Continuous Improvement

"I'm a work in progress.  I'm just an ordinary guy with a great job.  And, like any human being, I'm constantly trying to improve."  Denzel Washington

No Brees(zing) in his career

What sets Drew Brees, the record shattering QB of the Saints, apart, from say JaMarcus Russell, the bumbling, fumbling QB of the Raiders:

1. Sean Payton the coach of the Saints in 2006 saw in Brees what many scouts couldn't, that is someone with the ferocity, drive and work ethic of two men.
2. Tom Cable the coach of the Raiders continues to view Russell as a lazy no show in camp, in practice and in games.
3. Carl Nicks, a teammate of Brees, describes Brees drive for perfection as contagious.  If he told me to jump off a cliff in order to win a game, I'd do it, says Nicks.
4. An unnamed teammate of Russell, was more than happy to rat him out as going to Las Vegas instead of attending the final team meeting of 2009.
5. Bree's Motto:  "Finish Strong."  Every Practice. Every rep. Give everything you have, until the very end.
6. Russell's Motto:  None to speak of.
7. Bree's on what it takes to win when the going gets tough:  Sometimes we get so caught up in the prize that we forget the process.  So let's forget about the prize for now and refocus on the process.
8. Russell on why the Raiders can't win:  "Up and down, Up and down" as in the team's performance, but not his.
9. Sportswriters crediting Brees as a passer with flashbulb-fast decision-making skills with laser like downfield accuracy, rare abilities that can be developed solely through mind-numbing levels of repetition and study.
10. Sportswriters poking fun of Russell as consistently overthrowing his target by 40 yards achievable only by not doing much of anything before, during and after games.
    

Characteristics of a good stock trader that could be applicable in other professions

By Nazy Massoud
Read entire article here

So how did the super traders develop their mental edge? Even though they are all different, they share certain beliefs and characteristics:
1. They know their market.
2.They know why they are getting into their positions.
3.They know their risk/reward ratio.
4.They have an expectation to win.
5.They are not afraid of taking losses.
6.They have a set of rules that they follow. They realize that these are dynamic and you have to review it.
7.They have contingency plans.
8.They all have discipline.
9.They do not give up. They have intelligent perseverance.
10.They believe in themselves.
11.They love what they do!

Hard Working Prisoners in NY

Labels and Tags of unused clothes donated to the Clothing Bank in New York are removed by volunteers including inmates on work release from the Lincoln Correctional Facility in Harlem.  "Hard workers," says Luis Jimenez, Director of the Clothing Bank.  Click here to read the NY Times article on the Clothing Bank.

Do you have any of these type of employees, maybe on a lesser scale???

Reports indicate that JaMarcus Russell, the 32 million dollar man who was drafted to save the Raiders, missed the Raiders' final team meeting of the 2009 season. Not a big deal if, as it was originally believed, Russell missed the meeting for "personal reasons". It's a bit more of a big deal if, as we have now learned, Russell took off for Las Vegas in lieu of that final meeting.

Russell has failed to distinguish himself in any positive way.  In other words, whether you prefer traditional stats or the new sabermetrics, JaMarcus Russell is the worst quarterback in pro football.  Only the Raiders, with JaMarcus Russell, can boast the first-overall selection of a quarterback so uninterested in the betterment of his team, or his own development as a player.  Lane Kiffin and Tom Cable, the team's last two coaches, have come out publicly against Russell's production and work ethic.  Russell has also been criticized by teammates privately, for not working hard enough off the field. The reason reporters knew about Russell's absence Monday was because of a tip from a teammate in the locker room who couldn't hide his disgust.

Don't go here if you're lazy....

Oklahoma City, known as the hardest working city in America also has the state motto "Work Conquers All"

She "shops", he "buys"

Facts from the research paper titled "Men Buy, Women Shop" from the Wharton School of Business:

In short, when men buys, it's a chore.  When women shops, it's a hobby.
Women:  Lack of help from the sales associates is the #1 reason for lost business.
Men:  Out of stock is the #1 reason for lost business.

Women:  Tell me more about the items that may be of interest to me and give me some alternatives.  Also, tell me something about your store in general.  Sales associates must be knowledgeable, engaging and friendly when dealing with women shoppers.
Men:  Just tell me where the item is, and ring me up fast so I can get out of here.  Sales associates better know where the products are that men are looking for and quickly ring them up.

She needs more interactions, collaboration and support from the sales associate during the buying process.  He needs the sales associate to hurry up, stop wasting my time and get me what I need.  If I have a question, I'll ask you.  Now ring me up.  Pronto! :-)