DID YOU HEAR THE ONE ABOUT THE BANKER WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR? ME EITHER.

"The secret to humor is surprise."

Aristotle (384 BC-322 BC) Greek philosopher.

Smart guy that Aristotle; smart enough to know this doesn't work with bankers.

They don't like surprises and are not looking for humorous entertainment from those to which they've loaned money.

Do what you've told them you will do, when you've told them you would do it, or you will soon find yourself without a banker.

Perfect Mediocrity

"Artists who seek perfection in everything are those who cannot attain it in anything."

Eugene Delacroix

Early 19th century French artist

What role does perfection play in business?

A lot of company mission statements talk about "seeking perfection", but I've never known one that came anywhere near close.

Nor many managers who really attempted to.

Performance: At What Price?

"You get what you don't pay for."

Bill Matthies

"Penny wise and pound foolish" comes to mind as well.


During austere times such as now, it is essential that we measure each and every dollar we spend. There simply is no room for waste.

But "waste" can be many things, many of which have little or nothing to do with how much they cost.

Are shoes that cost $100 a waste while those costing $10 are not? What if the $100 shoes fit perfectly enabling the wearer to do what they cannot with the ill fitting $10 pair?

How are you deciding what is and is not "wasteful" in your business?

Procrastination: Getting Things Done!

"The world is full of human lobsters; men stranded on the rocks of indecision and procrastination, who, instead of putting forth their own energies, are waiting for some grand billow of good fortune to set them afloat."

Orison Swett Marden 1850-1924 Author

19th century language talking about the evils of procrastination. 

Whether it be starting a diet, an exercise program, reading a book we know we should read, or cutting the grass, to most of us putting things off is as natural as breathing. 

Doing so in our personal lives leaves us fat, less informed with unattractive yards, but the consequences in business of not doing today what should be done can be more severe as well as exponentially bad because our lack of action affects others. 

One of the hallmarks of a good plan is due dates; a key performance metric along with detailed description of what will be done, by who at what cost. Without that we simply wait to be "set afloat" the only remaining question being, to what fate? (I would have posted this sooner but I've been really, really busy.)