Lean Lessons from St. Patrick: A Saintly Guide to Continuous Improvement
- Leadership
- March 16, 2026

Each March, we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with shamrocks, parades, and a healthy dose of Irish cheer. But beyond the cultural festivities, the life of St. Patrick offers a surprising number of insights into Lean thinking and leadership. His story—rooted in resilience, purpose, and disciplined action—mirrors many principles that guide successful Lean transformations today.
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On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on
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For my Facebook fans you already know about this great feature. But for those of you that are not connected to A Lean Journey on Facebook or Twitter I post daily a feature I call Lean Tips. It is meant to be advice, things I learned from experience, and some knowledge tidbits about Lean to help you along your journey. Another
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For many organizations on a lean journey, the biggest friction doesn’t come from the shop floor—it comes from the financial reports. Teams are improving flow, reducing lead time, and eliminating waste, yet the numbers still tell a very different story. This disconnect is exactly why lean accounting exists. Lean accounting is not about breaking
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On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on
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In his 2025 letter to shareholders, the CEO of GE Aerospace tells a story about a tape dispenser. Yes — a tape dispenser. It wasn’t a billion-dollar contract or a breakthrough engine design. It was a simple improvement spotted on the shop floor. A frontline team member saw waste. Leadership empowered action. The fix
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