First, when I started my job almost a year ago I had absolutely zero experience in the corporate environment.  I remember the first time that the CEO called me and asked me to come up because he had a computer problem.  I was scared out of my mind that I would mess things up.  Then I get to his office and he’s not there.  I asked my boss what to do when someone isn’t there and he said just walk in.  JUST WALK IN?!  This is the president of the company!  I can’t just walk into his office like I own the place.  He’ll walk in and say, “What are you doing in here?” Then my next stop is asking for my previous job back.  That’s just one example of the myriad of ways that I didn’t have a clue what was going on in relation to the business world.

Contrast that with yesterday and I see where I have really grown.  In a room filled with executives I didn’t really have a problem speaking up when I had a thought.  It was on my way home yesterday that I thought about how much I’ve changed while working at this job.  Things that a year ago terrified me just seem common place today.  Challenges that overwhelmed only mildly irritate.  However, don’t stop feeling too sorry for me.  I still get the overwhelming ones too :).

The second thought that came to mind is the saying “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.  I got home after 8 last night.  Lying in the floor playing with Reagan, with Elly and Dessa beside us, I was consumed with thankfulness for those three great individuals.  Even when Reagan climbed into the dirty clothes basket and wouldn’t get out to go potty. :)  This family of mine is wonderful, and I’m glad I have this blog to tell the whole world (or at least the 300 or 400 visitors I get a month) this truth!

P.S.  Reagan traded his stairs for an elevator yesterday (see last post).  Also, my sister, niece, and nephew may be coming up this weekend.  I’m excited about that.

The philosophy of Kaizen is at the root of this improvement. Toyota makes it easy for little things to be improved. Maybe a parts picker thinks that things will work better if a certain part is placed in a certain location on the shelf. Maybe the receptionist at the front desk says that the welcome sign’s color clashes with the building’s paint. Rather than being a top-down company where these small requests would be lost in a bureaucratic jungle, Toyota has built itself around a bottom-up philosophy where changes like these can get done. Do they all work? No, but the net result is continual improvement.

So, the word ‘kaizen’ stuck with me. Obviously it applies to my workplace and others’, where businesses could be substantially improved by focusing on the small improvements over the big splash (granted, though, that if you can do both successfully, the better for you). But I think it also applies to our personal lives, our churches, and our relationships.

Benjamin Franklin once decided to follow a system of continual improvement when he laid down his Thirteen Virtues. He would reflect daily on how well he was doing in regards to each and would often take a full week and focus on only one virtue. If we ever want to be successful in life or in death, we must have the same mentality. We must seek to always progress within ourselves and within Christ.

I also felt strongly that this Kaizen philosophy could makes its home in my church. As a caveat, you should know that I love my church and think it wonderful with wonderful people. However, just like in businesses, it is the small things that all too often slip through the cracks. I think a system that encourages the people to spot small, needed changes that would effect continual improvement would allow our leaders to focus on the bigger things. It’s something I want to think further about.

Kaizen. Continual Improvement. Are you better today than you were yesterday? What will you do today to insure continual improvement in your life?

It is now 6:18, and I here my son awake in his room. I didn’t see him all day yesterday, so I’m off to go give him some attention. How’s that for improvement? =)