Lean Observations from an Old Guy: Good Enough?

(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman

Woke up this morning, what did I see?

A big black cloud hanging over me

I switched on the radio and nearly dropped dead

The news was so bad that I fell out of bed

There was a gas strike, oil strike, lorry strike, bread strike

Got to be a Superman to survive

Gas bills, rent bills, tax bills, phone bills

I'm such a wreck but I'm staying alive

I'd really like to change the world

Save it from the mess it's in

I'm too weak, I'm so thin

I'd like to fly but I can't even swim

Ray Davies 1979

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Just a bit of preface for this one. I was given two tasks by my Sensei recently. First was to find the next Bob Rush, and what he meant by that is the next one to love lean so much it consumes them BUT they immerse themselves in the doing not the selling of the ideas. Easy task since I have been working with some people for 20+ years. Next task is the hardest thing I will ever attempt and that is to write a book on lean, in my own words and ways. Not a textbook, not 400 pages of how to do a Gemba walk, not rephrasing something to make a brand mark, not adding a 27TH S to the 5 S, or the 101st waste to the 7 wastes. Just tell people in my own style and try to teach people with my stories. Holy %^&* not sure I am up for that BUT he has impacted my life so much, and well, that I will attempt this. This is one of the chapters I have been noodling around since I am often asked when is good enough good enough? Is this a good enough start?

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In my younger days I was around manufacturing in Silicon Valley when it was 15 years old or so. I loved it so much I stayed there for 45 years, either in high tech or OEM’s supporting high tech. We all were looking for ways to make our products to be perfect, so we had several pithy sayings that encapsulated that ideal. “Good enough rarely is”, “Good enough isn’t”, “You can call it good enough when your name is the company name”, and the old standby “Close enough only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades”, and of course I always added atomic weapons, too. Always assuming it was never good enough. Sales and Marketing always pushing to get new products out there before we had a chance to perfect them. I can’t say how many times I asked someone if they were crazy to think good enough is good enough. After this twisting journey I have been on I owe a huge apology to the people through the years that endured my lectures about good enough isn’t. A lesson hard learned, reinforced with some 3 am what the heck is happening now moments, after seeing products I thought sucked become hits, after life hit me with a 2x4 to see differently, after steak and beers with my lean cohorts, after seeing that good enough is good enough in most circumstances, I am joining the bandwagon.

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In the lean world, as I learned so harshly, there are many instances of good enough being goof enough. Here are a few examples of what is good enough:

Any quick fix that addresses an ongoing issue, especially when the issue is brought to your attention by an associate.

Any quality improvement is good enough.

Anything that boosts morale is good enough.

Anytime you see the Hawthorne effect is good enough.

Any new standard work created is good enough.

Anything that simplifies a technology issue is good enough.

Any steps towards a 5S program are good enough.

Gemba walks for management that involves asking questions.

Introducing new tools that are used are good enough.

Teaching moments taken are good enough.

Observations to or from any other leader are good enough.

Modeling leadership, despite title, is good enough.

Using someone else’s ideas is good enough if it is correctly attributed.

Creating an environment that is safe to speak out is good enough.

Having a laugh at your own expense is good enough.

Saying good things to anyone is good enough.

Telling a story to illustrate a point is good enough.

Helping your customer in any way you can is good enough.

Listening to music is always good enough no matter what the style.

Recognizing a talent in someone else is always good enough. Say it loud and say it proud! Just a note to my teammates at Custom Shop, you all have more talent than anyone knows show it and put it on display! I love my time in final assembly, there are incredible guitarists there that touch me just by their final testing. High point is always someone throwing out a riff you can feel!

Feeling bad when someone has an issue or problem is good enough.

Taking joy in life is good enough. Look up and around, it is not as bad as it feels, there are many good people around. See it and feel it.

Seeing an artist that is a class person is good enough. Not all artists in any field are class acts, love the ones that you think are.

Learning anything is good enough.

Improving yourself is good enough. Learning guitar is hard but fun when you are inspired by people who love the guitars themselves.

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So, this old guy has learned a lot about good enough in this journey to know that good enough should always be followed by the magic words “for now!”

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So, I think this is good enough for now. If you get to this point thanks for sticking with me. If you have ideas about other things that are good enough for now let me know. Stealing ideas is a great lean tradition!

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Celluloid Heroes

Everybody's a dreamer and everybody's a star

And everybody's in show biz, it doesn't matter who you are

And those who are successful

Be always on your guard

Success walks hand in hand with failure

Along Hollywood Boulevard

I wish my life was non-stop Hollywood movie show

A fantasy world of celluloid villains and heroes

Because celluloid heroes never feel any pain

And celluloid heroes never really die

You can see all the stars as you walk along...

You can see all the stars as you walk down Hollywood Boulevard

Some that you recognize, some that you've hardly even heard of

People who worked and suffered and struggled for fame

Some who succeeded and some who suffered in vain

Ray Davies 1972