February 24, 2020

6 simple ways ‘CRAP’ can be cut from your organization

Source: Pexels

6 simple ways ‘CRAP’ can be cut from your organization.

The world is a noisy and cluttered place to live; so many choices and so many people exercising them.

Resources available are scarce and limited but demand continues to grow.

How can organizations — and governments for that matter — achieve their growth objectives with limits on the available time and money necessary to achieve them? And in some cases, not just holding the line on resources but reducing their availability?

Obviously productivity gains will offset the need to add some resources.
If the organization can realize a 10% increase in productivity, and growth requires a 5% increase in operations expenses, growth goals can be more than achieved assuming the targeted productivity savings are realized and are allocated to growth projects — spending productivity gains elsewhere is a waste and results in added costs being necessary.

But there are limits on how much should be mined out of expenses from productivity to fund growth.

Doing things more efficiently has its limits and it’s trade offs

Changing operational processes to drive cost out can impact customer service.
Costs of a re-engineered process might decrease but customers could be dissatisfied with the resulting way they have to engage with the organization — it’s less customer friendly.

And they express their dissatisfaction by buying less or by moving to another supplier.

Outsourcing call centers to remote regions of the world, for example, may reduce costs but could also reduce customer loyalty due to the new experience that customers have to endure.

And of course when productivity benefits are calculated, the opportunity costs associated with impaired service and lost revenue are rarely part of the analysis.

In my experience, the bigger play is not to focus on how to do things right — seek more efficiency — but rather to do the right things — be more effective.

Effectiveness is achieved when the right set of new programs is selected and is flawlessly executed to achieve the long term strategic intent of the organization.

Effectiveness is not just deciding on the new things you need to do

A huge part of effectiveness is not what additional to take on, but what you decide to give up — the current activities in motion you decide to stop.

It’s forced obsolescence — productivity applied on a macro scale (large projects or blocks of activity) as opposed to eliminating smaller pieces of the operations (a call center or product fulfillment process).

Forced obsolescence — cut the CRAP — is consciously eliminating yesterday’s relevance for tomorrow’s necessity.

Examples of forced obsolescence initiatives could include marketing programs established in the past to enhance a product line that are no longer in the crosshairs of the strategy. Or a planned HR system built to support acquiring skills and competencies that are no longer considered essential.

This is my step-by-step process to force obsolescence out.

1. Assign a senior champion

Appoint a respected and trusted senior person with a high tolerance for ‘pain’ and whose compensation is based on how much savings is actually realized by the cut the crap activity.

Avoid the mistake that most organizations make by assigning a mid level manager to the task. This communicates that forcing obsolescence out isn’t really all that important and like many other corporate programs, “it too shall pass”.

2. Take inventory

Inventory all current initiatives in the organization. It’s important that the list be complete in order to capture all of the activity consuming resources. I suggest that you set an annual expense threshold — say, $100K — and identify only activity that exceeds this amount.

The point is to isolate activity that consumes a material amount of resources and a threshold criteria is a meaningful way of doing it.

>3. Create a ‘keep’ list

Create a list of those initiatives that should remain because they all directly support the organization’s strategy.
Make keep list short, as there is a tendency to try and justify everything that is currently going on as vital to the future of the company.

This, of course, is hogwash and is merely an attempt for people to protect their position in the organization. If you end up with 100 major initiatives on the list, walk away. You are wasting your time.

4. Create a ‘cut’ list

Create a list of yesterday’s work that is no longer needed because it is not relevant to the strategy the organization has chosen.
Make the cut list long; make it tough to keep doing activities of yesterday.

As a guideline, you should have at least 3 cut activities for every keep activity; on a threshold of $100K that means you are cutting $300K in expenses for every $100K you keep — a 3:1 payback; not a bad place to start.

5. Finalize keep and cut lists

With both lists in hand, the senior leader must present and get input on both lists throughout the organization to get as much buy-in as possible.

Forced obsolescence will never get 100% support so don’t bother fretting over it. This is a challenging step as no one wants to give up what they’re doing. They have too much emotional equity in what they’re busy with.

So debate and listen then make the call on what needs to stay and what needs to go.

6. Prepare the CRAP execution plan

Develop a 6 month action plan to execute the cut list initiatives. Include firming up the annual savings and the organizational units that will realize them.

THE key step — close the loop by reducing their operating expense budgets and place savings in a special account that can be used to fund new initiatives.

This fund should be available to anyone responsible for introducing a new strategic program that is a priority.

And beware of those who possess the CRAP.

These ‘custodians of the past’ are people who are comfortable handling past activities; they enjoy them and they don’t want to change.

They are managers of irrelevance and are critical to the CRAP elimination process. If they are permitted to continue to do their thing they will infect others in your organization and prevent them from taking on the new direction.

Identify these folks and manage them: either reassign them or, if they are unwilling to move to the future, exit them with dignity from your organization.

Cut the CRAP will save the world. If we don’t expunge today’s unproductive and wasteful activity, we won’t have the resources to take on the new initiatives necessary to advance organizations and societies.

Taken to its ultimate conclusion, the obsolete will rob the world of growth and limit our possibilities.

Cheers,
Roy
Check out my BE DiFFERENT or be dead Book Series

• Posted 2.24.20 at 06:33 am by Roy Osing
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February 22, 2020

10 simple business lessons from women leaders in beauty

10 simple business lessons from women leaders in beauty.

The beauty industry isn’t the same anymore.

Marketing in beauty and cosmetics is constantly changing. It went from advertisements typically appearing on traditional media like billboards and newspapers, to now, influencer marketing.

The multi-billion-dollar beauty industry that has been created into what it is today, due to several revolutionary women.

From Elizabeth Arden to Kylie Jenner, the principles established in the past still remain consistent in new beauty companies.

The team at FragranceX has created a list of impactful women in the beauty industry, and from that, here are a few women that changed the game:

Elizabeth Arden

Elizabeth Arden started her business in the early 1900s and believed in the idea that familiarity is key. Her line hosts a wide range of products from anti-aging cream, moisturizing lipstick, and her famous red door perfume.

Her success comes from the idea that repetition and frequency allow people to be familiar with your brand, leading to trustworthiness. It’s the “oh, I’ve heard of that brand!” concept. The more you engrave something into the consumer’s mind, the better.

Kylie Jenner

Kylie Jenner is not only a business owner but a celebrity as well. With the rise of social media and more ways to be vocal, she discusses the scrutiny she has faced. As long as you push through the negative and focus on the people who are supportive, you and your brand will flourish.

The beauty industry is constantly evolving, as well as the marketing tactics that come along with it. It would be impossible to list out every powerful woman in the field, but the image below highlights some revolutionary women that should be noted.

— Leanna Serras is the in-house writer and perfume expert at FragranceX. She has extensive experience writing for a variety of subjects including fragrance, beauty, skincare and wellness. In her free time she enjoys taking on DIY projects and spending time with her pets.

• Posted 2.22.20 at 06:33 am by Roy Osing
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February 20, 2020

Stand Alone Thinking: How To Break Free From Convention

Stand Alone Thinking: How To Break Free From Convention

The world doesn’t need another echo.

It needs a voice that cuts through the static.

Stand-alone thinking isn’t just about being different—it’s about being incredibly special in a way others CARE about.

It’s about dismantling the invisible scripts that dictate how you should live, think, and act.

This isn’t rebellion; it’s revolution.

And it starts in your mind.

Convention is a safety net, but safety is the enemy of growth.

Too many people cling to the familiar, afraid to step into the unknown. But the unknown is where the magic happens.

Stand-alone thinking is about embracing the chaos, the discomfort, the uncertainty.

It’s about realizing that the rules of the game were written by people who are no smarter than you—just louder.

To break free, you must first detach.

Detach from the need for approval, the fear of judgment, the craving for validation.

These are the chains that keep you tethered to mediocrity.

Stand-alone thinking requires you to operate from a place of radical self-trust.

Trust your instincts, your intuition, your vision.

Even when no one else sees it.

Especially when no one else sees it.

But here’s the twist: stand-alone thinking isn’t about isolation.

It’s about alignment.

It’s about finding the rare few “Crazy Ones” who resonate with your frequency and ignoring the rest.

You don’t need a crowd to validate your ideas.

You need a tribe that challenges you, sharpens you, and pushes you to go further.

The world will try to box you in.

It will label you, dismiss you, and try to make you small.

Don’t let it.

Stand-alone thinking is about expanding beyond the limits of what’s “acceptable.”

It’s about creating your own lane, even if it means leaving the highway behind.

So, what’s your move?

Will you stay in the comfort of the crowd, or will you step into the arena of your own making?

The choice is yours.

And remember: the world doesn’t change because people follow the rules. It changes because a few have the intestinal fortitude—GUTS— to rewrite them.

Stand alone.

Think alone.

And when you rise, the world will notice.

Subscribe to my blog for more uncomfortable truths (and less comfortable lies).

Cheers,
Roy
My Podcast Show Audacious Moves to A BILLION shares the specific Moves I made to achieve jaw-dropping growth in an insanely competitive internet business.

”The Audacious Unheard of Ways I Took a Startup to A BILLION IN SALES” is the latest in my BE DiFFERENT or be dead Book Series.

• Posted 2.20.20 at 06:00 am by Roy Osing
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February 17, 2020

Wacky Wednesday: Reasons We Can’t Call Them ‘Suspects’ Now (Their Feelings?)

Wacky Wednesday: Reasons We Can’t Call Them ‘Suspects’ Now (Their Feelings?)

Oh, what a time to be alive! 🎉

The world has gifted us another linguistic masterpiece: swapping the perfectly good word “suspect” for the cuddly, ambiguity-filled “person of interest.”

Apparently, “suspect” hurts people’s feelings.

Let that sink in.

We’ve reached a point where the same folks who binge-watch crime dramas suddenly clutch their pearls when real-life police use… police words. 🍿👀

Let’s be real: “Person of interest” sounds like someone who might’ve brought really good dip to a party 🥑, not someone who might’ve stolen the entire snack table.

Calling a suspect a “person of interest” is like calling a tornado “breezy with intent.”

It’s not kinder—it’s just confusing! 🌪️😵

We’re not doing justice any favors by wrapping it in bubble wrap.

Justice doesn’t need a participation trophy—it needs clarity.

Imagine detectives showing up at a scene: “Step aside, ma’am, we’re here to gently inquire with a person of interest. Would they like a herbal tea before we read them their rights?” ☕🕵️♂️

This isn’t progress—it’s wordplay invented by people who think due process should come with a hug and a trigger warning. 🤗⚠️

Let’s save the soft language for describing clouds and puppies.

Justice needs CLARITY not CUDDLES.

On this #WackyWednesday, let’s think clearly and keep it real, folks.

And maybe keep an eye on that “person of interest” at the next potluck.

Just saying. 🍝👀

If you’re tired of the coddling and crave more unfiltered takes, subscribe for weekly doses of uncomfortable truths.

Cheers,
Roy
My Podcast Show Audacious Moves to A BILLION shares the specific Moves I made to achieve jaw-dropping growth in an insanely competitive internet business.

”The Audacious Unheard of Ways I Took a Startup to A BILLION IN SALES” is the latest in my BE DiFFERENT or be dead Book Series.

• Posted 2.17.20 at 06:00 am by Roy Osing
• Permalink