Friday, February 26, 2010

Zen, Visualization, Patience and Getting Older

The earliest I realized that the brain communicates side to side is about 50 years ago when my brother's girlfriend taught me the song San Francisco Bay Blues. It had a short guitar break that I just couldn't play. Long after she left that evening I continued to try and play the riff. I finally quit, figuring tomorrow was another day. In the morning, I picked up the guitar and I could play it easily. Sometime during the night my right and left brain exchanged the physical and logical knowledge to perform the part. Perhaps this is Zen when you are sleeping.

Years later, I had become a credible mechanic, going from what had been driven by finances, to a do-it-yourself necessity to insure quality maintenance. I would sit on my stool in the basement, pondering the job at hand, in a trance-like state. My wife stopped one afternoon and commented about this to me. She told me that she had for a long time wondered why I would be sitting avoiding the work. After many years of observing this she came to the conclusion that I was going over the job in my head before doing it, working out the kinks. I was applying what elite athletes call "visualization". I realize now that this trance-like state was very much like Zen, completely putting your mind into the moment to utilize all you mental resources to effect a successful outcome.

I know I am getting old because my conversations with my peers tend to be more and more about our physical afflictions. But I find that growing older has had some advantages. One it has given me is a more patient, quieter mind. My friends, wife, and family might dispute this having been subjected to my rants about religion, education, or politics. But if I judge but the number of snapped off bolts, burnt dinners, or broken pipes from plumbing projects, I can see that I am more mindful in my approach to projects. To focus on the moment rather than rushing ahead to the desired outcome. And the results are better with fewer new words for the young children in the neighborhood to learn.

If I "connect the dots" of these experiences it teaches me that my whole life I have applied Zen-like techniques to challenges I have encountered and they have positively influenced the outcome. From right/left brain transfer to visualization to patience, these Zen moments tell me that I have practiced it all along in some manner. And as I have studied Zen and practiced to be more in the moment, I can do it more easily. Live with quality in the moment, relate with quality in the moment, do better in the moment.

Buddism speaks of the eight fold path as a method to eliminate desire (causing suffering). Some of these speak to right understanding, right concentration, right effort. As I go down the path to Zen, I am seeing we all understand aspects of what the Buddha was saying. And as I get older it becomes easier to put them all together.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Something not so Zen.......

Forbes magazine this week has named my hometown the most miserable place to live in the United States. Cleveland, Ohio.

This came just after I made a point to go visit there to see a long time friend and go to a "reunion" for a club I played in during my high school years.

I miss the place a lot. Sure I am getting old, and looking at just the fonder memories of a rust-belt, smelly, has-been industrial town. Sure, the river burned. It defaulted on bonds. Had riots in the mid-60's. Has not seen a world series since 1954 (which the team lost...).

But I wandered through the art museum, endowed by such industrial giants as the Rockefellers. Saw examples of Rodin, Van Gogh, Renoir, and dozens of other priceless works. Across the street from the Severance Hall, that houses the Cleveland Orchestra, one of the best in the world.

I visited an old haunt, my favorite deli, Corky and Lenny's. Half pound corned beef sandwiches to die for. Real bagels. Pickled tomatoes. And when I said to the guy behind the counter, "I can't get here but once or twice a year. I miss it.", he thanked me for coming in.

And when I went to Davis bakery, a real place to get baked goods, and real Jewish rye, I told them the same story. And got the same thank you response.

What the editors of Forbes seem to forget is that people still live there. 450,000 of them. And in the metropolitan area, maybe 1.5 million more. People who live in Mayfield, Euclid, Richmond Heights, or Lakewood. All suburbs and cities in their own right. But when you ask them where they are from, they will say Cleveland.

The clinical, quantitative analysis that Forbes performed may have been factual, but does not pay homage to those who lived there, or give respect to those who still are there. And why should they? Because Cleveland is symbolic of the real strength on which this nation was built. The industries and people that made the city. Steel and automobiles. Thousands of immigrants, mostly from Europe who gave Cleveland its rich multi-ethnic diversity.

And those bad things that happened? The pollution? It was a result of heavy industry and our country's decision that do not account for externalized costs, like waste disposal and other environmental impact. These will be borne by someone else, not the generators. So the steel mills are gone and sadly, the jobs. But happily, the pollution is gone as well.

So Cleveland's woes are not its own. They were given to it by companies that used it up, and spit it out. They took no responsibility for the community. Senior executives in industry that ignored the world competition, and forfeit our future over the desire for short term gain over long term strength. And eroded the middle class and manufacturing.

To fix a place like Cleveland, we need to fix what we are doing about our economy. Manufacturing acts as a flywheel. Its inertia takes the abruptness out of economic cycles. It slows down and speeds up slower than services. It adds more value back into the economy in follow-up spending. It provides better jobs. So we need to endeavor to build back up manufacturing here in the United States. And focus on creating more middle class jobs. Many non-American car manufacturers make their cars here successfully. Honda, Toyota, and now Korean makers Kia and Hyundai. Even my Bavarian favorite BMW.

So, my hometown, once a great industrial city now has as its largest employer the Cleveland Clinic. Essentially one big hospital. What is wrong with this picture?

The "recovery" we are seeing is an illusion. If we go on believing that a services, retail based economy is sustainable, we will become a society of Lords and Serfs once again.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Zen and Riding, Cooking and Being

I have been a motorcycle rider since I was 16 years old. The first bike was really a scooter and as I progressed to bigger machines, I got married and had kids. And like so many others, I gave up riding for concern I would be hurt and could not support the family. 20 years later, fresh off a divorce I rediscovered this lost love. For nine years I have been riding again and it always relaxes me and gives me pleasure.

After losing my job, I began a study of Zen to see if it could help cope with depression and "ground" me. I came to the section on meditation. I could not see myself sitting still and quieting my mind. But the book I am using as my guide, Zen Living, talks about walking meditation and eventually achieving that state constantly in your life. While riding in Kentucky on one of my trips late this summer, I was struck by the notion that I do know how to meditate, at least during one activity. For me, riding a motorcycle is Zen. It provides a focused, in-the-moment experience that clears my mind of the dukkha (suffering, dissatisfaction, fear) life so frequently provides us. I was meditating during my riding by focusing on the ride. It explains another aspect of my riding I could never quite understand. A lot of riders listen to music during the ride, to relieve boredom during long, uninteresting parts. I always found it distracting. And between picking quality rides, and the sheer fun of riding, I never felt the need for music. But more than that, it intruded into the Zen of the moment. The oneness with the ride.

With the coming of the winter of '09-'10 we receive the most snowfall on record. My lovely bikes (I have three) sit in the garage, hooked to the battery charger, like patients on life support. And I am, too, like a patient needing life support. Trying to be a good house husband, I began relieving my working wife of the burden of the house work. I started by cleaning the kitchen. Then doing grocery shopping. Finally, it stuck me! Try cooking.

Having been raised by a mother whose idea of good cooking was roasting a chicken until it was desiccated, I have no role model to emulate. But now being a veteran of watching hundreds of episodes of cooking shows, I am armed with techniques, philosophy and, thanks to the Spanish chef José Andrés, love of the gelatinous mass inside a tomato.

I started in my usual way, amassing ingredients, reading the recipe, rushing into the fray. And the results were.....OK. No culinary disasters. As I gained some confidence, I realized that perhaps some Zen need to be applied. I forced myself to relax and focus on the moment. I watched sauces thicken, onions go from white to translucent, to caramelized. I read internet recipes trying to decide on the right approach from each, as almost none agreed to ingredients. I applied some management techniques to make the dinner arrive at the table all together. Using the critical path method, I determined the longest item, and approximate completion time, and then staggered the other elements back from that so my potatoes would be ready to mash, not too soon before the chicken was done. The cooking become more enjoyable, less stressful and far more successful.

As with my approach to vehicle maintenance, I use the tools I own, not purchasing anything extra unless I am significantly hampered by its lack. This is Zen, also. The tactile feel of the tools, using them creatively, not desiring the latest, greatest gadget (the Second Noble Truth of Buddhism is suffering is caused by desire) are part of the creative process of cooking. And with ingredients it is much the same. I have tried to follow recipes to the letter. But where I am lacking an ingredient, I choose the best substitute I can, usually with the help of internet advice. I let go the idea things need to be exactly as written, because tastes, cultures, and availability of items all have contributed to the millions of recipes that exist.

The cooking experience, even more than the motorcycle riding, has contributed to a real sense of being for me. One can share a ride (although one's spouse may not be happy not in control), but it is not a complete experience unless you ride your own ride. Cooking's result is shared, and even the creation can be, as well. Watching others consume the results, good or bad, connects you with others. And that is an important aspect I am trying to achieve.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Zen and Industrial Management Part Deux

Now let's switch gears a moment, and leave Zen ideas and deal with other aspects of these mostly ineffective Quality programs. CEO support is critical, and certainly follow through is vital for program success. But I have made an observation about these efforts to get people to develop habits that improve their life, or work, or the quality of a product. The approach that these "systems" take are too complicated. For example, teaching statistical concepts to apply to processes frequently misses the point where a simpler tool will do. Dr. W. Edwards Deming applied statistical methods in Japan to great success. In the 1950's. In the 80's a major aerospace manufacturer made SPC (Statistical Process Control) a contractual requirement. Set up a whole department to administer it. So, the company I worked for dutifully signed contracts with this requirement from them. And even though there were very few appropriate places for it to be applied (read that: NONE) we attempted to find applications for SPC. And like all other "Quality driven" programs, it too went by the wayside, when it became too expensive and didn't provide adequate benefit.

Let's try something a bit simpler to improve quality. Again, not original, but a simple effective tool overlooked, probably because it isn't jazzy enough. Pareto Analysis. Collect data about something, like customer calls. Categorize these by their nature, such a "poor instruction manual", "awkward on/off switch",etc. On a monthly basis review the data. The category that has the highest incident spawns a team of appropriate individuals to fix the problem. Fix the problem. Do the Pareto analysis again. Fix the highest problem area. Repeat ad infinitum. Eureka! Continuous improvement. Apply it to many business areas. Multi-departmental continuous improvement!

This method was advocated by Joseph M. Juran, in the 1950's in Japan as a part of his focus on managing quality. Note the decade again. And note where it was applied. And, oh, by the way? I don't think he held a black belt (see any article on "Six Sigma" for an explanation).

Zen and Industrial Management

I worked in industry for 40 years. I started on a shipping dock moving onto big trucks equipment and supplies for the lineman and installers of Pacific Telephone. The trucks took the materials to the field. The dock sat next to the Western Electric facility in San Leandro, CA. From there, I served an apprenticeship (starting a life-long love of alliteration and vocational education), back to college, management training and on to various positions ending with a brief (three month) stint as COO of a firm emerged from bankruptcy and headed to take over by some investors who bought its note from the bank.

During that time I participated in a multitude of "quality" programs. Quality Circles, Total Quality Management (TQM), "Lean" training, Statistical Process Control (SPC), certification to ISO-9000 (a quality management system). I never had the privilege of participating in Six-Sigma Programs with their green and black belts. I never applied for the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award. One CEO for whom I worked, suggested we read Good to Great by Jim Collins.

All these "tools" had the same purpose; to create a sustained program of improvement in quality. And whether they realized it or not, this was measured by customer satisfaction. Some efforts realized this. For example, after 13 years, the standards committee for ISO9000 formally put this concept into the standard.

Most of these efforts did not work. They were not sustained because they were not supported by the resources to keep them effective (even though most could have real positive return on the investment). Most died from lack of CEO support, if any, and the view they were simply bureaucratic exercises. Some, like ISO9000, result in certification, but typically this is driven by contractual requirements, not for the fundamental reason they exist: to promote and improve quality.

I contend the CEO and Quality gurus would be more effective in improving quality if they started programs of teaching Zen concepts.

For now let's explore one Zen aspect. I do not claim to be an expert, but in two books I am reading a concept becomes clear: Live in the moment. If we are to teach people doing work at our businesses to be in the moment, pay attention to what they are doing, do it the best they can, make this moment count, then wouldn't quality go up? Since spending time on work is required of us, then shouldn't we spend it doing the best we can, nothing less? In Zen Guitar, Philip Toshio Sudo says about beginning to play guitar, "Here is where you start: Play one note on one string and pour in every ounce of your heart and soul. Then repeat."

We should indeed pour our heart and soul into our work. In the moment. Otherwise, are we not just wasting our lives sitting at that desk?

More on this next time.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

An introduction

Robert Pirsig's book has lead to other books, articles, various jokes, and catch phrases based on the line: Zen and the Art of...........

In the beginning of the book, he claims that it is not about Zen, nor motorcycle maintenance. I have read it three times. Sometimes I believe I understand what he was trying to present. Sometimes it is elusive.

I think it does talk about Zen concepts, and certainly covers some motorcycle maintenance.

In July, 2009 I was lost my job through a series of interesting events perpetrated by others including bankruptcy, greed, mismanagement and unethical behavior. I was escorted by a deputy sheriff through, by my choice, the back door of the building to become free of the military industrial complex.

I began my "retirement" by working in the hot sun of summer rebuilding my deck, then a bathroom, fixing household items, starting to learn to cook, and serving as house husband. In between I have ridden my motorcycle or if the weather does not permit, my truck to Chicago to visit my family, and other points around the Mid-West and South.

I began an inquiry into Judaism, and then Zen. I admit this not a spiritual pursuit, just an intellectual one. I am trying to understand others appreciation for these two areas, one because of my heritage, the other to try and relieve depression in a less than chemically adjusted manner.

In the next entries to this blog I am going to comment on many things I am learning. Or ones I have learned from years in industry. Or ones that come from other life experiences. The labels I have chosen for this post are mostly the subjects areas I will be presenting or pondering.