I’ve been brought up on the phrase, ‘If it’s not Boeing, I’m not going’.
The 737 MAX situation puts a real dent in that theory.
This article by The Air Current, via John Gruber, provides a well-written view of what has happened. Given my interest in lean manufacturing theory, I particularly like this quote:
The 737 assembly line in Renton, Wash. is a marvel of lean manufacturing. The line inches forward little-by-little as assembly proceeds. Born from Toyota’s production methods, the process is one of continual improvement. It’s what made the 737 the lifeblood of Boeing in the first place and why this crisis, taken to its most extreme, could threaten the company’s very existence. But the assembly line also comes with a tool called an Andon cord. The cord empowers all employees to pull it and stop the line if something is amiss or requires investigation and needs fixing. The rest of the world has already pulled it.
It seems I might be drifting back to Ulysses for my writing, despite its Markdown foibles. The ability to publish to Wordpress and have an External folder linked to Blot, with great cross-platform syncing, is very nice.
@twelvety Is there a way I can get your email address? I would like to reach out to you about something.
It’s common within Australian business culture for people, when asked the question of ‘How are you going?’, to respond with something along the lines of, ‘I’m really busy’, or ‘flat out’.
This might be a reflexive response to avoid having to provide a more substantive answer, or it may be bluster to hide the fact they are anything but busy. Mostly, I think the response is given in the belief that “busy-ness” implies importance, worth and value. I think this is misguided.
When I hear somebody say they are busy, I tend to interpret it as:
I don’t know how to delegate, so I’m doing everything myself.
I’m disorganised and can’t structure my days.
I’ve failed to prioritise and eliminate extraneous activity.
I’ve actually got nothing to do, but I don’t want anybody to find out.
Being busy is not a badge of honour. It’s a cry for help. Either you’ve got too much going on, or not nearly enough. Either way, there’s going to be a lack of focus on the projects and activities that really matter, and deliver true value.
Customers don’t pay for busy-ness; they pay for value provided. A customer doesn’t care how much work went into something; they care if it solves their problem.
If you find yourself busy all the time, don’t accept it, and don’t feel good about it. Identify how to eliminate, automate or simplify the tasks that are eating away your days. Gain back some time that can be put to better use, such as long-term planning, blue-sky thinking, or relaxing by the pool.
People are not machines. Our lives should be balanced. Sacrificing some busy time for a chance to pursue enjoyment, self-development, or diversification is a trade worth making. If you’re not busy, these alternative activities will fill your time in productive ways and build knowledge and capability over time. If you’re too busy, rebalancing and jettisoning the things that don’t add value will help you to concentrate on the things that matter.
I put my name down to volunteer at the school canteen this morning. I’m breaking down the gender norms - I was the only guy on the list.
When reconstructing a soup your wife has previously made, don’t get the ratios wrong. Using too much broth, thereby not leaving enough for future servings, will get you in trouble.
I cannot sleep. So frustrating.
The more I use Notebooks app, the more impressed I am. It destroyed Agenda in my head-to-head test. It’s much nicer on iOS than DEVONthink is. Very impressive software.
And just like that, the man won over $1.5 million. He calmly filled the empty suitcase with his winnings, exited Binion’s into the desert afternoon, and drove off. It was the largest amount ever bet on a dice roll in America.
