[If you haven’t read the original version of The Goal – it’s the original, the classic. Here’s a chapter-by-chapter video summary, and a <60 second summary too.][Click here for a video summary of Rules of Flow.]

This is a clever chapter title as it reflects at least three ‘one-on-ones’!

1. Marc has a ‘one-on-one’ meeting with Linda, his top software project lead.
2. Linda brings up that she wants to go ‘one-on-one’ and focus all her time on the company’s software needs and Marc as a savvy leader agrees with her idea.
3. Lastly, Marc and Abbie wind up each at the same restaurant – recommended by the clever Linda – where they have dinner together – ‘one-on-one’.

Does that make this chapter a ‘three-on-one-on-one’?

Best Writing, Quotes

“He can tell these short meetings make a difference and his people look forward to them.” Marc, Page 123

“By using AI capabilities they are able to make the robotic arm adjust its reactions to changing conditions in ways that weren’t possible before.” Marc listens to Linda, the team’s software expert on Page 124. In some ways, it sounds like she may be programming a descendant of the NCX-10 from The Goal.

“No one is allowed to interrupt me when I’m working.” Linda knows how to defend her calendar – Page 124.

“I would like to dedicate all my time to software.” Linda makes a bold recommendation and Marc is wise enough to listen, Page 125.

“Looking at the big picture it makes sense for Linda to work solely on code.” Page 126

“Dinner is over but neither of them seems in any particular hurry to call it a night.” Marc and Abbie both wind up at the same ‘hip new restaurant’ recommended by Linda, Page 126.

• When I talk about Goldratt, Theory of Constraints, and The Goal – using these emotional / personal scenes is really helpful in promoting a healthy dialog.
• Even well worn tropes like “Will they? Won’t they?” make what would be a technical discussion more relevant to the team discussing the topic.
• All that’s missing in continuing the ‘three-on-one-on-one’ (311?) metaphor, would be for Marc to lean in to Abbie and tell her, “Amber is the color of your energy.”