I used to say that "Million Dollar Ideas" were a dime a dozen unless they were implemented. But that was before I began to realize how many people have no imagination, no innovative ideas whatsoever.
Imagination and innovation not only give an existing business the competitive edge it needs to survive, they also spark the vision for developing new products and services that create entirely new market segments.
Two years ago, I drew up a list of some innovative concepts I'd had over the past 25 years but wasn't able to pursue. Here are just five:
1981: network messages/packets for distributed simulations — eventually first proposed over a decade later as an IEEE standard as Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) protocol data units (PDUs)
1983: cellular telephone services — introduced in the mid 1990's
1998: video "on demand" in order to provide individualized television & movie schedules — now offered by Comcast
2001: e-commerce feature to allow potential buyers to check product availability in a local store's inventory before placing an online order for local pickup — now offered by COMPUSA
2002: a web-based application to develop and host customized databases — now offered as "Quickbase" by Intuit
As I've said elsewhere, my broad technical background enables me to quickly pick up the basic principles of an emerging technology and to foresee its importance and applications. Not a bad talent to have on your high-performance, entrepreneurial team, wouldn't you say?
Excerpt from another cover letter:
My education has always been technically oriented; my jobs have always been related to technology, too. But my life's experiences -- on the job and in my community -- have built a solid foundation of exceptional communication and people skills. I have more than 25 years of the kind of experience I believe you want.
As a young Air Force captain (1981), I was already known as the "go to" guy for written communication, and later as the engineer who could actually write clearly and effectively. I usually served as my units' mentor for others who had to deliver concise, accurate technical reports.
Since that time, I produced my first "sales" brochure (1982) for worldwide distribution; edited two magazine columns, numerous newsletters, successful contract proposals, and a major technical handbook; published a local labor union's newsletter; produced two cable television series; and effectively used the Internet for both international research and local publicity efforts. I have packed a wealth of other accomplishments into the intervening years.
During those 25 years, for example, I've represented two important organizations in national forums, speaking directly to top military leaders about complex technical issues. I can work with diverse audiences on a wide range of topics, use traditional as well as "new" media, and creatively integrate written, spoken, and visual elements to deliver compelling messages.
Excerpt from one cover letter:
You already have my resume and cover letter for this position. Here is more information about a few specific requirements:
Spanish language skills: I'm certainly not fluent and definitely a bit rusty, but I've been more than capable of researching information on South American web sites (en Español). Specifically, I was able to locate more than 100 possible distant relatives in Argentina using the Argentinian online telephone directories and postal web sites as well as various new sources. Then I contacted approximately two dozen of them -- much to their surprise -- over the past several years. (Three years of Spanish study in the Sandia Labs "After Hours" program.)
Math Skills: ".. apply concepts of basic algebra.."? I taught college algebra. (UNLV, 1979)
Building relationships with external audiences: I've been actively involved in many community programs since I arrived in Albuquerque in 1988, so I already have a wide range of contacts. I'm comfortable at any socio-economic level, among various ethnic groups, and across the spectrum of religious and political persuasions.
Computer Skills: I don't just use computers; I've built almost every computer on my network. Member of the New Mexico Internet Professionals Association (NMIPA) since 1997. Training in Microsoft Office applications, Windows networking and system administration, Internet publication, desktop publishing, graphics, programming and simulation languages, and statistical analysis software.
Mike Kruchoski
505.480.5000
Our son Paul just received the very welcome news that he has been accepted into the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati.
He will be pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in cello performance, studying under Professor Lee Fiser (who is a close friend of Pamela DeLisse, Paul's cello teacher) or Professor Yehuda Hanani.
Jill, Aron (our other musician son), and I are very proud of Paul's accomplishments and the bright future they promise.
For more than 35 years now, I've led a double life. My military and defense-contracting careers have kept food on the family table and a roof over our heads. But it is my lifelong commitment to voluntary community service that has truly kept me alive.
An "ideal" job would provide extensive opportunities to use my diverse talents and numerous personal contacts for strengthening communities, whether it's on a local, regional, national, or international basis.
After seeing one such position advertised recently, I started reminiscing about what I've done for others. When I ran for the local school Board in 2001, here's how I summarized my community service then:
"I have a long history of voluntary public service, from Vietnamese refugee resettlement (1970's) to suicide prevention (1980's) to writing and editing columns for a national magazine (1990's) to community food programs (2000's). My motivation is the betterment of our society, not personal gain or ego needs."
Since then I've continued to be a staunch supporter of our schools and efforts to strengthen them, actively participating in a variety of groups, forums, and programs. Here's a short list to elaborate on some of my community service involvement (not in a particular order, and certainly not all-inclusive):
NW New Mexico Regional Science & Engineering Fair: If memory serves correctly, 2006 will be my fifth year (in six) that I've judged student science fair projects at the University of New Mexico.
United Way: Last year, I took the initiative to establish the first United Way (UW) campaign at my company's local office. Employees at Mission Research, which had been acquired in 2004, had never had an opportunity to support UW through payroll deductions. I created a publicity flyer that was distributed nationwide, then organized a local kickoff event for the campaign. (Back in 1979, I was a coordinator for the Combined Federal Campaign at a remote military location in Nevada.)
SHARE Colorado: Once a month I work at Grant Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church to distribute food packages to participating families. SHARE is a cooperative food buying program operated by the Catholic Charities of the Denver Archdiocese. If memory serves correct, I've been doing this for six or seven years by now.
ATK Foundation: Recently, I served on a steering group to identify and select local organizations to receive foundation funding, and to encourage additional employee support through the matching gift program.
Albuquerque Youth Symphony (AYS): My sons Paul (cello) and Aron (violin) have had the honor of participating for several years now. Last year, my wife (Jill) and I were elected as co-presidents of the parents association, assuming overall responsibility for fund-raising (nearly $300,000) for the upcoming AYS 50th Anniversary Concert Tour to marvelous Brazil. As part of this, we oversaw the 2005 AYS Luminaria Drive, which built and delivered almost 156,000 (13,000 dozen) luminarias to more than 2400 supporters in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. We also serve as ex officio members of the AYS Program Board.
New Mexico Internet Professionals Association (NMIPA): I have been an active member nearly since its inception ten years ago. NMIPA provides support for educational programs, government affairs and public advocacy, Internet trade fairs, and web assistance to small businesses. NMIPA was a major contributor to the very successful web-based communication and information services during the 2000 Cerro Grande fire in Los Alamos, NM. I've served in various capacities as needed, primarily as the "on-again-off-again" membership chair. In 1998, I spent many days (on short notice) at the New Mexico State Legislature and the Public Utilities Commission to observe and testify on telecommunications deregulation.
New Mexico Mediation Association (NMMA): Somewhere back in the late 1990's, I served for a year or so on the NMMA Board of Directors. At that point, I had done mediation in Metropolitan Court, City of Albuquerque programs ("barking neighbor" complaints, parent-teen conflicts, and land development issues), and private practice (where I helped resolve family conflicts, divorces, and employment disputes). At several times, I helped train new mediators in both city and university programs. Some high points of my brief "career" include the accolades from a Torrance County judge and the Albuquerque City Council for my work. However, the most touching incident was when a mediator told me that, several years earlier, I'd been his inspiration for pursuing mediation as a profession.
University of Utah HELP Line: I "stumbled" into this five-year passion purely by accident while I was an Air Force engineering student at U of Utah. I quickly found I had an intuitive sense of how to handle crisis situations and was extraordinarily cool under pressure, and eventually I served more than two years as its training director. Not only was I acknowledged as one of their best trainers, I also (quite literally) "wrote the book" on training potential staff members, creating a concise training handbook and handy reference for everyone. For a long time, I handled more suicide calls than any other staff member. On one particular night, I "talked down" a despondent, off-duty police dispatcher who had her service revolver in hand, ready to kill herself. To me, it was just another long night "on call", but a week later the clinical director said I'd received an anonymous thank you letter (which I cherish to this day) for my extraordinary calmness. More than a year later, shortly before I left Salt Lake City, she called to thank me once again for helping turn her life around. Recalling that incident still brings tears to my eyes today, twenty years later.
There's more, but that will have to wait for another day.
Mike Kruchoski
My latest resume has the most generalized objective statement of all: "Leadership opportunities to conceive, develop, and promote new products, services, or programs."
My original resume did not have an "objective" statement but the summary section was more explicit about my interests "in an ideal world":
"Eager to pursue opportunities in evolving fields where ground rules are not yet clearly defined but challenges and payoffs are high. Keen interest in addressing complex communication, information, and process challenges through innovative use of Internet applications and technology commercialization. Focused on achieving greater flexibility, agility, and effectiveness in dynamic environments. Prefer to work in business, social, political, or educational arenas."
Although I'm now casting a wider net to discover the many places my talents would be valued, that original summary does speak to the heart of the matter: I love new technologies and how they can make our lives better -- not just more hectic.
Ten years ago, I was just getting acquainted with the capabilities and tremendous potential of the Internet. Some of you who may remember, for example, what gopher, Archie, Veronica, and WAIS were; maybe you even used lynx for browsing the web. Ah, those were the "Wild West" days of the Internet: few ground rules, lots of opportunities, no predetermined outcomes, and lots of "Internet Snake Oil" (as I called it) being peddled daily. The sky truly seemed to be the limit!
The growing convergence of technologies and social awareness will make the Internet a wonderful tool for improving lives if good people with strong visions prevail. I hope someday to be seen as one of those good guys. That's one reason I've maintained my membership in the New Mexico Internet Professionals Association (NMIPA) for all these years.
Anyway, it's been more than 550 years since Gutenberg launched an information explosion in Renaissance Europe; it's been only a little more than a decade since the Information Superhighway came into being. Even 500 years after Gutenberg, people are still looking for new ways to make printed publications relevant -- and to make an honest buck doing it. So, imagine the many twists and turns we're likely to see as people explore the many uses for the Internet. What a wonderful journey we have ahead of us. It's something I'd love to be a part of.
Mike Kruchoski
(Insights from Gallup research:)
According to Gallup research, "The world's best companies recognize that employees flourish when they are placed in roles that play to their talents. To become world-class, companies must first focus on selecting the right employees into each role -- then on helping them develop into excellent performers in those roles."
Gallup's StrengthsFinder(TM) assessment identified my top five strengths ("signature themes") as:
-- Self-Assurance (confidence and certainty)
-- Ideation (intellectual creativity and curiosity)
-- Strategic (long-range viewpoint focusing on "the big picture")
-- Relator (valuing and nurturing strong, productive relationships)
-- Command (taking charge)
You can learn more about what these strengths involve by reading the summary of my assessment results.
(Reconnect with the Krucho(w)ski family around the world:)
When I started using "Movable Type" to manage this site, the previously existing family pages were no longer linked from the home page. I've fixed that now with a permanent link (to the right) so that family information is easier to find now.
I'll try to get some updated info online soon, including some photos of the 2005 reunion of the Anton & Frank Kruchoski families in Chisholm, Minnesota.
In the past several months I've heard from two distant relatives in Australia and Poland. I'll try to include that correspondence, too.