Monday, February 26, 2007
G A P M I N D E R
G A P M I N D E R is hands-down the coolest and easiest to use free global data visualization tool I have ever seen. Incredible.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Reflections on Compassion: Locusts, Blood, and Oil
See the full article here: SIM Magazine
I found this note especially helpful:
"To aid in clear thinking, we need to distinguish between the entrepreneurial poor and the poorest of the poor.
"The entrepreneurial poor are those who can be given the proverbial fishnet and taught to fish. Ministries such as vocational training, literacy, or income generation provide tools and knowledge that help free the entrepreneurial poor from cycles of poverty. Restoring dignity for them is visible, sustainable, and often measurable.
"On the other hand, the poorest of the poor—famine victims, the ill, orphans, etc.—simply and urgently need “fish.” In these cases, compassion is no less a partnership in dignity restoration. Sometimes the most profound and dignifying act of a human in pain is simply to accept—an enormous statement of hope."
I found this note especially helpful:
"To aid in clear thinking, we need to distinguish between the entrepreneurial poor and the poorest of the poor.
"The entrepreneurial poor are those who can be given the proverbial fishnet and taught to fish. Ministries such as vocational training, literacy, or income generation provide tools and knowledge that help free the entrepreneurial poor from cycles of poverty. Restoring dignity for them is visible, sustainable, and often measurable.
"On the other hand, the poorest of the poor—famine victims, the ill, orphans, etc.—simply and urgently need “fish.” In these cases, compassion is no less a partnership in dignity restoration. Sometimes the most profound and dignifying act of a human in pain is simply to accept—an enormous statement of hope."
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
From Shepherds Abiding
Shepherds Abiding, by Jan Karon
Another sweet collage from a truth & grace-infused world.
--
He who has begun is half done.
- Horace
The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
- Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
Another sweet collage from a truth & grace-infused world.
--
He who has begun is half done.
- Horace
The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
- Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Joe the Mechanic sez:
On Friday morning, my car guy dropped this pearl of wisdom on me:
That thought sure corresponds closely to my experience: as an observer, as a doer, and, of course, as an excuse maker.
People do what they want to do.
They make excuses for what they don't want to do.
That thought sure corresponds closely to my experience: as an observer, as a doer, and, of course, as an excuse maker.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Where are your quality indicators?
I have a friend who manages a Toyota plant in this country. He came up by way of one of the American Big Three car companies. Shortly after he took the job with Toyota, I asked him, "Gary, what's the difference here?"
And he answered, "It's simple. They only ask me two basic questions: 'Where are your quality indicators?' and 'What is your strategy for getting better?' They believe if we answer those questions, other measures will take care of themselves."
...
The real danger is that, as in Vietnam, when things get complicated and hard to get hold of, the overwhelming tendency is to find a quantitative shortcut and try to drive it as fast and as hard as you can.
And the thing to keep in mind through all this is that all the numbers around body counts and kill ratios were absolutely in our favor until the last helicopter out of Saigon.
from Restructuring our Schools, by W. Patrick Dolan, page 38-9
And he answered, "It's simple. They only ask me two basic questions: 'Where are your quality indicators?' and 'What is your strategy for getting better?' They believe if we answer those questions, other measures will take care of themselves."
...
The real danger is that, as in Vietnam, when things get complicated and hard to get hold of, the overwhelming tendency is to find a quantitative shortcut and try to drive it as fast and as hard as you can.
And the thing to keep in mind through all this is that all the numbers around body counts and kill ratios were absolutely in our favor until the last helicopter out of Saigon.
from Restructuring our Schools, by W. Patrick Dolan, page 38-9
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Dysfunction
"Somewhere along the line, society, schools, and businesses have caused people to feel more responsible for explaining their results than for achieving them. Many people seem to think that an adequate explaination can excuse a poor result."
From Radical Change, Radical Results, by Kate Ludeman & Eddie Erlandson
From Radical Change, Radical Results, by Kate Ludeman & Eddie Erlandson
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Saturday, August 19, 2006
The ministry of challenge
From "Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni:
"... if team members are not making one another uncomfortable at times, if they're never pushing one another outside of their emotional comfort zones during discussions, then it is extremely likely that they're not making the best decisions for the organization."
"... if team members are not making one another uncomfortable at times, if they're never pushing one another outside of their emotional comfort zones during discussions, then it is extremely likely that they're not making the best decisions for the organization."
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Saturday, July 29, 2006
A reality-based presidential candidate
I really like this idea:
Molly Ivins in the Chicago Tribune (now only for cash) try here instead.
No, I didn't say it strong enough: I love this idea.
Molly Ivins in the Chicago Tribune (now only for cash) try here instead.
No, I didn't say it strong enough: I love this idea.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Monday, July 17, 2006
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