Category Archives: Business

My favorite piece of technology: the wheel. What I mean is, “technology” does not have to be a computer or made of carbon fiber or have blinking lights and a manual in Korean. “Technology” is the application of a tool … Continue reading →

What “Six Sigma” means is that a process should have output that is so exact, precise and consistent that it would have to be over three standard deviations out from what you’d expect before it was ever unacceptable to your … Continue reading →

A process is something ongoing, like an assembly line in a factory, or a kitchen in a restaurant. There is always a bottleneck, which is the slowest point on the line. Stuff collects behind it. There is no getting around … Continue reading →

Data Analysis isn’t really about statistics. It’s about looking at data, reaching a conclusion based on what the data shows, and presenting it to an audience. Most people have a negative opinion about statistics, but statistics are just a tool … Continue reading →

Economics is all about theory. And in theory, money flows about the world in predictable, fair and efficient ways. In theory. In a perfect economic world, companies would compete with each other, eternally striving towards monopoly–one company completely controlling the … Continue reading →

Leadership is credibility. Credibility means people believe you’ll do what you say you’ll do. Doing what you’ll say you’ll do means people will trust you. You can’t lead people without trust. You can’t lead people without having a place to … Continue reading →

Most people think of “marketing” as “sending fancy fliers in the mail or making banners for trade shows.” But that’s “Marcom,” or “marketing communications.” Real marketing is the art of building the right product for the right audience and getting … Continue reading →

A dollar today is not worth the same thing as a dollar a year from now. If you promise to give me a dollar in a year, I can’t do anything for a year. But if you give me a … Continue reading →

Big businesses are not all that different from high school. There’s the way that things are supposed to work–you’re not supposed to have to worry about your teacher/boss bullying you or your classmate/coworker taking credit for your work, and the … Continue reading →

Assets = Liabilities + Equity. That’s all there is to accounting. Your assets represent the things you have that have value…your house, your possessions, your education. Your liabilities represent the money you owe for those assets. Your equity represents the … Continue reading →