Winding Down, stage 1

Finished stage 1 of this tour. I gave a presentation to the Mission Peak Chapter of APICS (that's in Silicon Valley) tonight, titled Lean & Six Sigma: Working Together. They had a good turnout, and I got to meet a few new people. If anyone has a work history of process improvement and Lean and Six Sigma, I met someone who's looking for a Continuous Process Improvement Manager, so let me know I and I can send you the contact info.

I broke one of my cardinal rules. I had a wonderful conversation with a young woman (I can say "young woman" 'cause I'm old), but I didn't get her card. She's looking for work in the Operations or Supply Chain field, in Silicon Valley, so if anybody is looking for an entry level person, she is someone you should seriously consider. Hank thinks highly of her, and if Hank recommends her, that's all I need. Again, if you need an entry level Operations/Supply Chain person in Silicon Valley, let me know and I'll send you the contact info.

If I haven't said this before; professional organizations = learning + networking = career success. Get involved!

Last night I gave a presentation to the Sacramento Chapter of APICS. I did my Effective Strategic Planning presentation. It's always interesting, because the topic really involves the top level management of an organization, but the people who attend the presentations represent all levels of management. It's important for everyone to understand Strategic Planning, even if they're not involved in developing it. For one, some people will rise to the top, and they need to understand Strategic Planning. For many people, they won't be directly involved with much of the planning, but they are an important part of the Strategic Planning process. Because it is a process. It's not something you "do" once a year then pull out the next year and review. But I digress. What I was going to say was that I met one gentleman who works as an inventory manager and has been having some ongoing frustrations. This talk has nothing to do with inventory management, and is at a much higher level than some ongoing inventory issues. But he got a lot out of the talk and said I gave him some things to think about. Hopefully this will help him down a path that will get rid of some of those frustrations. It just goes to show you that sometimes, instead just trying to fix a problem that has been going on and on, you should step back and look at the big picture. It just might give you a different path to explore.

So tomorrow I'm back to Hawaii, for about a week, then I'm off to Tucson. I've still got some work to do for that trip, so I'll be busy.

I didn't make any tour t-shirts for this tour. Last time a did a tour like this I made up some t-shirts. I figured if the Rolling Stones can have tour t-shirts, so can I. I made a few up myself and gave them out as "gifts". I'm sure most of them are cleaning up oil stains, but I thought it was fun. This was going to be my "Joey Bag of Doughnuts Tour". I guess I can still print up some shirts.

Well, it's way past my bedtime, and I've got to get up and catch a plane in the morning....

The value of membership

One of the organizations I belong to is embroiled in controversy surrounding a proposed dues increase. One of the questions being asked is whether the value that a member receives is worth the dues paid, either current or proposed. That’s a good question, but it is a personal one. Something that is valuable to me might not be at all valuable to you. As a proponent of professional organizations, and a member of a number of different organizations, this is something I have to ask myself frequently. It’s a question every rugby player has to ask themselves too, as most clubs charge dues and USA Rugby requires membership to participate in sanctioned events (which are most rugby events).

One thing that membership usually brings is access. Members have access to events and information that is not available to non-members, and allows members to participate or hold positions that non-members cannot. The question is whether that access is worth what you pay in dues. Many organizations offer the same products and services to both members and non-members. The difference is usually the price that is paid; members receive a discount while non-members do not. If the price difference is greater than the cost of membership, many people will become members to receive the discount, but not all. For any number of reasons, some people will not become members to receive the discount. That begs the question of what membership means. If both members and non-members have access to the same things, membership is really meaningless. For all intents and purposes, the organization is simply a business, where some people get a discount and some don’t. No different than clipping coupons. Some people clip coupons and get a discount, and some don’t.

One reason that people join organizations is to be part of something, something that not everyone can be a part of. There is a feeling of exclusivity to it. That provides value to many people, often great value. Just look at country club memberships, which charge tens of thousands of dollars (or more) as membership fees, on top of thousands of dollars in annual dues. But exclusivity doesn’t have to involve lots of money. USA Rugby dues are only $35 per year. The dues to the organizations I belong to range from about $100 to $200 per year. If the benefits I receive, including the intangible benefit of belonging, don’t provide value equal to the dues, I don’t renew my membership. I’ll have to evaluate whether the dues of that organization considering an increase is worth continuing my membership. We’ll see.

As for USA Rugby, I joined recently (or rejoined) after not being a member since 1998, the last time I played. Since getting back into rugby after the World Cup I haven’t played, haven’t even been to a practice, don’t coach, and am not a referee. So why did I join? Well, I found my boots, so I might go to practice and try to pick up a game. Or I might try to find someone who needs a coach. Or I might try ref’ing (after the referee clinic, of course). Or I might just watch and blog, or help out with administration. What I will be though, is a member of an exclusive group – USA Rugby. That’s not much, anybody can join. I joined pretty much just to pay the dues as a show of support.

But why can’t those USA Rugby dues offer a greater feeling of pride and exclusivity? Just because anybody can join doesn’t mean they will. That membership card (although I haven’t received any card, or any other acknowledgement besides my receipt), if marketed properly, could be a real source of pride. It could also lead to an increase in membership, and therefore, an increase in revenue for the organization. If the USA Rugby brand was one of pride and value, or the brand of whatever organization you belong to, more people would want to join. They would want to join just to be part of the group, for the pride of it. Other benefits have to be provided, but that pride in the brand is a powerful motivator. Is your club or organization developing your brand so that people want to be a part of it? If not, you should be.

The Importance of Professional Organizations

I'm a member of several professional organizations as well as several different business related groups. I think involvement in professional organizations is one of the most valuable career tools available to everyone, no matter where you are at your career. I first got involved when I was in college. One of my accounting instructors (my major) was the president of the local management accountants organization (now the IMA - Institute of Management Accountants, it was the NAA - National Association of Accountants, at the time), and a strong proponent of professional associations. I joined primarily to learn about the accounting profession and to meet people. I worked in internal auditing while I was a student, and everyone in the office was a member of both the IIA - Institute of Internal Auditors and the AICPA - American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. I received a small scholarship from the local IIA chapter, which included a membership so I was a member of that organization too. It turns out I wasn't really suited to accounting, but joining these organizations showed me the value that I continue to receive to this day.

I switched careers into Business Operations, first with inventory management, then production planning, purchasing, warehousing, quality, and other areas. When I first got involved with operations, a co-worker introduced me to APICS - The Association for Operations Management. I joined to learn about my new profession. When I started receiving the magazine that came with my membership I was really hooked. There was tons of wonderful and useful information in there. I ordered the annual conference proceedings, which came in printed form at the time, to learn even more. But I couldn't understand everything, so I started studying for the CPIM - Certified in Production and Inventory Management certification. That really opened my eyes to operations. That led me to more. I started getting involved with the local chapter, then was able to travel to the quarterly Region Meetings where I met presidents and officers from the other chapters in our Region.

I've continued to stay involved with APICS, even serving on several Association level committees. I've joined other organizations, ASQ - American Society of Quality, which I'm still a member of, and ISM - Institute of Supply Management, and I've earned several other professional certifications (CIRM - Certified in Integrated Resources Management, CQMgr - Certified Quality Manager, and CSSBB - Certified Six Sigma Black Belt). I continue to learn by attending presentations and conferences held by these organizations, and by giving presentations to local chapters of these organizations and their national and international conferences.

But, by far, the biggest benefit I've received, and continue to receive, is the people I've met and the friends I've made. I encourage everyone to join, and become active, in professional organizations. Whatever field you're in, or are interested in, there is an organization for you. Get involved, learn, meet new friends, and reap the benefits.