The Six Sigma Tool You Should Be Using For ALL Projects

Six Sigma is a powerful set of tools that can intimidate some people.  We have all worked with someone who says, "We don't need all of that mumbo-jumbo, just get it fixed fast and right."  For projects that don't require huge amounts of data collection and analysis, we can keep Minitab in the stable.  However, there is one tool that we should be looking to use for nearly every project, big or small...Six Sigma or not.  The Project Charter.

Project Charter
Problem Statement	Benefits
Goal Statement	Timeline
Scope	Team Members

Perhaps even more important when you're working with the "just get it done types", the charter is the opportunity to create clarity around the bigger issue.  With the stakeholders in the room, the charter creation is our opportunity to:

• discuss the real problem
• establish a reasonable amount of improvement
• put boundaries on the project
• talk about what will be true when project is done
• consider how long will this take
• decide who will be involved

If your team is of the "low patience, high result" variety, you can send the meeting invitation and let them know that you're going to spend the first meeting, creating clarity around the issue and setting up guidelines that will speed up potential improvements.  You don't even need to call this step a project charter if you feel it may intimidate some of your team.

Remember that the real goal of the project is to deliver the appropriate amount of improvement resulting in the desired outcome using the right resources.  The project charter is one of our best tools for creating clarity among your team so dust it off the next time you're asked to run a project...Six Sigma or not.

For an article that helps explain the steps in creating a charter document, click HERE.

The Simplest Way To Set Powerful Personal Goals

Disclaimer - Good goal setting is the foundation of success and no shortcuts should be taken.  This article is intended to get you thinking.  If you're really serious about setting good goals, find an accountability partner that you trust, or even better, hire a coach to guide you.

"If you don't know where you're sailing, any port will do."

Earl Nightingale famously said "success is progress toward a worthwhile goal."  Therefore, if you have clearly defined your goals and are taking steps (even baby steps) toward that goal, you're successful.

While it is critically important to follow a goal setting process, it does not have to be hard.  In its simplest form, a good goal setting process consists of the 5 basic steps below.  This is the 'Simplest Guide' because if you follow this process, you're guaranteed to improve the quality and success of your goal setting program.

1. Understand what is important to you (CLARITY)

You need to do some soul searching to understand what is truly important to you.  This step is the most important because, done right, it will connect your goal to your passion and lay the foundation for WHY in step 3.  The questions below have proven to be very valuable for me and others I have coached through this process:

• Imagine you're at your 80th birthday.  Your family, closest friends and colleagues are there to celebrate. What do you want them to say about you?
• Are you satisfied with your life so far?  Why/why not?
• Who are the most important people in your life?  Are you happy with how you are spending time with them?

Now that you're connected to what is important, you can identify the work that you find most gratifying.

• Of all the work you have done in the past 5 years, what has given you the most satisfaction?
• Of all the opportunities inside and outside of my company, which get me the most excited?
• What skills do I currently have that would help me pursue those opportunities?
• What skills would I enjoy learning that would help me pursue those opportunities?

2.  Write down your top goals in each of the "5 Fs". (BALANCE)

Reflect on your answers in step 1 and work to get clear on the things you want to accomplish.  Use the categories below and choose 1 or 2 goals for each category.  Spreading your goals across these categories has proven to help with balance and higher levels of overall satisfaction.

• Faith / community
• Family / friends
• Finance / work 
• Fitness / health
• Fun / hobbies

3. Identify the WHY (PURPOSE)

Review each of the goals and seek to understand WHY these goals are important to you.  As you come up with the WHAT (I want a vacation home in the mountains), you must then come up with the WHY (to spend more quality time with my kids).  It is very common to go back and modify goals as the you get more clear.  Keep going thru this step until you feel a healthy connection to each goal.

4. Create the actions that will move you toward your goals (ACTION)

"A goal without a plan is just a wish."

Now that you have the goals you want to achieve, it is time to begin to formulate the tactics and strategies that will get you there.  Most people have accepted that SMART goal setting principles work well.  Read this if you need a reminder but don't forget the crucial step of setting a due date.


5. Identify steps can be taken immediately (MOMENTUM)

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."

Now that you have your SMART goals set up, the last thing you need to do is...ANYTHING.  Choose one thing that you can do today or right this second and start building momentum toward your goals.

A very basic outline of the matrix you have at the end will look something like this.

For another perspective on goal setting, read this article in Entrepreneur featuring Tim Ferriss.

5 Staples of an Awesome Morning Routine

Get Some Wins In Early For A Confidence Boost That Lasts All Day

By establishing a morning routine, you are taking charge of your day, before anything or anybody else takes charge for you.  By doing this, you're consciously and subconsciously making progress toward your goals and getting a boost of self-confidence in the process.

One of the biggest benefits of establishing a morning routine is that you'll get your first win early.  Even if 'life happens' as soon as you leave the house, your morning ritual gives you control and the chance to start off the day on a winning course.

The most powerful result of an effective morning routine is to help you get in a mindset to achieve your goals.  While each person will have unique goals and needs, there are 5 things that everyone should consider incorporating into their routine...and yes, you'll need to wake up a bit earlier to get them done.

1. Make Your Bed
Retired Admiral Bill McRaven said it way better than I could, so watch his video here.  The core message is simple:  This little task is your first win of the day.  It will propel you forward, building momentum and moving you in the direction of your next win.  if your significant other is still in there, square away your side of the bed...pillows and all.

2. Exercise
While not everyone has the ability or desire to run 5 miles or do an hour of CrossFit each morning, some type of exercise is critical to get your body ready for the day.  I am a stationary bicycle guy because you can hammer or go easy without leaving the house.  Some mornings, the option of an easy ride in my own garage is enough to get me into my workout clothes.

3. Learn something
The zealots will tell you to read a deep book, one that requires heavy thinking and profound insight.  I disagree with this assertion and will tell you that some of the best morning learning can come by way of a Ted talk or short blog.  The best learning ritual is the one you will do every day.

4. Good nutrition
Starting the day off with good nutrition is one of the most important AND overlooked requirements of a good day.  If you're going to have a great day, you need a full tank.  Protein in the morning is your friend.  There are countless articles out there that will get you on a good path.  I like eggs, so here's a good read.

5. Reflect on your goals
Brian Tracy recommends re-writing your major goals each day.  I have done this for many years and can attest to the clarity this brings to your daily habits and the power it can have in your life.  I suggest using a tool like OneNote to store your goals due to the ease of viewing on PC, phone and tablet.  Taking a few moments to think about what is important to you will help you make the connection to your daily actions and is an awesome motivator.

A morning routine is a deeply personal process.  Find the things that get you going in the right direction and give you the mojo to get after it.  

How to Keep Your Personal Power and Stay A Step Ahead of the Competition

You Can't Be A Victim and A Leader At The Same Time

Ask 100 people to define leadership and you'll get 100 different answers.  Some will share stories of famous athletes, others will cite the heroics of a war hero and still others will talk about a mentor who helped them through a rough time.  My definition is simple...you're a leader when, regardless of your title, you choose a leadership mindset over victimhood.

Defining victimhood is no easier.  While it is true that bad people sometimes do bad things to others, we allow ourselves to fall into the victim role far too easily.  My definition of a victim is based on Urban Meyer's book, "Above The Line".  In this excellent book, he decries Blame, Complain, Defend (BCD) behaviors as the mindset of a victim.

When you use the definitions above, its easy to believe the statement, "You can't be a victim and a leader at the same time."  Choosing a leadership mindset over a victim mindset is simple...but not easy.  The real work is in maintaining an awareness of your mindset.

Blame behavior is a self-defense mechanism.  However, by blaming external situations or people, we believe that "things" can control us and we begin to give away our power.  This is the biggest danger.

When we blame, we have less control over ourselves 

and lose our ability to lead

We can avoid the loss of personal power by avoiding the BCD behaviors and instead, focus on the antidotes:

• Choose ownership over blame
• Seek solutions instead of complaining
• Be open to feedback, not defensive

Improvement starts when you're mindful of falling into BCD behavior and make the choice to go down a different path.

Looking for motivation?  Read Tim Ferriss' 21-Day No-Complaint Experiment

3 Things You Can Do To Have Your Best Week Ever

We all know someone who bounds into the office Monday morning with a look of determination on their face and clear sense of purpose.  How is it that some show up with their focus and mojo already locked in while the rest of us are wandering aimlessly, praying to find a full pot of coffee in the break room?  We're just starting the week and we feel we're already falling behind.

Plenty of research has proven the benefits of goal setting and few argue with the results gained by setting a goal and then working toward it.  While we take this for granted, it seems that few of us have identified the power in connecting our long term goals with our short term habits.

Your daily habits are the real engine of productivity and the following 3 things will help you harness the power of your long term goals to create your best week ever.

1. Clarify and review your long term goals
If you have not done this lately, I strongly suggest that you stop reading this and download then devour Brian Tracy's "14-step Goal Setting Guide"  Only after you are clear on your long term goals can you create truly meaningful daily habits for success.

2. Create a list of daily habits that support your goals
Once you're clear on your goals, the daily habits to support those goals are pretty easy to create.  Keep asking yourself, "What is the 1 thing I can do [today / this week] to move me toward my goal?"  As you answer this question, your daily habits come to life and you're ready for step 3.

3. Design Your Perfect Week
With your list of daily habits in hand, carve out a solid chunk of time to design your perfect week. I like an hour on Sunday night and know others who prefer Friday afternoon. While I schedule using my Outlook calendar, I know others who use paper and pencil and are masters of this process.  Don't get hung up on the format.  Instead, spend your energy creating blocks of time where you set up the right environment to work on your daily habits.  Treat this time like an important meeting and defend it.  Calendar the habits that have the highest payoff above other tasks and activities.


If you are clear on your long term goals, create habits that will get you there then defend the time to execute, you will be on your way to your best week ever.

I would love to hear how you design your perfect week.  Share your feedback below. 

What is a Private Healthcare Exchange…Really?

Here’s the short answer.

It’s simply a place (commonly a website) for people to buy health insurance that is run by a private company (as opposed to a government agency).

That sounds too simple, isn’t it more complicated than that?

There are many factors that need to be addressed for an exchange to be successful, however, setting up an exchange does not need to be difficult.  

The two most important factors to implementing an exchange are:

• Selecting the right software to administer the exchange
• Choosing the right plans to offer

What to look for in an Exchange software solution

• Employee decision support tool
• Does the software provide enough information to help your employees make the best decision for them?  Is there a recommendation engine to provide the best options based on an employees current situation?  
• Simple, well-defined interface
• Can a first time user easily understand what they’re seeing?  Is the information presented in a clear, straightforward manner?
• Interactive shopping experience
• One of the benefits of an exchange is that the employee has greater flexibility to create their own benefits portfolio.  The plan selection should be easy to understand, follow and complete.
• Automation
• Once elections are made, the exchange should simplify the transmission of elections to carriers, deductions to payroll, etc.  Re-typing any information is to be avoided at all costs.

Defined Contribution vs. Defined Benefit?

Defined contribution means the employer offers a fixed dollar amount to the employee for the selection of health coverage at their discretion.  The defined contribution model allows the employee greater freedom to create their own benefit portfolio, selecting benefits based on their individual needs. Quickly gaining prominence in the marketplace, this model gives the employer the ability to more accurately predict their total healthcare expense.

Defined benefit means the employer has a set health coverage plan in which the employee can enroll.  This model has more exposure to cost variations.

How can I set up an exchange at my company?

I strongly recommend that you work with your insurance broker to help you set up the exchange.  Your broker will work with carriers to negotiate the rates and terms so the plans you offer are right for your company.  Once your broker has helped you select appropriate plans, be sure to do your research and choose a software provider who will provide the right solution for your organization.

Give yourself at least 90 days before your open enrollment starts so the software can be configured for your company rules and all required data feeds can be built and tested.

For more information about WORKTERRA’s exchange capabilities, visit our website @ workterra.com or send me an email at dan (@) workterra.com

Sales Call Checklist

"You eat what you kill,"  my first sales manager had told me.  My base salary was so low that if I didn't earn some business, my paycheck was $413.13 a month (yes, I remember that amount almost 20 years later).

I was developing a brand new territory (all cold calls) and knew that if I wanted to make an impact, I needed tools.  The first tool I came up with was a very basic "Pre-Call Checklist."  I keep a replica on my desk, and I still use this philosophy before every call.

• I stopped here because:___________________________
• My main goal for this call is:________________________
• I will be happy if:_________________________________
• Don't get out of the truck until you can answer all 3 of these.

I trained myself to never get out of the truck unless I knew the answer to those 3 questions.  This gave me clarity of purpose and I never felt like I was wasting anyone's time. 

I am a goal setter by nature so this came naturally to me but I am amazed to hear salespeople tell the client, "I was in the neighborhood," or "I just stopped by to say hello."  If that's really the reason for taking up the their time, the client should toss you out.

Setting goals for a sales call gives you clarity of purpose.   Be respectful of other's time and have a clear objective to achieve.  If you do, you will be surprised how often you achieve it.