Unreasonable by Design

Man on Wire: Designing the Artistic Crime of the Century.

2011-02-08T19:31:00.000-08:00

I believe it was my fear of heights that actually drew me into watching Man on Wire. Immediately, I was absorbed in how this man mustered the guts and means to cross the Twin Towers some 1,350 feet above the sidewalks of Manhattan. The film chronicles French High Wire artist Philippe Petit’s journey leading up to his famous high wire walk on August 7^th 1974.

Considered the “artistic crime of the century,” he was up against numerous obstacles, including limited technological tools, language barriers, security, logistics of heavy equipment, and most notably, affixing the cables. What he and his team achieved was outright astonishing. Beside the tremendous amount of practice, it struck me the amount of artistic vision and design thinking that went into it, especially research, ideation, and prototyping. After an arduous six years of planning and research, the 24-year-old Petit made eight total crossings, lasting about 45 minutes.

Here are a few lessons I took away from the movie:

Vision – A vision gives wings to an idea.

In 1968 Philippe Petit saw the conceptual model of the plans for the Twin Towers in a newspaper he thought to his self “This is it. At one point in my life, I'm going to transform the negative space between those two monoliths into the most magnificent theater." …he drew a line between the architects model of the towers and placed in a red box he labeled projects. Documenting the vision fueled the creative energy of the project until the final minutes on the wire.

Observation- Discover important details by careful observation.

Philippe observed all aspects of the building including the roof, night watch security, occupants, and construction personnel. Scores of notes, drawings, and photographs were gathered on the six years of his planning.

Modeling- Physical models allow exploration and development of ideas.

Models help conceptualize the finish product. Using his own observations and photographs, Philippe created scale models of the building assisting him in the design of the rigging needed to prepare for the wire walk. He also created a replica of the rigging configuration in a field including simulation of instability and wind conditions.

Practice- Build confidence with practice

Philippe first practiced endlessly on a home-made rig before tackling significant feats like the pylons of the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the towers of Notre Dame.

Persistence- A spirit of Persistence and Resilience

As young man, he was rejected by the circus and other artistic venues. Desperately wanting to be a wire-walker he decided to do it on his own and started to appear in different places- usually without permission. Philippe failed the first time he attempted the Towers. He actually had to come back and try again. Petite sums it with his resolute mind-set “It's impossible, that's for sure. So let's start working."

Personal Learning- Passion for multi-faceted discovery and learning.

Although he was not a perfect student, (expelled from five schools), his desire to learn and discover was autonomous. Falling in love with magic and juggling at an early age, his interest grew into horseback riding, fencing, pantomime, carpentry, and rock-climbing. Over the years, his interests extended into include drawing, languages, writing, poetry, filmmaking, architecture, and engineering. Philippe collectively drew upon this multifaceted knowledge in planning and completing of the walk.

Creativity- Explore many ideas, not just your own

How did they get the 450lb cable over 200 feet across point to point? “… we thought of all kinds of things, stupid things, absurd things, great ideas. And one of the ideas came from my friend who was on the other tower. It was to use a bow and arrow! Not to pull the cable, of course, but to pull a fishing line through the air, but, as you can imagine, pulling a heavier and heavier rope until at last there was a very strong rope pulling the heavy steel cable. And that's what we did.” Faced with complex problems it is important to tap into the collective wisdom of your team.

Teamwork- Sometimes it’s a perfectly inconsistent, artistic mess.

Although Petit was the actual performer of this amazing feat, without his team it would not have happened. Ironically, his team members and interactions were far from a finely tuned machine. Resembling a rather ragtag circus themselves, members came and went. From his childhood best friend, girlfriend, and few out of work musicians, each contributed.

Network – Get out there, you may literally bump into someone who can help you.

Barry Greenhouse, worked on the 82^nd floor of the south tower as assistant director of research for the New York State Insurance Department. He had seen Philippe juggling in streets of Paris the prior years. A couple of years later they ran into each other. As they talked, Philippe swayed Barry to become the inside man. So get out there and show your talents, you may find someone on the inside to help your cause.

Mindfulness/Focus- Get your Flow

Petit explains an almost Zen-like mindful experience focusing on the sensation of his entire being. Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Director, Quality of Life Research Center (QLRC) at Claremont Graduate University, and author of Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience describes Flow as a mental state of operation in which a person in an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity. Petite describes his experience: “What I am thinking about is, I am not thinking. I am tremendously focused. I have reduced the universe to the state of non-existence. Only me and the wire. Except, my concentration carries no horse blinders. I have to feel, see, taste, hear, touch, and smell everything to the utmost, so I can catch any sign of threat before any threat appears.”

Have Fun-It’s not all serious

I’m struck on one particular picture as he is smiling so powerfully. As soon as Phillip stepped out above 1000 feet above the streets of New York everything came together for him. All the practice and vision culminated into the moment. He felt at home on the wire. He reclined on the wire and even taunted the police. “It was a vision that filled my heart with joy and a certain power.”

Limitations and Risk - Know when to stop

There are times when even ahigh wire artist has to call it quits. Know your limitations and risks. As the rain started to fall, Philippe knew it was time to finalize his journey.

Almost in every monumental achievement there is an ever-present chaotic nature. Elements of striving for perfection mixed with unanticipated events violently flux whittling away at our spirit and vision. Like Philippe, to meet our grand challenges we need to bring together all of our human capacities to imagine, explore, and create. However, the most important capacity is to share the joy of our art and accomplishments. Inspire others to achieve more. Go walk your wire!

Let the Animal Out!

2010-11-09T02:38:00.000-08:00

I have to give my late Father a lot of credit for sharing his love of music with my sister, my brother and I. My Father was a guitar pluckin’, bass thumpin’, steele slidin’ , and accordion squeezin’ musician. Although my father was a pastor and he loved the pulpit, I believe he loved playing music at church that much more. For two years, he enrolled us in piano lessons. He said he wanted to introduce us to music and then it was up to us to continue! I really appreciate what he did and

what I learned I’ve taken with me,although I barely play chords or scales anymore. During that two years, I’d practice my exercises, sharpen my

technique, learn the cadence…but my heart was just not into it. I thought I had to be perfect. The quest for perfection drove me crazy! On the other hand, my brother, with his wild free spirit, always embellished and improvised his pieces. Forget about technique, his heart was totally in it. And guess who went on to play in a Grammy nominated band…yes my brother. To this day he plays continually, in church, in bars, and in coffee shops. And me, I’m playing with this keyboard on

my laptop. My chosen path is not inferior, but if I’ve learned anything, it would be to let go to my creative spirit instead of totally focusing on technique. Whether you are in music, art, education, or business, look for passion, forget about perfection. Passion is first, technique always second. Let the animal out!

Shock Theater- The rise of the "Thinking" Monsters

2010-10-30T06:47:00.000-07:00

In my younger years I just loved watching vintage horror movies on our non-cable local channel. The show I believe was called “Shock Theater”. All the great “B” movies of the 40-50s were shown, from the “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” to the “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein”. One of my favorite was the one with Lon Chaney and Bela Lugosi fighting it out as the Wolf Man and Dracula! Having all the monsters appear on the same screen just made me excited! Takes me to today, I see a lot of potential monsters fighting in the business environment over their intellectual turfs. Whether it be lean thinking, design thinking, or systems thinking, to advocate a method until it becomes an end in itself is sure to implode the efforts. Instead of clinging to one tool or approach and fighting against those with contrarian views, use the best method for the challenge at hand. Work with a number of ideas to build something better….at least Dr. Frankenstein tried. Happy Halloween! :-)

How to Develop a Robust and Efficient Design.

2010-10-04T05:36:00.000-07:00

By Paul Kumler

The old adage “there are hundreds of ways to skin a cat” is true in almost any work that involves innovation and creativity. Good design engineering, always creative, is a blend of science and art that yields a product that improves life, satisfies a specific need, or resolves a problem. Creativity in design is a collaborative effort. When a team works together to define a product, the end result is always greater that the individual contribution of those involved. It is extremely difficult for one person to consider or see all the possibilities.

An efficient and robust design will be achieved when all the stake holders come together to discuss the requirements and strategize the outcome. For mechanical design, the input of the machinist that will manufacture the part, the buyer who sources the material, the inspector who validates the quality, and the analyst who insures the strength are equally relevant and necessary input for an optimized design. Larger companies employ teams of knowledgeable representatives to provide this input. In my experience, these teams are often referred to as “Integrated Product Teams” (IPTs). But can this work for a small business?

In short, absolutely! Small businesses and concerns can take advantage of the same teaming power by working closely with partnering companies. KTM Solutions, the engineering company I manage works with the buyers, suppliers, our customers internal resources, and (when appropriate) our customers’ customer throughout all phases of the product life cycle. From design, to manufacturing, support, and retirement; we strive to include everyone in the process. By establishing clear decision processes, early stakeholder involvement, and open/free dialogue; a design can be developed that is robust, efficient for manufacturing, and satisfies all requirements.

Paul is the President of KTM Solutions, a design engineering firm helping aerospace, automotive, and machine design companies. Paul has over 25 years experience leading structural design and analysis, systems integration, manufacturing support, and airplane service and modification engineering. Paul can be reached at http://www.ktmsolutions.com

How My Values Changed from Consumerism

2010-09-06T10:38:00.000-07:00

Unaware of how I was being influenced to be a consumer; my creative transformation began in 2005. Nurtured and educated in the South Eastern United States, entrenched in a culture of non-questioning, socio-religious-political blind acceptance of the "system”, I begin to internalize a bigger picture. Fueled by meditation, soul searching, and a bit of Zen thinking, I reframed my values from abundance, achievement, and control to simplicity, stewardship, and creativity. The visit outside the US to Portugal was an apex to my understanding of the influence of consumerism. The small amount advertisements and billboards there compared to the ones in my home town became dreadfully apparent. After observing this excess following my visit, I was immediately enlightened on the priorities of abundance we have heavily invested. My personal revelation is not to say that Portugal, US or any other region in the world has a superior socio-economic or political philosophy, but to state that understanding of simple truths can have an impact on every living thing on this planet. Half a decade has passed since my "conversion" of thought. I continue to delve into art, creativity and problem solving to share my understanding and help solve issues in my small sphere of influence. What's your story?

What Max has taught me about Empathy

2010-08-17T19:23:00.000-07:00

Strolls in the park, rolling in lawn, and the happy barks and kisses welcoming us home, those are the things we miss most about Max. Max, our once vibrant, nine year old Schnauzer was recently diagnosed with Cushing's disease causing blindness and weakened muscles. Care for Max has been attentive since a distressing bump into into a wall. Since the disease causes increase in water consumption and urination, my wife and I take turns carrying him out in the early hours of the morning. Lifting and carrying our Max can be at times tiring. However, this is where he has changed my perspective. While I waited on him to listlessly stir about at 4:00am, I imagined the confusion he must experience guided only by his smell and touch. A gentle message of patience and respect emerged while caring for our loyal friend.

How much more should we be guided by empathy in our lives and business? Workers are burdened with change and chaos with only limited senses to roam about in this shifting economy. As they struggle to make sense of things they are getting bumped and bruised. This is especially true of dislocated industrial workers taught to be loyal and compliant. Many workers, given their blind loyalty, had their once prized skills and abilities quickly invalidated by economic, technological, and strategic disruptions. Although each of us shares responsibility to adapt, a little empathy and guidance will go a long way in getting us all in the right direction.

Max is a trooper. He still wags his tail at the sound of our voices, using his sniffer more to compensate for what is missing. He just needs a little support and loving care.

Toyota, Tiger Woods and the IPCC: An Anatomy of Trust Capital

2010-02-18T17:30:00.000-08:00

Trust: assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.

Three of the most respected entities in the world have suffered a crushing blow to their reputation. Toyota, one of the most respected automobile manufacturers in the world, has been hit with recalls. Tiger Woods, a premier and ground breaking golfer, is professionally wrecked by personal scandal. And the IPCC, an organization which serves as the scientific authority for climate change, admits to an egregious prediction error. Whether you agree or disagree with each of their philosophies or lifestyles, what is evident in each situation is their troubles have seriously undermined what they are trying to achieve. Customers stop buying Toyotas, sponsors stop endorsing Tiger, and the Climate Change movement suffers a setback in making their case.

Why were these public players impacted so acutely?

It’s about TRUST…trust is what keeps relationships and community connected. Without trust words and actions are meaningless. Trust takes a long time to gain and it is quickly dissipated. Much energy is needed to regain it. Trust is made up of three dynamic components, Principles, Quality and Transparency. Each of these components equals what I believe is “Trust Capital”

Principles +/-quality X transparency = Trust Capital

Principles are the foundation for building trust. They are the explicit or implicit rules of conduct that the individual or organization espouses. The more closely the community relates to those principals or ideals, the easier it is to believe the organization or individual.

If principles are lofty such as organizations as Toyota and IPCC, and individuals such as Tiger Woods, the level of quality in the meeting those ideals is critical. With a higher level of corresponding quality, there is a higher level of trust. Negative variances from those principles, whether perceived or actual, contribute to a lower level of trust.

As with any organization or individual, failure is inevitable; the more transparent and how quickly the failure is communicated either aggravates or mitigates the variances. A taciturn persona in dealing with crisis clouds the good things they are trying to achieve.

How can you learn from this? It is essential that leadership reflect on these three areas:

(1) What are your Principles or Mission Vision and Values? Are they implicit or explicit? Can you achieve?

(2) Are you truly living Your Principles/MVVs?

(3) How transparent are you, especially with failure? How quickly and effectively communicate failure?

http://www2.toyota.co.jp/en/vision/philosophy/

http://www.ipcc.ch/organization/organization.htm

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3331650&categoryid=null

5 Steps to Designing a Personal Learning Environment

2010-01-24T06:29:00.000-08:00

As we continue to shift to a knowledge economy, it’s becoming imperative to process information efficiently and effectively. Over the years I have found that one of my major weaknesses is sorting through an ever increasing availability of information. My varied interests, consulting responsibilities, and a case of ADD, makes the job that much more difficult. I’ve found my scattered and inconsistent approach a cause of increasing frustration. Social Media, blogs, and other informal interaction can seriously tax the synapses. So what’s the answer? I’ve decided to design my own personal learning environment (PLE) to assist in putting structure to my chaotic approach. My definition for a PLE is simply a way to manage my informal learning process, whether through software or other means. Expectantly, this structure will provide a catalyst for future creativity and innovation.

Although a continual work in progress, I’ve shared my process below. For academic discussion I’ve provided a link to few other definitions, courtesy of the edutech wiki-http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/Personal_learning_environment

(1) Understand your roles and responsibilities – plan what you need to know personally, career, and beyond. Set goals! Understand that your roles and responsibilities can change, keep in mind your future; watch for emerging trends in your fields of interest.

(2) Brainstorm and document your resources. Collect and prioritize those resources.

(3) Map out your system. Review how you collect information, process it, and use it. I’ve provided an example Mindmap I’ve created using Mindjet’s Mindmanager.

(4) Schedule informal learning time for collecting and processing information- Where and how you collect and process information will change based on your needs; however, be mindful of your approach.

(5) Continually evaluate approach. Set time aside to improve. Add, subtract, and synthesize.

Civility in Work and Life: 25 Rules

2009-09-16T02:10:00.001-07:00

In the last few days the media has shared a barrage of discourteous behaviors ranging from politicians, musicians, to sports figures. These high profile examples remind us of the need to practice civility in our daily life no matter how passionate we are about our causes. Hurting another human being is the primary outcome of the lack of civility. Moreover, look at the personal and community consequences of bad behavior… countless unproductive hours trying to repair public image, economic boycotts, losing game, penalties, loss of fans… and most of all respect. Whether online or in person, business or personal life, no matter what subject civility wins in the end; otherwise karma is a…

P.M. Forni's provides 25 Rules and examples from his book Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct:

1. Pay attention

2. Acknowledge others

3. Think the best

4. Listen

5. Be inclusive

6. Speak kindly

7. Don't speak ill

8. Accept and give praise

9. Respect even a subtle "no"

10. Respect others' opinions

11. Mind your body

12. Be agreeable

13. Keep it down (and rediscover silence)

14. Respect other people's time

15. Respect other people's space

16. Apologize earnestly

17. Assert yourself

18. Avoid personal questions

19. Care for your guests

20. Be a considerate guest

21. Think twice before asking for favors

22. Refrain from idle complaints

23. Accept and give constructive criticism

24. Respect the environment and be gentle

25. Don't shift responsibility and blame

Take a step forward with a step back

2009-07-26T14:03:00.000-07:00

After the bustling Chicago trip a few weeks back I decided to take a short Sunday drive through the countryside to show my girlfriend an area I lived. In a small nook upstate South Carolina the Gilreath Mill stands peacefully beside a stream reminding the passerby of the times of yore. I look at what was a vibrant source of economic and social significance relegated to a footnote in the technological progress of rural industry. Or has it…with a cultural move toward sustainability, it’s ironic that such an antiquated method suddenly appears workable. Reverse Innovation?

As so called “progress” of efficiency and scale took precedent, the small mills disappeared. During the late nineteenth century the centralization of grain-producing areas in the West, railroad construction, steam power, industrial “progress” ultimately drove the small local mills out of business. A cultural paradigm of fighting and conquering of nature permeated the industrial revolution, innovation after innovation has followed the path of mass produced products, centralized manufacturing, BIG COMPANIES, mass media, mass marketing…Globalization. Now I’m seeing a trickle of an opposing shift.

An example of this shift is the craft beer industry. Chris O’Brien declares in Fermenting Revolution: How to Drink Beer and Save the World, American craft brewers are at the forefront this shift. These small brewers are bringing it back home in their use of sustainable business practices including green energy, local sourcing, organic processes, and community involvement. See article on emergence of craft brewers Wend Magazine.

The undoing of industrial revolution and its information based equivalent is not a dystopian nightmare but a re-thinking of the purpose of progress. Maybe just maybe we will see these wheels a turning again.

Old and New

2009-07-03T20:55:00.000-07:00

On a recent visit to Chicago, a friend took us on a riverboat architecture tour. The short outing was a fascinating dive into new versus old. From the art deco style of the Wrigley and Merchandise Mart Buildings to the recently completed post modern Trump Tower. I muse how we have progressed in project management, methods, and materials. We have improved communication with technology. The materials are stronger and take less space. Spaces have less of an environmental footprint. Agreed, it is difficult to construct the same massive structures today and remain socially responsible and sustainable…in any case, they are a wonder to behold.

I visually juxtapose the clinically defined style of the new structures and the ornate unyielding structures of the past; absolutely striking. Is one style better than the other; of course aesthetically and philosophically depends on the beholder. Regardless, Chicago is interspersed with varying style that contributes so much to the richness and character of the city.

In reflection, as we build our business, some of the tools and approaches before us are new and old. One key is taking the new and assimilate with the old to create something innovative. When building a business management system the decision to merely discard a method due to its antiquity may be flawed. A great example of using old concepts effectively in their original form is Training Within Industry. TWI was originally used in the forties…now there is an emergence due to its successful application within the Toyota manufacturing philosophy. Take a concept, method, or idea and reinvent it. Use concepts such as SCAMPER to generate ideas. Even talent needs to be considered. We have Boomers, Millennials, and X’s all giving their uniquely creative perspective to an organization. Use each generation to create a richly innovative culture! Explore old and new!

Continuous Improvement: A Philosophy

2009-05-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

What is continuous improvement and why should I bother. As we are pummeled with recurrent negative feeds from the media, those who are wise are not dwelling on these negative predictions but are preparing for opportunities. Whether you are a student, employee, business owner, or non-profit leader improving, learning, and growing is essential in sustaining success in every arena of life. As with any worthy endeavor, as we reach for our vision, obstacles naturally emerge in this quest. A fundamental quality of successful individuals and companies is their ability to understand and embrace these challenges, learn from them, and identify opportunities that materialize out of them. When we are caught in the trenches, such as in our current environment, it is difficult to alter the patterns of behavior and approaches as we are trying to solve these problems. This is evident in the financial struggles of automotive and healthcare as they are attempting to improve their situation with the same mental models they have used for years. In the words of Peter Senge “Mental models are deeply held internal images of how the world works, images that limit us to familiar ways of thinking and acting. Very often, we are not consciously aware of our mental models or the effects they have on our behavior”* I have personally observed many approaches, some successful and some were not. I am confident to say there is no one size fits all approach. Some companies hear about a new approach or buzzword and they hastily adopt without first understanding the consequences. They subsequently get frustrated when it doesn’t go as planned.

So what is continuous improvement and why should I bother. Continuous Improvement is not about buzz words, six sigma, lean, kaizen, or any other management trend of the day; it’s about exploring, learning, growth, reflection, and change. Without these fundamentals, systems and approaches will ultimately fail. How many stories have we heard from our friends, families, and colleagues about individuals and companies who refused to grow and learn? Coming from the former textile saturated south, this message resonates powerfully with my family and me. If you doubt that, ask the former executives and managers of this industry, or recently the Big Three. From the well spoken words from the father of quality movement W. Edward Deming, "It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory."

In my future blogs additions I would like to open dialogue on the different approaches to continuous improvement and where it is going in the future.

*Peter M. Senge, The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning

Organization, Doubleday Currency, 1990, p. 8.

Six Sigma and Lean

2009-01-20T10:49:00.000-08:00

With my bones feeling the entry of a new era...the inaguration of Obama, the beginning of my business blog...I'm sitting here in a local coffee shop pondering life and its connections. Working on a training presentation for six sigma and lean wondering where all this is going. I've seen so many processes and programs outlive their life cycle just waiting for the next big thing...what can we learn from the past, the future. Reflections...