We need to get back to 'Living Lean'

Written by Finbarr Sheehy

If you asked any family in the western world today to move house, how long would it take? An hour, a day, a week, a month, six months? I would estimate between a month and six months. Think of all the planning needed to figure out what we need to bring, what we plan to dump, who will transport everything, where are we going to store it? If you asked a family in Africa to move house, how long would it take? I would propose probably less than an hour. Just pick up the key essentails and move. So what's the difference? I think it is partly because we have lost the ability to recognise what we need and what we want. We have become so materialistic. We are convinced that if we see something we like, then we must have it. We upgrade our phones every year because we are due an upgrade, not because there is a problem with the phone. We change our cars regularly because we want to better than our neighbours, not because the car is unreliable. Every house in the west has several cars, multiple TVs, excess furniture, too much food. We pay excess amounts for food we do not eat, we pay for services we do not need. We are convinced to invest in property we cannot afford to repay. When finances are tight, we are forced to rethink what is important. We demand greater value for money. We have to rethink our vision for the future. Assuming we can survive the short term pain, this is ultimately a good thing. It forces us to take greater control over our own destiny. Lean Thinking forces us to figure out What is of Value (Family, Health, Identity, Spirit, Values, etc.) . It tells us to do those things very well and eliminate all other non value added activities. It says to understand the best ways to make and deliver those products and services and always strive for perfection (as defined by the customer) . Those who will survive and prosper in these times are those who have a vision of where they want to go and are determined to succeed. They show leadership ans share their ideas and vision with others.They do not spend their time acting as victims and blaming others. Today in Ireland we have an opportunity to regain our ability to be creative, innovative, offer real value for money to the world. This we must do collaboratively. Finbarr