2014 - The "Perfect" WCQI Conference

My impressions of WCQI 2014: I was honored to be part of this experience, which truly allowed me to reach the pinnacle and encounter perfection.  My time at WCQI 2014 validated much of my personal and professional aspirations, and has given me the impetus to move forward and onward toward my own personal pinnacle.


Let me elaborate if I may.  Those of us who have adopted Quality as a vocation and a calling, believe that we strive for perfection.

A popular movie, Friday Night Lights, profiled a coach who exhorted his team to be perfect.  In one of the climactic scenes of the movie, the coach revealed his meaning, which I will paraphrase below (to neutralize the overt sports references).

 "Being perfect is  about you and your relationship with yourself, your family and your friends. Being perfect is about being able to look your friends in the eye and know that you didn't let them down because you told them the truth. And that truth is you did everything you could. There wasn't one more thing you could've done. Can you live in that moment as best you can, with clear eyes, and love in your heart, with joy in your heart? If you can do that - you're perfect!" 

This sentiment describing perfection is not about defects or controls, but about personal passion and conviction.  The joy of perfection was validated by multiple keynote speakers, who shared their enthusiastic testimonials of accomplishment and encouraged us to do likewise.

For me the 2014 WCQI conference was nothing short of Perfect because I embraced the opportunity as if it were my last.  For a number of the programs and events, I was among the First In and Last Out because the opportunities for such inspiring gatherings are rare and precious, and should be embraced and savored.

Perfection was frequently on display at WCQI, as demonstrated by these and other examples:

- During the recognition ceremonies for ASQ Fellows and ASQ Awards, family members of award recipients who passed away were extended an opportunity to address the audience.  These included some of the most sincere, heartfelt, and compelling testimonials revealing how Quality is so highly regarded and admired in our society.  Through this gesture, ASQ Leadership demonstrated the highest levels of class and decency.

- During the proceedings, I had the opportunity to have my opinions and perspectives sincerely elicited and respectfully applied towards the future development and innovation of programs and initiatives that will influence our profession in the years and decades ahead.  Those seeking my counsel were themselves highly experienced and influential leaders within the Quality profession, so it was a tremendous honor to have their respect accorded to me so that I might share my perspectives on:

• Extending and enhancing involvement and engagement of student participants at future World Conferences (ASQ Board Initiative)
• Availability and distribution of intellectual content across all Quality Divisions for knowledge transfer and synergistic collaboration (ASQ Board Initiative)
• Development and Peer Review of a distinct Social Responsibility Body of Knowledge patterned after the ASQ Quality Body of Knowledge (SRO Initiative)
• Innovation of international engagement and collaboration opportunities for global Quality practitioners (IAQ Initiative)

- It was an honor and tribute to the dedicated volunteers and ASQ staffers to support their efforts and assist where and when able.  As part of this engagement, I had multiple opportunities to share their "burdens and glories". Waking up pre-sunrise to promote involvement and engagement at a division member breakfast, making new volunteer and publication commitments, taking on additional sessions to support as a moderator, and assisting others where needed all brought fulfillment, but the most delightful honor was to participate in the ceremonial flag demonstration carrying my national emblem, the Canadian Maple Leaf.