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Why Socrates…

Why Socrates

Our Logo – Socrates

By now most of you know that our logo is an OWL named after the Greek philosopher Socrates. He was the teacher of Plato and Aristotle. We chose Socrates as that is the method of teaching that I use the most. The Socratic Method. This method is most commonly described as “a form of cooperative argumentative dialogue between individuals, based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out ideas underlying presuppositions.”

In other words, I teach by asking questions and helping my students develop the answers by critical thinking and debate. I help my students understand how to teach themselves.

Socrates aimed to establish an ethical system based on human reason by pointing out that our choices were motivated by the desire for happiness, and that wisdom comes from introspection.

I always ask at the beginning of every teaching experience that I have three questions: –

  • What is the definition of ignorance?
  • What is the definition of stupidity?
  • What is the definition of insanity?

Socrates is famous, among others things, for a wide range of quotations and I would like to share with you some of my favorites:

  1. True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us.
  2. I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think.
  3. The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.
  4. Nature has given us two ears, two eyes, and but one tongue – to the end that we should hear and see more than we speak.
  5. In childhood be modest, in youth temperate, in adulthood just, and in old age prudent.
  6. Nothing is to be preferred before justice.
  7. Happiness is unrepentant pleasure.
  8. Enjoy yourself – it’s later than you think.
  9. Once made equal to man, woman becomes his superior.
  10. The unexamined life is not worth living.

 

He once said “Whom do I call educated? First those who manage well the circumstances they encounter day to day. Next, those who are decent and honorable in their intercourse with all men, bearing easily and good naturedly what is offensive in others and being as agreeable and reasonable to their associates as is humanly possible to be…those who hold their pleasures always under control and are not ultimately overcome by their misfortunes….those who are not spoiled by their successes, who do not desert their true selves but hold their ground steadfastly as wise and sober-minded men.” This is a description of an individual that all of us should strive to be seen as ourselves.

Today we look upon Socrates as a positive influence on the development of the human race. His life ended when the political climate in Greece turned against him. He was sentenced to death and was executed by Hemlock poison in 399 B.C. He was 71 years old.

The answers to my three questions at the outset of this blog are as follows: –

  • Ignorance is not knowing what to do.
  • Stupidity is knowing what to do and not doing it.
  • Insanity is repeating the same things expecting different results.

The issue of the CED magazine, of the Associated Equipment Distributors, that contained my last monthly column after twenty-five years, had a nice article written by my editor of more than twenty years, Kim Phelan. The headline, of the article,  included a statement of mine “Teaching Turns My Crank.”

May you learn something important for each of you every day.

The Time is Now.

P.S.: We are pleased to report that our Logo, Socrates, and our Company Name, Learning Without Scars, have both received U.S. Trademark protection effective May 2020.

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Innovation and the Challenge

Innovation and the Challenge

Last week we talked about the challenge in the acquisition and retention of the talented people that you would need over the coming years. We also addressed the challenge of the new partnerships required between businesses and the education system.  Through this partnership, we can fill the learning to employment chasm.

Now I would like to turn to where we have more direct control: Innovation.

This year we are seeing rapid and healthy capital spending by business across the country. This is the precursor to improvements in productivity in the workforce which will lead to higher wages.  These are all good things.

However, what are YOU doing to innovate your way to higher productivity?

Let’s quickly review some high-performance benchmarks for parts and service.

Parts & Service Sales > 40% of Total Dealer Sales.

No matter what you think, you can achieve this level of sales IF you achieve higher market share numbers. BUT that will not be easy. It will not be achieved if all you do is continue to do what you have always done.  You would do well to remember the definition of insanity here, as I reference it so often: continuing to do what you have always done, while expecting a different result.

Some key steps to achieving higher market share:

 Obtain complete accurate machine ownership lists.
 Segment your marketplace.
 Establish a market coverage strategy.
 Assign customers to external and internal sales teams; in the filed and on the telephone.
 Train your market coverage personnel in territory management.
 Establish specific objectives for purchases for each of your assigned customers.

THEN YOU NEED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Operations need to be tuned up as well. Let’s start with productivity. Do you think that with your current structures and personnel levels you will be able to handle the business that will come with the above action steps? No matter what you think you can achieve this level of sales It will never be achieved if all you do is continue to do what you have always done.

We need to attack the structures. So, let’s go back to our fundamental question:

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WHEN IT IS RIGHT?

To start with all parts and service sales prices are at retail customer price for the following benchmarks. No, you don’t need to change how you price things, although that would be the right thing to do, you can simply do the arithmetic.

To operate at high levels of productivity requires the following benchmarks be achiever. Personnel Costs as a percentage of Sales Revenue.

Parts < 7%
Service < 15%

The above two measures will lead to sales per employee numbers. If you are higher than the above measures then you need to focus on innovation. Improve methods, processes, systems and everything you can to achieve the personnel numbers above. The only way you can achieve radical improvements in operational performance is if you get all of your employees involved in the process.

Remember: Understanding, Acceptance and then Commitment.

More on that next time.

The Time is NOW.

Friday Filosophy #2015-35

For our Friday Filosophy #2015-35 I want to give you all a quick peek at what we do in our classrooms.  In nearly every one of our learning classes I ask for definitions of three words: ignorance, stupidity and insanity.

There is a lot of hemming and hawing but ultimately we get to the end.

Ignorance is not knowing what to do.

Stupidity is know what to do and not doing it.

Insanity is continuing to do what you have always done expecting different results.

Pretty straightforward, I think.

How can we know what to do if we don’t read? So today rather than put out quotations to stimulate your thinking I am going to give you some authors that you should be reading.

Patrick Lencioni. This man has been extremely busy with ten or so books to his name. All of them are great reads and very insightful. Try “The Three Signs of a Miserable Job” and “The Five Dysfunctions of team.”

The second author is Clayton Christenden. Two books come to mind with this author; “How Will You Measure Your Life” and “The Innovator’s Dilemma.”

Finally are three individual books; Bold: How To Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the World and finally Abundance: The Future is Better Than You Think.

Fall is a wonderful season for reading. I hope you take some time and get these books and continue with your personal development.

The time is now.