According to Wikipedia, Kaizen is a Japanese word that means “change for the better” or “improvement”. The English translation of the word is “continuous improvement.”

Last week I participated in what is termed as a “Kaizen Event” or, more appropriately, a “continuous improvement event” where my team and I looked at a business process to identify and eliminate waste.

We utilized several six sigma tools (e.g.- activity of the operator, activity of the process, process map, etc.) in order to identify the waste and how best to eliminate that waste.

After I completed the weeklong Kaizen event at work, I wondered what it might be like to do a personal Kaizen event.

Granted, I don’t think you need to employ the same six sigma tools I used at work. However, a process map of your personal life might show you where you need to eliminate waste and seek for improvement. Here are some of the categories I looked at:

Health, Wellness and Fitness

This is about the time of year when goals and New Year’s resolutions tend to be forgotten. We soon forget about all of the junk we ate at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and perhaps become complacent with the extra pounds collected along the way. Count me in the crowd needing to drop a few extra pounds.

Here is a list of some excellent programs to help you lose weight and get into shape:

–Body for Life: I’ve done Body for Life and found that I was extremely successful when I followed both the eating and exercise plans. The program advocates six days of workouts and a high protein, low carbohydrate diet. Oh, and on the seventh day you can eat whatever you want and take the day off from working out! Now this is a Mormon-friendly program!

–Weight Watchers: I know several people who have achieved tremendous weight loss through Weight Watchers. The program allows you to eat real food, but sets limits (through a point system) and the accountability to someone else, which ultimately is what many people want and need to lose weight.

What other ideas/programs have you tried that have worked for you? Do you workout on a regular basis? Does it help if your ward/stake has a sports program, or offer aerobics during the day?

Spiritual/Religious

My wife and I are good about starting a regimen of prayer and scripture study together, but not always so good at maintaining.

–Scriptures on your iPod: Yes, Kaimi, there is one podcast you might actually enjoy! You can choose from any one of your favorite Book of Mormon prophets! You can even download the audio from General Conference, the Ensign and other church materials.

I have the Book of Mormon downloaded on my iPod, I just need to skip the U2 and go straight to “I Nephi”.

I’m curious to know what some of you have done to maintain a regular practice of scripture study and prayer with your spouse and children. Moreover, for personal scripture study, do you find the iPod helpful, or do you prefer to read directly from the scriptures?

Professional and Personal Development

Having a degree from a university is great. But does education have to stop there? No, it doesn’t!

One benefit my current employer provides for me is ongoing training in my field. I was able to take some project management and six sigma training classes last year. All very enjoyable and helped me to advance in my career.

My wife recently attended a series of parenting classes designed to help parents teach and raise their children using love and logic. By sharing what she learned in the class, my wife has helped me to be a better parent as we both employ the skills she learned in her class. A parenting class is another way to work on personal improvement.

Most community colleges offer non-credit courses for continuing adult education. You can take classes on photography, fitness, home-based businesses and so much more. A search of the internet will help you find what you are looking for from your local community college.

I’d like to know what you have done as it relates to ongoing personal and professional development? Husbands, do you give your wives time to attend classes at night, or perhaps the opportunity to attend Women’s Conference at BYU, or other locally available programs and conferences?

Ongoing Improvement

Six sigma utilizes a methodolgy with five-steps to help improve processes: define, measure, analyze, implement and control (DMAIC). The last step, control, is probably the most difficult for many of us…especially after the motivation for change runs out.

Perhaps the ideas you have can help someone else to achieve the goals they have set for 2007. If nothing else, this post can serve as a reminder of the goals we excitedly made in January.