Wow, I've not heard Eli Goldratt (z'l) mentioned in such a long time. In my very first job ('80s), the company owner handed me a copy of The Goal and said it was the most essential book I would need. I know now after many years dealing with manufacturing, that he was correct!
Anyway, I'm very curious about that mentor-at-a-distance? Can you share more?
I have been a student of TOC since the early 90s. I used to attend the various conferences that groups like APICS put on in the early years. I just got back a few weeks ago from the TOCICO conference in Orlando.
Eli really dug into the subjects that interested him. He always came up with interesting insights. At the conferences, from time to time, I'd join Eli with a few others for dinner or lunch. We didn't go out for beers, though, and I wasn't really in his inner circle.
He has published many good books, and usually, they are Socratic novels. They are fun to read, and I get something new out of them every time I read them.
His last book, "The Choice," was written with his daughter, Efrat Goldratt-Ashlag. In that book, Eli really lays out his general approach. I recommend it.
I think he might have gotten that from a better-known aphorism: "Yesterday's solutions are today's problems."
Thanks for your comment. It was fun and inspired other fun comments.