Turning Chotch into Gold

Every business person knows the drill. You receive a bunch of crappy inputs from suppliers. It’s frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be a dead end. With the right systems, processes, and people, you can transform those lousy inputs into high-value outputs. In fact, this is what you MUST do. This is something that the best-run businesses do, and we look up to them for it.

Let’s dive into how you can turn that chotch into gold.

Identify the Chotch

Tchotchke AKA "Chotch" - a small object that is decorative rather than strictly functional; a trinket. Or, my preferred definition, “low-quality junk”.

Before you can transform anything, you need to clearly identify the crappy inputs. Are they subpar materials, outdated technology, or inefficient processes? Be specific. It goes without saying that you should be working with best-in-category suppliers to deliver your inputs. If not, get on this right away. The sunk cost fallacy hurts a lot of businesses here. If a supplier offers solutions that are subpar compared to others, fire them immediately.

Here’s what to do next:

1. Conduct a thorough audit of your current inputs.

2. List out every issue, no matter how small.

3. Evaluate your suppliers and switch to the best-in-category ones if needed.

By taking these steps, you'll set the foundation for transforming those crappy inputs into high-value outputs.

Leverage Smart Systems

The backbone of turning chotch into gold is leveraging smart systems. These systems include processes, protocols, and tools that streamline operations and ensure quality. However, relying solely on an off-the-shelf ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) style system isn't enough. ERPs are self-described failures 70% of the time. You need to do your own systems design work. This is so that when you use technology to codify your process, it's based on how you want work to happen.

Begin by mapping out your ideal workflow. Identify the key stages where tracking and automation can add value. Once you've got a clear vision of your processes, you can then choose the right technology to support them.

Here’s what to do next:

1. Design Your System - Map out your entire workflow, focusing on how you want it to happen.

2. Choose the Right Tools - Select tools and software that align with your custom-designed processes.

3. Train Your Team - Ensure your team is well-trained on these systems and understands the workflow.

4. Keep the system updated - with real-time data. This is done to maintain accuracy, efficiency, and accountability.

Designing your systems first, then choose technology to support the system. This ensures your operations (in this case InfraOps) run smoothly. It turns your chotch inputs into gold outputs.

Streamline Processes

Streamlining your processes is crucial. This involves eliminating any inefficiencies and ensuring that every step adds value. Simplifying your system where possible helps free up the bandwidth to hold your suppliers accountable. Most big businesses have complex environments. They leave little time to spend on enforcing its accountability, especially with vendor partners.

Here are three steps to streamline your processes:

1. Map Out Your Workflow - Document your entire workflow to understand where inefficiencies lie.

2. Identify and Eliminate Bottlenecks - Find the points where processes slow down and work to eliminate these obstacles.

3. Implement Regular Quality Checks - Establish checkpoints throughout your supply chain to catch issues early.

By simplifying and streamlining your processes, you create the space to hold your suppliers accountable. You ensure that every input meets your standards and helps turn chotch into gold. But this won't be enough.

Develop Smart Protocols

Smart protocols are standardized procedures that ensure consistency and quality. These protocols should be clear, detailed, and rigorously followed. Once you establish smart protocols, you'll discover opportunities for automation. Automation is an excellent way to find the floor for quality as it pertains to outputs. When you build your workflows from the ground up, this helps everyone understand their role and the purpose of the desired outcomes much better. This empowers the team to make more progress and improve quality.

Here’s what to do next:

1. Develop Detailed Protocols - Create clear, comprehensive protocols for each critical process.

2. Train Your Team - Ensure thorough training so everyone understands and can follow the protocols.

3. Monitor and Adjust - Regularly check for compliance and make adjustments as needed.

By implementing and automating these smart protocols, you'll enhance consistency and quality, laying a strong foundation for turning chotch into gold.

Utilize the Right Tools

Utilizing the right tools can make a significant difference in transforming crappy inputs into high-quality outputs. However, it’s essential to use the minimum viable amount of tools to get the job done. Many fall into the trap of adding technology before doing the underlying systems work. Turning chotch into gold is a willpower endeavor, there are no shortcuts and no magic bullet software suite exists to do this for you.

Here’s what to do next:

1. Identify Key Tools - Determine the essential tools needed for each stage of your process.

2. Do the Systems Work - Ensure your underlying systems are robust and well-designed before adding technology.

3. Invest Wisely - Choose high-quality, reliable tools that genuinely enhance efficiency and quality. (tool bloat in this industry is extreme)

4. Train Your Team - Make sure your team knows how to use these tools effectively.

First, carefully choose and use the right tools. But, only do this after laying the proper groundwork. This will greatly improve your operations and you guessed it, turn your chotch inputs into gold.

Empower Your People

Even the best systems and tools won’t work without smart, motivated people. Most InfraOps stakeholders don’t even know what the purpose of the CIO’s business unit is. If they don’t understand the macro mission, how can they be expected to build systems and make work that results in golden outcomes? It’s not fair to expect them to do so. Leadership and context are paramount here.

Invest in your team by providing continuous training and fostering a culture of excellence. Ensure that everyone understands the broader mission and how their roles contribute to it.

Here’s how to empower your people:

1. Provide Regular Training - Offer continuous learning opportunities to keep skills sharp and relevant.

2. Communicate the Mission - Make sure every team member understands the purpose and goals of the CIO’s business unit.

3. Encourage Ownership - Empower your team to take ownership of their roles and make decisions that improve processes and outputs.

4. Foster Open Communication - Encourage open dialogue and feedback to continuously improve.

5. Recognize Excellence - Regularly recognize and reward excellent performance to motivate and retain top talent.

By providing clear leadership, context, and support, you empower your people to focus on the alchemy needed to fight against the mediocre.

Transforming Outputs

Here's the deal. We need to admit it. Most of the vendors we hire to help us build our client deliverables will be mediocre at best. My anecdotal breakdown after 23 years in business, looks something like this: 70% will suck, 20% will be acceptable, and 10% will be excellent. If you have the willpower to fight this low-quality paradigm, you can and will transform these inferior raw materials into high-quality deliverables for your clients. And I for one, call this a golden outcome.

If you do this, you'll have a competitive advantage in your personal career, your group, department, business, etc.

You can use smart systems, clear protocols, and the right tools to transform bad inputs into good outputs. But, you also need streamlined processes and empowered people. These outputs are what you deliver to your stakeholders, whether they’re clients or internal teams.

For example, if you’ve been dealing with inconsistent hardware buying, consumption methods and outcomes, by using the steps above, you should now be delivering reliable, high-quality solutions.

Here’s what to do next:

1. Continuously Monitor Quality - Regularly check the quality of your outputs to ensure they meet high standards.

2. Seek Feedback - Actively seek feedback from your stakeholders and make improvements as needed.

3. Celebrate and Learn - Celebrate your successes and learn from any failures to continuously improve.

By committing to these actions, you'll not only deliver golden outcomes but also gain a significant competitive edge in the marketplace.

Conclusion

Turning chotch into gold is not just about addressing the immediate issues with your inputs. It’s about creating sustainable and efficient systems that consistently deliver high-quality outputs.

You do this by finding the problems and firing low-quality suppliers. Then, you use smart systems after doing the needed groundwork. You also streamline processes, make clear protocols, and use the right tools wisely. Finally, you empower your people with clear leadership and context. This way, you can turn most sub-par inputs into valuable output.

So, here’s my pitch:

Roll up your sleeves, dive into your processes, and start turning that chotch into gold today. Your stakeholders will thank you, and your company will thrive. By rejecting low-quality thinking and using willpower and strategy, you’ll gain a career edge and lift your whole organization.