Dr. Jim Underwood recently wrote a book about the execution of corporate strategy called The Invisible Wall.

The Invisible Wall is a story about two companies.  One is failing and the other is growing.  As you take your seat as an observer, you get to watch an outside team try to help both companies…and in the process, they discover the keys to creating an organization that is designed to succeed.

I’m proud to be part of this journey and it was the first time in long time that I participated in a book from notion to publication.  The book is extraordinary and is perfect as a guide for long term strategic execution, turn-around management, and as a companion to any human resource orientation guide.

I created the website for The Invisible Wall using the Genesis framework theme and WP-E-Commerce shopping cart.  The Genesis framework is super easy to work with and the Instinctz plugin integrated with USPS Shipping like a dream.  I’ll post a tutorial on the integration in the future.

I have a lot of work to do on the colors and some of the presentation needs work but it has been a fantastic journey.

Did somebody actually tell you to take that shot?
I’ve recently re-entered the basketball court. I’m old, compared to the usual crew on a court but I did make 5 of 6 freethrows with my eyes closed.  Some muscle memory just never goes away.  Hey, it’s not a useful skill but I did make 14 of 15 with my eyes open.
That brings me to my one of my first points: you never actually get to shoot freethrows if you are not fouled while shooting during a game.  I happen to be the best assist man I know.  Call it ego, but there is a downside, the top assist guy also has the most turnovers.
Second point: I’ve seen some absurd shots lately.  I’ve seen triple coverage, layups with 4 guys guarding the lane, shots from out of the zip code, and still – the ball goes in the air.  Worse, there is no follow the ball.  Quick tip: when you shoot the ball, statistically, you wont’ make it unless you’re Kobe or Michael – the other one. Following up will also increase your rebound number.
It makes me wonder, did somebody tell them to take that shot?
Yes.
It’s probably in the Rich Man’s guide to raising kids: Tell them to shoot if they have the ball.  At first kids don’t want to shoot the ball.  It is much easier to hand it off than to take the shot.  Tyranical fathers (or mothers) are pretty obsessed with the succes of a child in the seasonal sport.  Don’t take the shot and the child gets a “beat down” so it doesn’t happen again.  Pretty soon, the kid stars making the shots 10 percent of the time.  I’ve seen kids make 1 basket and miss until number 16 of 20.  At that rate, they’ll shoot 30 more from anywhere on the court.  They point is that one minor win will result in endless chances to win in endless games of horse, 21, 25, or in full court games.  Each time the player has the ball, one thing enters the mind – Score.  Score from anywhere.
Think this translates to business?  It does.  I have gone to two different schools and program levels, undergraduate and MBA.  During that time I’ve seen the best students and minds of two generations and I’ve seen the kids who learned that they have to shoot the ball.  The best example is the guy who says, “I’m starting a t-shirt business today that will give profits to the company and donate a portion of the contributions to charity” and then does exactly that.
Sure, it’s not exactly an enterprise that will take over the t-shirt business but there was no question as to whether or not he’d shoot the ball.  He’s paying the bills while entertaining himself with community theatre taking lead roles.
Other people in my classes and on the court have built empires because not only did they shoot the ball, they seeked it out before getting the chance to shoot it.  Failure or hesitation is not in their vocabulary.
The shooter is infectious: once teammates see the points going up, teammates take notice.  The assist man starts spreading the ball around and instead of expecting 3 passes before a shot, 1 pass is made.  The original shooter is now the leader.  Action and followers.
I’ve seen the deterioration of a team happen in the same exact way.  The instant the shooter decides to hesitate and pass the ball, the forward passes up on layups, the point passes on a three pointer, and nobody follows the shot.  Followers will instinctively help a leader squander a substantial black bottom line and right into a loss by 9 points.  Sorry for the mixed metaphors, but that seems to be my point.  That some children are inclined to execute because they are told to from a very early age.  Learn to execute early, practice OFTEN (see the aforementioned 30 shots to make 3), practice a little bit more and of course make it all about something you love.

I really, REALLY want to use the StudioPress themes on this site but visually, they are centered around the Featured Content Gallery.  While I’m a person of few words, I’m one of even less pictures.  Does anybody have a StudioPress driven website that is not graphically driven?  Lemme know.