This week’s topic is on Air Force Colonel John Boyd, a military strategist considered the modern Sun Tzu. Colonel Boyd made extensive contributions to fighter tactics, aircraft design, and the theory of air combat than any man in Air Force history. He is most famous for developing the OODA Loop.

In the same vein as Sun Tzu, Musashi, Liddell Hart, Napolean, Genghis Khan, and Mao Tse Tung, you can effectively apply his teachings to business. Business is not war, but you can apply the similar principles to outmaneuver your competition and continually surprise and wow customers. Just be a bit more PC than Boyd if you want to get your ideas accepted. It might take longer but you will have more friends than enemies and less stress.

What is more iconic than seeing a green tractor or combine in the middle of massive field of corn? Well, those green farm machines are probably Deere & Co. vehicles. And that iconic leaping deer logo that we all recognize has been used by the company for over 150 years.

John Deere created an iconic global company that helped transform America. The development of Deere’s iconic “singing” plow helped farmers conquer the Midwest and created America’s breadbasket. With the help of Deere’s products, farm output doubled from 1840 to 1860 and then tripled from 1860 to 1890.

Allowing for the settlement of the American Midwest and the ability to feed the growing population of America, Deere was instrumental in the growth of America in the 1800s.

Developed by Dr. Edward de Bono, parallel thinking is a powerful method to make decisions, develop new ideas, or improve processes. Working together rather than against one another, parallel thinking allows teams to collaborate successfully for a high probability of success. 

In an unscripted episode of "Off the Cuff", Dr. O provides an overview of what leaders can do to help their organizations become more successful by learning the main elements of parallel thinking.

Innovative organizations focus on five key ingredients to success. In an unscripted episode of "Off the Cuff", Dr. O provides and overview of what leaders can do to help their organizations become more successful at innovation.

You don't often hear business gurus or professors at top level universities talk about market research. What you will hear most often is sexy musings regarding strategy and innovation, or the wonders of finance. But if an organization does not know what is going on in the market, their competitors will pass them and customers will not return.

Dr. Edward de Bono is a leading authority in the field of creative thinking, innovation, and direct teaching as a skill. He created the parallel thinking system and lateral thinking system. He is known for creating The Six Thinking Hats and encouraging individuals and organizations to move away from argumentative discussion and adopt cooperative methods to work in parallel to achieve the optimal solutions.

His teachings focus on practical thinking skills that are easy to learn, simple to apply, and can be used by anyone – 4 year olds or senior citizens. de Bono's methods have been adopted by schools, public and private companies, and governments around the world. Companies such as IBM, Siemens, AT&T, Du Pont, and British Airways have trained thousands of employees and adopted many of de Bono’s teachings.

This week’s topic is Peter Drucker. Peter Drucker is another one of the gods of business that many people have not heard of or studied. His writings contributed to the philosophical and practical foundations of the modern business corporation. He was also a leader in the development of management education. He also is known for creating the concept of management by objectives or MBO, and he has been described as “the father of modern management.”

W. Edwards Deming, the man many feel is responsible for Japan’s post-war economic success of the 1950s  thru the 1980s, was largely ignored by U.S. industry before the Japanese heard about his theories and realized the benefits.

Due to his post WWII work, Deming is revered in Japan. They even have an annual competition for the top implementers of quality management and the winner is awarded the Deming Medal. Named after, you guessed it, Edwards Deming.

He created a revolution in quality and economic production throughout the world. And if you go into the Toyota headquarters in Japan there are three portraits in the lobby – the founder, the chairman, and Deming.

The Business Fanatic podcast will introduce you to an eclectic group of people who have developed incredibly effective theories, tools, and techniques to help you rekindle your creative thinking skills to develop new products, new services, improve processes, and solve problems. This podcast will motivate you to dominate your industry and wake-up everyday excited to start changing yourself, your organization, and your community.

Sun Tzu was a Chinese general who lived around 400 and 500 BC. He achieved fame and success during The Warring States Period who gained famed for his legendary book, The Art of War.

Applying Sun Tzu’s principles from The Art of War can result in any person or organization becoming disciplined and successful.