position (ADP) data to complete the draft with a negative sum. Thus preventing reaching for players to early.

Fun Fact: After several rounds it was apparent wide receivers were expensive, i.e. being selected earlier then there ADP, knowing this I opted for other player selections for added trade value and key back ups. As soon as the price or ADP for receivers stabilized I pulled the trigger. I realize utilizing averages may not be the best method, but given the initial launch I figured this to be reasonable data.

The result…

Pergaments

View All

Round Pick Player Position
1. (5) Arian Foster RB
2. (20) Tom Brady QB
3. (29) Miles Austin WR
4. (44) Peyton Hillis RB
5. (53) Stevie Johnson WR
6. (68) Cedric Benson RB
7. (77) Santana Moss WR
8. (92) Mike Thomas WR
9. (101) Rob Gronkowski TE
10. (116) Joe Flacco QB
11. (125) LaDainian Tomlinson RB
12. (140) Lee Evans WR
13. (149) New Orleans DEF
14. (164) Donald Driver WR
15. (173) Marion Barber RB
16. (188) Tony Moeaki TE
 
Tags: , , ,
comments  1 Comment »
formats

An impulse… Will it last?

Published on September 7th, 2011 by in Change Management

For far too long I have resisted sharing my thoughts, goals and ambitions with friends and family. In my head it is here today, gone tomorrow. I thought if I keep changing my mind no one is going to believe what I say. Then I think about all the impulsive decisions I have made, and have to believe others have the same issue.

Alas, my latest creation this website, shockingly not my first. Given my track record I should have started out slow, used one of the free blogging platforms and build my profile in phases, i.e. to custom domain, theme etc… But what fun is that? My thought exactly, none!

Every day we are inspired to make great changes in our lives. From what I can tell, these opportunities are realized by two types of people, those that have trained their mind for success and those with ill-perceived personal circumstances. When we examine each type- both encapsulate high levels of motivation, realization of an opportunity and dreams of personal success. Granted, the reasons we set out for change are different I believe that each type allows for varying levels of commitment and follow through.

A portion of this blog will be devoted to the thoughts that enter our subconscious. How to sort through all the messages, organize the clutter and directly apply resources to fulfill required tasks.Regardless of our personal circumstances, change is inevitable, may as well welcome it.

 
Tags: , , , , ,
comments  No Comments »
 
© Hope it's not too late...