The Art of the 3 Point Plan – Copyright ©2011 James A. Mc Coy Jr. – www.jimmccoy.com - 260.433.3723
A Management Lesson
From Aikido
A
Starting
in the 1980’s I worked as a Computer Programmer and Systems
Analyst. I primarily worked for mail order catalog retailers with a
focus on accounting applications. After Y2K I began to transition
into other fields; first video production and distribution and then
on to Income Taxes.
After
receiving Tax training, I went on to earn an Associate’s Degree in
Accounting and a Bachelor of Arts in International Business. I am
now working towards a Masters degree in International Commerce. I
have completed all necessary training to become an IRS Enrolled
Agent and am working on completing the series of testing to obtain
that designation.
I
have been a candidate for public office, worked for candidates as a
manager and treasurer and advised candidates on Tax and Economic
policy. I have also served on various political committees and have
been the Chairman of the Audit and Budget Committee of a county
political party.
McCoy
Financial LLC is primarily an Income Tax service, providing services
to individuals and small businesses. Services are offered in
most states. The only state specifically excluded is California.
Besides just merely “tax preparation”, clients are encouraged to
engage the firm for tax planning.
The
company also provides economic and management advice, and
bookkeeping and accounting services. The company is currently
located in Fort Wayne. The global nature of business and technology,
however, allows for clients to be anywhere in the world.
Copyright notice and distribution:
The
Art of the 3 Point Plan – Copyright ©2011 James A. Mc Coy Jr.
This
workbook is sold for individual use. It is not intended for any
other use besides personal use by the individual who purchased this
copy. Copying or in any way duplicating, distributing or the
material is a violation of copyright law.
If
you would like to distribute multiple copies of this workbook in an
organization, or use the material for a presentation, please contact
me for an organization distribution license: jamccoyjr@gmail.com
In addition to being an Economist, Accountant and Business Manager, I am a teacher of the Japanese Martial Art of Aikido. Aikido is the Way (Do) of Harmonious (Ai) Energy (Ki). It is not only a form of self defense; it is also a form of conflict resolution and a way of life that seeks harmony and balance.
W
hen
asked “What is Aikido?” the Founder of the art, Morihei Ueshiba,
replied that it is a triangle, a circle, and a square.
Ueshiba also expressed the idea that Aiki is a universal principle. His basic idea is that Aiki is everything and everything is Aiki. In turn, the implication is that everything is a circle, a triangle and a square. I look at everything as being a circle, a triangle or a square. When you bring the circle, triangle and square together, you create a harmonious, functional and efficient system.
My style, or school, of Aikido begins with Kamae (basic stance), Kihon Dosa (basic exercises) and Kihon Waza (basic techniques). We also use three weapons to develop skills; bokken (sword), tanto (knife) and jo (short staff). These are the basic tools that are used to teach Aikido, or the 3 Point Plan to turn new students into “Black Belts”.
In the same way, I hope to use The Art of the 3 Point Plan to turn people into Black Belt Managers.
I will not go into the multiple interpretations of this principle as it relates to Aikido or the universe in general. This is, after all, a plan for improving business management, organizing political campaigns or quickly organizing a committee to complete a task.
Besides the Aiki Principle of the three shapes, there is one other basic tenet that I have long adhered to: There are always three sides to an argument: the Pro, the Con and something that both sides are missing or ignoring: the circle, the triangle and the square. Bringing the three shapes together unites that universe.
It is these two ideas that led me to develop the idea of the Universal Three Point Plan. When I first released the idea of the Universal Three Point Plan, it was presented as a way to simplify and manage Community Economic Development.
When evaluating a problem, such as developing an economy, we must identify the circle, the triangle and the square. If either element is not there, it must be created. For example, we can identify business retention as the circle, existing resources that can attract new business as the triangle and new resources as the square. In a community where the square needs to be created, we need a plan. Understanding that we need a circle a triangle and square in order to create anything, we need a circle, a triangle and square to create the missing square. In other words, we need to start with a three point plan to develop new resources.
The basic three point plan is explained in the idea that economic development consists of retaining business, maximizing existing resources to attract new business, and creating new resources to attract new business.
How do we retain business? Well, let me tell you about the circle, the triangle and the square (the 3 point plan). Identify businesses at risk of failing, identify businesses with plans to leave the area, understand the community and government role in solving the problems that are causing them to leave or fail.
Sometimes businesses are just too poorly managed (a supply problem), or a product is obsolete (a demand problem). The absence of the circle and triangle may indicate that these companies just no longer belong in the economic universe; in which case there isn’t anything that can be done to save them. This is why governments are not seeking to retain or develop carriage makers or subsidizing the Pony Express.