Just’In Perspective

Tag: adaptive

  • Just’In Perspective: Looking Inward to Move Forward

    Listening to What You Already Know, So You Can Do What You’re Meant to Do

    I’ve read the books. I’ve downloaded the apps. I’ve color-coded my calendar and created recurring reminders to prioritize the priorities.

    But here’s the hard truth: none of it works unless I actually listen to myself.

    And listening—to your own wisdom, instincts, and intentions—isn’t easy. Especially when the world rewards noise, urgency, and multitasking.

    This isn’t a post about optimizing productivity. It’s about trusting your own signals: finally aligning action with awareness.

    You Already Know What to Do

    There’s this recurring loop I’ve caught myself in: I know what I need to do. I even plan to do it. But when the moment comes… I override it. Delay it. Distract myself with something shinier or easier.

    Sound familiar?

    Whether it’s blocking time for deep work, prioritizing that one gnawing task, or sticking to a morning routine, the hardest part is often honoring what we already know works for us.

    We treat our best practices like optional suggestions instead of the proven strategies they are.

    Time Blocking as a Contract With Myself

    Let’s talk about time blocking.

    When I first started doing it, I treated it like an experiment. Now, I see it differently: it’s a promise. Every block is a window of intention. It’s me saying, this matters enough to protect.

    And when I ignore it, I don’t just shift a task. I break an agreement with myself.

    I wouldn’t stand someone up for a meeting, so why do I ghost my own priorities?

    Why We Ignore Ourselves

    It’s easy to blame distractions. But more often, the breakdown happens because:

    • We don’t fully believe the small steps matter.
    • We wait for energy or inspiration to strike.
    • We assume we’ll have time “later” to get focused.

    But let’s be honest—“later” is often wishful thinking.

    The truth is: clarity doesn’t come before action. It comes from action.

    And the longer we ignore what we know needs doing, the more we erode our own trust.

    It’s not about doing it perfectly. It’s about doing it at all. Progress over perfection isn’t just a motto: it’s the mindset that allows us to get out of our own way.

    And yes, I’ve absolutely fallen into the classic trap: the cobbler’s children have no shoes.

    I’ve spent decades designing systems, frameworks, and best practices for others—teams, clients, organizations. But when it came to applying those same disciplines to my own day-to-day, I often made exceptions. I gave myself loopholes.

    I’m learning now: if the system works, work the system. Not just for others, but for myself.

    Micro-Disciplines That Move Mountains

    Here’s what’s been helping me recently:

    • Start with the task I’m resisting. It’s usually the one that unlocks momentum.
    • Schedule with intention, not obligation. If it’s on my calendar, I’ve already decided it matters.
    • Limit multitasking. Deep work demands deep focus.
    • Honor the rituals that energize me.

    For years, I had a solid morning routine: wake at 5am, hit the gym by 6, and start the day grounded and strong. That rhythm worked. It wasn’t just fitness—it was focus, clarity, and confidence.

    But during this current career transition, I let that structure slip. I told myself I’d work out “later” or “whenever I get to it.” Which often meant: not at all.

    Today, I finally broke the cycle. I got up at 5, laced up, and made it to the gym by 6am. And everything else in the day felt sharper—because I had listened to what I already knew worked. No hacks. No breakthroughs. Just… alignment.

    Listening as Leadership

    This isn’t just about personal goals. It’s about professional integrity.

    As a supply chain leader, I’ve seen the cost of not listening: ignoring frontline signals, skipping retrospectives, or rushing through planning cycles.

    Great delivery starts with great awareness.

    In Agile, we use retrospectives to reflect and improve. But when was the last time we applied that rigor to ourselves?

    Listening isn’t passive. It’s strategic.

    You Don’t Need New Tools—You Need to Use What You Know

    In the tech world, there’s always a new tool promising to streamline your life. But in my experience, the most powerful shift comes from this question:

    What do I already know that I’m not doing?

    It’s not sexy. It’s not novel. But it’s where the real transformation begins.

    Just’In Perspective Means Trusting the Voice Within

    This blog is called Just’In Perspective for a reason.

    Because sometimes, progress isn’t about discovering something new—it’s about seeing the familiar with fresh eyes.

    I already know what works: time-blocking, prioritizing with clarity, protecting focus, moving my body first thing in the morning. What I’m working on now is trusting that knowledge enough to act on it—daily.

    And here’s something I haven’t shared in a while:

    In July 2023, I survived a life-changing accident. One that stopped everything—and then reshaped everything. I was found on the street, injured, bleeding, unconscious. Just blocks from my home. My husband’s face, the panic, the emergency response—it’s something I’ve heard about and don’t recall ever seeing. If I did, I’m sure I would never forget. He definitely won’t and I wish I could wipe that memory away like a dry erase board getting cleared

    But today, when I told that story again to my new doctor, something shifted. I cried—hysterically, unexpectedly—not out of fear… but out of gratitude.

    Because for the first time, I truly felt it:

    I survived for me.

    Not to keep going for anyone else. Not out of obligation or expectation. But because I still have something left to live. To give. To become.

    It reminded me of something essential:

    We can’t live our lives through others. We can’t serve from an empty cup.

    Sometimes, the most productive, generous, strategic thing you can do is put yourself first: to find your balance, to protect your own peace. Because you matter. And you deserve to listen to what your soul is telling you.

    So here’s my challenge to you (and to myself):

    Don’t just listen to the latest productivity trend.
    Listen to yourself.
    Your calendar. Your intentions. Your instincts. Your life.

    Because you probably already know what to do. The real work? Doing it. Consistently. Imperfectly. Progressively.

    And doing it not for applause or approval… but because you’re worth it.

    Just in time? Maybe.
    But definitely—Just’In Perspective.

  • Just In Time, Iron Chef Style: The Culinary Combat of Strategy and Instinct

    Just In Time, Iron Chef Style: The Culinary Combat of Strategy and Instinct

    Welcome back.

    If you read my first post, Just’In Perspective: Embrace Your First Step, you already know: I’m not chasing perfection—I’m chasing momentum. I’m in it for the moments where clarity meets courage. The ones that invite you to move forward—not because you’re ready, but because it’s time.

    This time, let’s head to the kitchen—specifically, the high-stakes culinary coliseum of Iron Chef.

    I was inspired by this show, not just as a food enthusiast, but as a business leader.

    If you’ve seen it, you know the setup: unknown ingredients, fixed time, zero room for error. It’s cooking meets combat. Creativity under constraint. And in many ways, it’s the purest example of Just In Time thinking I can imagine.

    Because at its core, Iron Chef isn’t just a cooking show.

    It’s a masterclass in adaptive leadership, strategic agility, and how to thrive when the rules are always changing.

    Iron Chef: The Art of Controlled Chaos

    Iron Chef competitors don’t get a recipe. They get a challenge.

    They don’t know the ingredients until seconds before the clock starts.

    But once it does, they rely on instinct, preparation, and real-time decision-making.

    There’s no time to second-guess.

    They scan the pantry, sort ideas, fire up the stove, and execute—boldly, intentionally, and with relentless focus.

    That’s Just in Time.

    Not reactionary. Responsive.

    Not perfect. Purposeful.

    And it’s not just food. It’s a mindset.

    Just In Time: From Supply Chains to Sous Vide

    In the business world, we often define Just in Time through logistics and manufacturing:

    Right product. Right place. Right moment. Minimal waste.

    It’s the classic lean approach.

    But over the years, I’ve learned JIT is more than a supply chain principle.

    It’s a way of navigating complexity.

    It’s how we deliver when the ingredients change.

    It’s what lets leaders act with clarity—even when the path forward is unclear.

    Whether launching new tech at Nordstrom, building client playbooks at o9 Solutions, or advising in the retail trenches at Williams-Sonoma, that mindset shows up again and again.

    It’s not about having every answer ahead of time.

    It’s about being ready to move when the moment arrives.

    Agile Thinking in a Cast Iron Skillet

    When I say Agile, I’m not just being metaphorical—I’m talking about Agile Software Development.

    Think SAFe. Think Scrum. Think sprint cycles and product increments.

    The Iron Chef kitchen, believe it or not, works a lot like a high-performing Agile team—chef and sous-chefs included.

    Chefs don’t have a Gantt chart or a two-year waterfall plan.

    What they do have is a clear objective, a backlog of ingredients, and a ticking clock.

    They iterate, check, adapt, and refine in real time.

    And they do it with purpose.

    This is exactly what Agile frameworks were built for:

    Delivering value in pieces, with frequent checkpoints and the ability to pivot as needed—without scrapping the whole meal.

    Each sprint is like a course or a meal service.

    You taste, test, adjust.

    You don’t wait until the end to see if the dish is edible.

    You course-correct constantly, with built-in feedback loops that keep you on track.

    Agile isn’t chaos—it’s structured responsiveness.

    SAFe, for instance, aligns strategy across teams while still allowing for that Iron Chef flexibility at the team level.

    It’s not about shipping everything at once—it’s about shipping the right things, at the right time, based on what you’ve learned in the moment.

    In both software and in kitchens, that’s how you go from raw ingredients to remarkable outcomes.

    Cooking Without a Script: Why Constraint Fuels Creativity

    Constraints aren’t the enemy.

    They’re the spark.

    Iron Chefs don’t win because they have endless options—they win because they make decisive ones.

    They see the secret ingredient and immediately set a direction.

    That’s what real leadership looks like:

    Making smart, fast choices with imperfect information.

    In our business lives, we’re also cooking under constraints—supply shortages, staffing challenges, shifting customer expectations.

    But just like in the kitchen, those very limits are what unlock creativity.

    Innovation doesn’t require endless resources.

    It requires clarity and courage.

    It asks:

    “What can I make with what I have—right now?”

    It’s the same logic behind MVP—Minimum Viable Product.

    Think back to when Apple launched the first iPhone.

    No 3G. No App Store.

    Critics called it incomplete.

    But Apple knew the real product wasn’t what launched—it was what would evolve.

    That’s the power of delivering just in time, then learning and growing from there.

    Be the Chef Who Knows the Pantry

    Whether you’re managing a digital roadmap or building a seasonal product strategy, your success depends on knowing your pantry.

    • What tools do you have?

    • What skills live within your team?

    • What can you deploy quickly and confidently?

    At Nordstrom, we didn’t transform our supply chain by knowing everything—we transformed it by acting on the right things at the right time.

    We restructured planning and delivery rhythms to support speed and responsiveness.

    We built agile systems of record that let us see what was in our pantry and make smarter moves.

    At o9 Solutions, the same philosophy applied.

    Building client playbooks wasn’t about controlling every detail—it was about empowering teams to iterate, adapt, and scale intelligently for each client situation.

    Whether it’s food, features, or fulfillment—know your ingredients and stay ready to create.

    The Knife Sale That Wasn’t About Knives

    One day this past holiday season at Williams-Sonoma, I somehow sold over $10,000 worth of knives and espresso machines.

    But here’s the thing—it wasn’t about selling.

    It was about connection.

    And actively engaging.

    I met each customer where they were: home cooks, gift buyers, people upgrading their kitchen.

    I listened, read the moment, and guided—not pitched.

    That sale happened just in time because I was present, prepared, and able to respond with confidence.

    In business, like in retail, it’s often not about the product.

    It’s about understanding what the moment demands.

    What Iron Chef Can Teach Business Leaders

    So what does this all mean for you—whether you’re leading a team, managing a product, or running a kitchen of your own?

    Here’s what Iron Chef leadership looks like:

    • Master your mise en place. Know your tools, people, and data. Prepare, prepare, prepare.

    • Start before it’s perfect. Build, ship, test, and refine. Relentlessly switch gears.

    • Embrace sprints. Deliver in small bites, learn from each one.

    • Make the call. You can’t plan forever. Decide, then iterate. Test it. Fail or succeed fast—and learn.

    • Finish the plate. Perfection is optional. Delivery is essential. Customers would rather have food and give feedback than never get fed.

    A Personal Note: The Kitchen as a Mirror

    For me, cooking is therapy.

    It’s where I reflect, recalibrate, and reconnect—with my heritage, my creativity, and my appetite for experimentation.

    It’s where I test new ideas and taste them in real time.

    That’s what this blog is, too—a platform to share and iterate on kitchen thought, self-care thought, and current events thought.

    I don’t always know what I’ll write next.

    But I show up.

    I scan the pantry.

    I start the timer.

    And I cook.

    Because the best meals, like the best ideas, don’t come fully formed.

    They come just in time.

    What’s In Your Basket Today?

    Maybe your challenge isn’t a mystery ingredient—it’s a new project, a team shift, or a personal reset.

    Whatever it is, I invite you to approach it like an Iron Chef:

    With clarity.

    With readiness.

    And with the confidence that you don’t need all the answers—just the instinct to act, the feedback to learn, and the courage to plate something great.

    Because in kitchens, in boardrooms, and in life:

    Just in time is just right.

    Welcome back. If you’ve read my first post of “Just‘ In Perspective”; “Embrace Your First Step”, you already know: I’m not chasing perfection; I’m chasing momentum. I’m in it for the moments where clarity meets courage. The ones that invite you to move forward—not because you’re ready, but because it’s time.

    This time, let’s head to the kitchen—specifically, the high-stakes culinary coliseum of Iron Chef. I was inspired by this show…

    If you’ve seen it, you know the setup: unknown ingredients, fixed time, zero room for error. It’s cooking meets combat. Creativity under constraint. And in many ways, it’s the purest example of Just In Time thinking I can imagine.

    Because at its core, Iron Chef isn’t just a cooking show. It’s a masterclass in adaptive leadership, strategic agility, and how to thrive when the rules are always changing.

    Iron Chef: The Art of Controlled Chaos

    Iron Chef competitors don’t get a recipe. They get a challenge. They don’t know the ingredients until seconds before the clock starts. But once it does, they rely on instinct, preparation, and real-time decision-making.

    There’s no time to second-guess.

    They scan the pantry, sort ideas, fire up the stove, and execute—boldly, intentionally, and with relentless focus. That’s Just in Time. Not reactionary. Responsive. Not perfect. Purposeful.

    And it’s not just food. It’s a mindset.

    Just In Time: From Supply Chains to Sous Vide

    In the business world, we often define “Just in Time” through logistics and manufacturing: right product, right place, right moment—minimal waste. It’s the classic lean approach.

    But over the years, I’ve learned JIT is more than a supply chain principle. It’s a way of navigating complexity. It’s how we deliver when the ingredients change. It’s what lets leaders act with clarity—even when the path forward is unclear.

    Whether launching new tech at Nordstrom, building client playbooks at o9 Solutions, or advising in the retail trenches at Williams-Sonoma, that mindset shows up again and again.

    It’s not about having every answer ahead of time. It’s about being ready to move when the moment arrives.

    Agile Thinking in a Cast Iron Skillet

    When I say Agile, I’m not just being metaphorical—I’m talking about Agile Software Development. Think SAFe. Think Scrum. Think sprint cycles and product increments. The Iron Chef kitchen, believe it or not, works a lot like a high-functioning Agile team (Chef and sou chefs).

    Chefs don’t have a Gantt chart or a two-year waterfall plan. What they do have is a clear objective, a backlog of ingredients, and a ticking clock. They iterate, check, adapt, and refine in real time. And they do it with purpose.

    This is exactly what Agile frameworks were built for: delivering value in pieces, with frequent checkpoints and the ability to pivot as needed—without scrapping the whole meal.

    Each sprint is like a course or a meal service. You taste, test, adjust. You don’t wait until the end to see if the dish is edible. You course correct constantly, with built-in feedback loops that keep you on track. Agile isn’t chaos—it’s structured responsiveness.

    SAFe, for instance, aligns strategy across teams while still allowing for that Iron Chef flexibility at the team level. It’s not about shipping everything at once—it’s about shipping the right things, at the right time, based on what you’ve learned in the moment.

    In both software and in kitchens, that’s how you go from raw ingredients to remarkable outcomes.

    Cooking Without a Script: Why Constraint Fuels Creativity

    Constraints aren’t the enemy. They’re the spark.

    Iron Chefs don’t win because they have endless options—they win because they make decisive ones. They see the secret ingredient and immediately set a direction. That’s what real leadership looks like: making smart, fast choices with imperfect information.

    In our business lives, we’re also cooking under constraints—supply shortages, staffing challenges, shifting customer expectations. But just like in the kitchen, those very limits are what unlock creativity.

    Innovation doesn’t require endless resources. It requires clarity and courage. It asks, “What can I make with what I have—right now?” The question often asked: “what is MVP, minimal viable product. Like when apple iPhone launched without 3G and without an app ecosystem. People quickly pointed that flaw out. And where are we now? Exactly.

    Be the Chef Who Knows the Pantry

    Whether you’re managing a digital roadmap or building a seasonal product strategy, your success depends on knowing your pantry.

    What tools do you have? What skills live within your team? What can you deploy quickly and confidently?

    At Nordstrom, we didn’t transform our supply chain by knowing everything—we transformed it by acting on the right things at the right time. We restructured planning and delivery rhythms to support speed and responsiveness. We built agile systems of record that let us see what was in our pantry and make smarter moves.

    At o9 Solutions, the same philosophy applied. Building client playbooks wasn’t about controlling every detail—it was about empowering teams to iterate, adapt, and scale intelligently for each client situation.

    Whether it’s food, features, or fulfillment—know your ingredients and stay ready to create.

    The Knife Sale That Wasn’t About Knives

    Let me tell you a quick story. One day this past holiday scramble at Williams-Sonoma, I somehow sold over $10,000 worth of knives and espresso machines. But here’s the thing—it wasn’t about selling. It was about connection. And actively engaging.

    I met each customer where they were: home cooks, gift buyers, people upgrading their kitchen. I listened, read the moment, and guided—not pitched. That sale happened just in time because I was present, prepared, and able to respond with confidence.

    In business, like in retail, it’s often not about the product. It’s about understanding what the moment demands.

    What Iron Chef Can Teach Business Leaders

    So what does this all mean for you—whether you’re leading a team, managing a product, or running a kitchen of your own?

    Here’s what Iron Chef leadership looks like:

    • Master your mise en place. Know your tools, people, and data. Prepare prepare prepare.

    • Start before it’s perfect. Build, ship, test, and refine. Relentlessly switch gears.

    • Embrace sprints. Deliver in small bites, learn from each one.

    • Make the call. You can’t plan forever. Decide, then iterate. Test it. Fail or succeed fast and learn.

    • Finish the plate. Perfection is optional. Delivery is essential. Customers rather have food and give feedback vs never getting food.

    A Personal Note: The Kitchen as a Mirror

    For me, cooking is therapy. It’s where I reflect, recalibrate, and reconnect—with my heritage, my creativity, and my appetite for experimentation. It’s where I test new ideas and taste them in real time.

    That’s what this blog is, too—a platform to share and iterate on kitchen thought. Self care thought. Current events thought.

    I don’t always know what I’ll write next. But I show up. I scan the pantry. I start the timer. And I cook.

    Because the best meals, like the best ideas, don’t come fully formed. They come just in time.

    What’s In Your Basket Today?

    Maybe your challenge isn’t a mystery ingredient—it’s a new project, a team shift, or a personal reset. Whatever it is, I invite you to approach it like an Iron Chef:

    With clarity. With readiness. And with the confidence that you don’t need all the answers—just the instinct to act, the feedback to learn, and the courage to plate something great.

    Because in kitchens, in boardrooms, and in life: Just in time is just right.