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Intro: Welcome to the E6S-Methods podcast with Jacob and Aaron, your weekly dose of tips and tricks to achieve excellent performance in your business and career. Join us as we explore deeper into the practical worlds of Lean, Six Sigma, Project Management and Design Thinking. In this episode number 166, "I quit!" If you're just tuning in for the first time, find all our back episodes on our podcast table of contents at e6s-methods.com. If you like this episode, be sure to click the "like" link in the show notes. It's easy. Just tap our logo, click and you're done. Tap-click-done! Here we go. http://bit.ly/E6S-166 Leave a Review! http://bit.ly/E6S-iTunes

The things I wanted, but decided to quit instead

I The Upside of Quitting - Freakonomics

a. http://freakonomics.com/podcast/new-freakonomics-radio-podcast-the-upside-of-quitting/

II Kiss my IISE Good-Bye

a. Was selected to speak for 4 different tracks 2017 IISE Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA -

b. Unlike most participants, I pay out of pocket (not sponsored by my day job)

i. Couldn't find good discounts for hotels, and discovered speakers don't even get a discount. So I opted out. Would have cost me $1.5K all-in, and the monetary return would have been near zero

ii. The biggest possible audience I'd have is 50 in-person, vs. the 2000+ I have every week already

iii. Downside - Miss creating the valuable in-person connections. Made some great connections in the IISE ELSS 2015, which are priceless connections

c. Am I wrong? What do you think?

III Kiss my ASQ Good-bye!

a. My ASQ Black Belt Recertification came around, and I learned I missed my Grace Period, which started while I was on strike duty, and I simply forgot about it, and misunderstood how it worked. So I no longer was able to fill out the journal for recertification based on my contributions to the BoK, and instead needed to re-sit for the ASQ exam, $300 and 4 hours of my time on a Saturday.

i. Decided to just let it go. I'm far more qualified than the ASQ certification reflects. It was helpful 10 years ago to get me the FT BB role where I was able to gain real experience, but keeping it going forever, in an area where not much changes, I'm going to let it go.

ii. Downside - Some employers may look at the ASQ current certification roster, and not find my name. - But this would probably be the wrong role for me. My resume is more valuable than the ASQ stamp of approval.

b. Am I wrong? What do you think?

IV Kiss my E6S Good-bye?

a. Almost. I was close to shutting down the podcast.... again.

b. Lot's of emotional conflicts the podcast

i. very time consuming, tough to balance with life/work

ii. existential crises - turned 40, grandfather passed away, state of the country, USA - future outlook unclear

c. Very limited payback

i. 3-years out, haven't yet found a Business Model or any way to cover costs

ii. Out of 2000 listeners, have only heard from 10-15 of you. I'm lacking what they call "Social Validation"

d. But with Special Thanks to Ken Heskett

i. Ken reached out to me a couple months ago looking for advice on how to transition into a healthcare career after having been outside of it for a while. I gave him some advice but also passed on his questions to one of our podcast guests, Johanna Ficatier in episode E6S-151

ii. A Couple weeks ago, Ken wrote this to me.

Hi Aaron,

I am a little behind on my podcasts and just listened to your interview with Johanna Ficatier - that was very encouraging to me! The search has proved harder that I had anticipated, seems like everyone wants 2+ yrs healthcare experience (as you mentioned on your podcast). I am still searching for a position, meanwhile gaining experience and education as much as possible.

Your advice to me has been extremely helpful. I approached a doctor-friend of mine who owns his own clinic and he has opened up his practice for my help (and is even paying me, making it better). I have been consulting on a couple different Lean projects with him and getting my feet wet in the healthcare world.

Thank you so much for your sage advice and for the quality podcasts - all very helpful!

1. Was very touching and exactly the encouragement I needed at the time.

e. Also great congratulations to Philip Prendeville for completing his thesis,

i. Tailoring the Agile approach to machine building: Facilitating improved communication across departments. By Philip Prendeville. A project submitted in partial fulfilment requirements For a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Process and Engineering Management from Limerick Institute of Technology, Submitted: March 2017, under the guidance of Dr. Emma Kelly

ii. Thank you for sharing it with us, and allowing us to be part of your journey. I look forward to reading it.

V My ask to you. Yes you...

a. Am I wrong? What do you think?

b. What are you quitting, if anything?

Outro: Thanks for listening to episode 166 of the E6S-Methods podcast. Stay tuned for episode 167, part 4 of our project schedule planning series, "Yes, I Gantt!" Don't forget to click "like" or "dislike" for this episode in the show notes. Tap-click-done! If you have a question, comment or advice, leave a note in the comments section or contact us directly. Feel free to email me "Aaron," aaron@e6s-methods.com, or on our website, we reply to all messages. If you heard something you like, then Clammr and share it. Don't forget you can find notes and graphics for all shows and more at www.E6S-Methods.com. "Journey Through Success. If you're not climbing up, you're falling down." Leave a Review! http://bit.ly/E6S-iTunes

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