Recently I read something that triggered an insight. In my Funeral Home Consulting practice it is clear that businesses don’t just suddenly spin out of control. Except in the rare case of disruptive innovation like an unconventional competitor, calamity does not occur overnight. ”Things” start happening well before the challenges are apparent. Almost all of… [Read More...]
Alan Creedy and The Arrangers Academy Announce Joint Initiative Aimed at Revitalizing Funeral Service
April 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Alan Creedy and The Arrangers Academy announced today that they have launched The 2020 Project, a joint initiative focused on reversing the declines that have negatively impacted the funeral industry for decades. Arrangers Academy CEO, Karl Jennings says, “Profitability in Funeral Service has declined for more than 25 consecutive years. In spite of some valiant… [Read More...]
Is this REALLY a Hill Worth Dying on?
March 25, 2013 by 4 Comments
I think I can make a very strong case that funeral service as a profession makes a vital social contribution to society. For me that makes it a noble profession. Unfortunately, the profession doesn’t act with nobility as often as so many of us would wish. Not long ago I spoke of Alpha Dogs and… [Read More...]
PTSD: The Slow Leak in Funeral Service’ Tire
March 5, 2013 by 11 Comments
As we enter our 3rd month following the Newtown disaster our nation has long since settled back into its routine fighting over symptoms and ignoring causes. I find myself reflecting on a hidden issue. A secret only occasionally mentioned and then quickly dismissed. No doubt those directly involved following this latest trauma are still affected… [Read More...]
Why The Answer Is Not Just Increasing Volume
February 25, 2013 by 7 Comments
I am a CPA. As I have watched the financial metrics of funeral service continue in their long slow decline over the past 30 years my natural response was “make it up in volume.” But then I had the good fortune to get my hands dirty. I actually managed a funeral home and worked along side… [Read More...]
ALPHA DOGS AND THE ROAD TO NOWHERE
January 28, 2013 by 10 Comments
WHY WE CAN’T AFFORD TO FOLLOW YOUR LEAD ANYMORE Alpha Dogs are frequently those “Type A” personalities that exercise undue influence on others, especially organizations. You find them in every group of people. By their nature and sheer force of personality they tend to cause people to follow their lead whether they know where they… [Read More...]
Doing Nothing Costs Too Much
January 14, 2013 by 5 Comments
On my office wall I have framed photos of three men. If I asked you what they have in common I anticipate I would get many different answers but, for me, there is only one answer. Each, in his own way, despite significant personal tragedy and unimaginable public pressure and emotional stress understood the importance… [Read More...]
The Wind Is Changing – The Conversation Project
January 7, 2013 by 5 Comments
For months now I have been telling DeathCare that the wind is changing in our favor. The public attitude toward death and dying is changing at the GLOBAL level. For the present those involved in this are all “grass roots” initiatives springing up independent of each other wherever I look. I have examples in Singapore… [Read More...]
HAMMERS, NAILS, PEWS AND HEARSES
December 10, 2012 by 5 Comments
My discussion of reinvention / transformation has sparked more comment (online and offline) than most any other topic. Clearly it is on every one’s mind. As we continue to explore this topic it is important…maybe critical…that we realize that we have an obligation to ourselves and to the public to be conscious of keeping a… [Read More...]
You May Not Believe What You See
Take a look at the finalists in the first phase of the Design For Death Contest. You may have a non-positive reaction but take some time. These designs come from some of the world’s top designers. Many of them are fresh new insights into where our world is going. Personally, I think more than a… [Read More...]