What's the Difference Between Having A Baby and a Great Idea?

"Where do these great ideas come from and who thinks them up?" the young, curious recently newly minted MBA asked me, an old and wizened corporate dude. The MBA guy was referring to a new process our corporation just put into place that actually wasn't working too well.  

A Great Idea?

I thought for a moment, wondering how much of the truth he could handle. "Many of the ideas are spawned in the executive offices on the top floor. When they are conceived, I believe that there are at least two people involved, but there can be many more," says I.  His eyes widen. I watch as some of his youthful academic beliefs shatter.

"What about the Great Man theory?" he asks, referring to the theory was popularized in the 1840s by Thomas Carlyle.  Ignoring his masters degree, I answer, "In the corporate world, there can be many fathers-- and mothers -- to an great idea. "

"Once the seed is successfully planted, more executives start noticing and encouraging the idea to take form. When enough time goes by, and a majority approve its potential, it's officially born."

"It then becomes an official member of the corporate environment, and communal teams swoop in from law, compliance, operations, systems and other areas to help raise it in in the corporate form it needs to be. They will nurture the idea, putting form and fabric on it so it can be tested. "

"The idea then morphs into a project," I press on. "At this point, it literally has a life of its own. It will grow up becoming either a product or a process and in all likelihood, will look nothing like the original idea."

"Then it can go through years of growing up. It gets tested, usually by people it won't ever have to use it. If the project fails a test or two, and may have to go back a step or two for more study," I inform.  "The idea either finally grows up, or unfortunately dies in the testing phase.  The life of an idea is extremely fragile and could even have passed away earlier."

"I’m not certain why this one didn’t," the young now-not-so-curious writer mutters as he walks away. "It sucks."

The Red Renault

by Bob Beardsley

Simulated Photo of the Actual Renault!

I once bought a 1965 Renault R8 for $300.  The paint on the 1965 Renault was a dull, burnt red-pink.  Really burnt because the original red had oxidized into its present unappealing condition. The paint even felt rutted to the touch. Not that a Renault with a good paint job would ever be characterized as good looking.  I inspected the engine -- which was located in the rear of the car -- looking for serviceable life. As soon as I popped the hood latch I sniffed gas. The engine’s fittings and fissures were spotted with rust and oil.   The car did not look roadworthy.

Once in the car, the smell of old, weathered seats – I think they were made of a type of a leather  -- filled my nostrils.  A relaxing odor reminiscent of very old leather chairs you might imagine in a British men’s club  It gave me the sense this vehicle had provided years of comforting and faithful service. I was surprised that the driver’s seat felt very accommodating; warm, soft and welcoming. The entire interior, including the seats, carpeting, paneling and dash, displayed an non-offensive tan color.

The small dashboard peered out from behind the steering wheel. The odometer permanently registered 87,000 miles and never advanced, while the speedometer only registered speed in kilometers. The gas gauge appeared to be functional.  There were no more instruments. This minimalist approach did not trouble me, and I found it rather reassuring that I didn't have to bother with much data. Driving the Renault would be like discarding your watch, freeing oneself from the conventions of society.

The black wooden gear knob rose from the center floorboard on a gangly metal stalk. This is where I discovered that the heart and soul of this Renault. The rounder, wooden knob was worn and soothingly smooth to my touch. Any instructive gear patterns stamped on the top of the knob were long ago rubbed out, but no matter.  The shifter and transmission worked flawlessly together. Driving this apparent wreck of an auto was a pleasure. The car gave me years of good service.
   

In all the years since and considering all the cars I have owned, I never felt more safe or more at peace than in this unlikely auto that I paid $300 for in 1971.

P.S. The car served me well for three years and I only parted with it after a major accident.  A young lady ran a light and smashed into the front of the Renault, squishing and collapsing the trunk like an accordion closing. This absorbed most to the energy and spun the car around for 150 feet. I was uninjured because this odd duck of an auto had the engine in the back.  Had it been in the front, the impact and result would have been much worse.

They Served with Honor, Pride and Sacrifice

Thanks to all the veterans who served and especially to the ones that gave up all their tomorrows that we may still enjoy our todays.

Everyday Heroes Who Can't Be Seen

I came across this modern Helen Keller story and although I know many of you have heard of her before, I thought you might enjoy meeting Dr. Temple Grandin. Dr. Grandin didn't talk until she was three and a half years old, communicating her frustration instead by screaming, peeping, and humming. She is autistic.

Today she is world renowned as a scientist and speaker. Perhaps her greatest accomplishment is that she has been credited as the person who has provided the greatest insights into understanding autism to date.

Grandin was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and was diagnosed with "brain damage" at age two. Her parents placed her in a structured nursery school with what she considers to have been good teachers. Grandin's mother spoke to a doctor who suggested speech therapy, and she hired a nanny who spent hours playing turn-based games with Grandin and her sister.

At age four, Grandin began talking, and she began making progress. She considers herself lucky to have had supportive mentors from primary school onwards. However, Grandin has said that middle school and high school were the worst parts of her life. She was the "nerdy kid", the one whom everyone teased and picked on. She would be walking down the street and people would say "tape recorder", because she would repeat things over and over again. Kinda like Dustin Hoffman's Rain Man.

After graduating from Hampshire Country School, a boarding school for gifted children in Rindge, New Hampshire in 1966, Grandin went on to college. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Franklin Pierce College (also located in Rindge) in 1970, her master's degree in animal science from Arizona State University in 1975, and her Ph.D. in animal science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1989.

There are many heroes in this story. Her parents did not give up on her at a time when many brain damaged children were not understood or even tolerated. With the help of teachers, mentors, doctors, speech therapists, nannies and family, she overcame great odds to become who she is today.

For your enjoyment, here is a video of her speaking at a convention. Although she is standing alone on this stage, and although you can't see them, there are many, many average, everyday people that stand behind her.

Will Someone Speak for the 14 Million Children?

The debate on national healthcare rages on in the legislative branch of our government and the party lines are firmly drawn. The Democrats say let's get this done and the Republicans say no way. Our taxes will be too much. The verbal exchanges are wild-eyed and vituperative. Socialists! Naysayers! Liars! Election focused ranting! Fascists! Hitler! This is all sickening. Is there a sane person in our congress? Is there a hero that can break this deadlock?

Can someone speak up for the 14 million children (19% of the nation's children) who live in poverty and can't afford basic life services like food much less medical care (these are 2008 statistics from Feeding America)? Will a Democrat stand up and sacrifice his pork barrel legislation to the health bill for the children's sake?

Can someone in the Republican party come up with an alternate plan to provide affordable medical care to the 47 million Americans who don't have any healthcare coverage? Or is there no hope? Or do we just tell the poor and the sick to go to the emergency room, knowing that some may never go or only go when they are so sick that major medical intervention is needed. BTW, who do you think pays for this in the end?

And can someone tell the radio talk show hosts that it's too late. America embraced socialism many years ago. Even these bilious windbags will collect social security when they get old, take advantage of Medicare healthcare benefits when they need them, have their special needs children and grandchildren be given appropriate schooling by law, and they will even collect unemployment if they get fired from their jobs (not soon enough!). If these aren't "socialist" welfare programs, then what is?

Can someone speak up and tell us? Can we get this done and do the right thing?