A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step — and about two thousand more you don’t feel like taking. In Episode 8 of Clické Start, host Gary Kern dives into the power of continuous improvement, and he shares practical leadership tactics learned over decades of managing technology teams, including:

• The 3 questions every tech leader should ask their team to uncover process friction.

• How to break free from "we've always done it that way" thinking.

• Why you must measure what you want to improve.

• 3 simple, actionable ways to lighten your team's workload today (automation, self-service, and simplification).

No one works for complexity — but you have to work for simplicity. Gary breaks down why simplifying is harder (and more important) than adding, using his real-world examples. Three practical ways to spot unnecessary complexity before it takes root — in your systems, your team, and your vendor agreements.

🔴 K.I.S.S. — Keep It Simple, Gary.

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Connect: linkedin.com/in/gckern

Managing your email may mean you really want to manage the way you work, not the way you file. The goal of Inbox Zero isn't a clean inbox — it's an efficient work day. Join me for an 8-minute overview of how I use Inbox Zero to be more effective. Subscribe, like, and comment.

Every disruptive technology shows up messy before it shows up ready. Gary unpacks why leaders scoff at Version 1.0 flaws and miss the exponential curve coming — from mainframes and punch cards to AI to EVs. Three practical moves to build a sandbox culture instead of standing on the sidelines.

Leadership • Technology • Common Sense.

Most leaders think they’re great listeners — until they realize they’re already crafting their reply while the other person is still talking. In this episode of Clické Start, Gary Kern breaks down the real skill of listening fully before you speak, why interpretation and hidden problems derail conversations, and how curiosity (not reaction) changes everything. Short episode. Real talk. Practical takeaways you can use today.

Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth - then it's the Twilight Zone. Gary knows — he's lived it. Episode 3 of Clické Start, opens with a real cyber attack that changed how he thinks about leadership. The lesson? It wasn't the Incident Response Plan that saved them — it was the expectations set inside it, long before crisis hit. From help desk SLAs to project charters to your spouse asking you to do something their way — unspoken expectations become future disappointments. Short episode. Real story. Practical takeaway.

Bad news doesn't age well. The longer you wait, the worse it gets — and the smell? That's your credibility. In Episode 2 of Clické Start, Gary Kern unpacks why delivering bad news early is one of the most underrated disciplines in leadership. From system outages to runaway projects, Gary shares what happens when you own the message versus when you don't — and what it actually costs when you wait too long. Real talk from someone who's seen it go both ways. Short episode. Practical takeaways. No fluff. Subscribe and follow so you don't miss the next one. Connect with Gary on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gckern

"You aren't growing if you aren't uncomfortable." Easy to say. Harder to live. In this episode of Clické Start, Gary C. Kern gets honest about the discomfort of launching this very podcast — and why that discomfort is exactly the point. With 40+ years in technology and executive leadership, Gary shares why shi...fts he's witnessed required someone willing to be uncomfortable first, and what you can actually do about it. Short episode. Real talk. Practical takeaway. Subscribe and follow so you don't miss the next one. Connect with Gary on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gckern

Welcome to Clické Start — a short podcast about leadership, technology, and the clichés/sayings that infuse them. In Episode 0, host Gary C. Kern introduces himself: 40+ years in technology, nearly 25 in community banking, and a lifetime of lessons learned. New episodes several times a week. Short lessons to help you align your thoughts for the day. Subscribe and follow so you don't miss the next one. Connect with Gary on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gckern