Monday, March 22, 2010

small spaces



If you've got a little space, this might fill the bill.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

great design….

Simple, easy to understand, and limitless in potential, Legos have been around since 1954.  The word Lego is shorthand Danish for “play well”.

As I look at future furniture design for our company, I spend a lot of time thinking of simplicity.  Brilliance in design, in my mind, comes not from how complex the design can be in a specific way, but how the design can serve the user in many ways.

Provence Sky Blue Microfiber Flared Arm Sofa

So, why am I showing you this sofa?  It comes knocked down, much like those Legos shown above.  With only six bolts in the hardware pack, it only takes minutes to assemble, but offers all the comfort (it even has pocketed coil seating) and style to make that cozy nook….cozy.  And because it ships in a box that UPS will handle, you can live in any Podunk in and get it delivered right to your door.  

Friday, March 19, 2010

change at the post office

The post office is a $75 billion behemouth that is working itself to $50 billion at breakneck pace. A few weeks ago, the Postmaster General floated a plan to discontinue Saturday deliveries as a way to get the post office in the black, at least temporarily.

Change is happening everywhere at breakneck pace. In the last 20 years or so, the internet, Federal Express, UPS, and more have taken a bite out of the post office's proverbial rear end. And, it doesn't look like it's going to stop.

Since the post office isn't subsidized with tax dollars, it needs to think more proactively to deal with its future problems. It seems, at least to me, the post office is the deliverer of last resort, with less time sensitive material than ever before.

If the Postmaster General was making a real effort, the plan would include delivering mail three days a week, instead of six. Half the letter carriers would be removed from the street. Desk service could still stay at current levels, and mail could be received at the post office for off days. There might have to be additional help at the windows, but that would be dwarfed by the savings on the street.

This is the type of thinking the post office needs as it moves into more difficult waters. Or, they could go the route of Blockbuster and just wait until the decision is made for them.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

good planning.....



If this is the first sign you see...

this one is sure to follow.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

more than a game....


People who know me well know I love baseball. I love the sounds, the smells, the nuances that make the game different than any I know.

It's the one game that allows those with less talent and athletic ability to prevail over those with more of both through dedication, practice, patience, and desire. It's the one game that measures the person in a way that crosses over into real life.

I coached for a number of years. What I remember from those days isn't wins and losses, but the kids, their personal fears, their smiles, their triumphs, really everything about them.

One person in particular was Peter. He was kind of a fringe player, but did his best. During one game, he missed a fly ball. He broke down in the outfield and started crying. Quickly, I sent in a substitute and met him as he came off the field.

He needed a hug, and that's what he got, right in front of the whole world. I told him I was proud of him. I told him he was good. And, I sent him back in the game. Redemption, just like that.

In all my years as a professional, I've never had a moment like that.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

I love this woman



Sandra Bullock showed up to accept her award for "Worst Picture" at the Razzies for "All About Steve".

How cool is that?

I'm a wuss...

A couple of weeks ago, I was waiting at a traffic light, when a frantic woman came to my window saying she and her family had broken down on the highway; Could I help? She needed money.

I dipped into my pocket and found a $20 bill and handed it to her and moved on, leaving her behind.

Did she break down? I don't know. Am I a wuss for giving her the cash? Probably.
But, something has happened to me over the past few years. I've learned from my failures that my successes are not that important, that it's important to stay in the mindset of failure, to be empathetic of those who are not as fortunate and to remember that success is often lucky.

So, as I looked at this, I wasn't going to judge. I was going to help.