Lean Observations from of an old guy, Musical musings, is there a meaning?

And todays for sale

And it's all you can afford

By your own admission

Well, the whole thing's got you bored

And the Lord uses the good ones

The bad ones use the Lord...

Michael Stanley (the greatest musician you have never heard of) 1973

The business of lean is a strange one, at least to me. There are people who only think of lean as a way to make money. The good ones, though, let themselves be used by any and all people. They talk all the time, they listen, they cajole, they make observations, and mostly they try to make people think. My sensei taught me that my job was to make life better for everyone around me, not just myself. In my consulting engagements I always looked for ways to transfer knowledge, at least as much as I took away from that engagement. Oh yeah, I learned every time I interacted with someone. I love the learning aspect of lean, the back and forth, and most of all the “aha!” moments. Be a good agent of change and help everyone, please.

Bodhisattva

Would you take me by the hand

Bodhisattva

Would you take me by the hand

Can you show me

The shine of your Japan

The sparkle of your China

Can you show me

Bodhisattva

Walter Becker and Donald Fagan 1973 (Better known as Steely Dan)

 A bodhisattva is a being that compassionately refrains from entering nirvana in order to save others and is worshipped as a deity in Mahayana Buddhism.

As someone who has spent a lot of time in lean, I have seen the role of sensei up close and personal. I was guilty of thinking, to quote Wayne from Wayne’s World, “I’m not worthy!” As Steely Dan did so sarcastically with Bodhisattva, this is largely a western vision of an eastern tradition. What I know now is that sensei is not just a teacher but rather a partner in your journey, as you are a partner in their journey. A true sensei wants everyone around them to learn, to teach, and to reach their full potential. They know that this is a lifetime journey with no clearly defined end point. My sensei told me many times that there are no experts in lean, just people who have been at it longer.

Well now take a look at that I made a castle in the sand

Saying: this is where it's at, you

Couldn't understand now

If I realized that the chances were slim

How come I'm so surprised when the tide rolled in?

Gonna live on solid rock

Gonna live on solid rock

Wanna give I don't wanna be blocked

I'm gonna live on solid rock

Well, I'm sick of potential I'm sick of vanity now

I'm sticking to essential reality now

I don't know what's worse

Try to make a silk purse

Living an illusion

In confusion

Gonna live on solid rock

Gonna live on solid rock

Gonna live I don't wanna be blocked

I'm gonna live on solid rock

You know a house of cards

Never built for shock

You could blow it down in any kind of weather

Now you take two solid rocks, two solid blocks

You know they're gonna stick

Yeah, they're gonna stick together oh-oh

Yeah, because the heart that you break

That's the one that you rely on

The bed that you make

That's the one you gotta lie on

When you point your finger cos your plan fell through

You got three more fingers pointing back at you yeah

Gonna live on solid rock

I'm gonna live on solid rock

I wanna give I don't wanna feel blocked

I'm gonna live on solid

Rock, rock solid rock

Rock, rock solid rock

I wanna give I don't wanna be blocked

I'm gonna live on solid

Rock rock solid rock

Rock rock solid rock

I wanna give I don't wanna be blocked

I'm gonna live on solid, solid, solid, solid rock

Solid rock, rock

Solid rock, rock

Mark Knopfler 1980

I’ll close this rambling note with one of the pieces of music that opened my eyes to the power of lean. I wander a lot, sometimes with headphones on listening to music. One late night trip through a quiet factory I was playing Dire Straits album, ok cassette, Making Movies. Solid Rock came on and it hit me that lean is a solid block built on Respect for People. That one moment changed me from a typical manager to a lean guy, although I thought I was a lean guy before. You can build all kinds of systems on the foundation of respect for people, but you can’t build anything without it. If you, do it right when the tide comes in, and we all know it will, you will ride it out. Respect for people means you expect more from them they think they can do, but it also means you will do more for them than you think you can. It means you answer every question, you celebrate every achievement, you laugh, and you cry with them. It means you connect to them as a human being NOT as an associate or a number. Look them in the eye and listen to their words. It tells a story that you can be a part of. Is it worth it? Looking back now I can honestly say hell yeah, it’s worth it. I have seen several generations of lean leaders rise up, and I have one more generation I want to help.

I have accepted a position at Gibson Guitars Custom Shop. I talked to the head of Custom Shop on Zoom and got a good feeling from that, and that day they called back to schedule an onsite interview. 7 days later I was on site and started with a tour led by a young, to me, production supervisor. Watching his eyes, I could tell he was really into showing me around, he asked questions, and asked for feedback. Panel interview with the head of Engineering, my potential boss, HR partner, production manager, manufacturing engineer, and 2 production supervisors. Loved every minute of it. Great questions, and back forth discussion. I lose a lot of companies when my first question is “Why do you need someone like me?” but all these people had a good answer, and then was when I made up my mind that this would be my next great adventure. So next product on my list will be custom guitars.

My new boss told me something that I find amusing and revealing about a lean person. His quote was “I want you to be moderately disruptive” and that sounds like respect for people to me.

Here’s to being moderately disruptive in all you do!

To all the people that have been on this journey with me I say THANK YOU for making me better, for making me think, and for making me the person I am. I hope I have given you something to take with you on your journey through life and career.