The McCarthy Show

115. Introduction to the Core System Part 11

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 05:11:10 +0000

The Intention Check protocol is covered.

114. Introduction to the Core System Part 10

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:10:54 +0000

The Protocol Check protocol is covered.

113. A For Effort

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:10:10 +0000

Jim and Michele talk about how our culture tends to reward pure effort. They propose a better idea; rewarding results and minimizing effort.

112. Discussions with a Bootcamp Grad

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:09:47 +0000

Jim and Michele podcast from the first Seattle area BootLuck. They interview Ben Ellinger, a BootCamp grad who creates games at Microsoft and teaches at the Digipen Institute.

111. Business 101 Part 2: Blindspots

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:09:28 +0000

As a leader it is crucial that you get help with your blindspots. Jim and Michele also talk about ways to talk to a leader about his or her self-destructive tendencies.

110. Thinking Support

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:09:12 +0000

How to use a Decider-like method to get a team into alignment around a better idea that some get and some do not.

109. Introduction to the Core System Part 9

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:08:56 +0000

Jim and Michele review the Ask For Help Protocol.

107. There is an Unconscious

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:08:40 +0000

Jim and Michele discuss how it is common to ignore the existence and overwhelming power of the unconscious.

106. The Objective Correllative

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:08:23 +0000

The product is the team, the team is the product – but what really defines a team at it’s most basic level, Jim and michele dicuss some Before you set out to make a great team, are you even working as a team?

105. Team Energy Management

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:08:06 +0000

Jim and Michele discuss a variety of topics related to energy management such as indications of energy-draining meetings, energy conservation techniques, and the idea of partnering with someone else to monitor each other’s energy.

104. Maturity and Problem Awareness

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:07:45 +0000

Solving a problem can be categorized into four levels with the first and most basic level being the sensory level. The next level is being intellectually aware that what you sense is a problem. Third is understanding that there are multiple options for solving the problem, and the fourth level is implementing the best option. Jim and Michele talk about different types of problems, the problem solving process, and “outcome based motivation”.

103. Business 101 Part 1

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:07:29 +0000

Jim and Michele discuss tips for meeting more effectively. Learn how to reduce the amount of time you spend in unproductive discussion and how to have efficient meetings with measurable outcomes.

102. Introduction to the Core System Part 8

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:06:51 +0000

If you realize you are in an inefficient meeting or in a discussion that is going nowhere you have a method of improving the situation: Check Out. The Check Out Protocol requires you to remove yourself if you are in an unproductive situation. If you, or people you are with, are not fully present or if there is someplace else that it would be better for you to be then you should Check Out and do what you need so that you can Check In again. Jim and Michele walk through the protocol and discuss some of the situations in which Checking Out should be used, and provide anecdotes of how Check Out has helped in a range of situations such as family interactions, anger management, and meeting efficiency.

101. Introduction to the Core System Part 7

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:05:33 +0000

The Check In Protocol is an interpersonal connectivity process – it is a method for each person on a team to manage emotions, presence, and their intention to support and adhere to The Core Commitments. Jim and Michele walk through Check In and provide examples and anecdotes of the protocol in use. Check In as deeply as possible; the depth of the group’s Check In translates directly to the quality of the group’s results.

100. The 100th Episode

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:04:54 +0000

In their 100th episode Jim and Michele cover a variety of topics. Ideas about Checking In and Checking Out, maturity, awareness, presence, prioritizing, dynamic project management, and happiness are discussed.

99. Introduction to the Core System Part 6

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:01:42 +0000

The Pass Protocol is the most important of all the protocols, and is at the center of the Core System. This simple protocol ensures that your freedom of choice is not neglected at any time; there is no point at which you are not accountable for the results of your choices. The Pass Protocol helps a team achieve greatness by raising the accountability and responsibility of each team member for the decisions they make.

98. The Head Gap

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:01:08 +0000

The head gap cost is the cost to the team for one person to have access to another team member’s gifts as if they were their own, and vice versa. Jim and Michele discuss how to reduce a team’s head gap cost – increasing the flow of virtues and the combination of geniuses.

97. Checking Out

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:00:51 +0000

Be where you want to be, not where you are supposed to be. Be there because you choose to be there. The freedom of The Core allows you to align by passion and engage in what you love. Other ideas and topics in this podcast include: fractal aspects of a block, results of a recent 11-person Bootcamp at Microsoft, and the question “what does greatness taste like”? With guest Rachel Rutherford.

96. The Core and the Gifted

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:00:33 +0000

The Core is like a good virus delivering systemic insights. With more people running The Core, the insights exponentially grow; it is an algorithm for reaching your full potential as an individual and as part of a team. This podcast also has updates on the three-person Bootcamp Rachel Rutherford was involved in at Microsoft, and the continued results of Rachel’s Grassroots Booting efforts (see episodes 35, 36 and 37). With guest Rachel Rutherford.

95. Applied Topical Alignment

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:00:18 +0000

The goodness of an idea is not sufficient enough to get it executed. Get your team aligned around great ideas and then make it happen. Jim and Michele talk about a new team protocol that will get boss support for an idea, and that will propagate that support to the entire organization.

94. Department of Defensiveness

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:59:59 +0000

The new Defense Secretary fired the Army Secretary for a defensive and poor response to a serious problem. How do people fall into defensive behavior patterns? How can you reduce defensiveness in your own life? The Core Commitments and Core Protocols can help you identify when you are acting defensive and how to act with integrity.

93. Projected Bad Thoughts

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:59:40 +0000

If you are having emotional behavior that you think is driven by the belief that someone else (or a group) is thinking ill of you then consider that you might not be seeing the situation clearly. The other person’s behavior may be driven by an entirely different motivation. Jim and Michele share ideas on how you can have a productive loving life by overcoming narcissistic emotional triggers using protocols like Perfection Game and Investigate.

92. Introduction to the Core System Part 5

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:59:16 +0000

Commitments seven through eleven of the Core Commitments are explored: “Do now what must be done eventually and can effectively be done now”, “Seek to move forward toward a particular goal, by biasing my behavior toward action”, “Use the Core Protocols (or better) when applicable” (with “Offer and accept timely and proper use of the Protocol Check protocol without prejudice”), “Neither harm—nor tolerate the harming of—anyone for his or her fidelity to these commitments” and “Never do anything dumb on purpose”.

91. Introduction to the Core System Part 4

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:59:00 +0000

Commitments two, three, and four of the Core Commitments are explored: “Seek to perceive more than I seek to be perceived”, “Use teams, especially when undertaking difficult tasks” and “Speak always and only when I believe it will improve the general results/effort ratio”, “Offer and accept only rational, results-oriented behavior and communication” and “Disengage from less productive situations: When I cannot keep these commitments, When it is more important that I engage elsewhere”.

90. Introduction to the Core System Part 3

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:58:43 +0000

Jim and Michele discuss the last two subsections of the Core Commitment “Engage when present”: “When I have or hear a better idea than the currently prevailing idea, I will immediately either i) propose it for decisive acceptance or rejection, and/or ii) explicitly seek its improvement” and “Personally support the best idea i) regardless of its source, ii) however much I hope an even better idea may later arise, and iii) when I have no superior alternative idea”.

89. Introduction to the Core System Part 2

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:58:27 +0000

The series on the Core Commitments continues by addressing the next two subsections of “Engage when present”: “Always seek effective help” and “Decline to offer and refuse to accept incoherent emotional transmissions”. Seeking effective help is something everyone can improve upon and strengthens relationships. It helps you build trust and become more trustworthy. When you seek effective help you come away as more powerful, more enriched. Jim and Michele also discuss incoherent emotional transmissions – how to recognize when you are behaving in a way that is incoherent and what to do about it.

88. Introduction to the Core System Part 1

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:58:11 +0000

Jim and Michele introduce the new series about the Core Commitments, a constitution for results-oriented behavior. They share their ideas on what engaged behavior is and how to achieve it as they discuss the first subsection of “Engage when present” – “Know and disclose what I want, what I think, and what I feel”.

87. Ask For Help Saga (Part IV)

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:57:53 +0000

Michele investigates Jim’s work on his Personal Alignment of self-awareness, and Jim describes his recent emphasis on humility.

86. Parenting and Non-violence

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:57:39 +0000

Jim and Michele talk about parenting ideas including their opinions on spanking and manifesting non-violence in the family.

84. Pretend Part III: Art Lesson

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:57:22 +0000

Jim and Michele talk about art as a means to connect with, and learn from, your unconscious (greater) self. Pretend there are no mistakes in art. Pretend mistakes are where your greater self is trying to break through. When you create art your greater self is unrepressed – access your greater self and accept the flow of genius.

83. Pretend Part II: Seek Diversity

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:57:03 +0000

Pretend we are designed to connect with others at a high-bandwidth, high-intimacy level. Pretend that the impulse to be with people who are just like you is a self-destructive primitive impulse. Pretend diversity is the secret to success.

82. The Problem of Design

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:56:47 +0000

Great designers empathize with those who will be using the product. Jim and Michele work through some design ideas and talk about the importance of a shared vision and techniques for improving the design process.

81. How to Talk Like an Adult

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:56:32 +0000

What are the qualities of an adult conversation? Jim and Michele discuss ways in which adults communicate, and methods for improving the exchange of information.

80. The Art of Pretending

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:56:15 +0000

Pretend your children have all the ideas and you don’t; pretend the only thing you have on them is experience. Pretend that some better state is true and try it out. Jim and Michele talk about the art of pretending and how it can be used at home and work.

78. Introducing the Core using Cheat Sheets

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:55:57 +0000

Guest Rebecca Frame reports on how she introduced The Core Protocols to her team using the new Cheat Sheets.

77. ScaryIdea Protocol

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:55:37 +0000

Whatever your reason for holding back a scary or big idea, imagine that each time you choose not to share these ideas, you are limiting your team’s potential for creativity. Even if your idea is unusual or impossible to realize, someone on your team may be able to think of ways to make some version of it realized, or at least it will inspire them to think of a better one.

76. The Creative Process

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:55:20 +0000

“The unique unprecedented moment when spirit touches matter…” Guest Patrick McCarthy and Jim discuss the creative process including definitions of creativity, examples of the creative process, and insights into maintaining creative output. View Patrick McCarthy’s paintings at http://www.patrickmccarthygallery.com/

75. The Viral Boot

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:55:01 +0000

A protocol for spreading The Core Technology. How could you boot a group in 90 minutes? Jim and Michele walk through the steps of a viral protocol for quickly booting groups.

74. A Boss Whisperer

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:54:47 +0000

If your boss doesn’t stop you, you have a great boss. What makes a great boss? What is the employee’s accountability if they have a great boss? Learn the rule of thumb for deciding if you have a great boss, and what your responsibilities are if you do.

73. The Ugliness of Groups

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:54:29 +0000

Have you ever noticed that even brilliant ideas are rejected by groups? Michele and Jim investigate this phenomenon and share some ideas to help overcome the resistance.

72. Drama

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:54:12 +0000

If you aren’t getting results, then you are in the middle of drama. Jim and Michele talk about how to recognize drama and the issues surrounding it.

71. Technicality

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:53:50 +0000

Jim and Michele discuss how people can fall into the trap of thinking something is overly technical when it is really poor communmication skills or someone trying to make themselves sound important.

70. Receptivity

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:53:30 +0000

Jim and Michele discuss receptivity and how it can drastically improve results on a team.

69. The Chain of Command

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:53:13 +0000

Jim and Michele talk about craziness when people deal with their bosses and the chain of management above them.

68. Vulnerability

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:52:58 +0000

People follow leaders who exhibit vulnerability.

67. Credit Mapping

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:52:39 +0000

Jim and Michele talk about how to take team success and map it to individual careers.

66. One Hundred and Five Days Late

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:52:23 +0000

Michele shares her tips on how to ship software that is late.

65. One-One

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:52:02 +0000

Jim and Michele talk about the benefits of using One-One meetings as a way of managing teams.

64. Trust

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:51:43 +0000

Trust is a key ingredient in a healthy team. When high levels of trust exist, magic happens.

63. Is Pain Real or Just a Symptom?

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:51:28 +0000

Are pain and sickness an excuse we use when we are afraid of a situation and don’t want to face it?

62. House Rules (Part II)

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:51:10 +0000

A continuing look into the rules that the McCarthy family lives by.

61. House Rules

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:50:51 +0000

The McCarthy family talks about the rules that they use in their family.

60. What is the Message?

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:50:33 +0000

Every product needs a message in order to succeed. Jim and Michele discuss how to create great messages.

59. Pleasure is an Odd Number

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:50:16 +0000

Have you ever noticed that only one person is happy in a marriage at one time? Jim and Michele explore this phenomena.

58. Integrity

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:49:57 +0000

Integrity is one of the hardest virtues to maintain at all times. Jim and Michele discuss integrity and explore tough situations we have all faced at work.

57. I’m Crazy – Is that Bad?

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:49:41 +0000

Everyone is a little bit crazy… How much is too much?

56. Prioritization and Foot Faults

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:49:23 +0000

Michele and Jim share their wisdom about prioritization and a funny tennis story.

55. Boss Whisperer, Horses, and TReg Cells

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:49:06 +0000

Jim and Michele show how the natural world containts secrets to teamwork. They discuss how by observing horses and T Cells we can learn much more about teamwork.

54. Tell a Friend

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:48:43 +0000

We have a great secret we want to share with the world,. Listen and help spread our secret.

53. Ask For Help Saga (Part III)

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:48:28 +0000

Jim goes vulnerable and shares his big personal revelation about the power behind asking for help.

52. Ask For Help Saga (Part II)

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:48:11 +0000

In this ongoing saga, Jim shares his observations from Russia on Ask For Help.

51. Ask For Help Saga

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:47:52 +0000

Jim begins a set of updates about his great ask for help experiment.

50. Firing

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:47:35 +0000

Michele’s dad Donald joins the show to talk about firing individuals that don’t perform.

49. Hiring Great People

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:47:17 +0000

Hiring smart people is key to making an organization great. Jim and Michele share what they look for when hiring great people.

48. Welcome Becca

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:47:02 +0000

Rebecca’s joins Jim and Michele to talk about her first experience at bootcamp.

47. Focus on the Best Behaviour

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:46:44 +0000

Most people give their attention to people exhibiting bad behavior. The best way to get results is exactly the opposite – focus on those people giving the best results.

46. Foundations of Mediocrity – The Agenda

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:46:27 +0000

Jim and Michele discuss how trying to keep people on an Agenda is unproductive.

45. Status Updates

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:46:10 +0000

Michele shares how to effectively communicate status to customers and bosses.

44. Don’t Listen to Me

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:45:51 +0000

People need to think for themselves. Jim recounts how someone followed advice he gave 8 years earlier.

43. Alignment, The Easy Way

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:45:27 +0000

Many people take simple ideas and pretend they are complicated when they are afraid of the idea.

42. Trippin to Russia ‘n Kiev

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:45:12 +0000

Jim shares tales from his recent trip to Moscow and Kiev.

41. No Hurt Feelings

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:44:54 +0000

Why are people so afraid to share or talk about their feelings? Jim and Michele illustrate how feeling are essential to high performance teams.

40. Next Generation Decider (Part II)

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:44:21 +0000

Michele continues to share her observations on the next generation of decider.

39. Next Generation Decider

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:44:04 +0000

Michele introduces a new version of decider aimed at making decisions in large groups. If you work with a big team, this podcast shouldn’t be missed.

38. In Search of Beauty

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:43:46 +0000

Jim and Michele welcome Mark to the show and discuss his Alignment of Beauty.

37. Grassroots Booting (Part III)

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:43:28 +0000

Rachael sings a song and continues to share thoughts on improving The Core. Improvements to Decider and Check-in are discussed.

36. Grassroots Booting (Part II)

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:40:07 +0000

Rachael continues to talk about her experiences with Jim and Michele. They explore bootcamp at work, projection, and her new equation me=team=product.

35. Grassroots Booting

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:39:43 +0000

Rachael, a core certified instructor and inventor of decider, joins Jim and Michele this show. She discusses her observations on how to establish the core in a grassroots fashion and various experiments she is trying.

34. Gender in the Workplace

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:39:23 +0000

For many people it is taboo to talk about the different strengths that men and women bring to the workplace. Not so for Jim and Michele. Each gender brings with it a set of traits that can provide incredible value to a team.

33. Men and their Alpha

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:39:03 +0000

Trying to understand how to work with men? Jim and Michele examine the power structures that men live in and how to optimize their performance when working in teams.

32. Action Camp

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:38:42 +0000

Jim and Michele talk about Action Camp, the latest product from McCarthy Technologies.

31. Ask For Help (Part II)

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:37:39 +0000

Jim signs up for the great ask for help experiment.

30. Ask For Help

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:37:19 +0000

Live from Visilia Country. Jim and Michele explore how asking for help can generate enormous returns.

29. The Perfect Boss

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:36:57 +0000

Have you always wondered what the perfect boss was like? Whether you want to find or become the perfect boss, this episode is for you.

28. Your Boss is Your Best Customer

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:36:36 +0000

Most people look at their boss as a parent, doing anything they say and wanting their boss to take care of them at all times. A better way is to look at this relationship is to view your boss as your best customer. This means doing a great job no matter how they act. You perform a service and they pay you for it.

27. Foundations of Mediocrity – The Quarterly Analysts Meeting

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:23:45 +0000

Is it really worth an organization’s time to spend the majority of their senior executive’s energy getting ready for quarterly analyst meetings? Wouldn’t this time be better spent making a great company? Jim and Michele discuss a better way of handling quarterly analysts meetings.

26. Foundations of Mediocrity – The Schedule (Part II)

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:23:24 +0000

Jim and Michele provide great suggestions on how to effectively accomplish project goals.

25. Foundations of Mediocrity – The Schedule

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:23:02 +0000

People are willing to proceed as if they can look into a crystal ball and see the future, wasting time and doing the impossible. Jim and Michele give some ideas to get projects done as quick as possible.

24. Foundations of Mediocrity – Reorgs (Part II)

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:22:36 +0000

Everyone has a pixel. Don’t try and control someone’s pixel – let them control it. Get everyone engaged in making the vision happen.

23. Foundations of Mediocrity – Reorgs

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:22:14 +0000

Reorgs are a great way to increase stalling. When there are no more stories about why things aren’t getting done, people usually create reorgs to explain their mediocrity.

22. Greatness

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:21:54 +0000

What is greatness, and what you can do to defeat Osama bin Laden.

21. Budgetary Blues (Part II)

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:21:27 +0000

See yourself as responsible for the financial well being of the corporation that you have contracted to work with. Michele does a great impersonation of someone who complains about their budget.

20. Budgetary Blues

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:21:04 +0000

People are more concerned about meeting their budget than making money for the corporation they work for. Jim and Michele examine the fallacies in modern day budgeting.

19. If You Tolerate It, You Insist On It

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:20:42 +0000

If you see something happening that you don’t agree with but do nothing, then you are condoning it. You are responsible for what you see around you.

18. Templates

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:20:19 +0000

Jim and Michele discuss the concept of templates and that people are exactly like their primary care giver, or exactly the opposite. Unless you are aware of this tendency, it will govern your actions.

17. The Lumber Tax

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:19:54 +0000

If you are going to live in the forest, you gotta pay the tax. Men are great to work with, but there is always a price to pay. Michele and Jim give tips and tricks on the different types of taxes you can pay to make working with men easier.

16. If You See It, You Own It

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:18:30 +0000

Jim and Michele talk about what to do if you aren’t getting what you want.

15. Family Time

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:18:10 +0000

Fiona and Alex talk with Michele (their Mom) about how they use the protocols in their life.

14. Alignment Mojo

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:16:57 +0000

Jim and Michele talk about what to do after figuring out your personal alignment.

13. What I Want (Part II)

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:16:20 +0000

Michele investigates Jim and how his personal alignment is working for him.

12. What I Want

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:15:36 +0000

Are you getting what you want? Jim and Michele discuss the personal alignment protocol which is critical to getting what you want.

11. Solving the World’s Problems

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:06:17 +0000

Jim and Michele discuss the origin of the Perfection Game and how it makes giving and receiving criticism an enjoyable experience.

10. Aggregating Intelligence

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:03:57 +0000

We all wait for a genius like Mozart or Einstein to show up and change civilization. Jim and Michele discuss how to create a genius by aggregating the intelligence of a team.

9. Investigate in Action

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:47:15 +0000

Witness the investigate protocol in action. Jim investigates Michele about how she feels about step parenting.

8. Investigate INVESTIGATE

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:19:42 +0000

How to learn anything from others without driving them nuts. A protocol called Investigate is described.

7. Money Talks

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:18:44 +0000

Rewarding employees who show the best behaviours is infintely better than rewarding all employees equally.

6. How to Reward Employees

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:13:53 +0000

Jim and Michele talk about rewarding employees… Focusing on morale never actually improves morale and wastes time.

5. The Booted

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:31:50 +0000

Jim and Michele talk about the evolution of the core and how they have taken their ideas and had them perfected by others over the past decade.

4. Don’t Do Anything Dumb on Purpose

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:30:27 +0000

People make lots of mistakes, but the key is not to do something you know is dumb on purpose. If you do something or see something dumb, it is your responsibility to stop this waste.

3. Discussion Should be Illegal

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:29:08 +0000

Discussion usually costs a lot of team energy but doesn’t move the team toward solving the problem. Precious time and energy are expended in discussions which could be funneled towards action.

2. Individualism and Unanimity

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:27:09 +0000

Unanimous team decisions are the best way to get results. Michele and Jim discuss how it is possible to retain one’s identity while still getting a team to act with a single voice.

1. The Hypocritic Oath

site@mccarthy.net (Jim & Michele McCarthy) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 23:31:22 +0000

Jim and Michele discuss what it means to actually have a team vs. theoretically having a team. They discuss the hypocrisy endemic to all things team and the difficulties of being a boss on your own team.