State of Readiness | Tim Fox
What Does It Take to Change Everything — One Small Step at a Time? A Conversation with Tim Fox, Author of Swarm of Change | State of Readiness Podcast In this episode of State of Readiness, host Joseph Paris sits down with Tim Fox for a wide-ranging conversation that touches on the arc of a remarkable…
The Ground Worth Fighting For: Key Terrain in Military and Business Strategy.
This past December (2025) I had the opportunity to attend Thayer Leadership, thanks to one of my clients, Integra-Cast, a member of the Spartan Aerospace Group, and its CEO, John Buckridge. I am very thankful for being given the experience. It was an awesome training course and one I would highly recommend to anybody (or any…
State of Readiness | Alan Michaels, Director of Industry Research at Industry Knowledge Graph
In this episode of State of Readiness, host Joseph Paris speaks with Alan Michaels, founder of the Industry Knowledge Graph, a strategic planning tool built on Michael Porter’s competitive strategy framework. The discussion traces Alan’s multi-decade journey to develop a globally comprehensive, highly granular industry taxonomy and its transformation into a usable, dynamic digital platform. Alan…
The High Cost of Acting Without Planning: Why Communication and Preparation Are Cornerstones of Success
We often talk about the need for speed, but speed without direction is chaos. It is far better to achieve and increase velocity; which is speed with a vector – a direction, purpose. For those invested in Lean principles, PDCA starts with “Plan”, but all too often and to their risking doom, organizations start with “Act”….
From Chaos to Cohesion: What Youth Soccer Teaches Us About Building High-Performance Business Teams
Spend five minutes watching a group of young children play soccer, and you will likely be entertained by the spectacle. There’s enthusiasm, laughter, a lot of movement, and almost no structure. Eleven kids (though it could be seven, or five, or however many happen to be on the field) swarm the ball like bees to a…
State of Readiness | Ron Crabtree; CEO of MetaOps Inc and MetaExperts
In the realm of strategic business discussions, Ron Crabtree, a seasoned entrepreneur, assumed the mantle of authority. With a keen understanding of the trials and tribulations inherent in business scaling and talent acquisition within dynamic environments, he underscored the necessity of fostering robust professional networks and discerning between strategic and tactical hiring approaches. In collaboration with…