Last week, I got home from a trip, unpacked immediately, walked into my kitchen, and went to load the dishwasher. This is a task I can (and often do) completely on autopilot. Eyes half open. Zero decision-making required. Or so I thought.
I opened the dishwasher and immediately noticed something was off.
One of the little rows of prongs—the ones that hold bowls—was tilted.
Angled. Not straight up and down like it’s supposed to be.
So, I fixed it. Obviously.
The next time I came back?
Tilted. Again.
I fixed it. Again.
Finally, my husband (the only other person this dish-loading mystery could possibly involve) called me over to the dishwasher like he was about to stage a TED Talk.
He gave me a full-on dishwasher demo. And to his credit... he had a point.
The angled row actually fits our bowls better. More stability. Better water flow. More space. It wasn’t sabotage. It was an improvement.
But until he explained why, I just kept changing it back—purely because “that’s how it’s always been.”
🧠 The Supply Chain Tie-In (Because You Know I Had to)
In operations, this is the classic tension between standardized process and continuous improvement.
There’s comfort in doing things the same way every time.
But sometimes, a process needs to evolve. And if we don’t understand why the change is happening, our first instinct is often to undo it.
Whether it’s a warehouse layout, a new CRM system, or yes - your dishwasher rack setup - improvements only stick when people get the “why.”
🛠 Try This Today (Just 5 Minutes):
You’ve updated a system, improved a routine, or streamlined a process—but is anyone actually following it?
Here’s how to make sure your improvements stick:
👥 Personal:
Made a new household rule or chore system? Take 60 seconds to explain why—not just what.
Tired of repeating yourself? Record a short Loom (link below) or voice memo showing how to do it once.
Updated the vacation planning doc? Share the link with a quick note: “Check this before asking any vacation related questions.”
💼 Business:
Changed a workflow or added a new ticket field? Drop a Loom (link below) explaining how and why in your team channel.
Reorganized a shared drive or SOP folder? Flag what’s new and why it matters.
Created a template or automation? Show the before-and-after impact.
🧠 Remember: most resistance to change isn’t about the change itself—it’s about not understanding the reason behind it.
🆕 Run State Resources
Each week, I’ll share one tool, resource, or small upgrade that’s helping me simplify life and make everyday processes feel a little smoother.
This week’s pick:
🎥 Loom – A super simple video tool that lets you record your screen while talking through a task, idea, or how-to.
✨ Bonus: Loom’s AI can now turn your video into a written step-by-step guide (hello, instant SOP!)
Instead of writing out long instructions or having to explain the same thing 4 times, just hit “record” once - and share it with your partner, your coworkers, or even future you.
Perfect for everything from “here’s how I organize our trip itinerary” to “here’s the right way to process this return.”
Have you improved something? Why did you do it? Let me know!
-Monica
