Supply chain experts thought slowdowns were easing up, but that train might’ve left the station. Nearly 60,000 rail workers are preparing to strike on Friday if their unions — unhappy about a lack of raises and time off — don’t reach an agreement with management.

The White House is attempting to broker a deal to avert the shutdown, which would affect an estimated 30% of U.S. freight. It would also cost $2 billion per day, according to the Association of American Railroads, which warns of “retail product shortages, widespread manufacturing shutdowns, job losses and disruptions to … passenger rail customers.” (Amtrak has already canceled some longer trips.)

For business owners who’ve struggled with shipping bottlenecks for two years — and for customers struggling with sticker shock — this could be yet another kick in the caboose.

The Smart Mission: NASA’s project management lessons for your biz.

Dave’s Killer Bread: Sourdough. Sweet company.

Machine manicure: This robot paints your nails for $10.

(Source: Shutterstock)

For a few years there, NASA wasn’t blowing our minds. The space shuttle program ended in 2011, the Mars Curiosity rover had one fiasco after another, and Elon Musk’s SpaceX stole all of the cool factor.

With the James Webb Space Telescope, however, it’s fair to say that NASA is back in the public’s good graces. The images are jaw-dropping and we’re learning all kinds of stuff about the universe — plus, we can learn a lot from the successful rollout itself.

That’s why b. spoke with Edward J. Hoffman, NASA’s former chief knowledge officer, on how to organize a massive project with numerous stakeholders — whether they’re in orbit or in business.

$24 Billion

NASA’s budget for 2022

[Source: The Planetary Society]

Going back to the Apollo program, NASA has been synonymous with incredibly complex space missions. While astronauts like Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin received the glory, no space endeavor would’ve been possible without thousands of people behind the scenes.

Edward J. Hoffman spent 33 years working for NASA, rising to become a senior executive and founder of the NASA Project Leadership Academy. His intriguing new book (co-authored with Matthew Kohut and Laurence Prusak) is The Smart Mission: NASA’s Lessons for Managing Knowledge, People, and Projects, plenty of which can be applied to small businesses.

b.: You write that “successful organizations have a project-based culture.” How can small-business owners adapt their enterprises?

Hoffman: My experience is that small-business owners have a better understanding of project management and team skills than those working in very large institutions. Small-business people need to talk directly with a client throughout [because] they understand the need for delivery within constraints, and normally have an excellent sense of relationship.

b.: What’s a hidden key to effective projects?

Hoffman: There’s a saying, “You go to NASA for the mission, you stay at NASA for the people.” We are brought up to value the power of tools, techniques, and processes. These are all valuable and essential for business success. However, we need to recognize that the human element is the foundation for business success.

There is a sound to successful teams. It is noisy. It involves argument, laughter, conversations, walking and talking … On LinkedIn, my page’s opening statement says, “PEOPLE, PEOPLE, PEOPLE.”

b.: What’s the most critical mistake you see from project managers?

Hoffman: They make the mistake of following requirements without the need for adapting to change. … You observe an adherence to process and structure, but the client is asking for something different.

Also it’s the belief that a new technology will lead to improvement without taking time to … understand what the team and the customer really need.

b.: When organizing a project, where must a small business start?

Hoffman: First, prioritize the mission — for a small business, this could be termed the goal — and gain 110% commitment. At NASA, everything, every project, has a destination. Then communicate the purpose of the mission; I call it the “Why We Are Here” element of the project. And nourish the team.

The Smart Mission is available now.

(Source: Shutterstock)

So what sets one sourdough, rye, or wheat loaf apart from another in the endless bread offerings at the grocery store? The people who bake it!

Dave’s Killer Bread doesn’t just champion organic, non-GMO ingredients. With the Dave’s Killer Bread Foundation, the company also champions second chance employment for formerly incarcerated people, who are five times more likely to be locked out of jobs when they reenter society.

It all goes back to founder Dave Dahl. After serving a 15-year sentence, Dahl found that making bread at his family’s bakery radically changed his life for the better. “We have witnessed firsthand that someone’s past does not define their future, and that sometimes giving someone a chance is all they need to become a Good Seed,” the company states. Job opportunities remain one of the leading solutions to curtailing reincarceration and improving community health. In this way, Dave’s Killer Bread is packing every loaf with hopeful futures.

(Source: Youtube/Clockwork)

Americans spend more than $8 billion annually at nail salons where a manicure can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. But if you don’t mind that your manicurist is a robot, San Francisco-based Clockwork can get the job done cheaply and effectively.

Currently, Target is testing the company’s nail-painting bot, which changes your nail color in less than 10 minutes for less than $10, at several U.S. stores. Sure, it’s not as thorough as going to a human — yet — because the 3D-scanning device won’t actually cut or clean nails, but it will let you choose from dozens of shades in every hue imaginable.

As the company points out, there are no slip-ups, no slowdowns, and no small talk. (And there’s no one to tip!)

(Source: Twitter)

“Share knowledge. Have enthusiasm. Rely on other people when necessary.”

— Edward J. Hoffman

Written by Brian Hill, Carolyn Neuhausen, and Jane Meggitt.