May 18th, 2012
“When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it–but all that had gone before.” – Jacob Riis
Yesterday, I received an inquiry from a client. They were reviewing a report that I’d given them last month, and had a question about the accompanying data files. Specifically, they had questions about 4 items. 4 items out of millions of lines of data.
When working with large volumes of data, I use programs to summarize and structure the information. I trust my programming skills and always check any formulas. I don’t review every line of data.
First I located the instances the client was questioning. Then I was stumped. I wasn’t sure how to explain how those 4 lines would be accounted for in the overall report. I reviewed my formulas again, and was still confident that my methodology was right. But, how could I deconstruct the report to get back to the individual items?
After working the problem for a while, I left it alone and worked on other projects. Then I returned to the problem. Then l went for a walk. Then I worked on the problem. Then I took a break. One more crack at the problem before going to bed. Still no solution.
As I was walking up the stairs, the answer came to me. I quickly went back down to my office and tried my idea in a spreadsheet. It worked. Problem solved, and a sound night’s sleep in my future.
The moment of inspiration was a brief second. But it took hours of work to get there.
Tags: answers, challenges, hard work, inspiration, Mark Fallon, persistence, problem, success, The Berkshire Company
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
May 16th, 2012
“One secret of success in life is for a person to be ready for opportunity when it comes.” – Benjamin Disraeli
When discussing the future, I’m sure about one thing – what I think is going to happen probably won’t happen.
Despite advances in science, meteorologists will probably get the weather forecast wrong. Even if the entire team agrees on a project plan, some event will disrupt the schedule. And if you think you know how people will react in a particular situation, you’re kidding yourself.
So, do we just give up? No. We concentrate on the fundamentals. The basics of planning include flexibility. Prepare for alternative tactics towards a problem. Leave room for adjustments as events unfold. Remain open to different reactions.
Success isn’t just a matter of chance, it’s the result of proper preparation combined with an adaptable approach.
Tags: adapt, flexible, fundamentals, planning, prepare, success
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
May 14th, 2012
“At various points in your careers, you will be called to take a risk. And I think you will find, as I have found, those will be the times of your greatest opportunities.” – Raymond V. Gilmartin
In most cases, it makes sense to minimize risk. Looking both ways before crossing the street. Donning safety glasses when using power equipment. Wearing a seat belt when in a moving vehicle.
Those steps, and similar actions, help us avoid unnecessary risks. Running into traffic is foolish. Taking precaution to protect your eyes makes sense. Reducing the chances for serious injury is a smart move.
However, to achieve new goals, to reach higher levels, and to grow as a person, we must take risks. Physical risks, economic risks, and emotional risks. We may get hurt, or lose money, or experience heartbreak.
We could decide to play it safe. To avoid any chance of pain or loss. To make no attempts that may result in failure.
Taking that direction means we’ve also decided to give up on the opportunities to experience the joys of achievement, of success and of love.
Sounds pretty risky.
Tags: achievement, love, Mark Fallon, risks, success, The Berkshire Company
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
May 11th, 2012
I don’t believe everyone needs to be connected to the Internet at all times. Nor should we always have a piece of electrical gear between us and reality. I’m not convinced that everyone needs an iPad or a Kindle or a smartphone to enjoy their life. However, sometimes technology helps in unexpected ways.
Yesterday, I walked into a coffee shop for my morning dose of caffeine. There was the usual crowd of people getting drinks to go, and the lucky few able to enjoy their coffee with friends. Among the morning crowd was a table of people using sign language to talk with each other.
When I walked by, I heard some laughing. I looked over, and they were sharing a video smartphone between them. On the phone was another person using sign language to relate a story.
I was struck by this unintended use of technology. Without video, people who are deaf or hard of hearing wouldn’t be able to use most mobile devices. Now they were able to have conversations without the need of special adaptive equipment for their phones. They were able to share a story and laugh with each other.
That made me smile.
Tags: conversation, Internet, laugh, Mark Fallon, smile, technology, The Berkshire Company
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
May 9th, 2012
“You may be deceived it you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you do not trust enough.” – Frank Crane
We’ve all been let down by someone. The times we remember most clearly are when the person who let us down was someone close to us. Someone who we trusted to do the right thing. And when they failed, we felt a profound and personal sense of disappointment.
After moments like that, we’re often hesitant to trust again. We may decide to go it alone, because we don’t want to experience the pain of disillusionment again. If we want something done right, we should do it ourselves.
Caution is okay, as we don’t want to reward people that intentionally do us harm. But abandoning trust altogether is the wrong answer. After all, haven’t we been the person who let someone else down? Haven’t we failed before? Don’t we still expect people to trust us?
No matter what we accomplish in this life, we were helped by other people. That means to accomplish more, we have to grant other individuals the same chance we expect for ourselves. We must trust them.
Tags: accomplish, Mark Fallon, risks, The Berkshire Company, trust
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
May 7th, 2012
“Opportunity is often missed because we are broadcasting when we should be tuning in.” – Author Unknown
There are many methods and channels to express ourselves today – talking on cell phones, texting, blogs, Facebook posts, tweets, etc. It’s been said that the printing press helped spread democracy because it made books available to all. Similarly, the Internet has made publishing available for all.
Freedom to express ideas is a good thing. Free speech and a free press were some of the founding principles of our country. Many of our Founding Fathers were authors and publishers.
They were also readers and listeners. If you examine the works of Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson or John Adams, you’ll see references to other writers. There are literary allusions to Greek and Roman classics, as well as citations of contemporary books. They also wrote about attending speeches made by their peers. They sought knowledge and different opinions.
We live in a remarkable time of free expression. Everyone should take advantage of the new technology to find an outlet for their ideas.
We should remember to take a pause from posting, and take advantage of that same technology to seek out and absorb the ideas of others. We should take the time to read and listen.
Tags: Ben Franklin, democracy, freedom, ideas, John Adams, knowledge, Mark Fallon, publish, The Berkshire Company, Thomas Jefferson
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
May 4th, 2012
“Optimism is a crucial choice we make in establishing expectations for ourselves and others as we begin to move forward through adversity.” – Christopher Novak
Every day, every one of us will face challenges. Challenges at home. Challenges at work. Small challenges that are annoyances and keeping us from enjoying life. Significant challenges with outcomes that will affect us long into the future.
Preparing for those challenges begins with the decision to be optimistic. To believe that you have the opportunity to be successful. To believe that you have the strength, knowledge and talent to triumph in the face of adversity. To believe in yourself.
Hard work is required for anything worthwhile. But you’ll need to persevere through setbacks and minor failures along the way. You’ll need more than strength, knowledge and talent. You’ll need spirit and positivity.
Powered by an optimistic attitude, you can start the hard work that will help you reach your goal.
Tags: adversity, hard work, knowledge, Mark Fallon, optimism, positive, strength, talent, The Berkshire Company
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
May 2nd, 2012
“Expect problems and eat them for breakfast.” – Alfred A. Montapert
My business partner and I were in the final stages of completing a report for a major client. All the edits and proofreading were complete. I uploaded the document to FedEx to be printed and 3-hole punched. We would have several hours to load the report into covers before the briefing.
At 9:00AM, I went over to FedEx to pick up the copies and report covers. I checked the copies for completeness, and put one into a cover to make sure it fit. Good to go. And ahead of schedule. Even time to get some coffee before heading back to the hotel.
As Barbara started to put the rest of the copies into the covers, she noticed a problem – the holes didn’t line up with the tabs. We tried flipping the pages, but that didn’t work. We sampled copies from the bottom of the pile. Those didn’t fit either.
We packed everything up and headed back to FedEx. The manager recognized me, and I told him the problem. He checked the copies and agreed, but he was sure he had aligned the 3-hole punch correctly. To make sure, he opened a package of pre-drilled paper to match it against the punch.
The manager worked on the punch, and the operator began setting up the printer to re-run the job. Then Barbara had an idea. She took one of the pre-drilled pages and tested the report cover. The holes didn’t align with the tabs. The problem wasn’t with the copies, it was the covers.
We grabbed a different set of covers off the shelf, and sure enough, the tabs and holes aligned. We took over one of the tables in the shop, and with the manager’s help, loaded the reports into the new covers in less than 10 minutes. We were still ahead of schedule for our client’s briefing.
The recipe for the successful resolution? Allow extra time for unforeseen challenges. Stay calm when things go wrong. And most importantly, work the problem.
Tags: Barbara Knight, challenges, Mark Fallon, problem, solutions, The Berkshire Company
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
April 30th, 2012
“Statistics are no substitute for judgment.” – Henry Clay
As consultants, we spend a lot of our time analyzing data. Lots of data.
A recent project involved reviewing hundreds of customer surveys and millions of lines of address records. The challenge was processing and summarizing that data into useful information for our client. Then the client could use the information we provided to make strategic decisions about their operation.
Helping our clients go through the decision-making process is exhilarating. With analysis to support their choice, they develop alternate paths, and point out the strengths and weakness of each path. Not just about the budget and savings, but about the impact on their customers and employees. Could they maintain excellent service, meet expectations and implement the changes?
The data could help support the decision and explain their rationale to senior management. But the real foundation was the combined knowledge and experience of the people in the room, and the ability to take simple numbers and turn them into purposeful action. There’s no mathematical formula for that.
Tags: data, decisions, doing the right thing, experience, knowledge, Mark Fallon, The Berkshire Company
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
April 27th, 2012
“In between goals is a thing called life that has to be lived and enjoyed.” – Sid Caesar
This week involved multiple flights to multiple states. My companion for most of the trip was a philosophy book containing a collection of essays covering topics from Plato and Aristotle to existentialism to the duality of human nature.
Several of the essays made me think about goals. I’m a very goal-centered person. I’m constantly either striving to attain goals or setting new ones. And while I spend time thinking about how to reach my goals, I’m not sure I think enough about why I set goals in general, and certain goals specifically.
After reading this book, I’ve determined that either:
- I should strive to have a “goal-less” life. Instead of striving to attain something that is fleeting, I should seek pleasure in living each day; or
- I should not seek enjoyment from achieving goals, but enjoy the struggle that comes from the attempt; or
- I should strive for ever tougher goals, and never stop attempting to reach a new level of achievement and awareness; or
- I should pack an action/suspense novel for my next trip.
Tags: Aristotle, existentialism, goals, Mark Fallon, philosophy, Plato, The Berkshire Company
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
