The Executive Summary / Overview / Profile. As seen on Small Business School on PBS-member stations in the USA and the Voice of America around the world. The best little show on television about the American spirit.

Key evocative questions: How can I help?

last update: March 2007

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How can we do it better?

Steve Hoffman's first breakthrough was getting 32 images on a single plate

"The theory of constraints is a system...
a thinking process," explains Steve Hoffman. He says that we are only as strong as our weakest link.

Carlsbad, California: Another episode of the show about the American Dream, it is the dream of everyone to be economically independent. It takes work, thought, integrity and tenacity. Though he started off life as a photographer with no special privileges, his father, a cabinet-maker (sole proprietor), gave him very good advice.

Meet Steve Hoffman. He was smitten by process control and the theory of constraints. How can you get 32 postcards on one sheet of paper and maintain quality? That's California kaizen. Other references to performance management are at the bottom of this page.

Digital Workflow. Can you extend any and all your business processes through the web? Believe it or not, that's where we are all going. How robust are you? Can you run your business from anywhere in the world? When you begin trying to do it, you'll be forced into process thinking. It's an integrative, next step on the evolutionary path of our thinking.

The Transcript. Read the transcript and dig into the study guide. Then there are all those concepts that have been touched in other episodes (below) and all their transcripts and study guides for the various episodes for all the people you meet here. There is also a page to print the entire transcript.

Your roadmap. We invite you to build your own business case online and interactively, a roadmap for your future. Register here (email) and make it a collaborative project with your employees.

If you are one of the 17 million sole proprietors, make it a collaborative project with your CPA, bankers, advisors, suppliers, and contractors. Everybody will love it, you'll build your business, and you may discover you have something to pass on to the next generation. Also, review the episode entitled, People Power. Think more about the empowerment from the web and technology, be sure to spend some time with the episode about an e-culture.

CONTACT(S):
Modern Postcard
1675 Faraday Avenue
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Tel: 800.959.8365 760.431.7084
Email: Click here.
URL: http://modernpostcard.com

WATCH TELEVISION THAT TEACHES

Key Ideas of this episode

1.		Achieve Digital Workflow
2.		Honor Your Past
3.		Listen To The Marketplace
4.		Know the Theory of Constraints
5.		Create Esprit de Corps
6.		Do The Customer's Heavy Lifting
7.		Be A Process Leader
8.		Create Space That Inspires Quality
9.		Make Goals Fun
10.		Reward With A Splash
11.		Keep Your Promises

They conquer who believe they can. He has not learned the first lesson of life who does not every day surmount a fear. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

MISSION & VISION STATEMENTS: Have a clear mission and vision statement. We here at SmallBusinessSchool have some work to do! Our mission and vision are too detailed.

If you have strong clear statements and general agreement about their place in the business, post them on a bulletin board. Then, every month or so, ask somebody what they are. Give them $50 if they get them right. Think about it.

STUDY PROCESS PEOPLE: Learn from people who started their own business and grew it to over a billion in gross revenues.
- Ebby Halliday started with nothing.
- Cross Timbers (XTO) did an IPO.
- eHarmony has the right idea at the right time with the right stuff and the right history.

UNDERSTANDING WEALTH: Don't be afraid of it; you can handle it.

WORK THROUGH STEP 7: Sustainability. Be sure to review the special episodes, one on people power and the other about exit strategies. When you begin working on that strategy, you'll begin putting systems in place.

THE FOUR BASIC QUESTIONS: These are questions we all answer over and over again throughout a lifetime. These are process questions. If you don't ask them, you won't have a quick answer. "Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? And, what is the meaning and value of life?" These are known as the Kantian Questions after the great philosopher, Immanuel Kant.

JOIN, JOIN, JOIN: Your professional associations in your industry are your key to continuing education, market research, collaborations, strategic partnerships, capital and so much more ... often you'll find that you enjoy like-minded people and many will become friends for life. More..

SUPPORT PUBLIC TELEVISION:
Become a member of your local station. If you are already, great. If not and your business is doing well, consider joining the Producers' Club ($1000). More...

A review of the diversity of this performance industry (through Episodes of SmalllBusinessSchool)
*Resources for Kaizen* Cultures:**	Episode	Founder:	Study Guide:

Theory of Constraints - Goldratt	902	Steve Hoffman	Modern Postcard
Malcolm Baldrige - FAQs	1508	Dale Crownover	Texas Nameplate
Six Sigma - GE PDF	1201	Peter Skeffington	Time Technology
I-Power - Boardroom	1004	Marty Edelston	Boardroom
Continuous Improvement Cycle	911	Corbett/Bowden	Transition Associates
Knowledge management & CRM	912	Jon O'Keefe	KMPInternet
Leadership - Resources	1305	Keith Grint	Oxford
Total Quality Management - author	1306	Mike Neary	Oregon Log Homes
Performance Management	908	Meeko Mullin	ESOP

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. We invite your comments and questions. Was the show inspirational and/or educational? We hope this show is both!

A review of the diversity of this performance industry (through Episodes of SmalllBusinessSchool)
Kaizen Cultures, History

Theory of Constraints, Goldratt Institute	Steve Hoffman	Modern Postcard
Malcolm Baldrige,	Dale Crownover	Texas Nameplate
Six Sigma, PDF	Peter Skeffington	Time Technology
I-Power, Boardroom	Marty Edelston	Boardroom
Continuous Improvement Cycle	Corbett/Bowden	Transition Associates
Knowledge management & CRM	Jon O'Keefe	KMPInternet
Leadership, Resources	Keith Grint	Oxford
Total Quality Management, TQM author	Mike Neary	Oregon Log Homes
Performance Management	Meeko Mullin	ESOP

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