Book Review: Go for Third - Leadership Lessons from the Softball Field to the Workplace by Derek Volk
- Book Review
- February 23, 2026

Creating a successful Lean implementation roadmap is one of the most reliable ways to drive real, measurable improvement in any organization. Lean thinking is not just a set of tools — it’s a mindset that helps teams eliminate waste, optimize workflow, and build a culture of continuous improvement. But to transform this mindset into reality,
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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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There has been a lot of literature on Lean implementations over its initial 25 years but now there is a book providing new insight. The Lean CEO: Leading the Way to World-Class Excellence by Jacob Stoller is the result of in-depth conversations with over 30 individuals who have been expanding the borders of Lean thinking
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Last week I spent several day in Chicago, IL, at IndustryWeek Inaugural Manufacturing and Technology Conference and Expo. IndustryWeek, MESA International and the Smart Manufacturing Leadership Coalition (SMLC) collaborated to provide the event on Smart Manufacturing, best practices from best plant winners, lessons learned from business leaders and practitioners. Summary: I would rate the Conference
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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
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