Irreverence & Excellence!

Reduced to 'Quite Moment"

'Hostile Takeover' was published without my knowledge. Many things I am now finding out were done by the Friday's family without my knowledge. The result you see above,  I am cowering in the forward cabin of my boat with my handicap certified dog 'Boomer'. The bottom line is, we had the best people, the best results and the best time of anyone in any business!! We will talk about why we produced exceptional results and how you can duplicate these exceptional results in your life.  So get ready to read  'The Book'!

Wow, and we are almost finished.

Antique Canoe Dealer

For Sale but not by me

I need business cards because I was tired of writing on scraps of paper. Our training company when fully developed will operate under the name of TriCept, LLC. So we have an name and logo for the card but I needed a title. With a little tongue in cheek someone suggested 'Antique Canoe Dealer' since that's the only reference that can be found on T.G.I. Friday's web pages of my existence.  Personally, I think it's pretty funny and speaks volumes. I wouldn't bring it up here but I have been handing out a lot of business cards  and didn't want to start getting orders for antique canoes!

Based on Core Theories and Philosphies 

Hostile Takeover!!!

Warning! This Triceptive Blog has been taken over by an unknown source. We know who Mr. Scoggin is and have heard many of his stories. In fact our group has been scarred for life by all the fun Mr. Scoggin let us have over the years. None of us has been quite right since.

This is your first clue to who we are. By the way, if you can name all the people on this raft, you will get a ride on The Magic Bus. That is if we don't hold the bus hostage, too. Who are we???

Nothing like hands on experience.

I am really glad I didn't learn about stunt flying as a youth. I am sure I would have become a barnstormer.  My instructor was a former member of the Canadian Royal Air Force's aerobatic team called the Snowbirds. Wow!  A hands-on pilot with skills developed at every level of flight difficulty from trainers to supersonic jets. What a great instructor who learned his skills from the bottom up.

Hands on construction to potato skins!

The reason I am writing this, soon-to-be finished book, is that I have learned business in a similar way. It was all  hands-on management with strict requirements for results and excellence as the standard. I wasn't privileged with a business school education.  I worked my way up from catching lumber on the line in a sawmill to the board room (pun intended). My experience is real, not theoretical. Like my instructor I flew supersonic, when Friday's led the restaurant industry and at Boise Cascade in my early 30's.  I was jet qualified.

People and their development have always been at the heart of any success I have experienced. I am blessed with a problem solving and teaching skill that I explain in the book. During the frontier years of the casual theme restaurant industry my theories, philosophies and business systems were widely adopted throughout the industry.  My metaphors are legendary. Bounties were paid for our managers (complete with manuals and forms) so that our competitors could acquire these useful tools.

I have now taken a long look at the accumulated knowledge over the years and with clear hindsight have put together a helpful set of tools and insights about more than business but about life as well. I have also been actively counseling and interviewing a broad cross section of college students, small business owners and CEO's. I have studied today's issues with education and the modern work force. It amazes me how, in the midst of so much change, so much remains the same.  Read my book.  My experience can help you just as the flight instructor above taught me some pretty amazing stunts.

How do you COMPROMISE excellence?

I have searched high and low for an answer to this question.  It's an OXYMORON! I ask everyone everywhere I go, "What is your standard?"  The answer from everyone everywhere is always the same - EXCELLENCE!  However, during our conversation, I find time after time compromise rears its head.  "Times are different, costs are high, this is almost as good, this saves a lot of time." On and on comes the parade of compromise.  "We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle

Are you in the habit of cutting corners, or achieving EXCELLENCE every day?

Time to finish the book

My previous blog was the speech I prepared for the Friday's UK reward conference in Orlando.  I am usually pretty cool in front of an audience but I was so inspired by the energy in the room with a feeling that I have not experienced since my days with Friday's, that I struggled with emotion.  The sign outside the door read, "If it's real you'll feel it." It was and I did, I was with family, and it felt 'real' good.  I am inspired and heading to my 'happy place' which is my boat and plan to sprint to the finish with my writing.  Our working title "Triceptive" is starting to get competition as we approach the finish.  In the end I am sure the final word for the title will come from our agent and publisher.  TriCeptive will remain the important central theory in the book.

P.S. A special thanks to all the Knights of the Round Table, Jimmy Skeadas and George Barton for all the time and incredible input you generously gave during my time in Orlando

A tale of two Friday's

     Once upon a time in a land far, far away an errant Lord named Alan discovered a magical forest.  This forest was filled with bluebirds, flowers, rainbows, fun and laughter.  There was happiness aplenty and people far and wide came to visit.  In time, Lord Alan's magical forest grew by leaps and bounds.  Fair maidens and brave knights gathered in large numbers from all over the kingdom to visit the forest.  Soon a young enterprising Prince named Dan was drawn into the forest.  He was delighted and said to Lord Alan, "This is much more than a magical forest; it is an enchanted forest."  Upon closer examination, Lord Alan agreed and joined Prince Dan on his quest to captivate the entire world with the forest.  The people were pleased.  After many years of happily living in the forest, Prince Dan was called to navigate the oceans of the world.  He left the care of the enchanted forest to another.

     Years later, upon Prince Dan's return from the sea, he was saddened to find the forest quiet.  All the laughter was gone.  The fair maidens and brave knights were nowhere to be found.  Determined to repair these injustices and return laughter to this enchanted land, Prince Dan began writing a manuscript which set forth all the keys to the kingdom.  He diligently explained his philosophies and theories of how to make this land the best in the world.  But still, he was saddened because there was no happy ending to his story.  Then a miracle occurred.  Fair Princess Karen appeared from out of nowhere as if a gift from above and said, "Oh no, the enchanted forest is not gone.  It may still be found in the United Kingdom."  Much to Prince Dan's delight he found this to be true.  Princess Karen had discovered the forest and understood it's magic.  Because she was wise and fair, she surrounded herself with noble and just knights at her red and white round table.  Together, they worked diligently to make the forest enchanted once again.  When they were done, they were delighted to find they had discovered the Holy Grail.  With all of their efforts, the fair maidens and brave knights came back in droves to enjoy the bluebirds, flowers and rainbows once again.  Even better, they all ordered potato skins.

                                  The End

Princess Karen
"If you believe strongly enough you can make anything come true."

WHY?

Last night I watched a documentary on McDonald's near failure, 10 years ago and there is plenty of ink about Sear's, Wards and the many failing retailers.  I just finished reading a large number of business help books as research looking for the answer to this question.

The question is not what you think. Everyone knows the answer to the first question "why are they failing?"  The real question is why do we repeat ourselves and act surprised at the result!!!!! The bottom line for the Big Mac movie was........wait for it..........."back to basics!" Q - S - C!  They almost tubed the biggest restaurant company in the world and the answer was "BACK TO BASICS!!!

The 'Four Walls Theory' addresses this problem and the problem of proper focus on the basics. We used this 'back to basics' theory to save Friday's from the "Success Syndrome"!

'MAGIC BUS"

We are in the design phase. Happy to receive your IDEAS!

Triceptive - Principles for Business, Management, and Life.

Daniel R. Scoggin
Author/Driller

"Oil Well Syndrome"


THE TRICEPTIVE DIFFERENCE

 We all want things to be easy.  If they are not then we look for ways to make them that way.  The marketplace is filled with easy this and easy that.  When it comes to life's bigger issues we continue this thought pattern.  There is nothing wrong with this unless it misleads us or makes us into quick fix junkies.  There are some who think getting their degree will solve their problems and make life easy.  Criminals think the next big 'job' and things will then be easy.  I call this the "Oil Well Syndrome".  Drill that one big life's gusher and then relax and enjoy life.

I believe we have ready for your assembly the components for personal and business success.  This is not easy but it is simple.  It cannot be reduced to a list or a simple set of rules anymore than you, as an individual, can be defined in such a way.  The Triceptive formula is very straightforward.  It must stand on your core values and beliefs which must embrace the standard of excellence and the Triceptive definition of 'honesty', the 'expanded' definition.

Why EXCELLENCE?  It is the only STANDARD that provides the FUEL, creates the energy, excitement and what we call FRIDAY'S FUN!!!  Show me an excited mediocre anything!

Why HONESTY?  It is the number one feast for the human spirit.  It opens the floodgate of creativity and free exchange of ideas.  The light of this positive culture eliminates management fiefdoms and intimidation.  We describe it in Triceptive and Apple hints to it as "Fearless Feedback!"  You never tire of this environment.

Coupled with your core principles and a clear goal, these two powerful forces applied to maximizing the benefits all to sides of the triangle are the beginning of one of the most exciting experiences once can have as a leader!  Add to this the tools, definitions and commonsense management insights and I think you will want to adopt my founding motto, "be the best - have fun - make money".

Thanks for following,
Dan

Dan Scoggin is near completion of his long awaited book. Like FRIDAY'S DEBUT, the launching party, and subsequent 70's bus tour will be FUN! 
Here is a preview of the books soul.

Which do you VALUE most?

 Writing Triceptive illuminated a couple of paradoxes. Pier 39 is one of the highest volume tourist attractions in the U.S. The wide variety (pun intended) of people, makes for people watching at it's finest. We consistently see kind and polite behavior, generates the same behavior in return. We have seen this in our travels. One of the most delightful demonstrations, at the queue for the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver, BC. Everyone wins here and traffic moves nicely by simply taking turns.

The Triceptive method of management and it's reliance on honesty proves another obscure truth: "The quickest way to the pot of gold you seek, is through honesty."

Why, then, is is so rare?      Wait for it...........read the book!

The customer the company MONEY and you!?

Seems like an easy equation but based on understanding  it's not. I am not going to wax political here, that's not my area and while similar, it's totally different. I was, however, surprised how hard it is to get the true understanding of this relationship, when building a companies culture. Once you have gained a true and balanced understanding it is a HUGE tool that works for  everyone in the equation. Yes, another shameless pitch for  the book!

COMING SOON: Coast to coast book signing on the Magic Bus. No drugs will be involved in the design and decor of the bus....it will just look like it!

GO NINERS!!! GO KAP!!!

Ain't that a shame!

Sincerity can be shocking. I have become so numbed to the food servers required check back 'How's the food?' During my recent Texas trip, Casper, Stroke of Genius and I were having dinner at a  steakhouse and I was actually shocked when our young server truly wanted to know how my food tasted and if I was enjoying it. It was just like a family member who had cooked the food themselves and was concerned that you like it. Ain't that a shame! We have become so numbed to insincere that sincere is shocking!

One of my teaching metaphors is called the 'employee's cloak'  it teaches against dawning the cloak of a personality foreign to your own. The restaurant server one goes.......Hi.....my ....name ....Johnny...I ... will... be... your server...tonight... would...you... like ...something....to drink...besides ...water. All in a strange voice and cadence, totally un-natural . That was the efficient cloak the warm friendly cloak comes just before the bill and tip time!

I think we like Costa Rica so much be cause they say and mean 'con mucho gusto'  with much pleasure!

This is your Captain speaking!

Magic Bus tour
Dan & Sandy or 'Dandy"

 The Magic Bus Tour is designed to bring joy an happiness to all. If you see through that, how about, The Magic Bus Tour is designed to sell books. The truth is it will do both. It has been suggested 'tickets to ride' should be automatically issued to couples who either got married in the phone booth or at least met at Friday's. There are several other feats accomplished by Friday.s customers, on premise, but we haven't figured out how to verify them? Any suggestions?.

I HATE mediocrity!

 I don't hate many things but I do hate medocrity. In any human effort it is such a waste of life. At the age of 75 I have a little different perspective (I think improved!), it's all about about achievement (results) past, present and future. Excellence is good, medocrity is pathetic. Flying back from a meeting with Casper, we are in the final stages of writing the book, I had the honor of sitting next to a U.S. Marine. Shawn Pickell, recently retired from the Corp, was flying out to see his nephew graduate from Marine boot camp. Shawn was an instructor, not the drill type, but motivational and training for recruiters. What a blast to swap ideas and tools of the trade. The bottom line is you don't have to wonder where a Marine stands or question his honor and pride. Such a pleasure to talk to him. Shawn when you read this, thanks for some great ideas.

I have never met a mediocre Marine!

Triceptive Tried and True - Triceptive Trio

 Triceptive Training Tower

           Triceptive Triumphant Tour

                      Triceptive Trinity of Truth

Triceptive Teaching & Training

           Triceptive Teaching Toolbox

                         Triceptive Tasty Treats

Tremendous Triceptive Teacher

                       

More about TriCept & more to follow!

A new force in business & personal training

In addition to the book we plan to establish an executive training center, based on the book. The TriCept logo is a stylized combination of the the 'Beach Ball', 'Four Wall's' and 'Triangle' theories. The name itself is a combination of our three party focus, the employee, customer and company.The name, is the concept of three or TriCept. We are shopping for a vintage double decker bus as our vehicle for a book signing tour. Think back to the seventies and you'll know the direction for the bus graphics! We will visit each country that has density to justify the expense. With a thousand Friday's world wide we may be doing some travel. We plan to serve Potato Skins (after all it's my invention) and a Triangular Tasty Tart, known as the Triceptive Trio Tart. Rides will be offered to everyone that worked in the Friday's family circa 1971 to 1986. For those who missed this golden era of fun, contests will help accommodate their requests A fun time is guaranteed. We be looking for an awesome  photographer and witty bus driver, both will have to have Friday's qualifications.

We love graphics

One of the contests is sure to be the cotton ball count on Sandy's earlier rabbit costume or how many times I was hit on that night?!

The cheese stands alone

Triceptive Teacher Training
'Triceptive Trio'

One of our most popular and widely used theories is the "Beach Ball." 

It's use is to help in gaining differing points of view. If you are not familiar with the metaphor, it's explained in the book! Am I subtle or what.

George Carlin makes an observation that eludes it's use since the differing points of view have a single source, "Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?"

What does it feel like to play on a Super Bowl Team?.

ALBERT EINSTEIN

Well, I know it feels better than playing on a mediocre team. It is beyond me why anyone one would not want to put in the extra effort to be the best. Playing with the best is so energizing one forgets to get tired. My pet peeve is a leader who tries to pass mediority off as excellence. I address this phenomena in the book in the chapter about PROCESS. Have you ever known someone who has made a good living and never produced a tangible result, but they are brilliant at explaining WHY 'it' didn't happen?

"Most people say that it is the intellect that makes a great scientist. They are wrong: it is character." Albert Einstein

This is true of the Triceptive Trio of Leadership - coaching, managing and teaching.

Today is:NATIONAL- WEAR A HAT DAY!

 Little known benefit of wearing hats.
It makes you a bigger person!
This is Mikie's HAT from Goorin Bros. San Francisco......as you can see it makes her taller and certainly more  suave & debonair.....but stature......who would have guessed!?!

"Cock your hat - angles are attitudes."
                              Frank Sinatra

"I'll beat him so bad he'll need a shoehorn to put his hat on."
                              Muhammad Ali

Principles = Happiness and strength

A mothers love

One of the highest principles of life is a 'mothers love.' The management and leadership I teach is ALL principle driven. Honesty, integrity, excellence and Triceptive sharing of rewards.

I cannot express the emotional income I am receiving from my contacts and sessions with the members of 'The Legacy.' I received strong reinforcement from one of the group at our last meeting. Privately, she told me about her tragic experience, losing a teenage son to a traffic accident. While in emotional pain beyond comprehension, she still - as a single mother - had an 11 year old daughter to help through her pain and loss.

She confided that our principle driven culture, high standards of conduct and mental discipline helped her cope. I was very touched at the character building impact of our culture on her life. I hope to help you have the same impact on others.

Use of 'open door' = witness protection!

"Don't ever trust anybody!"

The caption above is from an old, not very good, joke. The father steps back and let's his son hit the ground as an object lesson of being careful with trust. One of the most important core values of any culture is TRUST!

Everyone talks the talk when it comes to TRUST. Few really walk the walk. For a culture to have it, it must be all encompassing and is very hard to establish. However, once in place the 'magic' created and the creative fun it creates is FANTASTIC. 

Another word from our sponsor............'The Book" teaches you how to achieve this 'magic!'

Wisdom at Work/Triceptive Trio

WRITING TEAM
Rick - Rodney - Chuck

I must confess there is no way I could write this book without the support and wisdom of my writing team. My ghost writer, Casper, (not Casperette because we went Hollywood - no more actress only actor ) was invisible today, something Ghost do! The art department was out in the yard attacking a giant ant hill - creatively. So here is the Triceptive brain trust. You will enjoy and prosper with this book! 

Remember the BUS? You will not believe what we have planned. We will be revealing ALL soon!

"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor." Vince Lombardi

M.V. Phecal Phreak/from my travels!

"ATTITUDE IS A LITTLE THING THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE."

                                                                                        Winston Churchill

In every apparent disadvantage is an unapparent advantage. Opportunity, truly, is where you find it. One of the finest Yachts I passed in my travels was named "Trashman".  The owner was in the trash business. Pass opportunities on principle not pride! 

Founding Friday's

Don"t laugh! My "Leisure suit is suede......the haircut PRICELESS!"


When Friday's rocked! That's me in the center with Alan Stillman and a friend who's name I'll never forget.............................?

This is Greenville avenues opening night.  A great beginning to a great culture. 

Triceptive Teaching Treats

BEACH BALL THEORY

Friday's family members of the golden era - 1971 to 1986, are all, well familiar with this teaching treat. For those eagerly awaiting 'the book' (you are aren't you?) you will enjoy this little tease of my metaphorical style of teaching. I created this simple metaphor early in my business career at Boise Cascade. It is a 'fish hook' to the brain image aimed at getting all points of view considered.

We begin with a red, white and blue beach ball so big that with three people standing on the three equal sides, each can only see one color. What color is the beach ball? To know that, you have to know which side of the ball the boss stands.  If it's the red side, in most companies, the two employees would have to memorize that whatever their color it is not blue or white but, really red, if they want to keep their job!

The lesson is that good leaders always get the full picture. They seek out the differing points of view. They know the other colors or points of view and make a more informed decision. Life is more complex than a three color ball. It is a rainbow of colors and requires many more inputs than three. Wisdom is seeking them all.

So whats up with the bus?!?!

Is there a bus in the Triceptive future?

I am in Dallas, where I lived and headquartered Friday's during   the formative 15 years. I met yesterday with a room full of the best of the best from Friday's early years. Pretty silly for a man of my age to have to fight to control his emotions but I was overwhelmed with pride and inspiration, listening to each of their stories. The aim of the meeting was simply to take advantage of their generous offers of help with the book. All I can say is WOW!!! I was completely blown away at the many ways the Friday's culture, management theories and standards  remain a guiding part of their lives. They all have grown those core values and passed them along, with pride,  through their successful endeavors in diverse fields.  My goal with the book "Triceptive" is to share the Friday's 'magic' with everyone who wants success.

Stay tuned for the "Story of the Bus". We will be blogging information as we get it but it is going to be BIG!!! REALLY BIG!!! 

NONSENSE!

'Me with and my therapy dog.'
Possible song title?

Happy recycled pumpkins

" I like nonsense, it wakes up the braincells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient  in living. It is a way of looking at life through the wrong end of the telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities."
Dr. Seuss

Couldn't have said it better myself!!!!!

He was a rotten kid but we will miss him!

Well! It's hot!

"Effort without results is MEANINGLESS."

Watching one of the last launches

Have you ever worked with or watched someone, earn a great living but were always explaining why it didn't happen? I have and it appears to me to be quite common. Slick CEO's, politicians, all good talkers, all smart and all failures in disguise.

I was facinated to watch one of the last shuttle launches........ slick talk wont' help here!

I have had serious problems mid-ocean, I've got a gift of gab but  slick talk was useless there.                                      
                                                                       

Mid-Atlantic sunset

Sail set to cross the Atlantic                                     

Towing for take off

Won't work in the cockpit!

Plan to do cart wheels

Won't work when stunt flying.





In reality it dosent work in business either, it's just not obvious as crashing or sinking.



 We all will arrive at the door of the great equalizer, who wants to be 'meaningless'.

Now a word from our sponsor

 Why are you writing this book? What is it about? Why now? How could you leave your enviable life style?








We have relocated our home base, for the boat, to San Francisco to be a part of the America's Cup excitement. With our home in Reno it is convenient to enjoy both.

Upon return,inescapably, I became more aware of not only the U.S.'s business condition but the world at large. The answer of course is creating wealth through productivity. I know 'wealth' is sometime used negatively but creating value is what feeds the poor and pays the taxes.

Upon closer examination I found 'common sense' was rapidly on the decline. Big words, computer driven charts & graphs and excuses served in place of results. Education is too often serving as a hindrance instead of a boost up and we won't even speak of the student loan debt situation. The principles and practices that made Friday's great in the beginning worked, still work and needed resurrecting. The approach is all about principle driven actions and decision making not 'lists' and 'rules'. I use analogies, graphics, metaphors and universal common sense. I cite and use examples all around us but sadly they are the exception. Finally, Rush Bowman (a Friday's colleague) in an email to his brother, (more about him later), described the book this way, "It's a History of Friday's, the culture it spawned and the business philosophy that drove it. ( Dan's ) Plus a liberal dose of nonsense and tall tales."

As for the lifestyle, the book is hopefully a brief pause. I plan to put together a boys trip to Hawaii with our women waiting on a sunny beach for the sailor boys!