Author: James Riley

Defining Our Purpose: The Journey to Discovering Our “Why”

Written on August 29, 2024. Posted in Uncategorized.

As our organization grew, I realized that while I had a clear vision in my mind of why JNR Networks existed, I wasn’t effectively communicating that vision to our team and clients. When we embarked on the journey to define our traditional business “Mission, Vision, and Values,” we encountered challenges. Some of these challenges stemmed from a lack of clarity, while others arose from our struggle to fit our ideas into the conventional structure. We wanted something that felt right, had the impact we desired, and truly embodied our essence.

Human Networks

Written on July 18, 2024. Posted in Uncategorized.

At the heart of our design philosophy at JNR Networks is the concept of a Human Network. This idea influences every aspect of our work. While this concept might seem a bit complex at first, let’s break it down.

Engineering Vacuums

Written on July 5, 2024. Posted in Uncategorized.

When I first started my career, I encountered a common issue: the organizations I worked for seemed content to keep me in the same position indefinitely. Seeking career growth, I approached my managers for guidance on building a career path but was met with blank stares. Unsatisfied with this stagnation, I began identifying “vacuums”—areas where there was a need but a lack of skills to fill that need.

Delegation vs Abdication

Written on June 20, 2024. Posted in Uncategorized.

As our IT team expanded, many seasoned business leaders and friends advised me on the importance of effective delegation. They emphasized the need to empower team members to take ownership of tasks and even experience failure as part of their growth. Determined to delegate properly, I discovered that while failing to delegate can harm a team, there’s something equally, if not more, damaging: abdication.

Sales, Lies and Manipulation

Written on June 6, 2024. Posted in Uncategorized.

When I’m in the process of making a purchase, I often take a step back to observe the experience from a broader perspective. I enjoy analyzing the interactions between the parties involved and their overall approach to the exchange. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed that many sales processes involve lies and manipulation just to close the deal. This often leaves me questioning whether ethical sales are even possible. However, I also recall positive sales experiences where both parties genuinely looked out for each other, aiming for a mutually beneficial outcome.

Organizing Email and Taming the Volume

Written on May 23, 2024. Posted in Uncategorized.

In our previous post, we discussed how to streamline your email workflow and minimize the time spent managing your inbox. Following that, many of you requested more tips on handling emails and reducing inbox clutter. This post focuses on effective strategies and approaches we’ve found beneficial.

Email and Time Management

Written on May 9, 2024. Posted in Uncategorized.

Email is a powerful tool for communication, offering efficiency without the intrusiveness of phone calls or instant messages. However, managing the sheer volume of legitimate emails, spam, and irrelevant threads can be overwhelming. Applying time management principles to email can significantly enhance productivity, especially in the IT sector where we often handle a high volume of information.

Shaking up the Idea of Balance

Written on April 25, 2024. Posted in Uncategorized.

Balancing Act

In today’s fast-paced world, there’s a lot of talk about finding balance in life. For myself, it can feel like there’s immense pressure to maintain perfect balance every moment of every day, and if I don’t, it often feels like I’m failing. This perceived failure can lead to even more imbalance as we scramble to fix things, much like the chaotic factory line scene in the classic “I Love Lucy” episode.