Refresh your home with these Caribbean Decor Ideas

By

-

November 17, 2018

Picture of a tropical inspired room — IG @disentosd

Filled with bountiful sunlight and tropical colors, it’s no wonder why the Caribbean remains a everlasting inspiration for interior design. But for Caribbean decor fans, recreating the iconic style can get tricky. This proves especially difficult when you live in a place far beyond the region’s sunny climbs. With just a few tweaks and changes however, you can easily add a little more island flair to your home, no matter where you live. Here, we’ve rounded up our favorite quick tips to capture that perfect island vibes. And if you’re feeling inspired, check out more interior ideas from some Caribbean designers.

Be Bold With Color

No matter what color the sky outside, your home can always feel like a day in paradise with a health dose of color. Instead of basic whites, try interesting hues on your walls, with vivid paints and wallpapers. Or if you’re more conservative, inject a little color with your upholstery. We love how this beautiful living room in a Havana villa embraces color. The peach-hut armchairs and mint-colored panels perfectly complement the villa’s original title.

Get One With Nature

We may not all live in places surrounded by tropical greenery, but that does not mean you can’t bring the great outdoors inside. Add some potted plants around your home to refresh your style. There are so many varieties that still thrive under low light. Not only do plants add color and texture, they also improve your indoor air quality for an extra health boost. We particularly love the tropical snake plant, which proves notorious hardy indoors.

Add A Little Texture

From luxe sea island cotton to wicker furniture, Caribbean design loves to incorporate tons of natural texture into the home. We love how the Dominican Republic design firm Disentos infused raw textures into this living room design in Juan Dolio. The layers of texture include linen curtains, a rattan area rug, a bamboo armchair, and rich basket weaving on the chic ottomans and wall accents.

Embrace Your Antiques

Every Caribbean family has that one piece of classic furniture, made in enduring tropical woods like mahogany. No matter how your style evolves, embrace this stylish inheritance by making these piece your own. Designer Kelly Nieves totally transformed this “squatters” armchair that her father brought from Trinidad when the family migrated. A little velvet reupholstery and a fun throw pillow gave this antique a new lease on life in her home.

Explore Caribbean Art

There’s a new and vibrant generation of Caribbean artists across the Diaspora. So why not celebrate the region’s rich artistic tradition with a piece at home? Check out local galleries in the region for new artists. Or, if you’re craving a piece that’s outside the budget, get a print instead of your favorite artwork. We especially love this beautifully tropical portrait by Dominican artist Tania Marmolejo Andersson.

Upgrade your Thanksgiving sides with these Caribbean recipes

By

Monique McIntosh

-

November 17, 2018

0

The Thanksgiving season is here, celebrating family, friends…and food, or course! Along with the traditional roasted turkey, the special thanksgiving dinner also provides a great opportunity to combine Caribbean ingredients and flavors with classic side dishes. So we’ve rounded up our favorite recipes from across the region to try out at your dinner table. Rich in spice and flavor, we love these unique side options as the perfect accompaniment to the main turkey show.

Instead of Corn Bread: Try Haitian Pain De Mais

Is there anything more satisfying that a slide of cornbread at the thanksgiving table? We’ve giving the classic dish a Caribbean upgrade with this Haitian version. An abundant ingredient in Haiti, corn gets a sweet spin in this bread recipe. Additions of mashed banana, warm spices, shredded coconut and a little rum (of course) come together to create a dense and delicious sweet cornbread. Check out the recipe here.

Instead of Creamed Spinach: Try Trinidad Callaloo

As much as we love creamed spinach, the classic thanksgiving dish can be one note. Instead, try this decadent Trinidadian greens dish, with combines young dasheen leaves with creamy coconut milk. Sweet pumpkin, hot pepper and a dash of pimento add much need sweetness and complexity. Check out the recipe here.

Instead of Dinner Rolls: Try Puerto Rican Mallorca

These lovely rolls have a sweet edge over your basic bake. Though the recipe originally came from the Spanish island of Majorca, Puerto Rico has made it all their own. These roles follow basic bread profile, but with a dash of powdered sugar. The bread’s hearty texture makes this perfect for dinner rolls. But they can also be cut open to make yummy sandwiches with your thanksgiving leftovers. Check out the recipe here.

Instead of Salad: Try Chayote Salad

With so many decadent, labor-intensive dishes, sometimes the fresh veggies fall by the wayside. But this refreshing salad mix is not wilting wallflower. Jamaican Chef Irie combines classic Caribbean vegetables for this salad recipe, using spiraled cuts. We especially love the use of crisp raw chayote for that irresistible crunch. Check out the recipe here.

Instead of Mac & Chesse: Try Haitian Macaroni au Gratin

It’s hard to improve on the killer combination of cheese and carbs. But this decadent recipe totally takes it to another leave with rich ingredients and spices. This recipe includes serious flavor with Worcestershire sauce, mustard, onion powder and bouillon. The standard cheese blend also include mozzarella and ricotta to create serious creaminess. Check out the recipe here.

Vegan Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili

By

babemadeblog.com

-

November 16, 2018

0

Butternut squash is my favorite winter vegetable so it made perfect sense to add it to my delicious warming chili. Wonderfully seasoned, filling and healthy – sign me up! My Vegan Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili is perfect for you meal peppers out there because you can have this chili ready in under an hour and with only one pot. Because chili is such a versatile dish, you can roll it in a burrito, serve it over pasta or rice or just alone with a dollop of vegan sour cream. I love making this because I know I will have multiple dinner options sorted out for the whole week. Side note – I shared this recipe with my meat eating family and they loved it!

vegan butternut squash chili Low in fat and calories, butternut squash delivers an ample dose of dietary fiber, making it an exceptionally heart-friendly choice. It provides significant amounts of potassium, and vitamin B6, essential for the proper functioning of both the nervous and immune systems. And of course we can’t forget about the black beans. Black beans are a great way to get in your daily protein intake along with various antioxidants and micronutrients.

vegan butternut squash chili Depending on your spice palate (I’m not huge on spicy), you can adjust the amount of cayenne, chili powder, and black pepper. On a spicy scale from 1 to 10, I found this chili to be about a 4. You can also tweak the salt depending on how salty you typically like your chili. I personally really really enjoy salt so I used 1 tsp of sea salt along with 32oz of vegetable broth.

vegan butternut squash chili

Enjoy and remember to share! ?

Vegan Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili

Ingredients

Read the full story…

Caribbean Culinary History was on Display at the 2018 Jamaican Jerk Festival

By

admin

-

November 13, 2018

0

Guests of all ages learn about the spices, foods, information and artifacts in the ‘Taste the Islands’ Caribbean Culinary Museum pop-up at the 2018 Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival | Photo by David Muir

Thousands of visitors to the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival on Sunday, November 11 interacted with pieces of history at the “Taste the Islands” Caribbean Culinary Museum and Theater. Guests were able to read about the origins of foods typical to the region, on a number of graphically illustrated poster boards. They were also able to touch and smell some of the noted food elements like curry, cane sugar, coffee and tamarind, and observe artifacts including a coal stove, three legged dutch pot, an ice shaver and vintage ceramics.

Following their successful execution of the Caribbean Culinary Museum and Theater at The 2018 Taste the Islands Experience (TTIX), the event’s producers installed the exhibit temporarily at the Jerk Festival in Sunrise, Florida. It was conceived and created collaboratively by Calibe Thompson, one of the producers of TTIX, and Marsha McDonald, producer of the “Diversity in Arts” design discussion series, as part of a series of artistic and cultural presentations promoted within Broward County.

Funding for this project was provided in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council, as well as the following Funds from the Community Foundation of Broward: Fonda and H. Wayne Huizenga, Jr. Family Trust Fund, Gary J. Scotto Fund and Mary and Alex Mackenzie Community Impact Fund.

Taste the Islands Experience Caribbean Culinary Museum | Photo by RJ Deed

The next scheduled installations of the “Caribbean Culinary Museum and Theater” will run from February 18 through March 16, 2019 at the Lauderhill Museum, supported in part by Commissioner Howard Berger, and then at the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society from April 26 – 28 as part of The 2019 Taste the Islands Experience. The expanded culinary festival will include gastronomy-centric activities in multiple locations across downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Find out more at www.ttiexperience.com.

Island Syndicate is a media, arts and entertainment agency that creates exceptional content and unforgettable experiences inspired by the Caribbean, and offers creative services in video, photography, graphic design and branding. Their properties include Island Origins Magazine and the Taste the Islands Experience.

The Best Reggae Festivals (That Aren’t in Jamaica)

By

Monique McIntosh

-

November 11, 2018

0

Screen Shot 2018-11-10 at 1.56.29 AM — Tarrus Riley & Blak Soil Band LIVE performing at the Summerjam 2018 concert in Cologne, Germany. Photo @summerjam_festival_official#

Thanks to its infectious beat and positive messages, reggae music has gone far beyond its island origins, inspiring fans everywhere. So it’s no surprise some of the best reggae concerts in the world aren’t in Jamaica. International concerts have popped up around the world to service the genre’s global fanbase. These concerts also attract reggae’s biggest stars. So for your next musical adventure, we’ve rounded up our favorite reggae festivals to check out.

Best of The Best: Miami, FL

South Florida might as well be declared another Caribbean territory, with its huge island Diaspora. So it’s no surprise Miami’s Best of the Best show attracts a slew of fans as well as some serious star power. Last year alone attracted the likes of Mavado, Capelton and newcomer Shenseea. Playing every Memorial weekend at Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami, Best of the Best claims to be the biggest Caribbean stage show in North America.

Reggae in the Desert: Las Vegas, NV

The glittering casinos of Las Vegas may be the last place you’re expecting to find an epic reggae festival. But the infamous city certainly knows how to put on a show. And Reggae in the Desert pulls out all the stops for this one-day blow out, complete with traditional island bites and a craft fair. And after a long day jamming to the likes of Third World, Morgan’s Heritage and Cocoa Tea, fans can also enjoy a little fun at the blackjack table too.

Reggae Summerjam: Cologne, Germany

For well over 30 years, Reggae Summerjam lights up Cologne, Germany every summer with the some of the biggest reggae and dancehall stars. The line-up ranges from stalwarts like Ziggy Marley to Reggae Revival performers like Chronixx, as well as the hottest dancehall acts like Alkaline. But the festival makes a great spot to check out less conventional artists, as they always shine a spotlight on non-Jamaican reggae singers like the German-born reggae star Gentleman.

Rototom Sunsplash: Benicassim, Spain

The one love vibes flow strong at the Rototom Sunplash Festival. For 25 years, the epic 10-day event has taken over the city of Benicàssim in Spain. Reportedly the biggest reggae festival in the world, Rototom attracts a line-up of killer stars old and new like Protoje, Jah Cure, Koshens, and The Might Diamonds. These mark just a few among the 200-odd artists performing day and night in a wall of constant sound. However, the festival strives to go beyond the music, hosting social forums and art symposiums to explore the genre’s deep roots.

Welcome to Jamrock Cruise: Ft. Lauderdale/Jamaica

Though the youngest festival on our list, the Welcome to Jamrock Cruise has already made a splash. For a whole week, reggae diehards sail the high seas and rub shoulders with their favorite stars. Launched by reggae star Damian “Junior Gong” Marley, the cruise’s roster always includes a bevy on artists from the iconic family. The big name also attracts top performers like Sean Paul, Beenie Man and Taurus Riley. The luxury cruise goes from Fort Lauderdale to Jamaica, and back again.

Check out our other round-ups of great Caribbean destinations.

These New Haitian Films Are Breaking the Mold

By

Monique McIntosh

-

November 11, 2018

0

Lalos — Still from new movie, "Lalo's House."

Across international festivals and intimate film screening, a wave of new and exciting Haitian films are emerging. And this latest crop of Haitian films prove far from typical, breaking the mold in style and substance. These inventive shorts and full length features range from moving personal stories to dramatic explorations of history. Though these productions remain small and independent, their scope never feels limited, and can only promise even greater things to come. For your viewing pleasure, we’ve gathered a few of our favorite projects now making the rounds through the independent film circuit that are a must-see.

Douvan jou ka leve (The Sun Will Rise)

Actress and filmmaker Gessica Geneus explores faith and family in this intimate documentary produced for France Télévisions. The film follows her journey examining what she calls the “illness of the soul”—the country’s fraught religious divide between Vodou and Christianity. She filters this exploration through her relationship with her mother, who suffers from bipolar disorder, and attributes her condition to vodou spirits. The result is a moving meditation on both mental illness and a nation’s as-yet unassuaged inner turmoil.

The Crying Conch

This short reimagines the legendary Haitian revolutionary figure Mackandal and his origins tale as a modern fable, told in lyrical cinematography. The story follows a man retracing the footsteps of the historic Haitian slave leader, who is trapped in a curse which started centuries ago. Though directed by Mauritian/Canadian filmmaker Vincent Toi, the small production however keeps to the story’s deep Haitian roots creatively. Toi shot the film across Haiti, including the iconic pine forests of Seguin. Performed all in Kreyol, the film also stars Haitian actor and fellow film collaborator Ebby Angel Louis.

An Excavation of Us

French-born director Shirley Bruno dives deep into her Haitian roots for this experimental animated short. The tale follows the shadows of Napoleon’s army passing by boat through a cave in Haiti. This is no ordinary cave however, but one named after the legendary Marie Jeanne. She is a female soldier who fought in the Haitian Revolution. “It is this battle inside her cave that will become the most successful slave revolution in history,” says the artist’s statement.

Lalo’s House

Part fable, part horror, Lalo’s House tells the story of Manouchka, an 11-year-old Haitian girl kidnapped with her little sister Phara. Caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, both find themselves trapped at an orphanage that traffics children. Manouchka must learn the ways of the adult world to save herself and her sister. Directed by American filmmaker Kelley Kalí and produced by Haitian-American actress Garcelle Beauvais, the film seeks to shed a spotlight on child trafficking on the island and other abusive conditions like restavek.

Petit Frère

Over 100,000 Haitians live in Chile. Recent news tell tales of conflict and forced deportation, but this new experimental documentary celebrates this budding community. The film explores the Haitian community in Santigo de Chile with a slice-of-life point of view. Directors Roberto Collío and Rodrigo Robledo ground the film with the witty and insightful narrative by Haitian writer and activist Petit-Frère Wilner. Told in fragments, the film attempts to “interrogate exile and identity,” says the artist’s statement.

Check out more fascinating Caribbean films released just this year, from two new Trinidadian biopics to moving films exploring Cuban immigration and identity.

Add These Caribbean Fine Jewelry Designers To Your Holiday Wishlist

By

Monique McIntosh

-

November 10, 2018

0

Screen Shot 2018-11-09 at 8.38.56 PM — The Trio Ring Design by Marcia Budet. Photo IG @marciabudet

Forget your basic baubles. With modern silhouettes and stunning jewels, a new generation of jewelry designers are emerging among the Caribbean Diaspora, creating timeless pieces that feel both graphic and unique. These new designs run the gamut style-wise, from delicate and refined, to bold and bright. They also use materials in unexpected ways, from unusual gemstones to recycled materials encrusted in gold. Such unique designs attract serious attention from in-the-know Caribbean fashionistas seeking something special. So we’ve rounded up our favorite Caribbean jewelry designers, from industry stalwarts, to exciting up-and-comers. Be sure to add these stunning gems to your wishlist.

Monique Pean

Winner of a prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award in 2011, American-born designer Monique Pean has long made waves for her sculptural, organic pieces featuring globally inspired materials and silhouettes. As a child, she frequently travelled around the world with her Haitian father, who worked for the United Nations. The designer attributes her unique style to her childhood exposure to diverse cultures. For each collection, Pean continues to travel to unique destinations, researching regional design and collaborating with local artisans. All materials used are ethically and sustainably sourced, which often leads to unconventional features, like fossilized walrus ivory, recycled metal and dinosaur bone.

Mateo New York

Matthew Harris was just 16 when he moved to the U.S. from Montego Bay, Jamaica to study hospitality management. But soon the glittering New York City inspired him to explore jewelry design, and he later launched his own brand in 2009. His delicate, minimalist designs with innovative use of gemstones and pearls quickly racked up attention, including at the CFDA. The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund hand-picked Mateo New York as one of the prestigious finalists for 2017. The Smithsonian Museum also selected his gems for sale at the African American Museum of Art and Culture in Washington D.C in 2016, and at the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum of Contemporary Art in 2017.

Marcia Budet

When you want to make a bold graphic statement with your jewelry, a piece by Puerto Rican jewelry designer Marcia Budet proves a safe bet. A University of Pennsylvania-trained architect, Budet brings a structural flair to her designs, with geometric inlays and shapes. Budet also loves to use bright, juicy gemstones like lemon quartz, citrine and amethyst. Or she likes to make a dramatic black-and-white design in onyx and moonstone. This perfectly suits her design motto “elegantly bold,” and her desire to make women feel both feminine and powerful in their jewelry. Her vivid designs certainly captured the attention of the design world, where she won several industry awards, including the Design Center Editor’s Choice Award for “Best in Show.”

Anna Ruth Henriques

Jamaican-born designer Anna Ruth Henriques pulls from nature to create her organically influenced fine jewelry. Inspired by spiders, she weaves delicate webs of gold into elegant bracelets and pendants. Or Henriques inlays rich gems like tourmaline and opal into glittering mosaics for her abstract floral earrings. The designer carves and finishes all her artful designs by hand, using natural gemstones to create miniature works of art. Such artistic designs comes natural to the accomplished painter, whose paintings can be found in permanent collections at New York’s Jewish Museum, El Museo del Barrio, as well as the National Gallery of Jamaica.

Monica Varela

Jewelry by Dominican Republic designer Monica Varela lives somewhere between weird and wonderful. Using traditional techniques and 3D printing, she combine gold, silver, precious stones, and technicolor microscopic fibers into whimsical designs. The jewelry itself feels simple and understated, with clean lines and smooth spheres. But inside each groove and crevice lies a honeycomb of vibrant fibers. This unique combination marked a eureka moment for the designer, when she became enraptured by the vibrant colors hidden inside electrical street wires. Such creative juxtaposition came naturally for the designer, who’s also the daughter of famed Dominican artist Fernando Varela. Monica also keeps close ties to her native island, working closely with master artisans in the Dominican Republic.

Josanne Mark

Somehow the bold jewelry of Trinidadian designer Josanne Mark feels both ancient and space age. Inspired by organic elements, Mark often incorporates rich, complex texture into her pieces, from her iconic driftwood cuffs to her see fan earrings in sterling silver. Instead of sparkle and shine, the designer embraces grit and character, preferring crushed pryite and freshwater pearls over perfectly symmetrical gemstones. Industry insiders have fallen in love with her unique approach to jewelry. She has showcased her pieces at the Studio 66 Art Gallery in New York, and at the esteemed Ganoskin Project.

Check out other amazing designers from the fashion world with our round-up of favorite Caribbean-American designers from New York Fashion Week.

Our Favorite Unexpected Jerk Spice Combos

By

Monique McIntosh

-

November 9, 2018

0

Screen Shot 2018-11-09 at 2.50.41 PM — Grace's Homemade Jerk Banana Ice Cream.

Bright, spicy and flavorful, jerk spice can always bring a Caribbean dish to the next level, from chicken to pork. But some combinations may prove very surprising, even to the most avid jerk spice fans. It’s distinctive flavor, however, makes the mix more versatile than you think, from sweet treats to vegan delectables. We’ve rounded up our favorite surprises combos to up your culinary game.

And check out more amazing jerk dishes this Sunday in South Florida at the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival.

Jerk Ice Cream

Yes, you read right. A little bit of jerk spice adds the perfect kick to this ice cream recipe, which cuts through the fat and counterbalances the sweetness. We love this particular recipe, which combines a bit of jerk spice with a simple but rich vanilla base. A slice of banana makes this scoop the perfect Caribbean sundae, and the best excuse to get your own ice cream maker.

Jerk Turkey

Perhaps nothing seems more all American than a beautifully roasted turkey as the centerpiece of the thanksgiving table. But some Caribbean foodies already know the wonderful ability of jerk spice to perk up a classic turkey recipe. Turkey tends to be a drier, more bland meat that its more popular cousin, chicken, particularly when roasted whole for that perfect thanksgiving picture. Soaking the turkey first in generous amounts of jerk spice marinade will help the turkey retain more moisture and add much-needed heat. Check out this amazing recipe for the perfect turkey upgrade.

Jerk Frittata

Our Favorite Unexpected Jerk Spice Combos — Photo: Nicole Hylton Photography 2013

Simple but delicious, a frittata is the perfect quick breakfast/brunch recipe for a small group, because it’s easily adaptable to specific tastes and flavors. We love a pinch of jerk spice in our frittata, which adds heat and pairs nicely with the rich egg mixture. Try this Jerk Fritatta recipe from Chef Irie. Packed with flavor, Chef Irie’s version also includes pumpkin and a hint of smoked turkey.

Vegan Jerk Pulled Jackfruit

Despite all the culinary delights of a vegan lifestyle, sometimes you just have a craving for some jerk meat, and all the fond memories of roadside Caribbean joints that the flavor conjures. This vegan riff on pulled jerk pork hits all our nostalgic notes, by simply swapping the meat with unctuous jackfruit. Stewed properly will some authentic jerk spice, this jerk jackfruit recipe from Rachel Ama will have you coming back for more (and perhaps even tempt your meat-loving foodie friends).

How XXXTentacion’s spirit lives on in new Jon FX-produced track

By

Howard Campbell

-

November 9, 2018

0

Screen Shot 2018-11-08 at 7.52.28 PM — The late rapper XXXTentacion (L) with Producer Jon FX. Photo . IG @jonfx

When The NOTORIOUS Big died at the hands of thugs in March, 1997, his mentor Puffy Combs was determined to keep his music alive. Jamaican producer Jon FX wants to do the same with the late SoFlo rapper XXXTentacion, with one of his last tracks, “Arms Around You.”

Five months after the rapper’s tragic death, XXXTentacion’s “Arms Around You” has entered the Billboard charts at number 14 on its Streaming Songs chart, number 28 on the Hot 100 singles chart and number 18 on Digital Song Sales. Released on October 25, “Arms Around You” also features fellow rappers Lil Pump, Swae Lee and Maluma. Jon FX shares production credits with Skrillex and Mally Mall.

The South Florida-based Jon FX said the song represents everything he envisioned for the troubled XXXTentacion. “My duty to Jahseh is to take him out of the hip hop stigma and into the world’s eyes. Reggae fusion is the only format at this time to achieve this,” he said.

Jon FX had close ties to the troubled artist who was born in South Florida to Jamaican parents. They first met six years ago when XXXTentacion was looking to kick off his career. “I’m Yours,” a song with Sizzla, was one of the first songs they worked on.

Jon FX also contributed to “?,” XXXTentacion’s second album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Album Chart in March. He co-produced and co-wrote the hit song “I Don’t Even Speak Spanish LOL.”

He recalls them going into the recording studio in South Florida two years ago and laying tracks for “Arms Around You.” Eventually, Lil Pump, who attended XXXTentacion’s funeral, Maluma and Swae Lee were brought in.

In June, Broward County Police reported that XXXtentacion, whose real name was Jahsey Onfroy, was shot and killed by one of two gunmen at a Deerfield Beach auto dealership. The 20-year-old entertainer was gunned down while in the driver’s seat of a BMW sports car. Four men have been arrested in connection with his murder.

XXXTentacion had a number of brushes with law enforcement. They included assault and false imprisonment charges from a 2016 incident with his pregnant girlfriend. He pled not guilty to the charges but spent six months in jail.

How to grow your business beyond its “growing pains”

By

Robert Fullerton

-

November 8, 2018

0

In Parts 1 and 2 of our series we dealt with Product, Place and Plan. In this segment, we will examine the next 2 P’s, People and Processes.

People and Processes are the “doing” part of running a business. All businesses need a clear process, prescribing steps for the team to achieve a desired goal. Just like baking a cake, if you get the process wrong, then your end product will be a disaster.

In very small businesses, this process can remain simple. Operations can be directly managed by the owner. The challenge however comes when the business begins to grow and the owners can no longer do everything in an efficient, timely manner. This is a transition point for the business. If the owners fail to recognize the need to hire people and impose a clear structure, they will either limit potential growth or burn out by trying to manage the unmanageable.

Whether your business processes are simple or complex, here are some basic principles to ensure you can deliver the desired result:

Keep Lean:

Processes must be “lean” and efficient. The concept of “lean” was made famous by Toyota, the car manufacturer. A lean process is one that delivers exactly what the consumer wants with minimal waste of time, effort and resources. Lets say you own a bakery. If your processes are not lean, you will find that you are wasting ingredients in a number of ways, spilling them on the floor, making several batches of poor quality mix and so on. The waste of ingredients results in a waste of other resources since you must now incur unnecessary utility costs to bake rejected batches, and to clean up more messes. Ingredients and utilities cost money and your inefficient bakery will struggle to make a profit.

Invest in People:

People must be motivated and competent. If they are poorly trained and lacking in focus, then your business will be compromised, no matter how well structured. People are the most important resource in a business. Make sure that the people who work for you are the best you can afford and that they are well trained, appropriately compensated and properly supervised.

Go Robo:

Machines are more efficient than people at doing routine, structured tasks. Automate processes where possible.

Set Clear Rules:

Impose controls to ensure your processes are clearly defined and followed as prescribed. Let’s say you are a shoemaker. In order to produce a high quality shoe, you must select quality materials and ensure that the cutting, assembling and stitching are done to a high standard. These are all process control points which you must monitor, especially if you have apprentices working in your shoe shop. One of the keys to managing a successful business is to ensure that its people and processes produce quality output. Quality output means satisfied customers and more sales at higher prices. That gives you a big advantage over your competitors and allows you to grow your business. In our next segment, we will look at the final “P” Principles.