5-Year Book Publishing Anniversary
Monday marks the 5th anniversary since we published our first book independently. I say ‘we’ because my wife contributed much.
To celebrate, we are offering a 25% discount (Coupon Code PM25 at checkout).
The Idea for The Progressive Machine
In 2010, my senior leaders struggled with Lean because many felt it was a fad. Therefore, I created a presentation that showed the key innovators and their contributions that would later be incorporated into what we call Lean today. Leadership’s eyes widened when they learned that Lean had origins dating back over two centuries. The presentation helped the leaders understand that Lean was proven to work, but success required persistence.
Publishing
About three years later, while working on surgical optimization programs for hospitals across the Americas, I had the opportunity to contribute to Dr. Marchall K. Steele’s and Judy Jones’s book, Orthopedics and Spine: Innovative Strategies for Service Line Success. My contribution was published in the electronic version of the book, and I was given an acknowledgment at the front of the book.
This experience gave me confidence that one day I might publish my own book.
2019 – An Opportunity
In April 2019, I came home from vacation and learned that my department was part of a Reduction In Force. Having worked for medical device companies from over a decade, I decided to pursue my dream of working for a Health System.
While interviewing with many companies, I decided it was time to take my 2010 presentation and put it into a book. In late July, I was given a job offer to work for the Health System.
In August, I finished the first draft of the book while taking my family to Atlanta so they could take part in a Panda experience.
I was picked up by a small publisher, but after numerous challenges, I decided that I’d self-publish.
December 2019: 5-Year Publishing Anniversary
The Month That Changed My Life
This month was a hopeful month when I started off presenting to ASQ in Fort Worth. There, I brought copeis of Frederick Taylor’s 1913 edition of The Principles of Scientific Management and Ford’s 1926 book, Today and Tomorrow.
A few days later, while traveling to work, I was in a major car accident that literally flipped my car upside-down. I will never forget the comforting grip of the police officer who pulled me to safety. About two days later, The Progressive Machine, my first book, was published as an e-book on Amazon.
The Trials After December 2019
The accident in December led to a major blood-clotting problem the eventually required an emergency procedure where a cath was used to pull clots out of my lungs. As a result, I will be on blood thinners for the rest of my life. In addition to my personal trials, I was working at a hospital during the COVID pandemic, seeing people whose challenges dwarfed mine.
July 2021 – A Publisher
Having spent a decade developing surgical optimization programs, I decided to write a book that would transfer all that I learned to a receptive audience. I decided to write the book as a fiction and was thrilled when Warren Publishing picked up the book. They also published the second edition of The Progressive Machine. In this edition, I was able to scrap out much of what I did not want (that’s right! I removed stuff that I felt was too subjective).
The Writing Continues
After that, my wife and I began writing a science fiction / fantasy book series. The third book in that series, marking our fifth book, will be available in February 2025. I’ve also contributed to Nursing Administration Quarterly article, published in 2024, about addressing workplace violence within the health care enviornment.
Thank you to all who help to keep this dream of writing alive.
Get Your Copy!
If you’d like a signed copy of the Progressive Machine, check out this link (use coupon code PM25 for a 25% discount at checkout)
Amazaon Link
Barnes and Noble Link