‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 
 
 
Good Monday morning to you!
 

A few decades ago, Gary Gerlach asked me to participate in a continuous quality improvement training program. To be honest, he didn't really ask me to participate. He told me. It was a major time commitment during a period of my life when I didn’t have a lot of extra time to commit. Even so, I was instructed at a young age that when your boss tells you something is important, you drop everything you are doing and make that a top priority. So I did, and what I learned in those classes based on W. Edwards Deming’s models changed how I manage nearly every process in my life today.

One of the underlying principles in continuous quality improvement is understanding the inputting elements of a process. There are five, and they are equally important: person, machine, method, material and environment. They apply to most every process, from brushing your teeth, to driving a car, to writing a column. But all too often, when a process fails, we single out only one of the inputting elements as the problem — the person. So we remove that person and replace him or her with another person who fails. And we do that again. And again. In reality, the person may not be the problem at all. The machine or the method or the material or the environment may be the issue that needs addressed. Think about the processes you do every day in your job or your home and how each of these elements is equally important.

In writing this column, for example, I am the person element. My computer, keyboard and mouse, as well as the server I host this on, are the machines. My training in how to write and process this is the method. The content that I am writing about is the material. And the office I am in — and all its potential interruptions — is the environment. All of these inputting elements need to work together simultaneously for the column to come together effectively.

Of course, there are many other aspects of continuous quality improvement that I could write columns on, but the inputting elements of a process are a simple one that should connect with most all of us on some level. Keep this in mind as you work through problem situations today and are tempted to blame them on a person — or have others blame them on you. You, or the people you associate with, may begin to uncover a solution that was overlooked.

Have a marvelous Monday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305

 

Your Clear Mortgage forecast from Jason Parkin

We’ve got a dry week ahead with breezy conditions expected most days. Warmer temps will move in today and, especially, Tuesday with a highs in the 50’s today and 60’s tomorrow. Things cool down after that with highs in the 40’s Wednesday through Saturday.

For help with preapprovals or refinancing, get in touch with Jason at parkin.mortgage

 
Things To Do
 

Monday, Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
Meet the Author: Ray Cole
At: Beaverdale Books, 2629 Beaver Avenue, Suite 1, Des Moines
Info: Meet author Ray Cole, who wrote “Hangin' with Winners: A Lifetime of Connections, Anecdotes and Lessons Learned.”
www.beaverdalebooks.com

 
Featured Home For Sale
 
Attention Realtors, post your listings here for $50. Contact pat@dmcityview.com for details.
 

1220 57th Street
West Des Moines, IA 50266
$314,900

Immaculate and very well kept two story home in West Des Moines! Nestled in a quiet WDM Neighborhood, and steps away from one of the best parks in all of WDM, Jaycee Park! You will fall in love with all the space and updates this 3 bedroom 2.5 bath home has to offer! New Floors and Trim in the living room and kitchen, and a fresh coat of paint highlight an open/spacious first floor. .… 

 
Find Out More!
 
The Score
 
IOWA WILD: Iowa Wild (7-3-1-0; 15 pts.) defeated the Milwaukee Admirals (3-7-1-0; 7 pts.) by a score of 4-3.
 
NFL: Vikings 27 Chargers 20; Packers 17 Seahawks 0, Chiefs 41 Raiders 14 READ MORE...
 
Headlines

FROM KCCI: Des Moines firefighters: Woman dies after fire breaks out

DES MOINES, Iowa — A woman trapped inside a burning home died Sunday night after a fire broke out on Des Moines' east side, firefighters said. The fire was first reported just before 6 p.m. near the intersection of Wilson Avenue and Glenbrook Drive near Union Park. ...READ MORE FROM KCCI

FROM WHO-TV: Gunfire kills Des Moines teen early Sunday

DES MOINES, Iowa — One person is dead and another injured as gunshots rang out on the east side of Des Moines Sunday morning. Shortly after 4 a.m. police were called to the intersection of Pennsylvania and East University Avenue on the report of shooting. When they arrived an 18-year-old male was found in a vehicle with a gunshot injury and police immediately performed CPR.  READ MORE FROM WHO-TV

FROM WOI-DT Local 5: Iowa nonprofit breaks records in care package drive for troops

JOHNSTON, Iowa — The Iowa chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America brought volunteers together Saturday to pack care packages for active-duty military personnel, marking the culmination of months collecting donations... ... READ MORE FROM WOI-DT Local 5

 
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines 2021
 

Nearly 14,000 votes were cast in the 2021 CITYVIEW Best Of Des Moines readers' poll.

Best East Village Restaurant
1. Lucca
2. Alba
3. Zombie Burger + Drink Lab

[...]

 
Read more
 
Personalities
 

A journey begins with a single step: Peters strives to recognize ADM veterans

By Marsha Fisher

In 2010, a phone call started Jim Peters on a “never-ending journey.” It was a friend of John McClurg who wanted to remember his high school buddy who had been killed in Vietnam on Aug. 17, 1970, and it was coming up on the 40th anniversary of the date.

Actually, two Adel graduates were killed that year in Vietnam. Steve Edwards was killed in action in January of 1970. They had been recognized with plaques and special awards in the old Adel high school, but when the new building was built in 1986, the recognition plaques were lost in the transition.


To the mayor, it seemed a simple request. They had been honored 40 years before and maybe a plaque could be made again to honor their sacrifice for freedom and posted in the Middle School Commons. Jim went before the school board, but, after discussion, it was decided “we should recognize everybody.”

[...]

 
Read more
 
Jobs

Place your help wanted ad in the list below for FREE! Email to pat@dmcityview.com. And ask us about upgrading your FREE ad with a display ad in any of our publications.

PART-TIME SITE COORDINATORS...

CARPENTER...

HOUSEKEEPER...

 
Snapshots
Veterans' Day Flag Raising: Students at the De Soto Intermediate School attend a flag raising ceremony at school for Veterans Day. — Photo by Kathy Summy
 
SEE MORE SUBMITTED PHOTOS not yet published in The Daily Umbrella on Iowa Living magazines facebook page!
 
SEND YOUR PHOTOS OF ARTWORK IN YOUR COMMUNITY, THE SIGHTS OF FALL, OR WHATEVER CAPTURES YOUR EYE!
 
Share your favorite snapshots! Email to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com to be included in an upcoming Daily Umbrella!
 
 
Digital Editions
 
Jordan Creek Living magazine is published each month and mailed to every household in the community. The November issue cover story, "Sing. Sing a Song" is about people who are driven by a passion for singing.Also included are other features, informational articles and local photos. Each edition, as well as the archives, may be viewed at www.iowalivingmagazines.com. Read the November issue here.
 
 
Birthdays and Notables!
 

Happy Birthday to these celebrities: Shailene Woodley, Jonny Lee Miller, Sean Murray, Chad Kroeger, Beverly D'Angelo, Lily Aldridge, E-40, Susie Abromeit

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to:tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

 
Poll of the Week

Have you ever taken a photo with a Polaroid camera?

Yes
No

 

How long have you had the pillow you sleep with?

Less than 3 months - 6%
4-12 months - 11%
1-2 years - 26%
3-5 years - 26%
6 years or more - 31%

 
Morning Chuckle
 
YESTERDAY'S RIDDLE:

What eats nuts and bolts?

A SQUIRREL IN A HURRY! Answers by Lori Bluml, Judy Anderson, David Whims and Gail Tomlinson

TODAY'S RIDDLE

Why did the man object when his roommate put twigs in the skillet?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com 

 

If you would like to advertise in this daily newsletter, please contact Pat Checketts at pat@dmcityview.com, or call 515-953-4822 xt. 311.

P.S. As a free newsletter, we rely on readers like you to grow our subscriber list. If you have a friend or coworker who you think would enjoy waking up to The Daily Umbrella each weekday morning, please share our newsletter sign up page with them! Visit www.thedailyumbrella.com and click on the SUBSCRIBE link on the upper right-hand side!

 

This email was sent to: email@somehost.com

Big Green Umbrella Media, Inc.
8101 Birchwood Court, Suite D
Johnston, Iowa 50131

Logo