It takes a scrum, or ‘disorderly struggle,’ to build a business

Upsize LogoMy article “It takes a scrum, or ‘disorderly struggle,’ to build a business” ran in the August issue of Upsize magazine.  In the article, I share how the Agile/Scrum approach to software development can be applied to efficiently run a business or lead a team.

My Interview in The Business Journal “1,000 tasks…just one you — Personal productivity tips from Fast 50 companies”

Fast-50-Logo

From the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal

“Just about every entrepreneur, business owner and executive is constantly trying to figure out how to do more in less time.

There is, after all, just 24 hours in a day and a gazillion things to do, including managing employees; perfecting products; interacting with customers; finding more money to keep the business growing; and meeting with the CPA, the lawyer and the benefits broker. All that’s just before lunch, and it doesn’t even touch on Little League games, date nights and a bit of exercise here and there.

Business executives often turn to technology for help, and they read time-management books such as David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” or tip blogs such as “Lifehacker.” Sometimes they hire assistants.

This month, we asked the members of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s Fast 50 class of the fastest-growing private companies in the Twin Cities what they do to make their days more productive.”

Intertech Inc.

Headquarters: Eagan

Business: IT training and consulting services

Answering: Tom Salonek, CEO

“Evernote. With its ability to take voice recordings, written notes and photos as memos, Evernote makes it easy to remember everything from anniversary gifts to business items.

RoboForm. For myself, I have hundreds of sites with log-in credentials. RoboForm makes password management a cinch.

“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” delivers solid principles for management of self and others. Also, Napoleon Hill’s work, “Think and Grow Rich,” is the foundation for many of today’s self-help gurus.

I start every day running with my Doberman, Alexander the Great, and whatever toddlers are awake in our house. For me, the trancelike state of running results in some solid new ideas or solutions to antagonizing problems.

In “City Slickers,” the Billy Crystal movie, he talks about the “one thing.” It’s the one thing that if a person gets right, the rest of life falls into place. As I think through my workday, I look for the one thing — the key conversation, the strategic hire or the key decision I need to make to allow others to proceed in execution. After that is finished, the rest of the day falls into place.”

My Interview on “Why Dad remains top mentor choice” in The Business Journal

Fast-50-LogoAs one of The Business Journal’s Fast 50 (the Fast 50 are the fastest-growing private companies in the Twin Cities, based on revenue growth over the past three years), I was interviewed on the impact of my dad on the business.  If you’re a subscriber to the Business Journal, you can access Why Dad remains top mentor choice online.  If not, the brief interview is below.

Intertech Inc.

Headquarters: Eagan

Business: IT training and consulting services

Answering: Tom Salonek, CEO

Dad: Theodore Salonek, farmer

What is your father’s best business advice?

Tell the truth and you’ll only have one story to remember.

How has your father inspired you?

“If you do nothing, you won’t make any mistakes,” were his first words to me as a teenager after learning that I accidently had sheared the axel on his truck. There was no shaming reprimand, just a straightforward focus on solutions. What a great lesson for anyone who manages fallible human beings!

How has your dad supported you?

He was encouraging and quick to tell me he was proud of what I and the firm had become.