“Tho’ modesty is a virtue, bashfulness is a vice.” – Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1750
+ Read More
Operations Management / Strategy / Leadership / print / The Berkshire Company / learning / success / positive / inspiration / management / growth / strength / employees / Ben Franklin / professionalism
“What one relishes, nourishes.” - Poor Richard's Almanack
The year 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Ben Franklin being appointed Postmaster General by the Second Continental Congress. In 1753, Mr. Franklin had previously been appointed joint Postmaster General by King George III.
Before that, Franklin was a printer and author. Perhaps his most famous work was the yearly Poor Richard’s Almanack, under the pseudonym Richard Saunders. From 1732 to 1758, the pamphlet provided seasonal weather forecasts, puzzles and astronomical information.
What people remember are Franklin’s witty sayings passing along homespun wisdom. Most of us are familiar with: “A penny saved is a penny earned.” Or “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
+ Read More
Operations Management / Strategy / Leadership / The Berkshire Company / learning / success / positive / inspiration / management / growth / strength / employees / Ben Franklin
"Nothing ever becomes real until it is experienced. Even a proverb is no proverb until your life has illustrated it." - John Keats
Too often, successful executives are classified as being either innovative leaders or efficient managers. The innovative leader is defined as a visionary, a passionate idealist, and an inspirational thinker. On the other hand, the efficient leader is process-oriented, a student of Agile, or Total Quality Management (TQM), or a black belt disciple of Six Sigma. In reality, the successful person blends these seemingly opposite traits into inseparable qualities.
In his acclaimed book,On Becoming a Leader, Warren Bennis states, “The manager does things right; and the leader does the right thing.” He further differentiates the manager and the leader:
Operations Management / Strategy / Leadership / The Berkshire Company / reading / learning / success / positive / inspiration / management / strength
People today are being asked to take on additional responsibilities, handle new projects, and do more with less. Schedules are tighter than ever. Customers demand quicker response times. More reports must be completed. And more meetings are added to your calendar. Despite working 10-hour days, plus weekends, you still feel overwhelmed. With no end in sight.
If this description hits close to home, then take this advice: schedule some downtime.
Strategy / Leadership / reading / inspiration / management / growth
There was more than one winner at the National Postal Forum (NPF) in Charlotte a few weeks ago. In fact, it was evident that all 3,500 attendees had a successful conference in the shadow of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Whether in classes, on the trade show floor, or networking at events – there were opportunities for everyone.
The keynote address from Postmaster General (PMG) DeJoy provided an update on the Delivering for America plan. PMG DeJoy stressed his commitment to continual “dramatic change” at the US Postal Service (USPS). Videos featuring key leadership emphasized the progress made so far, with the need for even more work to be done. DeJoy stated the new network will take “the Postal Service from the leader in the last mile, to the leader in the last 150 miles.”
+ Read More
United States Postal Service / National Postal Forum / Postal Customer Council / USPS / Digital / U.S. Postal Service / Postage Rates / NPF / shipping / mail / Postmaster General / The Berkshire Company / learning / management
There’s nothing more rewarding than hearing about a client’s success. It’s even better when the successes involve real dollar savings.
Of course, nothing compares to a call when a client describes their most recent round of savings as “low-hanging watermelons”.
+ Read More
United States Postal Service / National Postal Forum / Postal Customer Council / USPS / Digital / U.S. Postal Service / Postage Rates / NPF / mail / The Berkshire Company / management
"Achievement seems to be connected with action. Successful men and women keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit." - Conrad Hilton
In the early years of my professional life, I changed jobs about every 18 months. Sometimes the new job would be a transfer within the company, other times I went to a new company. While I did resign from my roles, I never felt that I “quit”.
I would start at a company with a directive to improve the operation. When that was accomplished, I would look for new challenges and opportunities. If I couldn’t find them in my current role, I would start looking elsewhere. I had one boss that understood my personality, and he kept expanding my responsibilities. I stayed at that company 4 years, 4 months and 4 days.
Growth – personal and professional – requires change and movement. Smart managers and smart companies recognize the need for growth, and assist their employees with their development. If you aren’t able to continue to grow in your current job, you owe it to yourself to look elsewhere.
Strategy / Leadership / The Berkshire Company / consulting / learning / success / management / growth
