It is with deep sadness that I share the news of Bob Rush‘s passing. Here is his obituary.
Bob was a friend. He was quite simply, a good dude. I always enjoyed our conversations–whether in person or virtually. Sadly, the last time we were together in person was at the celebration of life for our mutual friend Chris Burnham. Now, we find ourselves reflecting on Bob's life, his legacy, and the many lives he impacted.
Bob dedicated his life to improvement–of systems, of people, and of himself. He brought more than 35 years of experience to his work in manufacturing, including time at Tesla, Hewlett-Packard, and many others. But what always stood out wasn't the résumé. It was the man behind it.
He was kind, humble, curious, and generous–opinionated but softspoken. Bob didn't pretend to have all the answers. He invited you into reflection, into experimentation, and into a deeper understanding of what Lean truly means.
“The biggest Lean project you'll ever work on is yourself.”
That quote–shared in his appearance on My Favorite Mistake–captures the essence of how Bob approached his life and work. He shared a story in that episode about discovering Lean by accident, working with Shingijutsu consultants at Boeing. At first, he approached Lean as a set of tools. It took years–and the patience of a wise sensei–before Bob experienced a turning point: realizing that Lean is a system, not a toolbox.
“The biggest Lean project you will ever work on is yourself. How do I make myself better? How do I make myself more customer-centric?”
In that same episode, Bob shared how he once gave a reward for “the biggest mistake” in a factory–not to glorify failure, but to encourage openness and honesty. “If you can laugh about a mistake,” he said, “you can talk about it. And if you can talk about it, you can learn from it.”
From Practicing Lean: “Respect is earned by being involved”
When I invited Bob to contribute to the Practicing Lean book, he didn't hesitate. His chapter is thoughtful, reflective, and grounded in real-world experience. One of my favorite passages reads:
“Respect is earned by being involved with people and helping them achieve better results than they could have gotten on their own. Respect is listening with your ears and mind, not with your mouth. It means being willing to stop and talk to anyone at any time about any issue that bothers them–and to then do something about it.”
Scroll down to read a free PDF of his chapter.
That quote echoes so many core themes of Lean and leadership: humility, service, and psychological safety. Bob didn't just talk about those things–he lived them. He modeled them. And he helped others do the same.
Rest in Peace, my friend.
Listen to Bob's story on My Favorite Mistake
“Just because you have respect for people and a culture that accepts mistakes doesn't mean you have to accept bad performance. You just have to understand the difference.” – Bob Rush
Read Bob's chapter in Practicing Lean
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Let’s build a culture of continuous improvement and psychological safety—together. If you're a leader aiming for lasting change (not just more projects), I help organizations:
- Engage people at all levels in sustainable improvement
- Shift from fear of mistakes to learning from them
- Apply Lean thinking in practical, people-centered ways
Interested in coaching or a keynote talk? Let’s talk.
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