The Outliers Inn
The Outliers Inn is a place where people from all businesses and roles within business can examine goings-ons from different and hopefully humourous perspectives. It’s a place where we can be a lot less serious about ourselves, what we do, what our businesses do, and the manner in which they do it. Whether you are in finanance, sales, logistics, production. operations, human resources. facilities management. information technology – whatever your role might be – business people are always taking themselves too seriously – or are taken too seriously by others. All that ends here. It’s a place where respectful irrevernce and self-deprecating humor is the order of the day. We release a new podcast at least once a month though when during the month that is varies based on everyone’s schedule. Please consider subscribing to the podcast so as not to miss an episode.
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Episode-84; Predictions, Take-2
01/29/2024
Episode-84; Predictions, Take-2
Video Version About the Podcast Welp, to start-off the year, JP pulled a major boner. We got together for this session on January 8th and it was a pretty good session; that is, until JP realized he forgot to hit the "record" button at the end of the session when he went to turn the recording off… DOH! So, you will understand the much deserved razzing at the beginning of the session as everyone takes turns bustin' on JP. Mule starts us off with a prediction that the robotics team that he coaches will crush all the other teams on their way to victory in the Chesapeake District. But his other prediction (albeit, a prediction that affects very few people) is the number of companies that are going to be scratching their heads over the changes in how research and development investments and expenses are treated. Peter joins us and shares that he has had a poor go of it fishing for carp, they aren't biting. JP asks if he eats the carp, and Peter shares his recipe. You clean the carp and wrap it around an ash stick and bake it in the oven for an hour. Then you throw the fish away and eat the stick. A real trooper, Don joins us all the way from China where he is commissioning a machine for a customer and visiting other vendors while there. His big prediction is it will be the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens in the Superbowl, and that it will end in a tie; a claim he refused to abandon even though the Superbowl could never end in a tie. So that means we have guests who are from scattered places across the globe. There is Stephane in France (where it was 1800h), Peter from the United Kingdom (where it was 1700h), Donna and JP in New York, Mule in Virginia (all from 1200h), and Don in China (where it was 0100h, the next day) on this session. Stephane predicts that every session at The Outliers Inn will start with everyone reminding JP to hit the "record" button. He also muses what will happen when AI meets quantum computing; and this sets the subject thread for the rest of the session; predictions regarding AI and sharing hopes and dreams as well as the good, the bad, and the ugly. JP shares that he predicts copywriters will be challenged to remain gainfully employed. He is already using ChatGPT to create or refine webpages and other marketing collateral. But is not satisfied the capabilities can replace a writer who has established a writing style (he calls it a writer's "voice"). And, of course, he is always wary of "deep fakes" in an age where people already don't trust what they are seeing in the news. The discussion gets as varied as it is deep; deep what, is the question. Give a listen. Oh, and assuming everything in play proceeds on its present trajectory and nothing new or major is introduced, JP boldly predicts Donald Trump will be re-elected President. Give a listen!
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Episode-83; Endings and Beginnings
12/12/2023
Episode-83; Endings and Beginnings
Video Version About the Podcast Welcome to another episode of The Outliers Inn With it being near the end of another year the theme of this episode is endings and beginnings where we will speak with our guests about what might have ended for them this past year and what they look forward to beginning in the next. We have a few new guests at The Outliers Inn; in addition to the regular irregular Stéphane from Belgium and your cohosts JP and Mule, Donna from upstate New York and Peter from the UK have joined us. Unfortunately Don the beer man is on assignment in Milwaukee and will not be able to join us today. The episode starts with a technical challenge with Mule dropping from the session. But as they say in theater the show must go on. So, JP begins the episode without him only to have mule rejoin a few minutes into the program. JP shares some wisdom which he gained while seated at Bryant park in New York City having a legal beverage and listening to the music. While sitting there minding his own business a bird dropped a turd on his table. The wisdom is to refrain from looking up. Donna shares a rather bold decision in leaving the comfort and security of a regular paycheck as a senior executive and starting her own ventures; with all the emotions that went into making that decision. And Mule shares his making a similar decision some years prior. Unlike JP who started his business when he had nothing to lose, both Donna and Mule started their businesses when they were well into adulthood and when the decision carried considerable risk. Stéphane shared that he has moved into a senior leadership position with his company and is learning how to navigate the changes that come along with it. And JP and Stéphane shared with the guests their recent meet up in Strasbourg at the Christmas market and what a pleasure it was; and the hunt for the Strasbourg Glühwein mug. Peter, being the only retiree on the show, is having a random wonder for what the German phrase for “Charcuterie Board” might be (it’s “Schneidebrett”. When pressed why, he shares that he is having a plate of German meats and was just wondering. He also shares how he has taken up fishing as a hobby and that he's getting more involved in the Boy Scouts. It keeps him busy and out of trouble. All in, an enjoyable and fun conversation. Give a listen!
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Episode-82; Oktoberfest
11/06/2023
Episode-82; Oktoberfest
Video Version About the Podcast So welcome back to The Outliers Inn! In spite of the incredible odds that recent history has demonstrated, Mule finally gets the timing right and is able to join as the co-host. It's just as well, because Don, "The Beer Man" is MIA for today's episode. Mule starts by sharing the reports of automobile break-ins throughout California are real. He was on assignment and went into a restaurant in a nice area of town and folks broke into his rental vehicle and stole his computer bag; notebook, phone, papers, all gone. … Note to self; avoid California. JP shares a rather peculiar habit with his dog, a female mini-poodle. She has a favorite stuffed animal and which she likes to lay into in a very friendly sort of way. And she will lay into that stuffed animal until she has "friendly sort of way'd" all of the stuffing out of it. She has gone through four of the things so far, and JP keeps a safety stock at home just in case. Mule shares that he has been car-shopping recently for his two grown daughters, but that he has also purchased an old 1989 Ford Taurus SHO; JP is not impressed. But Mule goes on to proclaim all of the virtues of the vehicle, including its high-output motor (even if packaged in a rather boring vehicle body) and how much he loves it. To each his own, eh? One of the maintenance crew at The Outliers Inn recently totalled his Camry (there were no injuries other than pride). It's not so much that there was a lot of obvious damage, but the Camry was darn near 20+ years old and the repairs were more than the value of the vehicle. But what was strange is that a new Camry was $28k while an used Camry that was four years old and had 60k+ miles on it was $21k. It begged the question (even if against conventional wisdom); why would a person buy a used car when a new was just a bit more? Stephane also shares that he had some recent vehicle problems. And, unfortunately, the problems did not occur locally to his home, adding to the complexity of it getting repaired. And he also shares that he will be visiting the States during the Christmas Season; stopping at sever cities on the East Coast; including Philadelphia. I hope he doesn't leave his belongings in the car and that he takes out the insurance. Enjoy! Give a listen!
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Episode-81; What I did on my summer vacation
09/11/2023
Episode-81; What I did on my summer vacation
Video Version About the Podcast So welcome back to The Outliers Inn! As is getting to be habit, our co-host Mule has somehow managed to weasel his way out of working his shift with some lame excuse about a traffic jam around Washington DC. How a person can live so long there and not expect traffic; well, perhaps we pick that up another time. It is a good thing that my irregular regular, Don “the beer man” Burshnick is willing and able to work both sides of the bar. JP Starts the conversation by sharing and experience from high school about returning from summer vacation. Inevitably the teacher would ask for a 500-word essay sharing what we did on our summer vacation. For me, I went fishing and I went swimming. Now I have to find another 494 words of blah-blah to get up to 500 words. Maybe that’s why even today we feel we have to add a ton of words to a report to make it “credible” while knowing full well nobody will read after the first page (even if that) while simultaneously ensuring that the messaging in the document will be lost. And JP and Don share their one thing in common this past summer was that they both had no summer vacation. Although JP won some good money in Saratoga betting on the ponies, he muses that he strung together a couple of days vacation here and there, but most people would simply call that the weekend. Another regular at the Inn, Stephane, rejoins us. He shares with us that he and his family took summer vacation, and amongst other activities visited Pisa, Italy. His being from Belgium makes it sometimes difficult to understand him; which is why I added a picture of the Leaning Tower when he says “Pisa tour”. He also shares that the clutch in his car failed and that took three weeks to get the work done and it returned. But at least it was summer, and he could ride his bike to work. And it was a real pleasure to welcome Bernard, a new guest, to The Outliers Inn. Bernard is from Indiana and works at a winery while going to school and raising a family. Even though Bernard has a lot going on, he managed to take a vacation with his family where they played games (including Fortnight) went to the beach, and visited other family members. So welcome to The Outliers Inn. Open up a legal beverage of your choice and enjoy your stay. Give a listen!
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Episode-80; (Re)Setting Attitudes, The Peter Principle, Golf, and more.
02/20/2023
Episode-80; (Re)Setting Attitudes, The Peter Principle, Golf, and more.
Video Version About the Podcast Another episode of The Outliers Inn with "The Beer Man" joining JP and Mule as co-co-host. Maybe he will become a regular co-co-host (he's already an irregular regular guest here at The Outliers Inn. After a brief acknowledgement that the Super Bowl was pretty entertaining, but nobody we know really cared who won, we get into more interesting topics. JP shares his recent experiences visiting southern Africa for an assignment with him starting in Johannesburg (Jo'berg) and then going to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. He had been there many times before from around 1995(ish) through 2010(ish) and was looking very much forward to the return (JP simply loves southern Africa). What he loves the most is that it provides a giant, and healthy, attitude adjustment. As he explains, people in G20 countries have a tendency to complain about every little thing (real or imagined) that might possibly go wrong. All you have to do is watch videos of "Karens" to know what we mean. But in southern Africa (and many other less developed locations), things not going right are the norm and folks celebrate when things go as they should. The electricity is on? Yay! The internet is working? Yay! It's better to drive on the roads than on the shoulder? Yay! Getting arrested for speeding and being able to give the policeman $5 to be let go? Well, that works out better in southern Africa. Call it a "facilitation fee". Mule then shares his experiences with "The Peter Principle", where people get promoted to a level of incompetence. I am sure we have all seen it in action; some real rockstar (sales person, mechanic, whatever) get promoted to manage others in the hopes that the "magic dust" that makes him an expert gets sprinkled on those they will now manage. But the person is an expert at what they do, not being a manager. And unless taught those skills, will likely fail. Don shares his latest concoctions that are brewing. Sam shares his experiences training others in Denmark and that he will be supporting an office in Hamburg, Germany. And steve from southern California shares his love of golf and the work he is doing with a golf foundation and their work with youths, especially those who might not normally have the opportunity to be exposed to the game. To hear Steve describe it, the effort is a significant and impactful one that is responsible for millions of dollars in its programs; certainly not like something a person might expect from the local Kiwanis chapter. And no visit to The Outliers Inn would be complete without Mule going into very great detail about the high school robot competition with which he has been involved for many years. Give a listen!
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Episode-79; Travel, Robots, Focus, and ChatGPT
02/06/2023
Episode-79; Travel, Robots, Focus, and ChatGPT
Video Version https://vimeo.com/795988927 About the Podcast What’s better than two hosts? Why, three, of course! Mule said he couldn’t make it, so JP drafted Don (who is an irregular regular and has stepped-in to the role of co-host in the past). But, wouldn’t you know it, Mule was able to join. So, we have a three-way! The podcast starts as it normally does, with JP talking about air travel experiences and Mule talking about robots. As “process and systems guys”, air travel is always a source for some head-scratching and musing. JP recounts a recent trip through Frankfurt where the “Gold Track” for security suddenly disappeared with the alternative being a 90 minute wait. Not wanting to wait 90 minutes, JP made his own “Gold Track”. Problem solved. And Mule shares this year’s robot challenge and the operating parameters the robot must successfully complete. He seems happy with the progress so far. Wilson joins us next. JP has known Wilson for well over a decade, having met at an industrial engineering conference. Both JP and Wilson vividly remember the encounter. Wilson came to JP at JP’s company booth and started complaining that his company lost the “focus”, and he needed to try to find a way to get the “focus” back. He went on an on lamenting about the “focus”. Except, with his heavy Brazilian accent, it didn’t sound like “focus”. Next, we welcome Curtis from Charleston. Being a fairly recently-minted entrepreneur who left the corporate world a few years ago to start his own consultancy, Curtis shares the challenges of balancing roles and responsibilities; of particular challenge is the “honey-do” list. And last, but not least, we welcome Stephane (another irregular regular, or is it regular irregular) to The Outliers Inn. Other than JP sharing the story of his failed attempt to meet Stephane for some holiday cheer, Stephane shares his recent introduction to ChatGPT (an Artificial Intelligence content generation app). Stephane then shares how an entire persona can be created out of thin air; pictures, video, resume, content that establishes the fictitious (or real) person as a “thought leader”. He even has ChatGPT create a couple of posts for LinkedIn while talking about ChatGPT. Come and give a listen. We are sure you will enjoy this episode.
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Episode-78; Holi-DAZE
12/27/2022
Episode-78; Holi-DAZE
Video Version https://vimeo.com/theoutliersinn/holi-daze About the Podcast This episode of The Outliers Inn finds the hosts, JP and Mule, a bit dazed and confused from the very start; as in, who’s going to start?! holi-daze JP starts by sharing that the year went by in a flash because of engagements and travel and this has left him a bit Holi-DAZED coming into the end of the year. This includes having to fight the horde on Thanksgiving Sunday and spending his 60th birthday in an airport hotel awaiting a return to Frankfurt (but at least the good folks at Saison at Newark Airport made a kind birthday gesture). Mule shares that he won’t travel from Thanksgiving through the New Year unless a dire emergency. The conversation turns from travel to that seasonal sport; gift shopping. JP postulates that “women shop, guys buy” going back to pre-history when the women foraged, and the men hunted. As such, JP has relied heavily (exclusively) on Amazon-Germany for his Holiday shopping (bonus that you can buy all manner of legal beverages on Amazon-Germany). Come give a listen and enjoy a hot toddy as you do…
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Episode-77; Thanksgiving
11/16/2022
Episode-77; Thanksgiving
Video Version https://vimeo.com/771047950 About the Podcast In this episode, JP is thankful to have a regular guest at The Outliers Inn, Don "Beer Man" Burshnick, able to step up and be the co-host on zero notice because Mule has forgotten (yet again) to be in a state of readiness to fulfill his hostly duties. Thanks Beer Man! Beer Man, coming from a long line of early starters, shares that he is thankful for recently becoming a great grandfather. And JP is thankful his book has been very well recieved and the thoughts contained therein has resonated with his intended audience and has generated a lot of business; his 2022 has been his busiest ever and 2023 looks to be at least as busy. But come to find out that Mule (who joined as a guest a bit later) was away hunting pheasant in the midwest United States. And fortunately, neither he nor anyone else in his party pulled a "Dick Cheney"; or worse, and "Alec Baldwin". They did manage to get 190 birds. JP, not being against hunting, was nonetheless concerned because that seemed like an aweful lot of birds. But Mule went to explain that the birds are raised to be harvested in the hunt. So the population is sustained and not strained. JP shares that this is similar to the practices in Southern Africa where the herd is managed and maintained for hunting and, without this industry, the animals would surely be in jeapardy. Stephane joins the conversation and continues Mule's conversation regarding the drought conditions he saw while on the hunt. He shares that it has been a very challenging year for the farm industry because of the weather and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But he is thankful that his company is working hard and making progress to help farmers and their crops endure the increasingly unpredictable weather. So come and give a listen!
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Episode-76; Harvest Time
10/23/2022
Episode-76; Harvest Time
Video Version https://vimeo.com/theoutliersinn/harvest-time About the Podcast Mule welcomes everyone to The Outliers Inn and introduces this episode's theme; harvest time. And he kicks-off the conversation by sharing what he is presently harvesting from his garden; including sunflowers. Mule shares how there is some insect that infests the sunflowers and attacks the seeds so that they are empty. Not to be outdone, JP shares that his sunflowers would be just a day or two from being ready to pick and squirrels would beat him to it; gorging themselves on the sunflowers. JP also shares that the fruits in Europe are unusually tiny this year because of the draught that was experienced. But the conversation soon turns to matters of business, and the harvesting of opportunities with companies wanting to pull in their numbers to end the year with a bang. However, the business sowing, growing, and harvesting seasons do not (necessarily) follow that of crops. Sometimes it can take moments, sometimes it can take years, for an opportunity sown to be harvested. And also unlike crops, you have to sow many seeds all year long, every year, to have any yield whatsoever. Sam joins us from Sweden and confesses he is a city-folk and the closest he comes to harvesting crops is going to the grocery store and filling a basket. But like Mule and JP, he is always sowing the seeds of opportunity; with his preferred soil for planting being LinkedIn. And Stephane rejoins us to share his thoughts on sowing and growing. Being particularly close to the subject, he shares his thoughts on proper soil preparation and maintenance; which does not (necessarily) include spreading a liquid manure concoction over the fields. It’s a good session with interesting conversations; even as we stretch and contort farming terminology to fit business.
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Episode-75; Coincidences
09/25/2022
Episode-75; Coincidences
Video Version https://vimeo.com/748326212 About the Podcast Mule kicks of the conversation at The Outliers Inn with the season wrap of robots season. Kids being kids, they start off wearing their "Sunday best" and end-up dragging the duds through the grass playing frisbee after the official goings-on are done. JP laments about how packed the flights are. But that there is an upside with his travels as the people along the route (flight attendants, restaurant personnel, and so on) have become familiar with his ways and see to it that all is good; and it is good. JP also shares that he changed-out his old notebook for a latest and greatest; and how easy it was to make the change as compared to times past. But whereas JP has one notebook, Mule shares he has several and the challenges therein. JP is the first to share a coincidence, combined with a life-hack. The life hack is that he introduces himself and chats folks up at the hotel bar. Because, drinking alone indicates a problem, but he is always sure to drink with someone else. But the coincidence is that JP has loved space programs since Apollo and Skylab. He used to write and IBM and get all sorts of cool pics, pamphlets, and patches. And while on a project in Denver, he met some NASA pilots who were on the and who were in Denver to train on the "vintage" 747 simulator. Well, one thing led to another and the pilots invited JP to join them at the simulator the next day. Of course, JP messaged the client and let them know he was going to be late the next day and he "flew" the 747 out of SFO, towards the Golden Gate Bridge, out to Napa Valley, and then landed back at SFO. He was a happy guy. Esther joins us and shares that she believes coincidences do not exist, but that things in life happen because they are meant to happen, there is always a reason; definitely in the "Gibbs Rule Nr.37, there is no such thing as coincidence." Mule gets all scientific and etymological on us and postulates that a coincidence is a collision, and its rather difficult to put into words here; you gotta give a listen. And just when you think it can't get any deeper, Ester injects into the conversation. Thankfully, Don brings us back to Earth and raises the most perplexing conundrum; there are 24 hours in a day, and 24 beers in a case - coincidence?
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Episode-74; Travel Tips and Tricks
08/09/2022
Episode-74; Travel Tips and Tricks
Video Version https://vimeo.com/737895244 About the Podcast Welcome to another episode of "The Outliers Inn". Today's theme is travel tips and tricks. Whether by train, plane, or automobile, anyone who has traveled recently has probably experienced some level of anguish. We have seen the countless challenges people are facing broadcast on the media; flights cancelled, runways melting, soon to be lost luggage stacked to the heavens, automobile reservations taken but not held, check-in and security lines that are miles long, and so on… It's a wonder anyone is willing to travel at all, yet the flights are all packed and the hotels and rental cars all booked. In this episode, the hosts at The Outliers Inn - and special sidekick Don "The Beer Man" Burshnick - being seasoned and veteran road warriors, share some of their traveling stories and the wisdom gained from their experiences. Travel tips and tricks Two most important nuggets of wisdom; Always allow more time than you might need such as getting to the airport early, allowing extra time for layovers, and such like. It will alleviate a lot of stress. Always have at least one back-up plan such as making sure that the last leg on your journey has a back-up flight in case yours is missed or cancelled. There are many more tips and tricks mentioned in the show, and the stories are fun with a lot of laughs. So come on in and give a listen.
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Episode-73; Making Mistakes
06/27/2022
Episode-73; Making Mistakes
Video Version https://vimeo.com/737108958 About the Podcast Welcome to another episode of "The Outliers Inn". Today's theme is making mistakes. It starts right off with Mule asking JP whether he made any mistakes lately. And JP shares that he just filed his taxes, and perhaps he made a mistake, only time (and the IRS) will tell. And JP follows this up claiming; "He thought he made a mistake once, but he was mistaken" and that he "didn't make any mistakes, only had learning experiences". That's what we'll call them; "learning experiences"… Yeah… That's the ticket… Hopefully any "learning experience" with JP's taxes and the IRS will not be too costly (in time or treasure). Mule confesses that his most notable mistake as of late was missing the last recording session at The Outliers Inn and leaving it to JP to scramble (fortunately, Don was able to stand-in). Then one by one, our guests share their "learning experiences". Don shares some learning experiences brewing beer (naturally). The results of some of the "learning experience" were better than expected and some were worse than hoped-for. Stephane shares that, being in research and development, he is in the business of having "learning experiences"; usually in the form of some kinetic event such as a fire, or some small explosions. Thankfully, other than some bruised egos, there have not been any serious injuries. However, sometimes expensive apparatus gets damaged or destroyed and it makes some people "widely unhappy". ;-) Esther then joins the conversation and she poses the question; "What is a mistake?" To which Stephane shares that the difference between a "learning opportunity" and a "mistake" is a matter of cost. If there is nominal cost, it's a learning opportunity. If the cost is significant, then it's a mistake. Sounds reasonable to us. All in, a chat that was good fun yet some interesting insights. Come give a listen.
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Episode-72; Time Wasters
05/07/2022
Episode-72; Time Wasters
Video Version https://vimeo.com/702398732 About the Podcast What do you do when the co-host forgets to come to the session? Well, at The Outliers Inn, you just roll with it. Indeed, "Mule" didn't show up so I called upon one of our regulars, Don "The Beer Man" Burshnick to stand in without notice. Thankfully, Don's a good sport and accepted; provided he gets 50% of the revenue from the show. Since 50% of nothing is nothing, of course I agreed. We also had a bit of a change in format. Usually, only the host and co-host have their cameras on with everyone else being voice only. In this episode, we left it to the guests to either use or not use their camera, and most of them decided to turn their cameras on! Still faces for radio, but what the heck. It did make for some challenges in post-production. The group went around talking about the various time wasters we must endure. There were the usual subjects; government, air travel, never-ending streams of meetings and the like and some counter-measures (or fantasies) for consideration. And of course, no visit to The Outliers Inn would be complete without some discussion about beer! JP and Stephane each sample one of Don's very-own concoctions, a beer made from ! A person might better call it Gummy Beers! It was sweet and tangy, like drinking liquified Skittles. But not bad at all! All in, a chat that was good fun. Come give a listen.
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Episode 71; Ardanans and Troglytes
04/25/2022
Episode 71; Ardanans and Troglytes
Video Version https://vimeo.com/687434120 About the Podcast The business response to COVID has seen that many employees are able to work (and manage) from the comforts of their home (or wherever) while those whose physical presence is required have no such option. In this episode, JP, Mule, and our guests talk about the benefits and risks of working remotely; more specifically, the "Knowledge Workers" can work remotely, but the "Wrench Turners" still have to come to where the production happens. Is there a risk of creating (or amplifying) a culture (work and social) that has defined classes; the elites and workers? How can those calling the shots understand and be empathetic with what is happening with those on the front line? What is the peril of such occurring, what are the signs, and how can it be avoided? Discuss. (Inspired by the Star Trek Episode; The Cloud Minders.)
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Episode-70; Travel, Robots, Gummy Bier, and Team Effectiveness
02/21/2022
Episode-70; Travel, Robots, Gummy Bier, and Team Effectiveness
Video Version https://vimeo.com/672105600 About the Podcast It’s another “Open Mic Night” at The Outliers Inn and JP and Mule are happy to welcome our guest and have a casual chat with whatever might be on their minds (and ours). JP starts off with sharing a return trip travel story from Newark back to Frankfurt which was quite like the movie “”. Having to reschedule the flight several times between; having family visiting Poland (the “Florida” of Europe where the COVID restrictions were always unofficially optional at best) and having nobody there to greet me when I arrived, to a snowstorm pushing it out a day, to having said family catch COVID in Poland (all was okay, but I sheltered in place), to moving the flight closer by a day to avoid yet another snowstorm – it was a VUCA trip that required OODA Loops to engage. Mule shares an update with the Robotics Competition including insights on the scoring requirements in the competition (much like scoring in gymnastics or figure skating) where the robot has to complete certain tasks. And also how his coaching changes as the students go from being Freshmen to Seniors (from more nurturing to more demanding). Our first guest is Stephane who joins us from France. And JP shares (and shows) that he is indulging in a “Gummy Bier”, a “heavy” beer coming in at 9% brewed by a regular at The Outliers Inn, Don and his son Dom. JP promised to bring a bottle back to Germany and send it to Stephane. Perhaps we will have the opportunity to share a real bier virtually on a future get together at The Outliers Inn. Stephane also gives us an update on his general goings-on and the latest COVID restrictions in France (which are still rather strict, but there are talks of loosening). Stephane then gets serious and starts to discuss creativity and innovation and the challenges of how to remain creative when working remote. And Sam rejoins us from Sweden. He shares that he likes bier and would also like to participate in tasting the “Gummy Bier”. Sam is interested in the topics of creativity and innovation introduced by Stephane and carries on with the subject; expanding the conversation to address and discuss the team effectiveness (or lack thereof) of people working remotely, but still being part of a team. How do we effectively communicate and collaborate. How do we remain aligned? So pull up a stool, pour yourself a legal beverage, and smoke ’em if you got ’em. Good stuff, and we will do a deeper dive in our next episode.
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Episode-69; Goals!
01/07/2022
Episode-69; Goals!
Video Version https://vimeo.com/662907369 About the Podcast In this episode, JP, Mule, and Guests talk about their goals for 2022… But first, there has to be a little more venting of the spleen by JP as he shares the absurdity that is the theater of COVID response by his experience at the Frankfurt Christmas Market (which was at full strength this year). You have to understand that the Frankfurt Christmas Market is huge. It's footprint is almost a half-mile (750m) by up to 200yd/m and there are probably 50 or so ways to enter it (between roads, sidewalks, building egresses, and public transport). The "rule" was that you had to be either vaccinated or have a negative COVID test and wear a mask. Although there was a considerable police presence, nobody checked to see if anyone was vaccinated or tested. And you didn't have to wear a mask if you were eating, drinking, or smoking; even in the main thoroughfares. The only time JP was asked to put on his mask was when he was entering an area to purchase a gluhwein (even though he was eating a bratwurst). He was told that he can only have his mask off if he were at a table, with the table being unseparated from the main thoroughfare except for a small wooden fence (post and rail). All theater… But then the conversation gets back to the intended subject; goals… JP shares that his goal for 2022 is to get more sun and warmth; complete with sand, palm trees, and the rum drinks with little umbrellas. He even wore a tropical shirt to get into the proper spirit. And the 6,000iu per day of Vitamin-D3 he is taking is not warding off the SAD. Mule shares that his goal is to have a successful "robotics" competition with the high-school students he mentors and that his daughters continue to successfully navigate their experiences at college (Mule insisted that it is his goal, not just theirs). And Don shares that he wants to get away to someplace tropical to relax. JP gets all excited thinking he might have a companion until Don specifies that he would be taking his wife; who also needs a break (but probably from Don).
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Episode-68; 2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate!
12/18/2021
Episode-68; 2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate!
Video Version https://vimeo.com/655831185 About the Podcast JP and Mule talk about appreciation and how important it is to show people they are appreciated. Better yet, tell them using the word appreciate. It's much more impactful than saying "thank you". Who do you appreciate? Do they know? Maybe it's a good idea to tell them; let them know. JP, Mule, and guests then spend some time appreciating those who have been impactful in their lives. But one thing JP noticed is how all the guests were appreciative of their wives for "putting up with their shit". Yet JP's wife doesn't let him get away with any shit. Hmmm….
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Episode-67; Supply Chain Woes
11/14/2021
Episode-67; Supply Chain Woes
Video Version https://vimeo.com/645728789 About the Podcast In this episode of The Outliers Inn, Mule, JP, and guests discuss reported challenges and disruptions in Supply Chains and Logistics. After all, we have seen it in all the media; ships parked for as far as the eye can see off or Los Angeles (and to a lesser extent, Newark), trains that are 25 miles long heading into Chicago, reports of a lack of trucks (and truck drivers), and the threats of bare shelves at the store and a real Grinch's Christmas. But how much of this is real and how much is hype? Other than having to pay more (much more), has anyone really found it difficult to access the items they need or want? And we also discuss what the "root cause(s)" of the challenges might be and how many of them are self-inflicted wounds - and are government efforts helping or hurting? JP, being in the EU (Germany) has to confess that he has not been personally affected by the alleged disruptions, everything seems to be normal. The same is true of Mule and our guests; except that Andy from the UK shares that they endured a disruption in fuel and had challenges buying "tights". But all in, anyone that needs to buy a GI Joe with the Kung-Fu Grip for a Holiday gift will be able to get one. But Mule and Don both shared that industrial items (chips, steel, machinery, have some pretty nasty lead times and these are threats to businesses. Lead times aside, smaller manufacturers are being sidelined as component manufacturers tend to their largest customers first. They may be told they will be getting product this week or next, but then "poof", their allocation has been re-allocated; probably to someone yelling louder, more important or (gasp) to someone willing to pay more.
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Episode-66; Getting punched in the mouth
10/25/2021
Episode-66; Getting punched in the mouth
Video Version https://vimeo.com/586186646 About the Podcast JP and Mule have had a lot of things go not according to plan; especially over the past couple of years. And we suspect that many of our listeners have had similar experiences. As Mike Tyson famously said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” So we are going to hang our hats on this quote and let it be the theme for this episode of The Outliers Inn. The hosts with the mosts start it off by proclaiming this episode is a plan that’s been punched in the mouth. JP thought it was supposed to be recorded on one day, Mule on another. So it was a scramble to get it recorded and, unfortunately, some of our guests didn’t make it! It seems to be that the root-cause might be the multiple channels of communication with one plan being established (or not) on one channel and another on another. JP shares that we are going to try LinkedIn Live (but that will probably be delayed). Mule shares that his current project involves bringing a new warehouse online for a fast-growing company. And, if anyone has ever been involved in a build, you know that nothing ever goes according to plan. And with the expected opening being imminent and necessary, and still not ready for occupancy, there are a lot of punches being thrown. And JP shares a catastrophic project with a company that made custom cabinet doors. When originally contracted, the intent was to extract the knowledge that was in the father’s brain and put it in a system so his children could run the business. But within a week of signing the contract, the father died. The implementation turned into a séance and it quickly went coyote ugly from there. Barry managed to find us in spite of our best efforts to be evasive. However, the story he shares of his experience participating in a conference is one for the ages; it all starts with his vendor booth not arriving. But what might have knocked others out only steeled Barry’s spine and with some very quick thinking and decisive decision making, he turns lemons into lemonade.
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Episode-65; Wacky Projects
09/18/2021
Episode-65; Wacky Projects
Video Version https://vimeo.com/572715914 About the podcast In this special episode of The Outliers Inn, JP and Mule welcome back one of the founding fathers (or is it non-birthing units); Antlerboy, who graces us with his presence after taking a bit of a dream walk (without the peyote buttons). Indeed, the Inn has not been the same without him - its certainly been better, but not the same. ;-) And we are happy to welcome back as guests some of our early and irregular guests; Peter (who is getting ready to transition out of the corporate world, from the back nine into the clubhouse), Stephane (who is enjoying his enhanced freedom now that France has relaxed its COVID restrictions), Don (who is still making award-winning craft beer, including a special gummy-bear concoction), and Allan from Quebec (who is retired, but still up for having a legal beverage with us and sharing his stories). JP also shares an "Easter Egg", ... Stay tuned... The entire episode is devoted to some of the more wacky projects, goings-on, and experiences we have had in general. There are a lot of laughs, banter, and self-deprecating humor that we are sure you will enjoy; so give a listen!
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Episode-64; Planning in a VUCA World
08/09/2021
Episode-64; Planning in a VUCA World
Video Version https://vimeo.com/559618985 About the podcast Living in a VUCA world. Mule and JP start the show with a topic that morphs as rapidly as a cicada's wings and which is about as irritating; the COVID rules and regulations du jour. JP shares his latest experience with traveling between Germany and the States. Whereas arriving to the States is a matter of having a right to be here (no tourists) and having a negative COVID test, going into Germany is (supposedly) more arduous. And even though JP summoned his Boy Scout skill (be prepared) and had a stack of papers at the ready in compliance with the EU/German requirements, the effort was a waste. The German Passport Control Authorities didn't want to see any of them - it was as if everything had returned to the "before time". JP also shares his first experience having a chicken sandwich at Chick-Fil-A. The sandwich was okay (although JP claims he did feel the love of Jesus and 'murica running through him with his first bite), he did marvel at the processes at the drive-though. With our guest, Damian, the conversation then goes on to discussing the challenges facing individuals and companies alike in an environment that is full of Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA) and what needs to be done to properly prepare. In such an environment, slack needs to be built into any approach. Planning too tightly leaves no room for maneuver when things don't go according to plan. Give a listen.
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Episode-63; The Importance of Mentorship
06/28/2021
Episode-63; The Importance of Mentorship
Video Version https://vimeo.com/553760709 About the podcast In this episode, in addition to the (ab)normal hosts JP and Mule, Don "the beer man" Burshnick is able to join in real life. JP starts with a lamentation from having to be on a project earlier than he is used to and shares some words of wisdom; folks shouldn't need to wake-up early except for huntin' and fishin'. But soon enough, the conversation moves on to it's main theme; mentorship. JP shares a story about a person who is in a leadership role at the project he is working on and how that person is probably in over his head, even if his heart is in the right place. What makes matters worse is that the senior leadership feels he is failing and instead of helping, they are abandoning him. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy; they believe he will fail so they don't offer any help, and he fails. Seeing this, JP took him under his wing and gave him some coping skills and leadership training; making sure to be available when needed and checking in on him on a daily basis. Mule and Don share their experiences in mentoring and being mentored along their life's journeys; in particular, Mule with high-school robotics teams and Don with Karate. Andy who is outstandingly mediocre joins from the UK where the discussion is gravitates towards the difference between mentorship and coaching; with the purest form of mentorship being times when the mentor doesn't know they are being a mentor. Doug joins us from "Joyzee" and is on the "back nine" shares his insights with recent mentoring opportunities; one with career advice and another where he offered his mentorship to a group of young people and was disappointed that so few accepted the opportunity (for reasons he is still pondering). Finally, Esther joins us from Sweden and shares her experiences being a mentor. She expresses her concerns about the use of AI in the candidate selection process and the possibility (probability) of filtering the best candidates in favor of those who know how to game the system and tailor their submittals to meet the job description.
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Episode-62; Getting the jab, optical rip-offs, mentoring, and getting back to nature
04/26/2021
Episode-62; Getting the jab, optical rip-offs, mentoring, and getting back to nature
Video Version https://vimeo.com/539686974 About the podcast In this episode, JP starts by sharing his lack of "readiness" for his latest trip to the States when he was called to a project in Florida. You see, he had packed for February and March in Upstate New York (where winter attire is the call of the day) and not Florida (where its darn hot in comparison); forcing him to either buy suitable clothes or melt. Meanwhile, Mule shares that he got his "jab" and JP shares that he has also. Mule reported being tired afterwards while JP complained of a headache and buzzing in his ears for a couple of days as the newly implanted chip synched with the 5G network and caused him to pee his pants a little every time his mobile phone rang or when he used the microwave. JP also shares that he had his long overdue eye exam (it had been 7yrs). The exam itself was rather uneventful and had no surprises, but his eyes nearly bugged out of his head when he was told it was going to be $950 for two pairs of glasses - and that was with a "buy-one/get-one special" offer; and it was going to take three weeks to get them. Fridiculous. So JP contacted a friend who gets his glasses online and was very satisfied - so JP decided to give it a try. A mere 10 days and $350 later, JP had his two pairs of glasses (one pair of which, he is wearing on the podcast). Moral of the story; don't waste your money at an optical, go online! This brings our first guest, Doug, who is recently retired. Unlike a previous guest who was recently retired and thought it a good idea to "optimize" his wife's kitchen, Doug has decided to be a mentor and resource for business and industrial and systems engineering to those in school or early in their careers. Good man, there. We are sure his efforts will be rewarding. Don "The Beerman" makes an on-camera guest visit (although he is drinking wine). JP called him to help on the project in Florida and they are sharing a company-owned house. Zoom has its benefits, for sure. But there is nothing like seeing things first hand to add the extra details that are often necessary to get the complete picture and the ideas flowing. Esther joins us again from Sweden and is fast becoming a welcome regular. She shares that she is working on building a new career that finds her with working with people from all over the world. She is creating a network of people to help people go back to nature and reconnect with and embrace nature. She shares how she and her network believe that technology can help people achieve this ambition and get back to their roots; that nature and technology are not incompatible. And, ultimately, the more we connect with ourselves, the more that we can understand that we create is full-circle. Come give a listen. There is a lot of good stuff here...
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Episode-61; More COVID nonsense, computer hygiene, and more beer
03/12/2021
Episode-61; More COVID nonsense, computer hygiene, and more beer
Video Version https://vimeo.com/520737822 About the podcast In this episode, JP shares his experience with the "mandated" COVID test to come back to the States from Germany; apparently, it is on the "honor system" because nobody actually wanted to see the results. It seems that almost all of these "mandates" are fictitious. Supposedly, quarantines are mandatory (same with negative COVID tests when flying into the States). But if they are not enforced, or even check, they are really voluntary. From there, we discuss the need for good "computer hygiene" after one of JP's clients caught a "ransomware virus" - this was really no bueno. To compound the challenge, the last valid backup the client had was from 15 months prior. It is a shit sandwich and he had to take a giganourmous bite out of it. From there, the conversations drifts to a favorite topic at The Outliers Inn, that being beer. And we are graced with a visitor from Sweden who brings a much-needed, and particularly positive, energy with her.
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Episode-60; On two masks, the Superbowl, telemetry, and wool
02/15/2021
Episode-60; On two masks, the Superbowl, telemetry, and wool
Video Version About the podcast JP and Mule are happy to welcome our guests to the new format at The Outliers Inn. Of course, we will always have an audio-only track of the podcast, but this is the first full video podcast at The Outliers Inn complete with guests. The video version will only show the hosts, JP and Mule, on camera with the guests being voice only; and we are reminded that the two of them really have faces for radio. And we have changed the recording day and time Saturdays in hopes that others will be able to join who could not normally during the weekday recording sessions we used to do. Naturally, the conversation starts with the latest COVID-related observations and the seeming perpetual stream of conflicting and unsubstantiated guidance; starting with the ridiculousness of wearing two masks. Seriously, if two are better than one, then three must be better than two, and so on. John joins us from the UK and shares his recent experiences. In spite of the extreme lockdowns presently in the UK, John has enjoyed an uptick in work (which thankfully keeps him out of the kitchen). He shares with us the peculiarities of traveling to projects and staying in hotels, with the biggest challenge being meals. But he (and his wife) is happy to be out in the field. Sharmi joins us from Tampa where they are preparing for the Superbowl where she is hoping the hometown favorites, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are triumphant. JP, being a diehard Giants fan, is not a fan of Brady (and Brady is undoubtedly not a fan of the Giants). Mule shares the analysis of quarterback movements based on telemetry that is collected. Sharmi also shares her professional experiences under COVID. From there, the conversation flows; at one point, Mule shifts topical gears without using the clutch makes the jump to wool insulation being better than fiberglass. A really good first edition using the new format.
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Episode-59; Introducing "Mule"
01/27/2021
Episode-59; Introducing "Mule"
Video Version About the podcast Although The Outliers Inn is sad to see the departure of as co-host, as they say; "the show must go on." So in this special episode of The Outliers Inn, we introduce who will join JP as the new co-host. We talk about how we met over LinkedIn and got to know one another some decade-plus ago over a bourbon (or two) in New York City. And, of course, we get to learn a little bit about Mule and what he does for his main gig and some other interests. And we also discuss changes in the format of the show. The most obvious is the introduction of a video version of the show in addition to the audio track (which will remain); a bold move, since both JP and Mule have faces for radio. We will continue with the call-in format for our guests, but only the co-hosts will be shown on video. The guest will be audio-only. It should give our production manager, Chas, some additional headaches with the editing. We are also going to try recording on Saturdays instead of weekdays to try to broaden the reach for guests who want to join, but can't because of work. So, belly up to the bar, grab a stool and your favorite legal beverage, and enjoy our hospitality from the hosts with the mosts.
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Episode-58; Changing of the Guard
01/11/2021
Episode-58; Changing of the Guard
Recorded: December 20, 2020 About the podcast This will be a bitter-sweet episode at The Outliers Inn. It’s the episode where Antlerboy (aka Benjamin Taylor) announces his retirement from pouring drinks and serving slop as co-host at the Inn. Between his part-time gig at the Inn and his other interests and pursuits (including running his companies, other podcasts that he produces, and writing a book), the time constraints have become more than obvious, and he regrettably has to step out from behind the bar. It all started on November 3rd, 2014. This was the day that Tom Magliozzi, co-host of “”, was recalled to that great junk yard in the sky, to be joyfully reunited with all his previous vehicles. Car Talk was a radio show about cars, their owners, and maladies (of the cars, that is – mostly). Guests would call-in and share various symptoms they were experiencing with their automobiles. The hosts would roast the caller, their automobiles, and their maladies in a respectful manner; perhaps sometimes less respectful of the vehicles themselves and their manufacturers. Every episode was a lot of fun listen to and certainly anyone who did would smile and laugh at least once. When JP read of the passing of Tom, he posted on Facebook. And Antlerboy was the first to comment on my post. Even though Antlerboy is from the United Kingdom, he had just started to listen to the show and even shared his version of Tom’s obituary; “So, it happened again. You wasted a perfectly good life amusing yourself and other people and upholding the values of intelligence, science, eloquence, and rude good humour. And even though St. Peter himself will run screaming from the Pearly Gates when he hears YOU say it.... ‘That was Tom Magliozzi. And, don't drive like your brother...'” But then we got to thinking. There was a lot of absurdities that occur and opportunities to poke fun of the goings-on in our own profession; businesses and their operations. Heck, we were guilty of some of these goings-on ourselves. Why don’t we start our own show? And (eventually) The Outliers Inn was born with our first episode produced in October of 2015 (almost a full year later). You can read the mostly complete history of The Outliers Inn here. Since then, we have produced 58 episodes over a five-year period; not a bad run rate. So, we give a proper send-off to Antlerboy by taking a walk down memory lane with a few select guests. And it’s only appropriate that we start with Don Burshnick, our resident Biermeister Extraordinaire. When he’s not brewing his beer, he is drinking it as a regular at the Inn and is even an occasional co-host when we find ourselves short-staffed. Don shares with us his latest concoction; a “Gummy-Bear” IPA. We are certain it would not pass the German . Other irregular regulars include; Stephane who joins us from the lockdown in France. Although from Belgium, and quite proud of their beer, he is very interested in Don’s Gummy Bear IPA and would be keen on having a sample; which JP promises to bring back a sample bottle from Don for Stephane’s tasting. Aiden is our next guest who gets Antlerboy to share the story of how he decided to prefer to be called Benjamin rather than Ben; confessing the real reason for the change was he read that people with longer and more formal names are perceived as being more intelligent, so; “Benjamin P. Taylor” it is. Marina joins us from Los Angeles where she has founded a design innovation studio and shares her experiences in 2020 having to quickly make the transition to the new business paradigm. Hal joins us from Seattle. He shares with us his enthusiasm for beer and appreciation for Don’s “Gummy Bear IPA”. He also shares a bit of trivia that Washington State supplies the majority of the hops used to make beer around the world. Switching to business, Hal shares his observation that those who have had the most success in navigating the challenges are those who have a culture of being nimble. Ed joins us from London and, listening to our discussion of travel policies and protocols and recalls a saying form times past; “There is no reason, it’s policy.” That about sums-up the way of the world in 2020 and how governments are engaging the challenge. He expresses concerns about the lock-ins (preferring to use this term over “lock-downs”) and wanting it to end sooner rather than later. Oli has some technical issues but rejoins us from the North Carolina after having them sorted. He is about to return to Germany and we are discussing travel protocols that are supposedly in place, but that the reality is different than what is being shared by the policy makers and policy enforcers. And Chas takes a peek from behind the curtain to offer his fair-thee-well. And lastly, although the corpus delicti of Antlerboy as co-host is still warm, we are happy to introduce our last guest, David “Mule” Schneider as the new co-host at The Outliers Inn. David shares a bit about himself, starting with the details of his being involved supporting STEM at the high school level by coaching and leading “robotics” as a high-school sport. Mule’s expertise in logistics and warehousing has kept him incredibly busy over the COVID pandemic as the rush to ecommerce created a huge demand for his skills. So, as the Great Bard, William Shakespeare wrote in Romeo and Juliet; “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” We all thank Antlerboy for his helping found and build the Outliers Inn and he has promised to grace the establishment from time to time. And those who remain are all better off for having had the opportunity to hoist a drink together with him and share insights into life’s goings-on. Hosts: , Founder of the & The Group of Companies , Managing Partner of .
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Episode-57; New Ventures and Longest Nights
12/28/2020
Episode-57; New Ventures and Longest Nights
Recorded: November 24, 2020 About the podcast Antlerboy starts off the show with a confession; that he has been seeing other people – in fact quite a selection of other people. Behind JP’s back but in broad daylight, he has been recording two other podcasts; “” for leading (public) service transformation, and “” for the systems, complexity, and cybernetics. He also shares that his launch strategy is rather atypical in that he is purposefully limiting his audience to a “need to listen” basis with a tight circle of trust and with limited outreach. JP thinks this is a rather odd launch strategy indeed. But then again, JP got a bit lost (but not surprised) when Antlerboy started talking about the subject matter having socialist and liberal leanings and academic wonks being the source for many of his episodes. JP expresses concern that Antlerboy’s appetite for strange is insatiable and that he should seek help – this before confessing that he too has recently launched a new podcast himself entitled “”. But JP’s also shares that his new podcast is a bit of a struggle because he is not used to having a co-host who is so much smarter than he is, and it takes a lot of work on his part to be sure to be on his toes. Of course, both Antlerboy and JP wish each other much success with their new ventures. Our first guest is Sam Storm from Sweden. JP has known Sam for some time and took notice of the complete personal transformation that Sam has undertaken in the past year; from hoodies and baggie-pants to custom tailored suits. In the spirit of John T. Molloy, Sam is “dressed for success”. Sam then shares that he has competed in the Swedish hip-hop cover competition several times and does a pretty good Dr. Dre cover. It is near peak darkness in Sweden now with a maximum of seven hours of twilight and Sam is finding satisfaction in working with others; coaching and mentoring them on agile tools and techniques with an eye to professional and personal growth. This leads to a larger discussion on mentoring; and how we often don’t know we are mentoring others (and that others don’t know that we are being mentored by them). Perhaps it is better this way in that each of us can be more genuine and have the real conversations without feeling the pressures associated with knowing we are examining or being examined. Our next guest to the bar is a regular, Stephane from Belgium and now in France. The conversation starts with the renewed lockdown in France and the challenges that will be faced with holiday shopping. It would appear that many people in France openly rail against Amazon whilst secretly clicking away. Absurdly, the supermarkets are open for food, but aisles within the supermarket are closed because they sell “non-essential” items (whatever that means) even though they are in the same store. This is to protect the small shops that sell these items, but are currently closed – even though you can buy these items online. Government Rules Hurt. Our. Heads. JP shares with Stephane that he was concerned for Stephane’s well-being. Usually, Stephane is responsive to eMails and LinkedIn messages, but there were a couple of weeks where Stephane did not respond – not even open a message on LinkedIn. Stephane shared that he was on vacation, or rather a “stay-cation”. He stayed in his apartment and unplugged from everything work-related. How can a person do that for two weeks, couped up in an apartment with restrictions for movement, escaped JP (who would have had to escape). Lastly, we again call to center stage, Mandalyn, with another acapella rendition of one of her original songs. This one is a personal favorite of her’s and is entitled “Breaking Up” about the end of one of her relationships a really long time ago. As usual, we sit around the table discussing what-not and such – mostly adding to the previous conversations of the evening, until the last call is shouted and the lights are turned up brighter letting us all know it’s time to go. Hosts: , Founder of the & The Group of Companies , Managing Partner of .
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Episode-56; Travel Adventures During COVID
12/15/2020
Episode-56; Travel Adventures During COVID
Recorded: October 26, 2020 About the podcast Welcome to another “open mic” edition at The Outliers Inn with JP and stand-in co-host Don Burshnick who has co-hosted enough episodes that he can be considered the co-co-host. JP and Don start-off the conversation by sharing how refreshing it is to get back out in the field and doing some face-to-face work after being largely confined to quarters during the COVID Pandemic. For two guys who normally spend a lot of time in airplanes traveling to client-sites, being grounded for an extended period of time is as uncomfortable as it is unusual. JP has traveled from Germany to the States a couple of times and Don just returned from Mexico. We share the “myth” of border crossings. We read about all the rules associated with travel. But where the expectation is stringent controls, paperwork validation, and health-checks, the reality has been quite the opposite; with no observable differences between travel pre-COVID and during (so long as you have the proper passport and paperwork). The only real difference that JP noticed is that hardly anyone is on the plane. JP shares his ideas about business and rules. By and large, businesses don’t care what the rules are, they just want to know what the rules are and that the rules will not change with the wind. Sure, they might lobby and lament, but at the end of the day, so long as they are predictable, all is good with the world. We welcome our first guest, Neal from Louisville, who shares that he has not experienced business growth. While companies that directly serve the consumer seem to be busy, he believes that industry is holding back on investment in production apparatus. JP shares that companies are best to be in a state of readiness, but if you can’t be ready, you better be resilient (best to be both). Our next guest is Oli from Germany who shares his experiences traveling between the States and Germany; which largely corroborates the experiences of JP and Don. He shares that the only people who are reporting to the workplace are those working on the production floor or turning wrenches while the “knowledge workers” are working remotely; but even those on the production floor have changed their way of operations by minimizing close contact. And our last guest is Mandalyn who takes to the stage again to perform an acapella rendition of another song she wrote entitled “Cheater”. We wrap-up the show with a group conversation sharing what we are all going to be doing as we close in on the end of year; with Don sharing the latest updates in his beer-brewing “hobby”. Oli is working on renewing an outreach program to build his funnel with new prospects as opposed to relying solely on his existing clients. While Neal is hopeful for landing a new position and passing his ASQ Certification this coming January. And Mandalyn is just going to keep working, and no doubt will continue writing some songs. Hosts: , Founder of the & The Group of Companies , Managing Partner of . Co-Host: Don Burshnick
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Episode-55; And Now For Something Completely Different
10/28/2020
Episode-55; And Now For Something Completely Different
Recorded: September 21, 2020 About the podcast And Now For Something Completely Different! It’s another “Open Mic” night at The Outliers Inn. And in this episode, Benjamin and JP discover there might be a couple of interpretations of that open invitation. It would appear that, in addition to our regular followers and people who might see our invitations as shared in our normal channels, people could also search EventBrite (our registration tool) for terms that might interest them; including “open mic”. This proved to generate some rather interesting guests; not the regular crowd talking about what our audience has come to expect, but rather, something completely different. Benjamin and JP start the show in the normal fashion; exchanging goings-ons, observations, and stories of our recent experiences. JP contemplates the coming autumn whimsically and nostalgically and Benjamin finds himself duty-bound to share some British thing that he considers relevant; “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”. It’s actually poetically descriptive. Benjamin also shares the transformation of his business from a traditional to virtual. And though Benjamin is sad to see the past pass, JP (having been virtual before it was cool) is sure that Benjamin, and his company, will find themselves much better off for it. But this is where the show deviates dramatically from its norm. Our first guest is Dee Allen, a poet who has written countless poems and published several books of poetry. He shares two of his poems, “Breeder of Flames” and “Washa-quon-asin”, with a passion that is obvious and enthusiastic. In the poems he shares, he invokes his Native American heritage. Dee’s books of poetry can be found on Amazon by looking up the author Dee Allen. His new book is “Elohi Unitsi” and can be found by . Next up to the bar is Jamie Ryder from the UK who start by discovering they hail from the same parts of England. Jamie shares with us that he is an artist and a blog publisher who’s websites include; “”, “”, and “”. And our last guest is Mandalyn who takes to the stage (we didn’t even know we had a stage) and shares with us a song she wrote; and not only did she write it, she sang it for us! Indeed, The Outliers Inn welcomes all and is welcoming to all. Give a listen… Hosts: , Founder of the & The Group of Companies , Managing Partner of .
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