The Sun brightens the new life's sheen,
All is refreshed, reborn, and bright green,
Baby birds are chirping from the nest,
Little lambs are bouncing their best,
But soon, nature will turn with spite.
Those birds will do damage with powers of flight.
A few of the lambs were claimed- as sacrifice?
The green becomes weeds.
Nature is not nice!
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Crazy-Eyed Crox!
When I left home to attend college 500 miles away, it was a difficult transition. I can remember the feeling of the weight of the world upon me.
I was an academic slacker. Other than my passion for auto mechanics and the refreshing challenge of advanced placement classes, I was not motivated. I didn't have to work to earn C's. College was a shock!
I'd enrolled in a program with a 70% drop out rate. Almost every higher learning institution puts extraordinary pressure on their students at some point. Most of them do that towards the end of the program to ensure the school gets its money before weeding out the weak players that might give the school a bad reputation. But the program that I enrolled in put the pressure on you in the beginning.
That drop out rate was an oversight for me. The number that I was fixated on was the hiring rate. I wanted assurance that my expensive education was a worthy investment. The program boasted a high rate of employment upon completion with some very coveted companies. I believe that was the reason for the weeding to happen early.
The very first term, I felt the pressure to quit. I would have been in good company. Students were dropping out left and right, quite literally. For every student that stayed the course, one student to their left and another to their right would drop out during that first term.
It was during that time that it hit me. I felt sorry for myself. Overworked, alone, isolated, and hopeless. I hadn't enough time in the new location to make new friends. I was not used to spending most of the day in school and coming home to piles of homework. I was not used to the faster pace of learning that required me to apply myself. My usual effort would have resulted in failing grades! And I didn't have any physical outlet for my frustrations.
Enter the gym! It was a paradox that I was a slacker at school, but a hard worker in other aspects. I was accustomed to the physical demands of ranch life. Now I had zero physical activity and all mental demands. I was out of balance! It was with some desperation that I joined the closest gym to my apartment.
It was just the distraction and physical outlet that I needed. I made friends quickly there, not the least of which was the owner. He was a great guy.
After we got to know eachother, he offered me employment. In exchange for watching the gym for a few hours every evening, I would get free membership and supplements. I learned a lot about fitness, diet, health, and people in general.
Of all the people there, the most unique was "Crazy-eyed Crox". He was a high-fiving socializer and a natural mesomorph. I have since observed most mesomorphs to be of that personality type. It must be due to all the people drawn to them that they become people and ego-centric?
When he talked to you, his eyes would widen as far as possible. I think he did it so often that his eyes grew further open than normal. He would use a lot of words and gestures to say very little. But he had an infectious style of abundant energy and enthusiasm. He was not only "crazy-eyed" but a little crazy in the head too.
He was half of identical twins. His brother was in the big house. He was always bragging on his twin brother with his outlandish style, telling how "Huge!" his brother was getting by working out in the joint.
"That's just great. Now a menace to society will be a bigger and stronger menace to society!" Of course, I kept my thoughts to myself.
Half of his madness was hereditary, but the other half was self inflicted. No doubt the motorcycle crash that he endured was a contributor.
"Yeah! Man!" he told the story in his usual theatrical style: eyes wide open, overyly large gestures, and sometimes he got too close.
"The doctor said I should have died! I hit a stop sign head first! Dude! I wasn't wearing a effing helmet!" he tries to part his unruly mop to show the scar.
"If I wasn't in such good effing shape, I might have died!" He used the f-word sparingly for maximum effect.
It would come as no big surprise to learn he'd also had trouble with the law. I often got his stories mixed up with stories about his brother. The prison fight story was one that I didn't get clear who was the subject, but the theme was fighting like a crazy man. I pictured the description of a Berserker during the Viking era.
"Yeah Man! The very first day, you gotta make a statement! You gotta go crrazzzy man! Bite his effing ear off! Get the blood everywhere! After that, nobody's gonna mess with you, Dude!"
He was a memorable character, but what I remember most about him was his work out. It made no sense. He had no routine or stucture what so ever. Of course, he was the body type that could look into a gym and gain muscle mass.
He would work hard at his non-sensical exercising. Most of the time, he'd randomly pick somebody out and start working out with them. He'd do what ever they were doing and then move on to something else unrelated. But he was always enthused and Intense. You must use a capital "I" to describe his Intensity.
I have incorporated the "Crazy-eyed Crox" routine? into my weekly routine. It is a day quite different from my usual regimented routine. It is fun, different, and something that I have come to look forward to. I just do what ever crazy thing comes to mind. I have no regard to yesterday, tomorrow, no goal or succession in mind. Simply intensity and exercise like a half-brained maniac.
"It's effing refreshing Dude! Give it a try!"
I was an academic slacker. Other than my passion for auto mechanics and the refreshing challenge of advanced placement classes, I was not motivated. I didn't have to work to earn C's. College was a shock!
I'd enrolled in a program with a 70% drop out rate. Almost every higher learning institution puts extraordinary pressure on their students at some point. Most of them do that towards the end of the program to ensure the school gets its money before weeding out the weak players that might give the school a bad reputation. But the program that I enrolled in put the pressure on you in the beginning.
That drop out rate was an oversight for me. The number that I was fixated on was the hiring rate. I wanted assurance that my expensive education was a worthy investment. The program boasted a high rate of employment upon completion with some very coveted companies. I believe that was the reason for the weeding to happen early.
The very first term, I felt the pressure to quit. I would have been in good company. Students were dropping out left and right, quite literally. For every student that stayed the course, one student to their left and another to their right would drop out during that first term.
It was during that time that it hit me. I felt sorry for myself. Overworked, alone, isolated, and hopeless. I hadn't enough time in the new location to make new friends. I was not used to spending most of the day in school and coming home to piles of homework. I was not used to the faster pace of learning that required me to apply myself. My usual effort would have resulted in failing grades! And I didn't have any physical outlet for my frustrations.
Enter the gym! It was a paradox that I was a slacker at school, but a hard worker in other aspects. I was accustomed to the physical demands of ranch life. Now I had zero physical activity and all mental demands. I was out of balance! It was with some desperation that I joined the closest gym to my apartment.
It was just the distraction and physical outlet that I needed. I made friends quickly there, not the least of which was the owner. He was a great guy.
After we got to know eachother, he offered me employment. In exchange for watching the gym for a few hours every evening, I would get free membership and supplements. I learned a lot about fitness, diet, health, and people in general.
Of all the people there, the most unique was "Crazy-eyed Crox". He was a high-fiving socializer and a natural mesomorph. I have since observed most mesomorphs to be of that personality type. It must be due to all the people drawn to them that they become people and ego-centric?
When he talked to you, his eyes would widen as far as possible. I think he did it so often that his eyes grew further open than normal. He would use a lot of words and gestures to say very little. But he had an infectious style of abundant energy and enthusiasm. He was not only "crazy-eyed" but a little crazy in the head too.
He was half of identical twins. His brother was in the big house. He was always bragging on his twin brother with his outlandish style, telling how "Huge!" his brother was getting by working out in the joint.
"That's just great. Now a menace to society will be a bigger and stronger menace to society!" Of course, I kept my thoughts to myself.
Half of his madness was hereditary, but the other half was self inflicted. No doubt the motorcycle crash that he endured was a contributor.
"Yeah! Man!" he told the story in his usual theatrical style: eyes wide open, overyly large gestures, and sometimes he got too close.
"The doctor said I should have died! I hit a stop sign head first! Dude! I wasn't wearing a effing helmet!" he tries to part his unruly mop to show the scar.
"If I wasn't in such good effing shape, I might have died!" He used the f-word sparingly for maximum effect.
It would come as no big surprise to learn he'd also had trouble with the law. I often got his stories mixed up with stories about his brother. The prison fight story was one that I didn't get clear who was the subject, but the theme was fighting like a crazy man. I pictured the description of a Berserker during the Viking era.
"Yeah Man! The very first day, you gotta make a statement! You gotta go crrazzzy man! Bite his effing ear off! Get the blood everywhere! After that, nobody's gonna mess with you, Dude!"
He was a memorable character, but what I remember most about him was his work out. It made no sense. He had no routine or stucture what so ever. Of course, he was the body type that could look into a gym and gain muscle mass.
He would work hard at his non-sensical exercising. Most of the time, he'd randomly pick somebody out and start working out with them. He'd do what ever they were doing and then move on to something else unrelated. But he was always enthused and Intense. You must use a capital "I" to describe his Intensity.
I have incorporated the "Crazy-eyed Crox" routine? into my weekly routine. It is a day quite different from my usual regimented routine. It is fun, different, and something that I have come to look forward to. I just do what ever crazy thing comes to mind. I have no regard to yesterday, tomorrow, no goal or succession in mind. Simply intensity and exercise like a half-brained maniac.
"It's effing refreshing Dude! Give it a try!"
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Avoiding the cost cutter's folly
It seems to come down to two prominant business philosophies: Either you are a cost cutter or you are a margin measurer. Never the two shall meet!
I can not profess to know much about margin measuring. Their strategies seem overly complex and rite with pitfalls. They are quite proud of their sophistication though, and proclaim cost cutting is overly simplistic. "Any jackass can be a cheap skate!", is often overheard.
There might be a little bit of truth to that stereotype. It's not that difficult to be a tight wad, but applying the idea successfully is a whole lot tougher than it sounds.
"Penny wise and Dollar stupid" pretty well sums up the typical folly of the cost cutter. Saving a penny today that ends up costing a dollar tomorrow is all too common of an occurance.
"Honey! I saved a lot of money on my last oil change. I just didn't do it!" Preventive maintenance is such an easy target. Why should you waste any money on something that is not broken?
Experience will prove the folly with that kind of short sightedness. Saving money on preventive action usually ends up to cost a lot of money later. But saving money on an oil change is an excellent demonstration of how complex cost cutting can be.
The first and biggest opportunity is with the labor to do an oil change. If you invest in learning how to do that, you will reap the rewards very quickly. Roughly half of the cost of an oil change is for labor. If you supply the labor, you will automatically save half of the cost.
If you take on the next cost, it will be the supplies. You pay for new oil and a new filter. Those are usually marked up by service providers, so you will save a little by buying your own. You can look to save there by shopping around. Be careful not to step on that slippery slope of compromising quality though. Educate yourself on what constitutes acceptable quality before you compare on price.
Just doing those two things will save you a lot of money. Most people are satistfied with reaching that plateau. Is it enough to save on parts and labor? Not for a dedicated cost cutter.
We can apply creativity to develop savings in placed that margin measurers fear to tread. Let's question the timing of that oil change. Who says it has to be done every three months or three thousand miles? That is a general recommendation espoused by the industry that benefits from it. What is the data and reasoning behind those assumptions?
You can go as far as having your own oil analyzed. Laboratory tests have gotten more common and lower in cost. They can tell you detailed chemical properties that you can use to modify your schedule. You will probably discover that it is not necessary to change your oil by the industry standard. You might discover that the acid neutralizing properties of the additives are the first to deplete. You can use that kind of information to change the oil, but extend the life of your filter. That is applying data to save money.
These cost-cutting concepts are starting to look more sophisticated than any jackass can do? How about sharpening your pencil and comparing synthetic oil to conventional? Or how could you save by buying supplies in bulk?
You can start coming up with methods rarely thought of. How about using software to plan your routes the way Fed Ex does? Or attending to details like tire pressure, alignment, or weight minimizing to minimize the engine load?
You can continue to go to extremes and discover new paradigms. The only limit to cost-cutting is your own imagination.
I can not profess to know much about margin measuring. Their strategies seem overly complex and rite with pitfalls. They are quite proud of their sophistication though, and proclaim cost cutting is overly simplistic. "Any jackass can be a cheap skate!", is often overheard.
There might be a little bit of truth to that stereotype. It's not that difficult to be a tight wad, but applying the idea successfully is a whole lot tougher than it sounds.
"Penny wise and Dollar stupid" pretty well sums up the typical folly of the cost cutter. Saving a penny today that ends up costing a dollar tomorrow is all too common of an occurance.
"Honey! I saved a lot of money on my last oil change. I just didn't do it!" Preventive maintenance is such an easy target. Why should you waste any money on something that is not broken?
Experience will prove the folly with that kind of short sightedness. Saving money on preventive action usually ends up to cost a lot of money later. But saving money on an oil change is an excellent demonstration of how complex cost cutting can be.
The first and biggest opportunity is with the labor to do an oil change. If you invest in learning how to do that, you will reap the rewards very quickly. Roughly half of the cost of an oil change is for labor. If you supply the labor, you will automatically save half of the cost.
If you take on the next cost, it will be the supplies. You pay for new oil and a new filter. Those are usually marked up by service providers, so you will save a little by buying your own. You can look to save there by shopping around. Be careful not to step on that slippery slope of compromising quality though. Educate yourself on what constitutes acceptable quality before you compare on price.
Just doing those two things will save you a lot of money. Most people are satistfied with reaching that plateau. Is it enough to save on parts and labor? Not for a dedicated cost cutter.
We can apply creativity to develop savings in placed that margin measurers fear to tread. Let's question the timing of that oil change. Who says it has to be done every three months or three thousand miles? That is a general recommendation espoused by the industry that benefits from it. What is the data and reasoning behind those assumptions?
You can go as far as having your own oil analyzed. Laboratory tests have gotten more common and lower in cost. They can tell you detailed chemical properties that you can use to modify your schedule. You will probably discover that it is not necessary to change your oil by the industry standard. You might discover that the acid neutralizing properties of the additives are the first to deplete. You can use that kind of information to change the oil, but extend the life of your filter. That is applying data to save money.
These cost-cutting concepts are starting to look more sophisticated than any jackass can do? How about sharpening your pencil and comparing synthetic oil to conventional? Or how could you save by buying supplies in bulk?
You can start coming up with methods rarely thought of. How about using software to plan your routes the way Fed Ex does? Or attending to details like tire pressure, alignment, or weight minimizing to minimize the engine load?
You can continue to go to extremes and discover new paradigms. The only limit to cost-cutting is your own imagination.
Thursday, March 1, 2018
Slogans
What is the meaning behind a slogan? What is the implied promise to the consumer? How much thought was put into it?
You can always tell when a slogan is created without a lot of thought put into it. They are shallow words without much meaning. The sole purpose is to catch your attention. But some slogans are much better than that.
What are some of your favorites? I have several.
One of my tops is "The relentless pursuit of perfection." What a lofty goal! But that company delivers more often than not. It conjures feelings of excellence and pride in production.
"Just do it!" is another exciting one. The time for action! Planning and calculating are boring, at some point you have to go for it. This slogan captures the excitement of that moment and it fits the product.
"Don't bonk!" You might be surprised that I think that was a great slogan? It was simple, rememberable, and meaningful. Unfortunately, it wasn't presented accurately and that led to its demise.
"Just win, baby!" Another shockingly simple slogan. Simple, pointed, and short, but it still says a lot. It's an unapologetic statement of a single minded goal.
"Affordable excellence." What a great slogan? It hits the peak of the market share no matter what you are selling. It implies that you get a lot for your money and that is always a popular concept.
Unfortunately, all of those slogans were taken when I started working on my own ideas. I wanted something short, simple, and meaningful with a promise that I could deliver - usually.
"Smaller bales, bigger value" was the result. It's simple and appeals to the middle of the market. And it possesses meaning with an implied promise.
What does "bigger value" mean? It is something a little more for your money. It's a simple claim to make, but it is complex to deliver on. How do I begin to deliver on that promise?
Measuring and marketing to start with. I go to great efforts to objectify what is produced. The determination of the level of quality takes scientific testing, as well as sensory scoring of sight, smell, texture, and performance. All of those things can be scaled objectively so you can compare the market.
Comparing the market is somewhat difficult. I like to check multiple sources the same as my customers do. What is the USDA report? What is the market in the neighboring State? What is the forecasted demand? How are dairy prices? Beef? Sheeps and goats? What is the demand at the horse stables? What prices are advertised on classifieds and especially Craig's list?
It's always a difficult analysis. You don't really know what quality is actually being advertise without going to see for yourself. I make a significant effort to gather as much data as possible before I "Just do it!" and decide upon an initial pricing.
After I have a pretty good understanding of my quality and what the market is selling it for, I price. I price lower. In short, I sell the same quality of hay at a lower price. That is "Bigger Value".
You can always tell when a slogan is created without a lot of thought put into it. They are shallow words without much meaning. The sole purpose is to catch your attention. But some slogans are much better than that.
What are some of your favorites? I have several.
One of my tops is "The relentless pursuit of perfection." What a lofty goal! But that company delivers more often than not. It conjures feelings of excellence and pride in production.
"Just do it!" is another exciting one. The time for action! Planning and calculating are boring, at some point you have to go for it. This slogan captures the excitement of that moment and it fits the product.
"Don't bonk!" You might be surprised that I think that was a great slogan? It was simple, rememberable, and meaningful. Unfortunately, it wasn't presented accurately and that led to its demise.
"Just win, baby!" Another shockingly simple slogan. Simple, pointed, and short, but it still says a lot. It's an unapologetic statement of a single minded goal.
"Affordable excellence." What a great slogan? It hits the peak of the market share no matter what you are selling. It implies that you get a lot for your money and that is always a popular concept.
Unfortunately, all of those slogans were taken when I started working on my own ideas. I wanted something short, simple, and meaningful with a promise that I could deliver - usually.
"Smaller bales, bigger value" was the result. It's simple and appeals to the middle of the market. And it possesses meaning with an implied promise.
What does "bigger value" mean? It is something a little more for your money. It's a simple claim to make, but it is complex to deliver on. How do I begin to deliver on that promise?
Measuring and marketing to start with. I go to great efforts to objectify what is produced. The determination of the level of quality takes scientific testing, as well as sensory scoring of sight, smell, texture, and performance. All of those things can be scaled objectively so you can compare the market.
Comparing the market is somewhat difficult. I like to check multiple sources the same as my customers do. What is the USDA report? What is the market in the neighboring State? What is the forecasted demand? How are dairy prices? Beef? Sheeps and goats? What is the demand at the horse stables? What prices are advertised on classifieds and especially Craig's list?
It's always a difficult analysis. You don't really know what quality is actually being advertise without going to see for yourself. I make a significant effort to gather as much data as possible before I "Just do it!" and decide upon an initial pricing.
After I have a pretty good understanding of my quality and what the market is selling it for, I price. I price lower. In short, I sell the same quality of hay at a lower price. That is "Bigger Value".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)