As you browse through lean management pages on the Internet, you may have seen reports on companies having little success with lean, or comments about how misunderstanding lean can lead to bad consequences. From time to time I can sense the level of frustration from those comments, and I contemplate the source of that frustration.

I advocate applying lean principles not only at work, but to improve your quality of life. However, online comments now have me asking questions. Can this frustration happen when using lean at home? Can this frustration lead to something more dangerous—namely, depression, which could require professional help? Can you prevent the frustration, hopefully by using lean approaches?

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