Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)

Should Lean be Forced? Running & Evaluating Experiments with the Podcast and Beyond, Inexpensive Sip

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In Episode 41, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh try a couple experiments, in the spirit of continuous improvement. You’ll first notice that we moved the whiskey talk to the end. The hypothesis here is that some people don’t want to hear the whiskey talk, so they can just exit the podcast when we finish the lean talk. We also used a different platform for recording, so it may affect your listening or viewing experience. We would really appreciate any feedback at all on these experiments. 
In lean talk, we explore the question of whether lean can and should be forced. We examine this from different angles, including terms like accountability and quotas. We even evoke the words of Dr. Deming in the process. We quote Toyota’s Jamie Bonini who said “if the employees are upset by it, it’s not really TPS.” We explore 5S, audits, incentives, and more. 
We finally get around to talking about the whiskey that we were sipping on during the episode. After all, this is kinda the point. For this episode’s theme, we are pulling the bottle off our shelf that is the least expensive, but still worth sipping on its own. Mark is drinking Benchmark, and Jamie went with Rebel. Cheers! 
Mark’s audiobook of The Mistakes That Make Us is now available 
Tennis’ Western and Southern Open
The Michigan Lean Consortium, where Mark recently presented
Mark’s famous Office 5S video
Jamie’s whiskey… Rebel Bourbon 80 proof at $19
Mark’s whiskey… Benchmark Bourbon 100 proof between $17-19
Podcast feed at LeanWhiskey.com or leanblog.org/leanwhiskey or jflinch.com/leanwhiskey 
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If Burbn Didn’t Pivot to Instagram, We Might Not Have Threads

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In Episode 40, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh get back together after their in-person visit where they enjoyed the origins of this podcast: talking about lean stuff while enjoying some whiskey. We get to celebrate the launch of Mark’s new book, The Mistakes That Make Us, as well as Jamie’s new podcast titled People Solve Problems. We recap our in-person visit and some of the great whiskey we were able to try. And we taste one of the expressions we were able to try at the distillery, New Riff’s Straight Bottled-in-Bond Malted Rye. 
We then pivoted to talking about pivots, starting with the example of how Instagram originally started as Burbn check-in app to share your drinking experiences with others. It then pivoted to photo sharing, and the rest is history. We compare and contrast other pivots, including Play-Doh, the pacemaker, Slack and Twitter, 3M Post-its, and a purple dye found when trying to cure malaria. We share some lessons from each of our books about how to enable and / or embrace the pivot when the opportunity presents itself. 
We wrap up talking a bit about the book writing process, and the joys and pains that accompany it. Cheers! 
Mark’s book, The Mistakes That Make Us, is now available for purchase
Jamie launched a new podcast, People Solve Problems, interviews based on his book
Mark and Jamie’s analog in-person Lean Whiskey
We visited Revival Vintage Bottle Shop, Prohibition Bourbon Bar, and New Riff Distilling
Mark and Jamie both pouring the New Riff Kentucky Straight Bottled-in-Bond Malted Rye Whiskey
Instagram pivoted from Burbn
Instagram, or Meta, also recently launched Threads. You can find Mark here and Jamie here
Making purple dye from a failed malaria drug 
Hold on Loosely by 38 Special on Spotify 
Podcast feed at LeanWhiskey.com or leanblog.org/leanwhiskey or jflinch.com/leanwhiskey 
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Does Starbucks’ CEO Serving Coffee and Uber’s CEO Driving Passengers Do Any Good? Tasting Sourced Whiskeys

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In Episode 39, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh toast the completion of Mark's new book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation (coming soon!).
We also acknowledge Jamie's forthcoming podcast based on the book People Solve Problems. That's already plenty to cover before we even get into our whiskey. 
Our whiskey theme was sourced juice, or essentially whiskey producers that buy whiskey from other distillers. This practice takes many different forms. Jamie is drinking Holla Bourbon Whiskey, a 4 year wheated bourbon, while Mark is drinking The Senator Straight Rye Whiskey sourced from MGP. Holla Spirits is primarily a vodka company with an incredibly wide range of infused vodkas, from jalapeno to pickle to cotton candy. They use higher grade ethanol from either corn or cane.
Our lean topic was CEOs who “go to the gemba,” specifically referencing recent Wall Street Journal articles featuring Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi driving an Uber and Starbucks brand-new CEO Laxman Narasimhan being trained and working as a barista. While there is a lot these articles don't tell you, we have to draw some conclusions about whether these efforts are well-intentioned or not. We didn't like the barista with gold cufflinks or the Uber driver ignoring important calls from his General Counsel. 
We did conclude that there are three dimensions to this practice to get right, and all three must be right for this practice to be worth the effort. First, you have to get the intention correct. Second, you must execute it with the right spirit and curiosity. Third, you have to do the right things with what you learn, not just fixing specific problems but challenging business model assumptions or improving major systems of how the company works.
Links From the Show:
Mark's book page to find out more when The Mistakes That Make Us will be released
Jamie's blog, where you can find the People Solve Problems podcast release
Mark's recent blog post about Glenns Creek Distillery and creativity-before-capital kaizen
NBC News covering sourced whiskey
Whiskey Advocate covering sourced whiskey
Jamie's whiskey from Holla Spirits, a 4-year Wheated Bourbon, distilled by Southern Distilling Company in North Carolina and blended by Cloonaughill Celtic Malts in York, PA
Mark's whiskey, The Senator Straight Rye Whiskey, a 4-grain blend distilled by MGP in Lawrenceburg, IN 
Uber's CEO driving covered by Wall Street Journal as well as Business Insider and Inside Hook 
Starbucks CEO trains and works as a barista, as covered by Wall Street Journal
Jamie's past blog about Undercover Boss, and Mark's past blog about a hospital CEO going undercover 
Mark's recommended podcast is Culture by Design
Jamie's recommended podcast is Stuff You Should Know 
Podcast feed at LeanWhiskey.com or leanblog.org/leanwhiskey or jflinch.com/leanwhiskey 
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Toasting the U.S. Micro Whiskey of the Year (Glenns Creek OCD #5), and the Need to Recommit to Patient Safety

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What do you do when you are chosen as Jim Murray’s US Micro Whiskey of the Year? You pop in to join Mark and Jamie on Lean Whiskey to talk about it. At least that’s what our friend David Meier of Glenns Creek Distilling did in Episode 38. While we were able to drink, and celebrate, the success of OCD #5, we also explored David’s continued learning, problem solving, and improvement of whiskey production. We also learned that he was featured on an episode of Moonshiners: American Spirit, more of a documentary exploring the production of American spirits than the original show. 
After David departs, Mark and Jamie discuss a recent report featured on NBC outlining that 1 in 4 hospital visits result in adverse events. This comes from a recent study on patient safety published in the New England Journal of Medicine. We break down the statistics, explore the real meaning behind those numbers, and discuss the causes and contributing factors. Throughout the dialogue we cover process improvement, problem solving, near misses, organizational learning, and psychological safety. We also spend time looking at Dr. Don Berwick’s editorial about the study, and at least try to summarize his contributions to patient safety. 
Mark and Jamie wrap up the first episode of 2023 talking about books. We hope everyone has a wonderful 2023. Happy New Year, and Cheers! 
Glenns Creek Distilling’s OCD #5 selected US Micro Whiskey of the Year
Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible website
Moonshiners: American Spirit
Glenn’s Creek Distilling 
NBC’s reporting that 1 in 4 patients experience adverse effects, and the New England Journal of Medicine published study behind the statistic
Patient safety advocate Don Berwick’s Commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine
Upcoming webinar hosted by Mark on the proposed National Patient Safety Board
The Economist’s reporting on today’s healthcare system challenges around the world
Jamie’s book recommendation Ikigai
Mark’s future read: If I Betray These Words: Moral Injury in Medicine and Why It's So Hard for Clinicians to Put Patients First 
Podcast feed at LeanWhiskey.com or leanblog.org/leanwhiskey or jflinch.com/leanwhiskey 
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Starbucks’ Gemba, Toyota’s Tour, Product Innovation & Lean Process Improvements

Mark Graban & Jamie Flinchbaugh
Alternative title: “I’ll have a half-caff no-whip soy-milk chestnut praline latte… to-go”
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In Episode 37, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays with some new (to us) holiday cocktails.
Mark tries the Bourbon Flip, and Jamie makes a Hot Buttered Bourbon. Neither will likely be in our regular rotation of cocktails, but they suit the “spirit” of the holiday season and might be a nice treat to make for guests. 
Your hosts explore the possible reinvention of Starbucks, which began with the return of CEO Howard Schultz. The stores have faced numerous pressures…increasing volume, increasing complexity, and growing barista dissatisfaction. Can these challenges be overcome by lean applied at the store level, or are more structural changes and innovations needed to get the job done? We explore a recent Wall Street Journal article about Starbucks' transformation and walk back to the beginnings of their lean journey over 10 years ago. Some of the problem statements examined: SKU proliferation, new blenders, and store layouts. We may start seeing a brand new layout for Starbucks stores, although the promised improves do not appear to be imminent. 
The hosts finish by exploring gift giving in the whiskey, and wine, genre, including a book recommendation from Mark on the history of the prohibition era in the US. 
Links From the Show:
Ted Stiles from Stiles Associates
David Meier's Glenn's Creek Distilling
Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky plant
Four Roses' hot buttered bourbon recipe
Used Mellow Corn Bottled in Bond for hot buttered bourbon
Bourbon Flip recipe
Made with Benchmark Bonded bourbon
Mark's 2nd pour, a Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10 Heavily Peated 
WSJ article Starbucks is Rethinking Almost Everything 
WSJ wrote about lean at Starbucks in 2009, and the same year, John Shook wrote about it for LEI
Starbucks' 3-day strike
LEI's 2020 book about lean at Starbucks, Steady Work
Book on the history of prohibition: Last Call
Podcast feed at LeanWhiskey.com or leanblog.org/leanwhiskey or jflinch.com/leanwhiskey 
 

Jamie Flinchbaugh & Chris Kauzmann on Design Thinking’s Relationship to Lean Thinking

In Episode 36, Jamie Flinchbaugh is joined by Chris Kauzmann, an Adjunct Faculty and Innovator in Residence at Lehigh University. Chris, a self-described “bottom shelf” whiskey drinker, joins Jamie to sample some Nikka Coffee Malt Whiskey and Blue Run High Rye Bourbon. 
We explore design thinking, which is both distinct from lean but also inherently consistent. The terminology is often quite different, but the essence of the work is very similar. Removing our biases and gaining insight through genuine exploration, whether to develop a business idea or improve a process or anything else, is one such example. Along the way, we cover many aspects of our shared experiences…the student entrepreneurs of Lehigh University that Chris supports and teaches full time and Jamie occasionally shows up to make a contribution. 
We close by deciding which building on Lehigh University's beautiful campus we would most want to convert into a whiskey bar, although we are quite certain that no one will allow us to do this.
Links From the Show:
Chris Kauzmann on LinkedIn
Old Crow, a typical selection for Chris
Nikka Coffey Malt Whiskey
Blue Run High Rye Bourbon
Lehigh University's Baker Institute  
Giana Jarrah's With Meraki Co, a student-founded startup
Sam Benchaghib's Make A Change World and Sungai Watch
Practicing Lean by Mark Graban 
Podcast feed at LeanWhiskey.com or leanblog.org/leanwhiskey or jflinch.com/leanwhiskey

Going to ”Gemba” at Scotch Whisky Distilleries; Work Retreats

In Episode 35, Mark is recently back from his Scotland gemba visit. He isn't tired from jet lag, or from whiskey, but nevertheless, Mark and Jamie both end up complaining about being tired. Maybe we're just…old (gasp). We also didn't plan our color coordination (for those on video).
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"We’re tired, but not tired of whisky. A gemba walk will pick us up..."
We focus this episode on going to the gemba in the making of scotch whisky, from Mark's recent trip. We talk about what is learned by going to the gemba, both in general and specific to whisky. You can hear more about peat, malting, distilling, and maturing, including is maturing inventory or a value-adding step? 
Of course, we also select scotch as our whisky of choice, opting for more obscure selections that you may not have heard of. Both were excellent. 
We also spend a little time talking about work retreats, whether it be for writing a book as both Mark and Jamie do, strategic thinking as Bill Gates would do, or just simply reflection and planning. We conclude by discussing what job at a distiller we would most like to do, although neither of us likely has the requisite skills. Slainte!
Links From the Show:
Jamie at the National Association of Corporate Directors Summit
Mark heading soon to the Association of Manufacturing Excellence and the Iowa Lean Consortium conferences. Look for him!
GE's Larry Culp's message. 
Former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, Admiral Stavridis at NACD
Jamie's whisky selection Kilchoman
Mark's whisky selection Glen Scotia
Where are Islay, Jura, Campeltown?
Ron Swanson's visit to Lagavullin
Journeyman in western Michigan, Two James in Detroit, and Traverse City Whiskey up north
The Multnomah Whiskey Library in Portland
Jamie's post: how to do an effective personal work retreat

Crazy Ideas, From Shipping Flowers to Crab Whiskey

Episode page: https://leanblog.org/whiskey34
In Episode 34, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh begin by belatedly celebrating the 3rd birthday of Lean Whiskey. No, this wasn’t a pandemic-launched podcast, although if we hadn’t started it yet it probably would have become one. We also learn of Mark’s pending trip to Islay, where an awful lot of good whisky is produced. Apparently, Jamie wasn’t invited to record an “on location” episode. 
Most of the episode we explore the challenges, benefits, and approaches to developing and seeing through the crazy ideas. This conversation builds from an episode of Mark’s My Favorite Mistake podcast in which he interviews 1-800-FLOWERS founder Jim McCann. FedEx founder Fred Smith told McCann that shipping flowers via FedEx wouldn’t work. Not only did Jim not fold in the face of Fred’s advice, he eventually partnered with FedEx to bring this program to life. But bringing big ideas to life is about more than just ignoring the doubters, but adjusting or trimming the idea, learning through rapid testing, and having the courage to move forward through adversity as our explanation of the Netflix story examines. 
We wrap up exploring another crazy idea, whiskey made from crabs. Well, that’s not technically true, but it is distilled crab stock added to a bourbon base, and specifically to raise awareness about the invasive green crabs that destroy the mussel population. Tamworth Distilling from New Hampshire are the brains behind this particular project. Thanks to our friend Dan Markovitz introduced us to this idea. Maybe Mark will detour his trip to Scotland towards New Hampshire instead.  
Happy 3rd birthday to Lean Whiskey, so here’s Episode 1
Mark heading to the Isle of Islay with their classic distilleries 
Jamie working with Lehigh University on building an accelerator (back of Jamie’s head in the photo while leading the design team)
Mark and Jamie both engaged with KaiNexus
Mark’s Moscatel Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Woodinville near Seattle 
Jamie’s Four Roses Private Selection Single Barrel, see their bourbons and recipes
Our discussion builds on this episode of Mark’s My Favorite Mistake podcast with 1-800-FLOWERS founder Jim McCann, with this excerpt of the featured point
What’s crab whiskey all about? Check out Crab Trapper
Podcast feed at LeanWhiskey.com or leanblog.org/leanwhiskey or jflinch.com/leanwhiskey 
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On the Road Again and In Person for the First Time

Episode page: https://leanblog.org/whiskey33
In Episode 33, we recognize some of the back to normal which includes Mark heading out on the road to do consulting again. That brings Mark close enough to Jamie for a new first: an in-person recording of Lean Whiskey. Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh meet up in Philadelphia to drink some Garrison Brothers special barrel selection from Mark as well talk about Lean 101 training. 
In many ways, this is an origin story for Lean Whiskey. Mark and Jamie would be opportunistic about their travels, end up in the same city, find a good whiskey bar, and talk shop. “We should record this” became almost a joke, until it became reality and Lean Whiskey was born. Now, 33 episodes in, we return to an in-person visit. 
Philadelphia becomes our destination, and after recording Mark and Jamie get to go sample some of the great food the city has to offer. We also get to share a bottle (ok, not the whole bottle, but the same bottle), compare hotel glasses to tasting glasses, and set up a different recording approach which unfortunately resulted in there being no video. However, the discussion was as rich as ever, so give Episode 33 a listen.
Links From the Show:
Our whiskey of choice is Garrison Brothers, and Mark's “One Off” — Episode 29 is where we talked about the story of this barrel and Mark's blog post about Garrison Brothers
Jamie's blog post “Skip the Intro to Lean Training“
Any Toyota / lean geek who wants to understand the history should be reading Michael Cusumano's The Japanese Automobile Industry: Technology and Management at Nissan and Toyota
How NOT to do Lean 101: Big Bang's Sheldon teaches physics to Penny (via YouTube)
In Philly, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the Franklin Institute 
Double Knot and Morimoto restaurants, and Pat's and Geno's cheesesteaks

Employee Engagement Beyond Buying Them Pizza (or Bourbon)

Episode page: https://www.leanblog.org/whiskey32
In Episode 32 of “Lean Whiskey,” Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh have a first… comparing two similar whiskeys from the same distiller. In this case, family-owned Willett and their Willett Pot Still Reserve bourbon and the Johnny Drum bourbon.
We definitely both have our favorite of the two, but you'll have to listen to find out which. We also spend a little time exploring the history of this old brand, their departure, and their recent return to the spirits world. This all happens between NFL conference championship games where neither of our teams are playing. 
We discuss The Great Resignation and all of the many facets… the underlying long-term trends, the short-term adjustments, the data, the causes, and the solutions. Breaking the problem down is important, as there is neither one cause nor one solution. We need to move beyond “jerk bosses” such as seen at Better.com, underappreciation as seemingly demonstrated at former-lean-role-model Thedacare, and bad cultures found in many places. 2022 may finally be the year to truly make employee engagement a real strategic imperative. 
We finish talking about industrial-based movies and shows, such as the new NBC series “American Auto” or the movie “Gung Ho.” Please tell us your favorites… we'd love to hear from you! 
Links From the Show
Willett Pot Still Reserve 
Johnny Drum Private Stock
Insights by Jamie January 2022 newsletter 
Thedacare's employee issues, how it started and how it finished
Mark interviews the Lean dentist Dr. Sami Bahri in Lean Blog Podcast Episodes 29, 69, and 82
Some articles may require signup or subscription…
New York Times No More Working for Jerks
The Economist How to Manage The Great Resignation
“American Auto” TV Show
Movie “Gung Ho“
Movie “Mr. Mom“
Movie “Tucker“