Swift Straw Blog

I got an email late yesterday from a team member that had discovered a huge process improvement. After months in the fishbowl, it finally clicked. While we are heavily focused on the traditional proprietary protections, I couldn't help but appreciate how powerful continuous improvement is when it...

There is an old story about a fox that would constantly scheme about how he was going to attack a hedgehog. He came up with elaborate plans and even tricks. But, inevitably, at the last second the hedgehog would simply roll into a ball with his quills sharply deterring the fox from further attack....

James Stockdale was a US Navy vice admiral and aviator that was awarded the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War, during which time he was a prisoner of war for over seven years.  He endured unimaginable torture and constantly battled their attempts to use him for propaganda.  In Jim Collins book, Good...

The next principle in “Good to Great” is “First Who, Then What”. All of the Good to Great CEO’s focused first on getting the right people on the bus before they decided where they wanted to drive it. They knew that strategy comes after people. Once they got the right people on the bus and the wrong...

Spotting is a technique used by dancers during the execution of various dance turns. The goal of spotting is to attain a constant orientation of the dancer's head and eyes, to the extent possible, in order to enhance the dancer's control and prevent dizziness. As a dancer turns, spotting is...

I am currently going back through a great business book called “Good to Great” by Jim Collins. Since it has been several years since I last read it, I have a much greater appreciation for some of the timeless principles. In order for a business to sustain greatness, there must be what is known as a...

Simon Sinek told a story about he and a friend who came across a free bagel giveaway. Simon exclaimed “Free Bagel’s! Let’s go get one!”. His friend replied, “No thanks. The line is too long.” Simon said, “Yeah, but it’s free bagels.” His friend replied, “Yeah, but look at the line”. After going...

“The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the spirit is life and peace.”  Romans 8:6 

As the Spring unfolds this year, there are many industries that are battling through their peak season. Here is a message from Theodore Roosevelt for all of those who are in the arena fighting the good fight. The critics and naysayers will never know victory nor defeat. But those in the arena will...

The work place is ever evolving which means that leadership must continue to evolve as well.  In order to lead in the future, collaboration must be at the foundation.  Here are seven examples of how to be a collaborative leader versus a traditional leader.