Talk About Documentation

I was wondering where does the need for documentation come from originally. No doubt we can thank Johanes Gutenberg and the printing press but long before that civilizations had a way to document their world, lives, death, religion and games.

This week the Parsha of Terumah brings out much of the documentation about the Ark or cabinet that would hold some extremely special items. Like your data servers, this Ark had some serious specifications. Sizing and design of the UI were just the start, then it was to be virtually not touched by human hands as well. A NOC to hold The Ten Commandments solid stone, the destroyed copy of them  and a jar of the Manna.

Indeed there is no other mention of anything else except the guidelines to install in place the aforementioned items. Sure everything discussed had other meanings and later on would be recreated again once the 1st Temple or Beit Hamikdash was built and would also reappear in the Book of Esther, which we read in 2 weeks on Purim.

Funny thing to remember is they were in the desert and yet were told to use wood, skins, metals, gold, and so many things that were exacting to standard.

When you are building that Ikea furniture, your 427 engine or a new server, it's those exact instructions you seek to get everything right.

We learn from this that God wanted us to be detailed in everything we do in our life. So please provide directions or documentation or guidance to others who follow you in your endeavors.

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Parsha Terumah in the book of Shemot Exodus 25:1 - 27:19

It is said that the Torah or Bible could be interpreted in over 70 ways. More likely these days 100's of ways. In light of this idea, I am writing some posts that bring a business sense to what we can learn on a weekly basis. Enjoy, Shabbat Shalom

Read The Fine Print

The devil is in the details they say.

Sometimes in business we go out of our way not to be responsible or exempt specific cases or situations.
On the customer side we find out the warranty we thought we had really is not so useful or the insurance we were told would cover medical issues really does not.

The next step is to find someone to blame. Usually the vendor says it is your fault for not reading in details the 100's of pages of legalese.

I await a reply from AC Delco about a 6 year battery warranty I have on my dying car battery. While I would like to think it will replace it, most likely I will get some partial refund. But still, what's the point?

This week's Parsha, Mishpatim, elaborates on the 10 commandments found in last weeks reading. Some legal guidelines are discussed around animals, stealing, marriage, servants/employees and other items where the responsibility is clearly written.

Luckily we do not stick to this aspect, Exodus 21:23-25:

23. But if there is a fatality, you shall give a life for a life,
24. an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot,
25. a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise.

And instead provide for compensation of a monetary form. yet there are those in the world that still hold to such ideas.

When did we stop taking responsibility for our actions and those of our employees or pets? Why do vendors hide behind their paperwork instead of admitting a mistake and trying to rectify it.

It is not so bad to admit you were wrong or broke something although it can be an expensive admission.

When I train sales or technical people I stress that they must admit what they do not know when asked. Lying to your client or potential client will only cause more problems later. Take responsibility for your actions and those of your house, office or farm and your client may respect you more.

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Parsha Mishpatim in the book of Shemot Exodus 21:1 - 24:18

It is said that the Torah or Bible could be interpreted in over 70 ways. More likely these days 100's of ways. In light of this idea, I am writing some posts that bring a business sense to what we can learn on a weekly basis. Enjoy, Shabbat Shalom

Choose Capable People

Yitro was Moses Father-in-Law and a member of royalty or a well known priest, depending on how you translate the text and understand history. In either case, Yitro was considered a wise and smart man. And so it was he came to visit his family and sees Moses trapped by mounds of red tape, petty arguments and meetings and questions of serious legal matters. I know they are roaming in the desert so how many problems could there be? Ever work in a cubicle farm? You get the idea.

Yitro says to Moses in 18:21:

You shall also seek out from among all the people capable men who fear God, trustworthy men who spurn ill-gotten gain. Set these over them as chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens

Moses being the good Son-in-Law thinks it over and says that make sense. BUT Moses tweaked that advice a little bit as you can see in 18:25:

Moses chose capable men out of all Israel, and appointed them heads over the people — chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens;

Yes, you could argue in 18:21 capable men are explained and in 18:25 the term capable men is used simply. But this begs the question of what if such trustworthy men could not be found? Ones who didn't take bribes? Again you may ask yourself, bribes? In the desert? Don't forget they left Egypt with as much money and jewelry and objects as they could carry that they received from their Egyptian owners.

Comparing this to modern politics is too easy so not going to bother. Instead I want to focus on the idea that here was Moses a man, 80 years old, grew up as royalty, run out of town, a speech impediment and one of the last people to speak to God in person according to the Jewish religion and he takes advice from his Father-in-Law who is perhaps either really old or much younger than Moses, a priest of some other religion.

Amazing when you think about it.

And Yitro's advice is good too. Moses was not adverse to learning form others. He posted his times on his tent and the people would come and ask of him to resolve issues. But no one brought him solutions until Yitro. Why didn't Moses think of this and set up a management structure? Because he had founder syndrome. It's his world, his flock, his people so he needs to micromanage them. Or so Moses thought.

So were Aaron and Miriam, Joshua and Caleb just yes-men and yes-woman? Not likely but the aura around the leadership, just like a CEO or similar executive, sometimes prevents people from making suggestions. You could say Yitro, being his Father-in-Law was just giving his 2 cents but you could also see it as Yitro wanted to see Moses, and his family and daughter, have a better life and accomplish more than what he was doing today. Seek out the best people you can fill open roles with and make your every day life that much easier.

When you go work or see a client and think there is a better way, don't be afraid to let them know about it. They will not usually fire you for providing good advice or even bad advice, as long as you don't act on the bad advice.

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Parsha Yitro in the book of Shemot Exodus 18:1 - 20:23

It is said that the Torah or Bible could be interpreted in over 70 ways. More likely these days 100's of ways. In light of this idea, I am writing some posts that bring a business sense to what we can learn on a weekly basis. Enjoy, Shabbat Shalom

"Cloud Cover" was the original "Air Cover"

Air Cover is a war expression, you know, helicopter or plane or sniper cover while soldiers tried to get a position. But maybe that was because I knew sales was a war sometimes. Yet why do we consider marketing and advertising as "Air Cover"? Perhaps it is really "Cloud Cover".

As it turns out, the reference from the Bible, in fact this week's Parsha, Beshalach, states in Exodus 13:21:

And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; that they might go by day and by night:

 And in Exodus 14:19:

And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud removed from before them, and stood behind them

Cloud cover front, back and leading them all the time. Protecting them from Egypt and later other enemies.

Why do we seek such safety? Is it because we are just as afraid as the slaves were then from the unknown of the future? Do we truly believe that a large business will help us the small business or us as customers? Is this also why we lose faith so easily, just as the freed slaves did, when the road to prosperity is not always filled with gold and success?

The parallels live on today just as they did 1,000's of years ago.

How does this help in business? Take care of your partners, clients and vendors. Help them as much as possible, one day you may need their help.

The Cover you get from others may not always be what you want but it is what they can offer and should not be overlooked because some coverage is still better than no coverage.

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Parsha Beshalach in the book of Shemot (Exodus 13:17-17:16)

It is said that the Torah or Bible could be interpreted in over 70 ways. More likely these days 100's of ways. In light of this idea, I am writing some posts that bring a business sense to what we can learn on a weekly basis. Enjoy, Shabbat Shalom

Hardened Hearts

Edit: This did not get posted Friday and I just realized, sorry.

Funny thing how you get into a discussion about technology and suddenly someone's spine goes straighter and they become indignant and refuse to believe there is another perspective or technology that could be used instead of The One. Religious fanatics on all sides of the spectrum.

In this week's Parhsa, Bo, God hardens Pharoah's heart numerous times. 10:1, 10:20 in addition to many times in the prior week it's always the same, harden his heart.

Did he really need God to do this? Don't you think a ruler, about to lose his 2.5 million slaves, might be a bit upset and stubborn to believe in the total chaos about to occur?

Where do Executives get this fear from that causes them to act similarly to Pharoah? Do they believe their power will be usurped because they "allow" some other technology to be used? Are they in fear of their ultimate authority which may be in question because a previous Executive had decided on technology A or B? Perhaps the Executive has a fear of the unknown or less known technology and this is how they choose to represent themselves?

In many cases the situation, not as drastic as Pharoah's, occurs where the choices made bring long or short term adversity to the company. Know that it is not your efforts that may have made any difference. The Executive made a choice and does not like to be questioned. After all Pharoah revisited the same discussion at least 10 times and till the end still did not want to give in and see reality.

Have the conversations, make the sales calls and respect the differences you will face from Executives and try to work with them. After all they can't be worse than Pharoah...could they?

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Parsha Bo in the book of Shemot (Exodus 10:1-3:16)
It is said that the Torah or Bible could be interpreted in over 70 ways. More likely these days 100's of ways. In light of this idea, I am writing some posts that bring a business sense to what we can learn on a weekly basis. Enjoy, Shabbat Shalom

God's Marketing Plan

So what business lesson can we learn from this week's Parsha or section which is read this week? Veira starts the process of Moshe (Moses) being told to take the children of Yaakov (Jacob) that had become a huge nation of slaves, estimated at over 2.5 million people, back to the land of Israel and freedom. And Moshe and Aaron his brother start a sales process that would last through next weeks reading as well.

Everyone knows about the 10 plagues but did you ever stop to think about what a great Marketing plan this was? It went viral BIG TIME! God decided not just to follow up on his promise to Abraham but to do it in a way that would be remembered throughout history. God didn't just send out spam messages ("Tired of slavery yet?", call people ("I'm calling on behalf of the Supreme Being..") or invite them to the "Largest Webinar Ever" no, God asked one man. Sure he used the Burning Bush but how else would you get someone to believe you were God. Moshe then asks natural questions and God provides some answers and proofs for the slaves to believe in him.

Now what is your marketing plan? Or in term's Michael J. Fox used at Lotusphere 2012 this week, "A Lady gave birth in a tree, what have you got?"

Does your marketing plan really blow people away? Do they ask "are you for real"? Or do they shrug and go back to Googling odd RFC numbers?

You need that 1st person, your Moshe to convince and once you have done that they tell their friends and soon millions of people are on the go. Think of it this way. Moshe grew up in the palace of Pharoah and knew everyone and then got run out by the next successor who was a paranoid Pharoah and he went to the desert. The desert is about thinking, change, sometimes isolation and loneliness but he is out there and then BOOM! God talks to him and tries to convince him to go back to Egypt and fight a "relative" to save his proper family and nation.That is a lot of persuading.if you ask me. God asks Moshe to go back to the person who wants to kill him in Egypt, ask him to let all the workers/slaves leave the country because God and not the Egyption ones, asked him to and expects Pharoah to comply.

Freewill or not, the plan had to work because otherwise God would not have had his fun with the 10 plagues which he told Moshe he was going to do anyway. But God wanted to be seen, known and heard, at this time...but why?

It had been a long time, 430 years the Jews were slaves, since God had been doing anything out of the ordinary like flood the world or destroy the first skyscraper building in Babel among his earlier well known efforts. Maybe God had other planets to work on, maybe he was behind in writing his  "New World Administration for Dummies" book. God needed a new Marketing plan and this one really took off and continues to today.

Not every Marketing plan will go as well, but think about what you could do to present yourself to a new generation who either forgot or never heard about you..No one will beat God at his game but Coca Cola is still going strong because they want a Coke in everyone's hands. That lasts forever as a marketing message.

Hope you find your greatness as well.
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Parsha Vaeira in the book of Shemot (Exodus 6:3-9:35)

It is said that the Torah or Bible could be interpreted in over 70 ways. More likely these days 100's of ways. In light of this idea, I am writing some posts that bring a business sense to what we can learn on a weekly basis. Enjoy, Shabbat Shalom

And There Rose a New King

It is said that the Torah or Bible could be interpreted in over 70 ways. More likely these days 100's of ways. In light of this idea, I want to start some posts that bring a business sense to what we can learn on a weekly basis.

So what business lesson can we learn from this week's Parsha or section which is read this week?

Chapter 1, verse 8 says "And there rose a New King (Pharoah) for Egypt that did not know Joseph".

Many times in business we face this situation, sometimes at a client, sometimes as an employee. In either case it leads to many questions and worries for everyone involved.

The need of the new leader to show their might or change of direction from previous management or regimes is filled with opportunities. The problem is how to deal with these changes. People on the whole dislike change. Employees are sometimes immune to it, especially when you are lower in the hierarchy. But what can you do to make the transition smoother for you and the new leader?

If you are in management, how do you want present your best foot forward? If the new leader is unknown you may only get one chance to get the discussion to go your way. If you are in sales, you face the same dilemma.

Naturally you want to present your projects or solutions to the new leader...but hold on a second.

Have you thought about what the new leader wants to accomplish? You know your projects or offerings but is that what they want to hear?

Since new leaders seek out quick wins and accomplishments, in addition to setting their own pace and personality on the business, think about how you can help.

Your projects may be nebulous but find that quick win! If you rely on the same old attitude or discuss how the project is a year long initiative or is a company wide effort you will not make them happy. Even long term company wide projects have short term goals and little things which will bring some benefit, put them in play.

If you are selling to the new leader, don't bring anything to the meeting except your ears and something to take notes. Your first meeting will set the future. Don't blow the opportunity by pushing what you are comped on or thinking the previous discussions will be continued. You can still steer the conversation your way but you need to first listen to the leader.

Many times when I am called upon to meet with clients for the first time or under new regimes, I ask the most basic questions around what the leader wants to accomplish, what are the limitations and what would make their daily life easier. You want to encourage them to lay out their mind and plans and understand them and show you understand them.

The next time you end up in this situation remember that the Pharoah in Egypt did not listen to his advisers and it led to his downfall so don't end up being the ignored adviser.