Announcing a New Book, “Practicing Lean”

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Launch anouncement: It's been 20 years now since I graduated from college and started working with the Lean methodology. The first ten years of my career were focused on manufacturing. Then I had the happy detour into healthcare ten years ago this month when I joined Johnson & Johnson and their Lean consulting group, ValuMetrix Services.

With those two big round numbers… 20 years of Lean, and ten years in healthcare, I've been reflecting on that time and what it has meant. Reflection is a good habit for a Lean thinker, whether you call it “hansei” or not (I generally would not use the Japanese word there).

My chapters reflect back on my early days and early understanding of Lean. I made some types of mistakes early on that I might criticize others for today (sometimes on this blog). That's maybe not always a positive thing to do.

I've decided to launch a collaborative eBook titled:

Practicing Lean: Learning How to Learn How to Get Better… Better.


Update: You can now buy this as a Kindle book or paperback via Amazon. Visit www.PracticingLean.com to learn more. It's now an Amazon exclusive.

Listen to Mark read this post (subscribe to the podcast):



As I say on the web page for the book:

If we keep practicing, we might get good at it eventually. We all have a starting point in our personal “Lean journeys.” Looking back at our first year of work in Lean or continuous improvement methodologies, we probably weren't very good at it. What are our reflections and lessons learned? What can we share with those who are just starting today? This book will be a compilation of those stories.

For this project, I'm using the LeanPub.com platform (listen to my podcasts with the founders here and here).

Some things that are different about this project, compared to Lean Hospitals:

Collaborative:

I've written two chapters to share my reflections and to maybe set the tone for the book. But I'm inviting others to contribute an essay or chapter with their own personal stories and reflections. If you'd like to write something, click here. Authors will be listed as contributors on the book's page and can include a short bio in the book.

Charity: 

Proceeds from the book will be donated to a non-profit organization that I'm a board member of, the Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation. I'll provide an accounting of sales, proceeds, and donations as transparently as possible. So far, I have 22 readers. Some of them are potential contributors who were given free copies through my early “soft launch.” Actual buyers who paid have led to $24.91 in currently unpaid royalties. Unlike traditional publishing, a vast majority of the proceeds go to the author and, therefore, the charity, not the publisher (or retailer).

Continuously Published:

Unlike traditional publishing, I can edit or add to the book at any time, pushing a new updated edition to those who have already purchased the book. I'll generally do this as a monthly batch to avoid too many update emails going out to owners of the book.

Choose Your Price:

I'm using the LeanPub feature that allows buyers to choose their price within a range. There's a recommended price and minimum price. That price is low to provide an incentive to early buyers. A buyer can voluntarily pay more if they choose (or you can donate to the Batz Foundation directly). Again, once you buy the book, you get all future updates for free. As content is added, the recommended price will go up over time.

Flexible: 

If you buy the book, you can download it as a PDF to read or print, in Kindle format that you can email to one of your devices or apps, or the more general EPUB format. Update: It's now Kindle only, as an Amazon exclusive.

I hope this is a worthy experiment. We'll see how it goes. There is some risk that those who have talked to me about contributing chapters don't follow through. That's one reason the starting price is low.

To reduce your purchasing risk, there are a few options as a reader and buyer.

For one, LeanPub has a no-questions-asked 30-day return / refund policy.

Secondly, you can read the first chapter of the book online or as a downloaded PDF (links no longer work).

Or, you can just buy it. I'd love to hear your feedback, thoughts, and reactions.

As of August 30, the book has 28 buyers and unpaid royalties of just over $50. When those royalties are paid by Leanpub, I will donate the funds to the Batz Foundation. Click below for a larger view.

Screen Shot 2015-08-30 at 7.01.16 PM


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90 Comments
  1. Darcy Read via LinkedIn says

    I have the 2nd edition of “Lean Hospitals” and found it to be an excellent ‘transliteration’ of Lean/TPS principles into the healthcare context. Mark Graban has written a concise guide with enough clarification to allow readers to grasp each presented topic. I look forward to edition 3 with his thoughts on strategy deployment – which is the golden thread that runs through an organization and aligns it efforts. show less

  2. […] I mentioned on Monday, I’m working on a 3rd revised edition of my book Lean […]

  3. Karen Skinner says

    Love the title for the new eBook! And very much looking forward to reading it when it’s ready.

    1. Mark Graban says

      Thanks!

      The eBook is “ready” and on sale now… even as a work in progress. That’s the nature of this “Lean publishing” platform.

  4. Mark Graban says

    I’ve received a royalty payment for $57 that I will be passing along to the Batz Foundation:

    The book now has 63 readers.

    Thanks to all those who have bought and read it so far!

  5. Mark Graban says

    And my donation:

  6. Mark Graban says

    More royalties and another donation:

    Thanks to everyone who has purchased the book and contributed a chapter!

  7. […] few months back, I announced a new collaborative eBook project called Practicing […]

  8. Mark Graban says

    More royalties and another donation:

    and

    Royalties will be bigger next month as sales have increased!

  9. Mark Graban says

    Another $85 in royalties, so I’ve sent that and rounded up to $100 for the donation to the Batz Foundation.

    See:

    and

  10. Mark Graban says

    More royalties:

    And another donation:

  11. Mark Graban says

    That’s $425 in total proceeds to the foundation so far.

  12. Mark Graban says

    Another $100 donated… $525 so far. Thanks to all who have bought the book!

  13. […] I’m documenting in the comments here, the collaborative eBook Practicing Lean has now generated more than $500 of donations to the […]

  14. Mark Graban says

    Another $100 for March royalties, rounded up. $625 raised to date.

    Thanks to everyone who has read the book!

  15. Mark Graban says

    This month’s royalties were about $68, so I rounded up and made a $75 donation to the foundation. Their system has some problems where it didn’t generate a receipt for me yet.

    That’s $700 from this project so far. Thanks for reading!

  16. […] I’m documenting in the comments here, the collaborative eBook Practicing Lean has now generated about $700 of donations to the Louise […]

  17. Mark Graban says

    Another $20+ in royalties, so rounding up to another $25 donation. $725 to date.

  18. Mark Graban says

    The past two donations:

  19. Mark Graban says

    Another $25 to the foundation based on another month’s royalties.

  20. Mark Graban says

    $35 in new royalties that I’ll round up to a $50 donation.

  21. Mark Graban says

    Royalties were low from Leanpub, but a few Kindle sales now… rounding up to another $50 donation.

  22. Mark Graban says

    Donated another $20 between LeanPub and Amazon royalties…

    That’s $995 so far. I should have rounded up to $25.

  23. Mark Graban says

    Another $50 donated to the foundation. That’s now over $1000!

  24. Mark Graban says

    Here is the 2016 annual letter from the Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation:

    http://online.fliphtml5.com/dyhd/syfk/#p=16

  25. Mark Graban says

    $13 more from LeanPub and $30 from Amazon Kindle sales… rounded up to $50 donation.

  26. Mark Graban says

    Rounding up to another up to another $20 donation to the foundation.

    Leanpub sent you $15.57 USD

    Just thought you’d like to know Leanpub sent you $15.57 USD.

    and

    Your donation of* $20 *helps to bring community awareness to patient safety issues, distribute “The Batz Guide for Bedside Advocacy”, and to educate patients, their caregivers and care teams about the importance of working together to create a safe environment. Thank you for being a part of our community in patient safety.

  27. Mark Graban says

    I donated another $20, rounding up from Amazon Kindle sales revenue.

  28. Mark Graban says

    Donated another $100 for LeanPub ($35) and Amazon ($55) royalties, rounding up.

    Thanks, everyone!

  29. Mark Graban says

    More royalties… rounding up to $150. Leanpub was about $100 and Amazon was about $35.

    Thanks to the authors and the readers!

  30. Mark Graban says

    For the end of April, Amazon paid out about $259.78 in February book royalties (converting from various currencies).

    LeanPub royalties look like they will are $40.68.

    So, that’s $300.45 to be donated to the Louise Batz Foundation… I’ll round up to $315, which brings the total raised to date to be $1700 for a very good cause.

    Thanks to everybody who has purchased the book!

  31. […] our question and answer session on the topic of lean healthcare with Mark Graban, author of Lean Hospitals: Q9: You wrote in Lean Hospitals that it takes courage to point out that something is a waste. How […]

  32. Mark Graban says

    Another $150 donated… the royalties from LeanPub:

    From Amazon:

    Donation:

  33. Mark Graban says

    Between LeanPub and Amazon, I’m going to round this up to a $300 donation:

  34. Mark Graban says

    $62.54 in Amazon royalties. None this month from LeanPub.

    Rounding up to a $70 donation. $2220 so far.

    With next month’s expected LeanPub payout, we’ll be over $2500 in proceeds to the foundation.

  35. Mark Graban says

    This month’s royalties are in…

    $203.97 from LeanPub:

    And about $27 from early audio book sales through LeanBlog.org led to a total of $230 in my PayPal account:

    And Amazon sales totaled about $143.

    I rounded up to a $400 donation:

    Bringing the total proceeds to $2620!

    Thanks again to everybody!

  36. Mark Graban says

    September proceeds from Amazon and Leanpub total $150.36.

    I’ll round up to $180 to bring the total to $2800 in donations.

  37. Mark Graban says

    Amazon royalties for the month are $97.21
    Leanpub paid $213.23

    Total was $310.44, I’ll round up to $325 for the donation.

    The total is now $3125.

  38. Mark Graban says

    This month, Leanpub paid $56.90 and Amazon paid $99.36. Total of $156.26, I’ll round up to $175, bringing the total proceeds to $3330 for the Batz Foundation.

    1. Mark Graban says

      Only $4.23 from LeanPub and $50.06 from Amazon. I’ll round up to $70 so the total so far is now $3400 to the Batz Foundation.

  39. Mark Graban says

    $28.30 in Leanpub royalties, plus $108.76 from Amazon = $137.06, which I’ll round up to $150.

    Total is now $3550 for the Batz Foundation.

  40. Mark Graban says

    Roughly $60 total (rounding up) from Leanpub and Amazon — the total is now $3610.

  41. Mark Graban says

    March payments are $56.97 from Leanpub and $19.74 from Amazon. I’ll round up to $90… total donation is now $3700 to the Batz Foundation.

  42. Mark Graban says

    Another month’s royalties = $21.97 from LeanPub and $24.98 from Amazon… rounding up to a $50 donation.

    Total donation is now $3750. Thanks to all of the buyers and readers!

  43. Mark Graban says

    Royalties = again $21.97 from LeanPub and $47.39 from Amazon, a total of $69.36. I’ll round up to $100, for a total donation of $3850 so far.

  44. Mark Graban says

    This month’s royalties = $32.76 from Amazon + $13.36 from Leanpub = $46.12, rounding up to $50, makes $3900 to date.

  45. Mark Graban says

    Royalties = $43.31 from LeanPub and $23.46 from Amazon = $66.77. I’ll round up to $100, making a total of $4000.

  46. Mark Graban says

    Another $20 in royalties… a total of $4020 now.

  47. Mark Graban says

    Another $50 donation from rounded up royalties — $4070 to date.

  48. Mark Graban says

    Another $30 donation rounded up… $4100 so far.

  49. Mark Graban says

    Another $20 in royalties (rounded up) from Leanpub and Amazon — $4120 in donations so far.

  50. Mark Graban says

    Another $50 dollars from Leanpub and Amazon — the total is now $4170.

  51. Mark Graban says

    Another $50… total is now $4220.

  52. Mark Graban says

    Another $80 between Amazon and Leanpub — $4300 is the total now.

  53. Mark Graban says

    $50 more… $4350 total to date.

  54. Mark Graban says

    $50 donated… $4400 so far.

  55. Mark Graban says

    $30 donation… $4430 total to date.

  56. Mark Graban says

    Another $25… $4455 total so far.

  57. Mark Graban says

    Rounding up to another $45 for the month, bringing to the total to $4500 even.

  58. Mark Graban says

    Rounding up sales to another $50… $4550 in total donations to date. Thanks, everyone!

  59. Mark Graban says

    $100 in new royalties — $4650 so far to date.

  60. Mark Graban says

    Donated another $100 – $4750 raised to date

  61. Mark Graban says

    Donated $150 between Amazon book sales and the new Audible book sales ($114 in first month royalties) — $4900 to date.

  62. Mark Graban says

    Rounding up to another $100 in Audible and Amazon sales bring us to $5000 to date!

  63. Mark Graban says

    $42 from Audible, rounding up to a $50 donation. $5500 to date!

  64. Mark Graban says

    $50 more from Audible and Amazon. $5550 total now.

  65. Mark Graban says

    Another $25 donated, between Audible and Amazon proceeds. $5575 total now.

  66. Mark Graban says

    Rounding up to $50 from Audible and Amazon, total donations of $5625 to date.

  67. Mark Graban says

    Another $50… $5675 donated total to date.

  68. Mark Graban says

    Another $25 from Audible, so that’s $5700 donated to date.

  69. Mark Graban says

    $40 from Audible, rounded up to $50 for a total of $5750 to date.

  70. Mark Graban says

    Another $50 from Audible and Amazon, rounded up from actual. $5800 in donations to date.

  71. Mark Graban says

    $18 from Amazon, rounded up to $20, bringing the total donations to $5820.

  72. Mark Graban says

    $25 from Audible and $25 from Amazon (rounded up) — $50 more donated, for a total of $5870.

  73. Mark Graban says

    Another $50 (rounded up) from Audible and Amazon — total donations of $5875 to date.

  74. Mark Graban says

    $40 this month, rounding up… total of $5915 so far.

  75. Mark Graban says

    $40 again… $5955 is the total to date.

  76. Mark Graban says

    $45 in proceeds — $6000 so far!!!

  77. Mark Graban says

    Another $50 donated – $6050 total to date.

  78. Mark Graban says

    $30 via Amazon sales… $6080 donated to date.

  79. Mark Graban says

    Another $50 via Audible and Amazon (rounded up). $6130 in total contributions to date.

  80. Mark Graban says

    $25 donated — $6155 total to date.

  81. Mark Graban says

    Rounded up to $75 in royalties from Amazon… $6230 donated so far total.

  82. Mark Graban says

    $75 more in royalties. $6305 to date.

  83. Mark Graban says

    Another $20… $6325 so far total.

  84. Mark Graban says

    $20 again – $6345 donated to date

  85. Mark Graban says

    $20 more from Amazon sales – $6365 to date. Thanks everyone!

  86. Mark Graban says

    $20 again from Amazon — $6385 to date. Happy New Year!

  87. Mark Graban says

    $40 in additional Amazon royalties donated. $6425 total so far.

  88. Mark Graban says

    Another $20 in royalties for Amazon and Audible — $6445 to date.

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