There is a direct correlation between Innovation and Employee Empowerment.
Most companies garner about 20% of their employee’s capacity.
Your mission, if you choose to accept it:
Remove the blinders and barriers limiting and restricting human potential.
Hi, I am the Management Rebel.
I love learning and serving people but I was fed up with management at virtually every job I ever had so I quit and created this website introducing a few ideas employers can use to stop destroying our natural inclination to innovate and find, dignity, pride and joy in our work.
This may defy your common sense, but we (employees) actually want to serve you and your clients (our peers). It’s called intrinsic motivation. We are born with it. Yet, despite your “best intentions,” you (employers) are driving it out of us. Making it damn near impossible for us to truly serve our community.
So, for those of you scratching your heads wondering why you got the same damn recurring problems, issues and fires to put out; I am trying my best to simplify it for you:
Maybe start with this book: DRIVE by Daniel Pink. If you are from Charlottesville you may find it particularly meaningful.
Either work with me or Do It Yourself: Enable 21st century thinking at work. Unleash the human psyche. Discover 13 ways of leveraging human capital, “motivating people” and sparking innovative drive; right here:
My every word boils down to this one non-traditional, unconventional, contrarian thought:
All organizations are based upon fundamental assumptions about human beings, whether they know it or not. I believe the individual is the single most important entity, and I want to do everything I can to promote the power of the individual.
The way I see it: We tend to prioritize the organization above the individual. I believe this is backwards. For example:
We base most our knowledge around the concept of “average.” 100 years ago, this served us well. However, today, we know that no one person fits the “average” persona. If necessary, please understand; the average person has one testicle. So, for the sake of brevity;
Individual Disempowerment begins in our formative years. In preschool. What if, instead;
What if we prioritized the individual? Wouldn’t learning be fun?
Instead of exploiting and enhancing the one thing that makes us uniquely human (learning and thinking), our schools seem to crush it out of us. The flawed assumption:
The non-living entity is prioritized: Everything in our extremely rigid one-size-fits-all school system centers around rating and ranking all students around this “average” student. Why?
Using our best 20th century thinking, schools were designed solely to distinguish between gifted and non-gifted children – for our industrial needs.
How else do you distinguish managers from workers?
Did you know that Management is a modern invention? As Deming said; management is “a prison created by the way in which people interact. This interaction afflicts all aspects of our lives; government, industry, education, healthcare…”
My Philosophy: World-class organizations are those who believe the heart of business is pursuing a noble cause, putting people at the center, and creating an environment where you can unleash human magic.
My Dream: Radically improving ourselves as a species, by bringing dignity and joy into the workplace for millions of people (the precursor to innovation).
My Vision: Demonstrating for you, then the rest of the world: The power of the Deming chain reaction.
My Purpose in life is to find a better way and share it. I do this by challenging the status quo and thinking differently. Ultimately what I bring is a right way of getting predictable results.
My Mission: Preach Deming to the masses. Work with volunteers. Helping SMBs improve their systems, products and services. Steering jobs towards autonomy, mastery and purpose.
Note: Improving quality (of a product or service) does not necessarily mean producing higher quality or grade. It means Continually Improving THE PROCESS so that the consumer may depend on the uniformity of a product and purchase it at a low cost..
Hi, my name is Parker.
All my life I’ve been seeking joy in work.
My best job felt like prison.
Then I discovered the work of W. Edwards Deming.
Now I see the world in new light…
More than ever: I am fed up with the status quo.
I believe in Human Flourishing. Yet, most of us only have access to dead-end jobs. I say this because no matter the industry or sector, the prevailing style of management in the western world is sucking the life out of its willing workers.
How many companies invest millions in real estate, infrastructure, advertising, technology only to pay its labor force the legal minimum? Are offshoring and outsourcing worth single digit percentile savings? Why do we treat legal entities (companies) with more respect than philosophical entities (people)? Is employer-sponsored health insurance is a perk, or a Trap? Is it any coincidence that we have words for Malicious Compliance? Quiet Quitting? The Great Resignation?
For me personally, the grossest display of employee mistreatment comes from the City of Charlottesville: My hometown of 40 years.
The “very fine people” at City Hall may talk a good game. Bragging about a thriving culture “where every individual is valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique talents and perspectives.” Yet, I assure you. That gibberish is pure nonsense. Bold faced lies. Baloney. Fiction.
When I worked there, I had one duty. To do whatever boss man said (even though at the time he knew nothing about the nature of our work). My sole purpose: To be physically present, ready at the drop of a hat to do whatever he wanted. Occasionally appearing productive.
Had I persevered I would have been well paid for the rest of my life (pension). The duties were monotonous; wasteful, mind-numbingly dull, and very 17th century-like. Our culture was an exact replica of the Office Space movie. And still, for the most part, I was able to cope,
Until they offered a course in “Leadership.”
Just imagine:
Confusing positions of power with leadership.
OMG, it broke me. Nearly everyone in the class got noticeably agitated and distraught. Our hard ass leaders either did not care, did not notice, or worse?
(The disdain and apathy of uncontested, self-aggrandizing politicians can be cold as ice. Can you imagine them expressing scientific thought; where the highest obligation is proving oneself wrong?)
Leadership is not aimless. Do you think all of us in City Hall shared a common aim? Do you you think our fearless leaders were pushing “Distinction in Service?”
If you are mired in the status quo, how can you expect to earn the respect and appreciation of the public? Do you really think the City delivers services required by law in the most economically responsible manner? The truth is,
Unless you are top management, you have essentially zero decision making authority, even in trivial matters. Call me crazy but this is command and control, which is more like dictatorship than leadership.
Do you really think they welcomed BPI, 6σ, Deming inspired suggestions for improvements? Quite the contrary. In fact,
The day before their leadership course, I was telling myself I was too introverted to study or involve myself with management/ leadership. Besides, I was focused on the philosophy of Peter Drucker:
“Business, because its function is to create a customer and sustain it, has only two purposes: Marketing and Innovation. Marketing and Innovation are the only two functions that build business that sustain paying revenue. Everything else is an expense.”
Thanks to those lackadaisical bureaucrats,
By 5:30 that evening, I was studying Deming like my life depended on it. The more I explore his work, the clearer it gets:
You know how our school systems, health care, public and private sectors, etc., leave A LOT of room for improvement?
Let’s just say much of the Western World does the OPPOSITE of what Deming advises.
Isn’t distinction and differentiation the key to a thriving business?
Or am I mistaken?
Do you think our systems are fine the way they are?
How then, do we break our fear and resistance to change, knowledge and progress?
If I have any super power or unique capability for you to ethically exploit:
It is Bimodal Thinking:
Two diametrically opposed thought processes. A rare combination of:
Conceptual Thinking: Innate ability to identify connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, using those connections to solve problems, create new ideas and reflect on past decisions. This allows me to identify opportunities others overlook.
Structural Thinking: I also excel at breaking those broad ideas into actionable steps. I am in my happy place when designing systems and processes ensuring good ideas come to life efficiently, and when optimizing workflows, and solving bottlenecks.
What I bring:
Unique Perspective, Purposeful Direction, Insightful Knowledge:
Most people lean towards a single mode of thinking. Me: I have a dual thought process: Two opposite ways of processing information: Top-down and bottom up. Big-picture and detail-orientated. With my help, you can balance both ends of the spectrum. This enables us to:
- Create innovative solutions grounded in practical application.
- Communicate effectively between visionaries and implementers, acting as a bridge.
- See both the “forest” and the “trees” without getting lost in either.
Why Would you Want to Work with me?
As long as I do not have to beg and plead, I bring significant value to any business with this distinctive mindset. Here are five other wickedly effective skill sets:
A. Systems Thinking with a Creative Edge
- I excel at identifying inefficiencies and designing systems to fix them, aligning perfectly with Deming’s philosophy of continuous improvement.
- I can spot opportunities for growth or streamlining that others might miss because of my ability to think structurally while keeping creative solutions in mind.
B. Long-Term Value Creation
- Business owners know that sustainable growth comes from refining processes. I am focused less on profits than building a scalable, reliable operation that improves over time.
- By implementing management practices aligned with Deming’s principles, I can create a workplace that values people, encourages innovation, and produces lasting results.
C. Innovative Problem Solving
- My love of learning and trying new things makes me adaptable and ready to tackle unfamiliar challenges. This is especially valuable for businesses looking for fresh perspectives to stand out in competitive markets.
- Owners often struggle with creative stagnation or operational blind spots. My ability to see problems differently makes me a go-to person for “impossible” problems.
D. Ability to Build Autonomy in a Business
- My active interest in avoiding mundane day-to-day operations aligns with creating businesses that thrive independently. Owners would benefit from this ability to design systems reducing their own operational burden, making businesses more attractive for growth, sale, or even semi-passive ownership.
E. Strong Philosophical Foundation
- Deming’s principles illustrate how I care about more than quick wins. My focus is on ethical, thoughtful management and fostering long-term success.
- Business owners who value culture and continuous improvement will see me as an ally in creating something meaningful and profitable.
I have always been fascinated by how businesses work – the way people, processes and creativity come together and spark the American Dream. Though the more I learn the more I am becoming increasingly disillusioned by our cultural modus operandi.
My background is wildly diverse. Having been exposed to various industries and methods of operations, one thing they all seem to have in common:
An antiquated management philosophy.
This is Unsustainable.
The process of destroying our internal drive begins in grade school. By the time we enter the workforce, it seems like companies are bending over backwards to squander their Human Capital. In my experience, I estimate the average company garners maybe 20% of an employee’s capacity? I don’t get it. It breaks my heart.
Call it whatever you want: Ethical dilemma. Moral crusade. People-first management approach. 21st century thinking. Overlooked opportunities. Untapped resources. A god-forsaken system of sheer nonsense. Once you see it, you cannot unsee it.
When you are ready to collaborate,
I bring a unique perspective to business management, combining creative problem-solving with a structured, systems-based approach inspired by W. Edwards Deming’s principles.
My focus is on optimizing processes, empowering teams, and ensuring sustainable growth.
My priorities for every business I work with:
- Preserving Legacy: I respect and uphold the culture, vision, and reputation that business owners have built over time.
- Empowering Teams: I create systems that help employees thrive, ensuring stability and growth.
- Optimizing Operations: I identify inefficiencies and implement solutions that increase profitability and scalability.
Is it so hard to believe a new management philosophy could spark innovative breakthrough?
When you muster up the courage to leverage your human capital, I hope you choose to work with me;
The Management Rebel,
A Deming Disciple,
In your service
P.S. I believe we are rewarded in life in direct proportion to the quantity, quality and consistency of not just breakthroughs we create but of the problems we solve for others, of questions we answer and opportunities we make possible. I believe you must earn your rewards through serving others.
The road map is simple:
Do what Deming and Abraham suggest about management and marketing, orchestrate systematic innovation, and know the difference between good strategy and bad.