Evaluate
Recently finished Lee Child's first Jack Reacher book, Killing Floor, and was struck by this excellent bit of management advice:
“Evaluate. Long experience had taught me to evaluate and assess. When the unexpected gets dumped on you, don’t waste time. Don’t figure out how or why it happened. Don’t recriminate. Don’t figure out whose fault it is. Don’t work out how to avoid the same mistake next time. All of that you do later. If you survive. First of all you evaluate. Analyze the situation. Identify the downside. Assess the upside. Plan accordingly. Do all that and you give yourself a better chance of getting through to the other stuff later.”
15 of my Favorite Quotes from A Storm of Swords
I just finished A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin. Man so much happens in the third book. Here are 15 of the most notable quotes from my reading.
I just finished A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin. Much and more happens in the third book. Here are 15 of the most notable quotes from my reading.
If you've read the book, or any in the series, what are some of your favorite lines?
Everybody Onboard
He wanted to see the offer, so he asked to hold my phone. I wanted the $2 off, so I let him. He wanted to check with his manager, so he started to walk off with my phone. I really like my phone, so I asked for it back.
One of the biggest challenges of any multiple-location retailer is consistent execution. How do you make sure every associate at every location on every shift is up to speed on every initiative. Last night, I took my kids to Barnes & Noble. When I checked in on Foursquare, I was excited to see a special actually in the store (not nearby), AND it was just for checking in (not for being mayor), AND it was for an item my son was buying. Score!
Now, for the bad news. I showed the offer to the associate working in the music section. He wanted to see the offer, so he asked to hold my phone. I wanted the $2 off, so I let him. He wanted to check with his manager, so he started to walk off with my phone. I really like my phone, so I asked for it back.
When the manager arrived, she also asked to read the offer, and she also did not know anything about it. She and I walked the entire music section looking for the Foursquare display. No joy. Finally, I suggested, "Why don't we just try the discount code and see if it works." They tried it, and it worked. Joy.
WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS
How do you make sure every possible person in your execution chain can deliver as promised? Leave your ideas in the comments below.