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Paul Downs at Forbes

9/10/15       
Tim Schultz

Paul,

I am enjoying your blog on Forbes quite a bit so far. You have already written a few articles that can help make me a better cabinet shop manager.

I'm kind of glad you are doing this on Forbes. I would never allow myself an electronic subscription to the NYT because I was afraid it would turn into a rabbit hole that was far more interesting than my business. I do, however, miss the comment section on the NYT Boss Blog. The commenters consisted of people who were interested enough to hang around such blogs and there was usually some great interpretations offered. I am hopeful that as more people discover you on Forbes that these groupies will come back again.

I do have a followup question about this blog and your book. I can't imagine that your crew is not following along with your writings. Have you seen any changes on the shop floor as a result of such candor?
Are you vicariously turning these heroic bench guys into mini-MBA guys?

9/10/15       #2: Paul Downs at Forbes ...
Paul Downs

You'd be surprised at how little feedback I get from the guys re my writing - either they aren't reading it (which I suspect is true of most of them) or they don't find any of it surprising (also possible for those who read) or they are afraid to challenge me (very likely, I'm a hard guy to debate with.) I also don't see anyone turning into MBAs, not that I even know what that would look like. Summing up: very little effect as far as I can tell.

9/10/15       #3: Paul Downs at Forbes ...
TS

I wouldn't debate with you if I were them.
I would just say I needed a raise.

9/11/15       #4: Paul Downs at Forbes ...
Mark Elliott Member

As for asking for a raise, it worked for Will.

I'm curious how Steve Maturin is doing?

Mark

9/12/15       #5: Paul Downs at Forbes ...
Mel

"...they don't find any of it surprising (also possible for those who read) ...."

Paul, I am certain that a proportion of them are silently poopooing you as a result of literary disgust for your genre, and abhorrence for your rhetoric.

;)

in all seriousness I put a big bet on "not that curious". Curious enough to read it is one thing, but curious enough to ask you about it is another. Or wait--how much can reserved/shy/.stuck keep a person from asking a valid question?

9/12/15       #6: Paul Downs at Forbes ...
Paul Downs

Steve Maturin is still working for me, but no longer in a supervisory capacity. He's a superb craftsman and I'm glad to have him.


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