TheMiddleShelf.com

. . . is NOW.  Yes, there is always a better way.  So many times we are afraid to step out and try something new, or become fearful of some change that is happening, and even spend many hours worrying about circumstances that never come to pass.  How can we get the most out of our lives (and our jobs, since much of our time is spent at our places of work?)

We can start by looking at our work and processes in different ways, not “checking our brain at the door,” and start by becoming actively engaged in our daily tasks.  Waste occurs in many forms in the workplace, and for too many people, it looks normal.  Some examples are:

• Defects and rework
• Machine and office equipment breakdown
• Wait and down time
• Inefficient work process
• Stored inventory
• Not using people’s talents

When we begin to question “this is not the way it should be” our creativity kicks in and we can begin on the road to improvement.  We don’t want to end up like the character played by Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, where he gets stuck living the same day over and over and over again. I think this is one of the best movies ever made. In the real world, we are all living through groundhog day, day after day, again and again. Just think about how many things we are doing repeatedly everyday. Everyday is a game, it depends on how we play the game. If we play the game differently, what a difference can a day make!

I challenge you to make yourself grow and see things in a different light.  Make suggestions, bend your colleagues’ ears, and initiate any small, positive change.