Health in the Workplace (Urgent and Important)

You are young... maybe 25.  Healthy as a bull (or healthy as a young filly)...  Either way, workplace health is not something you think about.  Maybe you are a programmer, maybe you are an accountant, marketing manager, or whatever.... but did you know that you are probably doing SERIOUS damage to yourself at work?  I didn't know it.. and now I'm paying for it.  This topic (Workplace Health) is URGENT and IMPORTANT, according to Stephen Covey's 7-Habits Principles... you need to act now!  Here's my story, and some tips for how you can avoid workplace health problems.

My Story:

I have had at least 3 careers in my 20+ years of working.  First, I was a lifeguard and paper-boy.  These jobs were great.  The only problem is I was out in the sun... a lot... and usually without sunblock... so who knows what kind of skin damage I did.  One year as a lifeguard, my skin was so dark as to seem "grey" and flaky to the touch.  Very bad.

Next, I became an engineer/programmer.  I spent 10-12 hours every day, sitting at my desk, eating meals like (see picture) and generally slouching.  This has led to a very bad situation.  Not only does my wrist hurt after using the computer for 10-20minutes... my lower back has decided to age much much faster than it should.  My discs are degenerating much faster for someone of my age, and recently, I've had to have Chiropractic and other medical care related to my back.  Worse than that, when my back hurts, I can't play with my kinds, exercise, or do any of the fun weekend-warrior stuff I used to do.

Now, I'm an executive.  Again, I spend a lot of time on my computer (8-10 hours a day)... one thing has changed though, I am now more aware than ever of my health.  Here are tips for what I should have been doing my whole life, but sadly only recently started doing.

1. Get Proper Posture:  Sitting at your desk, your knees should be at 90degrees, your feet flat on the floor, your arms at 90-degrees, with fingers on the keyboard, and your eyes should be even with the BOTTOM of your screen.  Sit up straight, don't slouch, and don't be tempted to lower everything.
2. Take Proper Breaks: Every hour at least, get up and walk around for just 5-minutes.  Look at something more than 10 feet away for 10 seconds every 10 minutes.  And most importantly, don't just sit there for hour after hour!  (especially not in a slouched position as I did, which caused all this back trouble I have now).
3. Eat Right:  Take the time to eat a healthy lunch.  Fast-food is killing our nation. Eat a good balanced healthy lunch... not too much.  Salad is the best.  My propensity to eat meals like the above is a problem.. it's way too much for lunch and far too few greens.... it's still better than Fast food though.
4. Try A Standing Desk or Ball: I use both now.  Standing desks keep you moving around (just don't slouch!), and Exercise Balls are great for core strength (again NO SLOUCHING).

I guess the moral of this whole story is: if you work in an office, for the love of your back.. and take it from me:

DON'T SLOUCH

Business Modeling for Engineers

So, you have a whiz-bang idea huh?  Working on that "business plan"?  Well, you are going to need a BUSINESS MODEL to go with that idea... and this little post will help you get started.   You can also download this little Excel .xlxs file I made that has the bare-bones of a Business Model for you.

A Revenue Model:

You are going to need a model for revenue.  Revenue is the top-line, what people pay you.  To create a model follow these simple steps:

1. Decide the "Value" of what you are selling (Product or Service).. in terms of your TARGET MARKET AUDIENCE.
2. Set a "Price" for your product that is less than the Value:
1. this might be recurring (e.g. monthly) or one-time (transnational)
2. Value has NOTHING to do with COST. (ignore cost).
3. Value can be calculated as either:
1. the price of an alternative +/- some premium (because yours is better/worse)
2. the sum of 'savings' that a user experiences with your product/service
3. the sum of 'benefits' that a user gets, in terms of a number of alternative products/services.
3. Now, figure out a Quantity you think you can sell.
1. Bottoms-up: Use some model of Customer Acquistion (like impressions->clicks->sales)
2. or Tops-down: Use some model of Target Market Size (like 1% market penetration in year 1 of your target market).
4. Now, simply multiply the monthly Quantity * the Price, and you have a Revenue Model.
5. Show some scale/growth in subsequent months according to some formula (like 5% annual growth or as a complex model with advertising causing growth)

A Cost Model:

Next, you are going to need a cost model simply:

1. Calculate the cost per unit by summing the cost of it's parts + the sum of the cost of the labor to 'produce it' (or in the case of a service, the labor cost of providing the service).
2. Multiply the monthly Quantity (above) with the monthly Cost, to get Monthly Costs.
3. NOTE: COSTS ARE NOT EXPENSES!!!  Costs, are purely the VARIABLE costs that it takes to produce a good/provide a service.

Gross Profit:

   This is simply Revenue - Costs

Expenses:

Estimate monthly expenses for operating the business....  here's a rule of thumb:

1. Use $4000 for rent, $2000 for Legal, $1000 for Misc.  (or do a better job than me at estimating your actual costs!)
2. Use at least 5% of Revenue as a Marketing Allotment (or do a better job than me at estimating your marketing expenses).
3. Scale expenses yearly to increase by 10%.
4. Any employees you have are also here as an expense. (yourself for example).
5. Use the monthly salary * 1.17 (for benefits/taxes)

Net Income:

Net Income is simply Revenue - Costs - Expenses.

(it gets more complex if you have loans and other stuff... but for now this is a simple model).

Cash:

Take your starting cash, then add your Net Income to it each month.

(this is not precise at all, but also not a bad model).

Done.  You have a model.

Enjoy!  Feedback/suggestions welcome!



* photo courtesy of: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2824035

How to Brainstorm Effectively

Most people suck at Brainstorming.  Most companies suck at Brainstorming.  Through experience and study I have collected a set of ideas/methods that will teach you how to Brainstorm Effectively.

Brainstorming is the process of thinking up new ideas for a challenging problem or question.  Usually, the problem has already been considered for some time, but the answer is not obvious, or is out of bounds of some constraints.

Effectiveness in Brainstorming means that the number of ideas generated were high, and that at least one idea was selected as a good one, and that when implemented, the idea worked to solve the problem/question.

Here's my collection of ideas for how to Brainstorm effectively:

1. Choose a Diverse group with as many Experts as possible to help you Brainstorm.  People with Diverse backgrounds, diverse life experiences, and from diverse cultures will bring more unique ideas. Experts are people with 10,000 hours of experience in their field.  In business, at least one person with Marketing Expertise, and at least one person with Engineering Expertise is ideal.
2. Get in the right frame of mind: Have everyone on the team do something to try to get them into a creative frame of mind.  Stretch, go to a fun location, play a game, think like you are a kid... something.  BRAINSTORMING IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN!!!  (Fun unleashes creativity).
3. First ask everyone to Brainstorm Individually.  Have them write at least 3 ideas and send it to you.
4. Now schedule a meeting (at least 2 hours, 3 hours is ideal; and have it span a lunch hour).  Plan to bring in food or go out as a group.  [this downtime is essential to the creative process]
5. Open the meeting with "THE BRAINSTORMING RULES"... (write them on the wall)

1. You MAY NOT Criticize ideas or even say "I like that"... save all comments till the end of the Brainstorming.  WRITE: "No Criticism"
2. However, you CAN AND SHOULD build on ideas that others have put forth.  Write: "Build on Ideas"
3. You SHOULD say many ideas, no matter how crazy.  Write: "Quantity and Crazy Desired"
4. Keep it "light" and Fun!  Write: "Make it Fun"
6. Start Phase 1 (out of two): 
1. Write some of the ideas that people had individually on the board.
2. For 30min to 1hr... ask the group to throw out ideas... and write them on the board.  If people get stuck, ask the question differently, or ask about a sub-part of the question... don't give up after just a few minutes.. force the team to give ideas for the full time.
3. Break for lunch...  [eat as a group]
4. Resume the Brainstorm for an additional 30min to 1hr.  (because of the break, there is likely to be another burst of good ideas!).
5. If the board gets filled... take a picture and clear some space and keep going.
7. Finish now with Phase 2:
1. Ask the team to vote for their favorite ideas...  let them pick three, put a * next to the idea for every vote cast.  During this phase, ENCOURAGE DISCUSSION about the ideas (but not about 'who gave what idea').  Remind the team that its not about 'who's idea is better'... only than that 'we' got to a good idea.
2. Now look at the board... what is the best answer?  Is it feasible?  If not, why?  Either brainstorm on how to make it feasible, or see if the 2nd best idea is better in light of considering Feasibility.

I hope this helps in your Brainstorming!  Let me know if you try this and it works?  Also let me know what you do, if it's different than my ideas here.

How Intel Corp. Won my Heart as an Employee

Have you ever had that feeling that "work sucks"?  Ever felt 'stuck' in a job and wishing you had a better boss, a better role, a better pay, etc.?   Now, when you changed jobs... ever wish for the old days?   I can tell you unequivocally that I have felt both feelings, but my time as a Chip Designer and Chip Architect at Intel Corp. was most decidedly different than any job hence.

So, what was it about working at Intel Corp. that won my heart?

I began working at Intel in Oregon in 1999.  I quickly learned 3 things: 1. Intel takes training seriously.  2. Intel cares a lot about their employees.  3. Intel truly does believe in culture.

The New Hire Orientation at Intel was extensive and serious.  They taught you all about the Intel Corporate Values and the Intel Benefits and such...  It was 3 days of serious reading, lecture and work... all well organized and seemingly useful.  I had serious doubts about Intel's supposed "Values" however.... did companies really do that?

Well, I was wrong. Intel takes values very seriously.  Not only did they pass out a badge with their values on the back, hang signs everywhere, and talk about their values constantly... but also:
    1. their 360 feedback process for raises and evaluation was centered primarily on our adherence to Intel's Values.
   2. The training didn't end.  I was required to take 1 or 2 courses from "Intel U" every quarter...and sometimes more.
   3. As I proceeded into more management type roles, I was required to take a course that stuck with me to this day: 7-Habits of Highly Effective People.  An excellent course, from Dr. Stephen Covey himself.

And then I realized suddenly, I was LIVING Intel's Values:
   1. I was taking smart risks at work, and getting rewarded with promotions.
   2. I was helping keep Intel a great place to work, participating in and organizing company-sponsored events and joining the Emergency Response Team.
   3. I was involved in Intel organized community events and "clean-ups".
   4. I was focused on Quality and Innovation.
   5. I was keeping open and direct in my communications.

Wow, this culture of Intel had invaded my soul... and everyone around me, from my coworkers to my bosses to Executive VPs were doing the same.  All on the same page about what makes Intel Great.

So now, as I reflect on those days, I realize, what made Intel win my heart was simple... they really meant those "core values" they preached to us in orientation.  They LIVED by those values, and so did I.  It felt good to be part of something "real"... that was just what they said it was: they practiced what they preached: and that's how they've kept a lead on an industry for more than 50 years.