Rowing with One Oar

About the Book

Budgets keep going down, competition keeps going up, and companies want employees to do more with less.

The big question is whether or not this is possible.

Rowing with One Oar tells the story of a boss who asks an employee to row to a series of islands in a rowboat with only one oar.

When the employee protests, the boss responds, “That’s the latest and greatest oar! It’s the newest technology! Lighter, larger surface area, and three times as fast as the old ones. And it requires only half the effort.”

The boss doesn’t think it matters that the rowboat is designed for two oars—he insists that his employee should be able to get to his destination 50 percent faster with the same effort.

The story reveals insights that revolve around common sense, cost cutting, and process management—and it is sure to be a valuable addition to any successful manager’s library.

About the Author

John Regep has done everything from being a laborer to a senior-level manager at small and large companies. He went on to earn a dual bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan. Later, he earned a master’s degree in computer information systems from University of Detroit/Mercy in Detroit, Michigan, focused on software development methodologies. Regep has worked in small software development shops and for the largest U.S. retailer’s IT department. While not a process-orientated person in his personal life, John has seen the wisdom of defining (and following) a properly laid out process and has seen firsthand the rewards that it brings.