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My dad is very proud of his 1931 Model A. He should be. It is beautiful, original, and has more accessories bolted to it than a truck stop Christmas tree. He also added a high-compression engine and a high-speed rear end. According to him, that little Ford can easily do 65 mph. I believe him. I believe it can do 65. I just prefer my near-death experiences to come with seatbelts and disc brakes. Here’s the problem. The engine might be ready for 65, but the rest of the car is s

Warren Buffett sits on my Board of Directors. He doesn't know it. Neither do Charlie Munger, Deming, Drucker, Lincoln, or a handful of other people whose judgment I admire. A few months ago, I realized AI could do more than answer questions. It could help me make better decisions. So I built a Board of Directors with some people I admire. Today, when I'm facing a tough business problem, I ask AI to analyze it from different perspectives. What would Buffett think about the ri

In the relentless battle against margin erosion and schedule slippage, operational leaders need more than just theory. They need actionable, data-driven strategies that cut waste, boost productivity, and deliver measurable financial results. Lean management practices are not just buzzwords; they are the backbone of operational excellence in asset-heavy industries like utilities, field services, and logistics. I’ve seen firsthand how these principles transform struggling opera

I once lost one of my best employees, and it was my fault. She was excellent in her role. A true SME. The kind of person who knew the process, the shortcuts, the landmines, and where the bodies were buried. But she loved government compliance. I know. I was stunned too. To me, government compliance felt like watching beige paint dry inside a filing cabinet. To her, it was fascinating. She understood it, cared about it, and actually got energy from the details most people avoi

When Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha became an overnight sensation, millions of people suddenly discovered his talent. The funny thing is, Vozinha didn't become better that day. The world simply noticed. I've spent most of my career looking for the organizational equivalent of the misplaced kid on the school bus. You know the one. The kid sitting quietly in the back who should be leading the science club. The future athlete buried in the band section. The natural leader who has

In today’s competitive landscape, operational inefficiencies are the silent killers of profit margins and schedule reliability. As someone deeply entrenched in the trenches of operations management, I’ve seen firsthand how even small leaks in process can cascade into significant financial losses and missed deadlines. The solution? Lean operational principles. These are not just buzzwords or academic theories—they are practical, battle-tested strategies designed to tighten you