Solving problems is simple, but not easy – know the difference.

“…We are what we repeatedly do. Therefore excellence is not an act but a habit….”

Aristoteles or Will Durant or Will A. Foster – many are attributed

The business philosophy of Lean and its consequent implementations in the last 70-80 years have learned us that you don’t rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems. (James Clear in Atomic Habits). And that’s why I’ve come to believe that success in anything, also in business, can be the outcome of a process of common sense, but then rigorously applied.

Red is the new green

Mark van de Laak

People are visual animals, hence the beauty of Visual Management as started out in the Toyota factories many decades ago. If your KPI is green, you’re good. If it is red, you’re not (yet) where you want to be. Red means there’s a problem to be solved. It can be small it can be huge, but something needs to be done. This is where true Lean Leaders step in. Define the problem, find the root cause, implement countermeasures and ensure sustainment. It’s simple… but not always easy.

Explore my thoughts on my Lean Business Blog:

SIPOC: keep it simple

Posted on 12/09/2025 by Mark

For many people just starting with lean, nothing can be more intimidating than a full blown Value St…

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You’re not sitting in traffic, you are traffic

Posted on 01/09/2025 by Mark

Seth Godin, This is strategy, 2024 I’m a fan of Seth and his writing style. He has a strong ey…

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Everything is a process, whether you like it or not

Posted on 08/07/2025 by Mark

We all know a version of this quote form Aristotle: We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence therefo…

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