Shipulski On Design

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At first glance, it seems easy to run a good test, but nothing can be further from the truth. The first step is to define the idea/concept you want to validate or invalidate.  The best way is to complete one of these two sentences: I want to learn that [type your idea here] is true. […]

Control strategies don’t work, but trust strategies do. Nothing goes as planned.  Trying to control things tightly is wasteful.  It takes too much energy to batten down all the hatches and keep them that way every-day-all-day.  Maybe no water gets in, but the crew doesn’t get enough oxygen and their brains wither. Trust on the […]

We set visions, define idealized future states, define metrics, and create tools and processes to realize them. It’s all knit together, the puzzle pieces fight tightly, and it leaves out the most important part – people and their behavior. Metrics represent the all-important output of our tools and processes, and we’re so fascinated by metrics […]

Although it’s more important than ever, trust is in short supply. With everyone doing three jobs, there’s really no time for anything but a trust-based approach. Yet we’re blocked by the fear that trust means loss of control.  But that’s backward. Trust is a funny thing.  If you have it, you don’t need it.  If […]

Your best engineer walks into your office and says, “I have this idea for a new technology that could revolutionize our industry and create new markets, markets three times the size of our existing ones.” What do you do? What if, instead, it’s a lower caliber engineer that walks into your office and says those […]

Happy – when you can bring your whole self to everything you do. Lonely – when you’re with people all day but can’t be truthful with them. Sad – when you see what could be but never will. Angry – when someone is less than truthful. Happy – when people you care about are treated […]

Here are the top four blog posts from 2024 with a little summary of each. It’s not the work, it’s the people. By far the most popular post.  Here are some important words from the post: hard work, share, struggle, elbow-to-elbow, fear, crew, extra load, friend, through the wringer, smile, sad, care, easier.  And I […]

Holidays aren’t about shopping, gifts, special dinners, or travel.  Holidays are about family. On holidays, people travel.  They don’t travel to tourist sites, national parks, or big cities for big cities’ stake.  People travel to see their families. On holidays, people eat special foods prepared in special ways and served on special plates.  But that’s […]

  Be bold – the alternative is boring. Be the first to forgive – it’s like forgiving twice. Be yourself – you’re the best at that. Be afraid – and do it anyway. Be effective – and to hell with efficiency. Be happy – if that’s what’s inside. Be authentic – it’s invigorating. Be energetic – […]

Here’s what it looks like when the same old tricks no longer carry the day. Efficiency of effort For the same energy, you get more in return. For the same energy, you get the same in return. For more energy, you get the same in return. For more energy, you get less in return. Out […]

I used to think the work was most important.  Now I think it’s the people you work with. Hard work is hard, but not when you share it with people you care about. Struggle is tolerable when you’re elbow-to-elbow with people you trust. Fear is manageable when you have faith in your crew. You’re happy […]