Search

As an experiment, I’m blending AI overview references with my additional thoughts. For best, AI overview summaries that draw on best referred research, I prefer www.perplexity.ai. To warm up on this blog’s topic, try going there (as needed) to inquire:  

1. “How big is the US trade labor shortage, causes, and solutions”? 
2. “Is there a US shortage of warehouse workers and local delivery drivers? Solutions?”  
3. “In the US, who has the best apprenticeship programs for trade labor?” 

For each overview, check out intriguing references and/or “related questions”. And, italicized quotes that follow will also yield helpful AI overviews.   

But: What Are AI “Solution” Blind Spots that Your Firm Must Fill?  

First: can your firm wait for unions and governments to train the talent that you specifically need for executing on your strategy within your cultural norms? Or, do you need to create your own training programs tuned to serve your target customers’ value needs?  

Next: many distributors are service firms selling mostly commodities. Competitive advantage comes from – defining, measuring, achieving, guaranteeing, selling and partnering with – best, service-value (metrics). You can’t do this without having employees who are: engaged, cross-trained, and retained. They must also be knowledgeable about: target customers; the why, what, how of service metrics; and overall economic productivity that affords both premium comp and profits. And, how will your training programs be shaped by two strategic, service-frameworks:   

1. “What is the “service profit chain” and how do you implement it?” (Also, google image the phrase) 
2. “What are the 5 elements of the “good jobs strategy”? (Google image also) 

Third: brilliant strategy will not teach hourly workers the benefits, joy and “psychological flow of being on a mastery path” to “Black Belt plus status” for multiple service tasks. Doesn’t everyone want to: be appreciated for their excellence; have pride in their work; receive high compensation for their job niche afforded by premium productivity; and career security and growth? How will you help them achieve these aspirations?  

Some more AI inquiries: 

1. “What is Shokunin?” (Japanese mastery of a trade skill)  
2. “Why are Shokunin values not prevalent in the US?” 
3. “How can a US company teach Shokunin values to its employees?”  

And, to better teach, coach, and support mastery for all, check out my blog series oriented towards “mastery” at www.merrifield.com. A recommended sequence for reading #s: 2, 12, 10, 15, 9, 16, 5, and 11.   

Everyone Needs to Master the Process of Mastery to Deal with Future Shock?   

“what is future shock and how is AI affecting it?”  

Solving the trade labor shortage for your business is only the beginning of an on-going challenge. How do all workers (especially young adults) “learn how to - learn, unlearn and relearn” – continuously, on their own for a lifetime? Informal, reactive learning on the job must shift to – anticipatory, proactive, continuous - learning. Overwhelming? Not really. You don’t have to be perfect at re-learning, just better than 80% of all other folks who might want your job (and aren’t reading this blog). And, mastery – once learned – is enjoyable. Growing is better than stagnating and dying.