Non-Competitive Habits that become Normal

What we see often is that People "adapt" instead of "challenge". Then to make it worse after 21 days they become immune to the environment. If the material handler places a skid at the end of the packing line, 90% of the time the employees will figure out how to load the skid where it dropped, even if moving it closer by 2-5 feet would make their life easier. This is why I am a fan of blue electrical tape, even as a temporary mark it insure repeatability.

So you and your own employees may be hiding huge efficiency opportunities because that is how we always have done it, or it is burned into your muscle memory to walk to a far cabinet for a supply you use constantly. And that is for what we can see, imagine what is happening inside your machines ... but let us come back this later ...

Ultimately, In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in doing things 'because that's how it's always been done.' But what if we told you that some of these habits might be unnecessary?

I am sure many of you have read the following story ... but it is worth reading again please.

A man was watching his wife as she prepared to fry fish in a pan. He noticed that before placing the fish in the pan, she always cut off the head and tail, threw them away, and cooked only the middle part. Puzzled, he asked, "Honey, why do you always cut off the head and tail of the fish before frying it?"

The wife shrugged and replied, "I don’t know. It’s just how my mom taught me to do it." Curious, the next day they visited her mother. The wife asked, "Mom, why did you teach me to cut off the head and tail of the fish before frying it?"

The mother paused for a moment, then said, "I’m not really sure. That’s how my mother always did it. We should ask her." So the two of them went to visit the grandmother. The wife turned to her grandmother and asked, "Grandma, why do we always cut off the head and tail of the fish before frying it?"

The grandmother smiled thoughtfully and said, "That’s just the way my mother taught me. I never really questioned it. We should ask her." Determined to get to the bottom of this, the three women visited the great-grandmother at her retirement home. After explaining the situation, the great-granddaughter asked loudly, "Great-grandma, why did you teach us to cut off the head and tail of the fish before frying it?"

The elderly woman looked surprised and replied, "Wait, you’re all still doing that? I only did it because my pan was too small to fit the whole fish!"

Just like the fish story, many outdated practices continue to influence our lives today, leading to confusion and chaos. There are unnecessary ways of living brought to life in the past that still play a significant role in our present.

Even though some habits may seem meaningless, it's essential to question them and understand their purpose. To truly understand our habits, we need to investigate the reasons behind them. By doing so, we can assess their usefulness and make informed decisions about whether to continue or change them.

Now that we've explored the story, let's dive into the valuable lessons it teaches us.

1. Traditions can be blind: The story highlights how traditions can be passed down without questioning or understanding the original reason behind them.

2. Assumptions can lead to unnecessary habits: The women in the story assumed that cutting off the ends of the fish was necessary, when in fact, it was just a workaround for a small pan.

3. Curiosity and inquiry are essential: The husband's curiosity and the women's determination to find the answer led them to discover the truth and break free from an unnecessary habit.

4. Don't be afraid to challenge traditions: The story encourages us to question and challenge traditions, especially if they no longer serve a purpose or make sense in our current context.

5. The power of seeking knowledge and understanding: The story demonstrates the importance of seeking knowledge and understanding, rather than simply following traditions or assumptions.

Another issue is that most people accept automation as being efficient, which can be very scary if you accept that. For instance peer inside a CNC Milling machine and watch the cutter movement, monitor the tool changes and there is a good chance that with some simple programing changes you can make the program 50% more efficient.

As we conclude this story, remember that questioning the status quo can lead to new discoveries and a more fulfilling life. So, the next time you catch yourself doing something 'just because,' take a moment to reflect on its purpose. Who knows, you might just start a new tradition - one that's based on intention and understanding, rather than habit.