When people think printing, they think Shamrock. Because Shamrock is an industrial printing resource, among our extensive marketing service offerings, some people make the assumption that we’ve got 3-D printers in our warehouses. But there is a misnomer about 3-D printing: It is a new (and expensive) technology that’s used for special applications. 3-D printers use additive manufacturing (AM) technology which creates an object layer by layer. Because it’s controlled and directed by computer software, the printer adds each new layer as a perfect cross-section of that final object. And it builds, or prints, using layers of substrates such as metal, plastic, fabric, foam, etc. It’s an amazing process to watch.
Some industry insiders hype 3-D printing as the technology that will spur the next industrial revolution. That may very well be true. The technology in 3-D printers is being used to create everything from edible chocolate bars at Hershey, to prosthetic human body parts at the University of Tokyo. Consider using a printer to create a human ear: It sounds space-age. But clearly, that reality is not far off.
Roll back the clock—in the 80’s most of us had never heard of the World Wide Web. 3-D printing technology is revolutionary in much the same way: Our generation will see the growth and development of this technology that will eventually change the way we do business—and the way we live. It’s already taken off: Estimates show that the 3-D printing market will reach $6.9 billion in sales by 2018, up from $3.2 billion this past year.
A friend of mine owns Thogus Products, which is a plastic injection molding company. They have diversified their operations and started RP&M, a 3-D printing company that uses multi-layer 3-D printing to make parts. They’ve invested in machines that handle multiple substrates from plastics to ceramics to metals. They’re seeing more application growth in aerospace, dental and even in the fashion industry. From a budget standpoint, it does make sense to use 3-D to produce one-off pieces instead of creating a mold or other form for single-unit fabrication.
As with most consumable technology, 3-D will continue to evolve and become more cost-efficient. Based on what we are experiencing today, in the future, we’ll all likely have one of these printers in our businesses, and even in our homes.
Where I do see Shamrock incorporating 3-D printing in the future is in helping customers develop prototypes: For applications that would otherwise be cumbersome and time-consuming, 3-D technology could be used to develop packaging and promotional items quickly and more efficiently. Shamrock will continue to connect our customers with emerging technology that is relevant to their businesses. Stay tuned—change is taking shape.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Out with the old, in with the new... Changing your daily habits is the ultimate deep cleanse for your business
We’re already at the end of January: So, how are you doing with those New Year’s resolutions? I’m still hearing people talk about reorganizing, streamlining, detoxing. But just how do you get there—how do you make those self-promises (or goals) stick?
I contend that this year, I’m “making healthy a habit.” And that goes beyond the obvious healthy habits of eating clean, exercising and keeping up with regular checkups. For me, making healthy a habit means making conscious choices/changes in my daily routine that will exhibit a positive change in my everyday life. Think about that concept—it’s a simple incentive that I’ve incorporated into various area of my life.
Making healthy a habit in your business starts with a look in the mirror—or an honest self-assessment. You might want to consider these questions to help lose the flab and shape up your business:
--Have I communicated my vision and goals for 2015 with my employees? Do they feel a part of that effort? Are they inspired?
--How often have I randomly reached out to current clients? When was the last time I picked up the phone and asked them how we’re doing? (the same goes for suppliers)
--Are my compliance standards up to date? Could my team benefit from additional training?
--What areas of my business performed below expectations in 2014? What changes can I implement today to change that course for the year ahead?
--What areas of my business performed well this past year? Celebrate those victories—and then identify ways to replicate that success in other departments, territories, with new product lines, etc.
Again, making healthy a habit is a deliberate choice: It’s a change in mindset that offers great dividends. One resource about changing habits that I go back to time and again is The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. I wrote a blog about the book a few months back; and you’ll also find more about it at www.charlesduhigg.com.
You might consider tossing your new-year’s pledges, and instead, work toward starting a revolution with your habits. It’s never too late to start.
I contend that this year, I’m “making healthy a habit.” And that goes beyond the obvious healthy habits of eating clean, exercising and keeping up with regular checkups. For me, making healthy a habit means making conscious choices/changes in my daily routine that will exhibit a positive change in my everyday life. Think about that concept—it’s a simple incentive that I’ve incorporated into various area of my life.
Making healthy a habit in your business starts with a look in the mirror—or an honest self-assessment. You might want to consider these questions to help lose the flab and shape up your business:
--Have I communicated my vision and goals for 2015 with my employees? Do they feel a part of that effort? Are they inspired?
--How often have I randomly reached out to current clients? When was the last time I picked up the phone and asked them how we’re doing? (the same goes for suppliers)
--Are my compliance standards up to date? Could my team benefit from additional training?
--What areas of my business performed below expectations in 2014? What changes can I implement today to change that course for the year ahead?
--What areas of my business performed well this past year? Celebrate those victories—and then identify ways to replicate that success in other departments, territories, with new product lines, etc.
Again, making healthy a habit is a deliberate choice: It’s a change in mindset that offers great dividends. One resource about changing habits that I go back to time and again is The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. I wrote a blog about the book a few months back; and you’ll also find more about it at www.charlesduhigg.com.
You might consider tossing your new-year’s pledges, and instead, work toward starting a revolution with your habits. It’s never too late to start.
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Game On. With college bowl season upon us, consider how to build your corporate dream team.
To be successful, every team needs to develop solid fundamentals, follow a smart playbook, employ a talented coaching staff—an all-star recruiting classes doesn’t hurt—and the free agent market is always a good source for adding talent…
I could write an entire post using cheesy game-day references that link business and sport. But I won’t. The truth is that there are many parallels that can be draw between competitive athletics and business; and I’ve read a number of articles about the benefits of hiring former student-athletes (or at least, looking for new-hires who possess some of their key attributes).
Consider that your business—no matter your market or industry—is only as good as its people. It follows, then, that as business leaders we need to attract the best and brightest. But how do we find them? I’ve read quite a bit about what researchers tell us about birth order (and how it influences future success): Many point to the firstborn child as more conscientious, ambitious and aggressive than their younger siblings. These firstborns are over-represented at Harvard and Yale; and more than half of all Nobel Prize winners and U.S. presidents have been first born.
A similar-type argument can be made for recruiting student-athletes: These are the college students who, in addition to their studies, have developed excellent time-management skills; have learned how to deal with losing—and how to bounce back; maintain competitive drive and determination; understand how their roles and responsibilities effect the team; and are extremely disciplined and dedicated. Isn’t that the type of employee we all want working for our team?
We want people who are driven, dedicated and talented—but also balanced. It’s that type of level, even-keel attitude that can keep us all moving forward, for the win.
Best of luck!
Read the Fast Company article about hiring student-athletes
I could write an entire post using cheesy game-day references that link business and sport. But I won’t. The truth is that there are many parallels that can be draw between competitive athletics and business; and I’ve read a number of articles about the benefits of hiring former student-athletes (or at least, looking for new-hires who possess some of their key attributes).
Consider that your business—no matter your market or industry—is only as good as its people. It follows, then, that as business leaders we need to attract the best and brightest. But how do we find them? I’ve read quite a bit about what researchers tell us about birth order (and how it influences future success): Many point to the firstborn child as more conscientious, ambitious and aggressive than their younger siblings. These firstborns are over-represented at Harvard and Yale; and more than half of all Nobel Prize winners and U.S. presidents have been first born.
A similar-type argument can be made for recruiting student-athletes: These are the college students who, in addition to their studies, have developed excellent time-management skills; have learned how to deal with losing—and how to bounce back; maintain competitive drive and determination; understand how their roles and responsibilities effect the team; and are extremely disciplined and dedicated. Isn’t that the type of employee we all want working for our team?
We want people who are driven, dedicated and talented—but also balanced. It’s that type of level, even-keel attitude that can keep us all moving forward, for the win.
Best of luck!
Read the Fast Company article about hiring student-athletes
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Here’s to your health- Mustaches in Movember remind us all to take care of the important stuff—and encourage our family and friends to do the same
During this past month, the global Movember Foundation challenged men to grow moustaches to raise awareness about, and funds for, men’s health programs—particularly prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental illness. I participated and went full-on no shave with a beard and moustache.
Other than simplifying my morning routine, Movember has taught me a few important lessons:
#1. We all need to be more informed—for the sake of our own health and for those we love. Here are a few stats:
• Testicular cancer is the most common cancer found in young men age 15 – 35.
• About 15 million American adults are diagnosed with depression each year.
• Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer found in men in the United States. And in 2014 alone, 233,000 will be diagnosed with the disease.
#2. We all need to get checked. Based on the above data, we all need to make our health a priority: Now is the time to schedule checkups and encourage our friends and family to do the same.
#3. For those of us who are in relatively good health, we should count our blessings. During this past year I have seen close friends and colleagues deal with debilitating illness and health-related issues. In some of these cases, it’s something that I never saw coming. And that’s the scary thing—most of us don’t dwell on our health, until either we, or someone close to us, loses that vitality.
So it’s fitting that this Thanksgiving season has me again reflecting on the many things in my life that I’m thankful for—and my health tops that list. But in order to make the hairy Movember effort worth the itch, I need to move beyond working out and eating healthy. I need to get checked.
I hope you’ll do the same.
Wishing you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Other than simplifying my morning routine, Movember has taught me a few important lessons:
#1. We all need to be more informed—for the sake of our own health and for those we love. Here are a few stats:
• Testicular cancer is the most common cancer found in young men age 15 – 35.
• About 15 million American adults are diagnosed with depression each year.
• Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer found in men in the United States. And in 2014 alone, 233,000 will be diagnosed with the disease.
#2. We all need to get checked. Based on the above data, we all need to make our health a priority: Now is the time to schedule checkups and encourage our friends and family to do the same.
#3. For those of us who are in relatively good health, we should count our blessings. During this past year I have seen close friends and colleagues deal with debilitating illness and health-related issues. In some of these cases, it’s something that I never saw coming. And that’s the scary thing—most of us don’t dwell on our health, until either we, or someone close to us, loses that vitality.
So it’s fitting that this Thanksgiving season has me again reflecting on the many things in my life that I’m thankful for—and my health tops that list. But in order to make the hairy Movember effort worth the itch, I need to move beyond working out and eating healthy. I need to get checked.
I hope you’ll do the same.
Wishing you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
It’s better to give... The benefits of nurturing a philanthropic corporate culture
When we were kids, my mom made us finish all of the food on our plates—and as many of you can probably relate, she’d remind us that there were kids in the world who didn’t have anything to eat. Even so, we weren’t feeling so lucky to have broccoli sitting in front of us. Fast forward a few decades, and while so many things have changed, there are others that remain much the same.
It’s a startling statistic: Here in Northeast Ohio, one in six people is food insecure (i.e., they don’t know where their next meal will come from). The Greater Cleveland Food Bank is one of the agencies that is responding to that need. They served 39 million meals in 2013 alone. Recently a group of us from Shamrock headed to the food bank to serve meals. And while I feel so blessed to be able to help and lend support, I’m even more proud that it wasn’t my idea.
We have this dedicated team of people at Shamrock who spearhead such community involvement efforts, providing all of us here with opportunities to serve. They meet monthly and discuss ways that we, as a company, can help in our community and even beyond. Having the discipline—and the desire—is what has helped to make philanthropy a core element of our corporate culture at Shamrock.
What’s important to our employees’ hearts is what’s important to us as a company: That’s always been who we are and how we operate. But being philanthropic is very personal. I think what has made our efforts at Shamrock so successful is that we take everyone’s input and ideas and passions—and then we provide opportunities for our employees to plug in and join in where they feel most compelled to help.
As with any effort, there has to be leadership by example for it to really succeed. And we have that here. All of us at Shamrock—and at every level—take pride in being a part of our community efforts. It’s a source of camaraderie. The result is that, as a group, Shamrock has been able to make a big difference in the lives of many people who are in need. It’s a pretty satisfying feeling—and it’s also motivating.
If you’re looking for ideas to help get your own community involvement program off the ground, send me an email and I can connect you with some of the people here who do it best. info@shamrockcompanies.net
And if you’d like more information about the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, click on the link below.
www.greaterclevelandfoodbank.org
It’s a startling statistic: Here in Northeast Ohio, one in six people is food insecure (i.e., they don’t know where their next meal will come from). The Greater Cleveland Food Bank is one of the agencies that is responding to that need. They served 39 million meals in 2013 alone. Recently a group of us from Shamrock headed to the food bank to serve meals. And while I feel so blessed to be able to help and lend support, I’m even more proud that it wasn’t my idea.
We have this dedicated team of people at Shamrock who spearhead such community involvement efforts, providing all of us here with opportunities to serve. They meet monthly and discuss ways that we, as a company, can help in our community and even beyond. Having the discipline—and the desire—is what has helped to make philanthropy a core element of our corporate culture at Shamrock.
What’s important to our employees’ hearts is what’s important to us as a company: That’s always been who we are and how we operate. But being philanthropic is very personal. I think what has made our efforts at Shamrock so successful is that we take everyone’s input and ideas and passions—and then we provide opportunities for our employees to plug in and join in where they feel most compelled to help.
As with any effort, there has to be leadership by example for it to really succeed. And we have that here. All of us at Shamrock—and at every level—take pride in being a part of our community efforts. It’s a source of camaraderie. The result is that, as a group, Shamrock has been able to make a big difference in the lives of many people who are in need. It’s a pretty satisfying feeling—and it’s also motivating.
If you’re looking for ideas to help get your own community involvement program off the ground, send me an email and I can connect you with some of the people here who do it best. info@shamrockcompanies.net
And if you’d like more information about the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, click on the link below.
www.greaterclevelandfoodbank.org
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Safety first. In this age of security breaches and computer hacks, we’re wise to take steps to protect our personal data and that of our customers.
Have you ever Googled yourself? I have; and I’ve also run other test searches about myself. The amount of personal information, or data, that’s out there floating around in cyberspace is mind-boggling. And I know enough to know that the data I see, and have access to, is only a fraction of what exists.
Data is a valuable commodity. In business, we use data to make smart decisions about marketing, ultimately putting it work to better position our brand, redirect our advertising dollars, drive sales, and so on.
In the black market world, hackers bypass most of the data that we use for marketing and reach straight for personal financial data. We’ve all heard about the big ones—major retail hacks and healthcare system leaks—but what about the smaller breaches that don’t make the daily news? Even if it’s silent, the threat is there. Just as we take steps to protect our own personal information, it’s our obligation to do the same for our customers by having systems in place to protect data.
At Shamrock, we’re aligned with a host of resources that manage payment processing, data control and security services. Based on each customer’s specific industry requirements or business applications, we match the appropriate providers who then customize solutions that work to secure their data and operating systems. What we’ve learned about securing data, regardless of market or industry, is that the best offense is a good defense.
In light of recent threats, we’ve talked with these vendors about proactive steps we can take to shore up the data security effort on all fronts; following is checklist that one of our partners provided that’s well worth sharing. It highlights five key security items:
1. PCI Training. Company policy should mandate PCI training for employees to ensure that proper procedures are followed when dealing with electronic payments.
2. Advanced DUKPT (Derived Unique Key Per Transaction) card cloaking. DUKPT methodology eliminates the risk for card cloning.
3. Encrypted Key Pads. Encrypted key pads enhance security of manual card entry.
4. Implement EMV at POS. As of October 15, 2015, every merchant must have 95% implementation of EMV devices to avoid liability for fraud, penalties and fees.
5. Maintain Certification. Ensure networks and equipment are maintained with quarterly scans and updates.
If you’d like to read more about a defensive security strategy, the link below takes you to a whitepaper that provides a closer look at a layered solution to data security.
Responding to New Threats in Card Security
Data is a valuable commodity. In business, we use data to make smart decisions about marketing, ultimately putting it work to better position our brand, redirect our advertising dollars, drive sales, and so on.
In the black market world, hackers bypass most of the data that we use for marketing and reach straight for personal financial data. We’ve all heard about the big ones—major retail hacks and healthcare system leaks—but what about the smaller breaches that don’t make the daily news? Even if it’s silent, the threat is there. Just as we take steps to protect our own personal information, it’s our obligation to do the same for our customers by having systems in place to protect data.
At Shamrock, we’re aligned with a host of resources that manage payment processing, data control and security services. Based on each customer’s specific industry requirements or business applications, we match the appropriate providers who then customize solutions that work to secure their data and operating systems. What we’ve learned about securing data, regardless of market or industry, is that the best offense is a good defense.
In light of recent threats, we’ve talked with these vendors about proactive steps we can take to shore up the data security effort on all fronts; following is checklist that one of our partners provided that’s well worth sharing. It highlights five key security items:
1. PCI Training. Company policy should mandate PCI training for employees to ensure that proper procedures are followed when dealing with electronic payments.
2. Advanced DUKPT (Derived Unique Key Per Transaction) card cloaking. DUKPT methodology eliminates the risk for card cloning.
3. Encrypted Key Pads. Encrypted key pads enhance security of manual card entry.
4. Implement EMV at POS. As of October 15, 2015, every merchant must have 95% implementation of EMV devices to avoid liability for fraud, penalties and fees.
5. Maintain Certification. Ensure networks and equipment are maintained with quarterly scans and updates.
If you’d like to read more about a defensive security strategy, the link below takes you to a whitepaper that provides a closer look at a layered solution to data security.
Responding to New Threats in Card Security
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Creatures of habit. Back to school, back to routine: Now is a great time to take stock of daily habits—and make changes.
We all have our routines and habits—both good and bad. For most of our kids, the summer routine of late nights and lazy mornings is about to come to an abrupt end with school back in session. While we’re helping them make that transition, it’s the perfect opportunity for us to take a look at our everyday routines and then make changes as we see fit.
One of my favorite books is The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg; it takes a look at why habits exist and how we can transform our habits to make life changes. Duhigg studied successful athletes, CEOs, ministers, etc. and he found that by focusing on patterns, it’s possible to make self-discoveries. It was interesting to me that most of us don’t spend time analyzing our daily routines. For the most part, we don’t even realize the actions or activities that have become our everyday habits—I know I didn’t before I read this book.
Duhigg breaks down the habit discovery process by the cue (or the trigger), the routine, and the reward. Here’s an easy example: For a coffee drinker who enjoys a cup of coffee on the drive into work every morning…the cue is getting in the car; the routine is stopping at Starbucks; and the reward is the extra caffeine kick. By identifying the cue—and replacing it with something else—we can shape change in our daily habits.
Of course, it’s not easy; change of any kind takes awareness and discipline. It’s a process. And it requires repetition: When our actions are repeated over and over again so much so that they become second-nature, that’s when we’re able to make a true transformation.
The idea of creating change in routine doesn’t have to focus on bad habits—it can be positive, too. And it can also be related to a goal (I want to lose 50 lbs. or I want to sell $1k this year). Say you want to grow your business by creating loyal, raving-fan customers. You might get into the habit of following up with every new customer with a hand-written note (which is a unique touch) and returning phone messages within 24 hours—these are great examples of habits, that once established, can help you work toward achieving the reward or goal.
Putting a plan in place is the first step. The real key is first understanding your patterns and then committing to make the needed change or action. The reward will happen—you just need to be disciplined enough to commit and follow through.
Good luck!
For more about The Power of Habit: www.charlesduhigg.com
One of my favorite books is The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg; it takes a look at why habits exist and how we can transform our habits to make life changes. Duhigg studied successful athletes, CEOs, ministers, etc. and he found that by focusing on patterns, it’s possible to make self-discoveries. It was interesting to me that most of us don’t spend time analyzing our daily routines. For the most part, we don’t even realize the actions or activities that have become our everyday habits—I know I didn’t before I read this book.
Duhigg breaks down the habit discovery process by the cue (or the trigger), the routine, and the reward. Here’s an easy example: For a coffee drinker who enjoys a cup of coffee on the drive into work every morning…the cue is getting in the car; the routine is stopping at Starbucks; and the reward is the extra caffeine kick. By identifying the cue—and replacing it with something else—we can shape change in our daily habits.
Of course, it’s not easy; change of any kind takes awareness and discipline. It’s a process. And it requires repetition: When our actions are repeated over and over again so much so that they become second-nature, that’s when we’re able to make a true transformation.
The idea of creating change in routine doesn’t have to focus on bad habits—it can be positive, too. And it can also be related to a goal (I want to lose 50 lbs. or I want to sell $1k this year). Say you want to grow your business by creating loyal, raving-fan customers. You might get into the habit of following up with every new customer with a hand-written note (which is a unique touch) and returning phone messages within 24 hours—these are great examples of habits, that once established, can help you work toward achieving the reward or goal.
Putting a plan in place is the first step. The real key is first understanding your patterns and then committing to make the needed change or action. The reward will happen—you just need to be disciplined enough to commit and follow through.
Good luck!
For more about The Power of Habit: www.charlesduhigg.com
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