LONG Tom Peters’ X25* EXCELLENCE. ALWAYS. 25 th Annual Inc. 500 Conference World’s Best City/20 January 2007 *In Search of Excellence 1982-2007.

LONG Tom Peters’ X25* EXCELLENCE. ALWAYS. 25 th Annual Inc. 500 Conference World’s Best City/20 January 2007 *In Search of Excellence 1982-2007

FLOWERPOWERFLOWERPOWERFLOWERPOWERFLOWERPOWER

7X. 730A- 800P. F12A. * 7X. 730A- 800P. F12A. * * ’93-’03/10 yr annual return: CB: 29%; WM: 17%; HD: 16%. Mkt Cap: 48% p.a.

“Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful and appreciating heart.” “Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful and appreciating heart.” —Henry Clay

Jim Jeffords oversight! The … Jim Jeffords oversight!

tompeters.com Slides* at … tompeters.com *also “long”

EXCELLENCE. ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW.

EXCELLENCE. ALL. YOU. NEED. TO. KNOW. ANYWHERE. ANY MARKET. ANY TIME.

Jim’s Group

Jim’s Mowing Canada Jim’s Mowing UK Jim’s Antennas Jim’s Bookkeeping Jim’s Building Maintenance Jim’s Carpet Cleaning Jim’s Car Cleaning Jim’s Computer Services Jim’s Dog Wash Jim’s Driving School Jim’s Fencing Jim’s Floors Jim’s Painting Jim’s Paving Jim’s Pergolas Jim’s Pool Care Jim’s Pressure Cleaning Jim’s Roofing Jim’s Security Doors Jim’s Trees Jim’s Window Cleaning Jim’s Windscreens Note: Download, free, Jim’s book: What Will They Franchise Next? The Story of Jim’s Group

Small Giants: Companies That Choose To Be Great Instead Of Big Small Giants: Companies That Choose To Be Great Instead Of Big —by Bo Burlingham

EXCELLENCE. THE MANDATE.

Buy a very large one and just wait.” “I am often asked by would-be entrepreneurs seeking escape from life within huge corporate structures, ‘How do I build a small firm for myself?’ The answer seems obvious: Buy a very large one and just wait.” —Paul Ormerod, Why Most Things Fail: Evolution, Extinction and Economics

“ It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” “ It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” —Charles Darwin

Netscape! Where would you rather have worked for those 5 years TP#1*: Netscape! *Where would you rather have worked for those 5 years, Netscape or IBM-HP-Microsoft-Oracle? (Where, 25 years from now, would you rather to be able to tell someone—e.g., grandchild—that you worked?)

EXCELLENCE. STARTERS. BASICS. K.I.S.S.

Raging Success = P-SQUARED. C. E-CUBED.

People. Product. Clients. Execution. Enthusiasm. Excellence.

The older I get the less boring the “basics” become!

People. Product. Clients. Execution. Enthusiasm. Excellence. Resilience. Relentless. Senility.

EXCELLENCE. THE WORD.

Purity Transcendence Virtue Elegance Majesty Synonyms Purity Transcendence Virtue Elegance Majesty Antonyms Mediocrity

EXCELLENCE. GAMECHANGER.

Excellence1982: The Bedrock “Eight Basics” 1. A Bias for Action 2. Close to the Customer 3. Autonomy and Entrepreneurship 4. Productivity Through People 5. Hands On, Value-Driven 6. Stick to the Knitting 7. Simple Form, Lean Staff 8. Simultaneous Loose-Tight Properties” Properties”

$85,000 $140,050 ExIn*: 1982-2002/Forbes.com DJIA : $10,000 yields $85,000 EI : $10,000 yields $140,050 *Forbes/ Excellence Index /Basket of 32 publicly traded stocks

EXCELLENCE. ASPIRATION.

“Why in the world did you go to Siberia?”

An emotional, vital, innovative, joyful, creative, entrepreneurial endeavor that elicits maximum concerted human potential in the wholehearted service of others Enterprise* ** (*at its best): An emotional, vital, innovative, joyful, creative, entrepreneurial endeavor that elicits maximum concerted human potential in the wholehearted service of others. *** **Excellence. Always. ***Employees, Customers, Suppliers, Communities, Owners, Temporary partners

The Ultimate Creative Endeavor. Business: The Ultimate Creative Endeavor.

The Ultimate Personal Development- Growth Experience. Business: The Ultimate Personal Development- Growth Experience.

The Ultimate Transcendent Service Opportunity. Business: The Ultimate Transcendent Service Opportunity.

To me business isn’t about wearing suits or pleasing stockholders. It’s about being true to yourself, your ideas and focusing on the essentials.” “To me business isn’t about wearing suits or pleasing stockholders. It’s about being true to yourself, your ideas and focusing on the essentials.” —Richard Branson

EXCELLENCE. DEFINED.

EXCELLENCE. DEFINED. AGENDA. SETTER.

SET THE AGENDA Great Companies … SET THE AGENDA.* (PERIOD.) * “disturb the sleep of …

US Steel … Ford … Toyota … Sears … GM … ITT … The Gap … Limited … Wal*Mart … Tesco … P&G … 3M … Intel … IBM … Apple … Nokia … Cisco … Dell … MCI … Sun … Microsoft … Google … Enron … Schwab … GE … Laker … Southwest … People Express … Ogilvy … Virgin … eBay … Amazon … Sony … Amgen … BMW … CNN … Nike AGENDA SETTERS: “Set the Table”/ Pioneers/ Questors/ Adventurers US Steel … Ford … Toyota … Sears … GM … ITT … The Gap … Limited … Wal*Mart … Tesco … P&G … 3M … Intel … IBM … Apple … Nokia … Cisco … Dell … MCI … Sun … Microsoft … Google … Enron … Schwab … GE … Laker … Southwest … People Express … Ogilvy … Virgin … eBay … Amazon … Sony … Amgen … BMW … CNN … Nike

The ultimate aim of a business organization, an artist, an athlete or a stockbroker may be to explode in a dramatic frenzy of value creation during a short space of time, rather than to live forever.” Built to Last vs Built for Impact “But what if [former head of strategic planning at Royal Dutch Shell] Arie De Geus is wrong in suggesting, in The Living Company, that firms should aspire to live forever? Greatness is fleeting and, for corporations, it will become ever more fleeting. The ultimate aim of a business organization, an artist, an athlete or a stockbroker may be to explode in a dramatic frenzy of value creation during a short space of time, rather than to live forever.” —Kjell Nordström and Jonas Ridderstråle, Funky Business

Netscape! TP#1*: Netscape! *Where would you rather have worked for those 5 years, Netscape or IBM-HP-Microsoft-Oracle? (Where, 25 years from now, would you rather to be able to tell someone—e.g., grandchild—that you worked?)

Built to Change/Rock the World Built to Last vs Built to Change/Rock the World

GM 25 /50-75: “Built to last”????

“Life is occupied in both perpetuating itself and in surpassing itself. If all it does is maintain itself, then living is only not dying.” “Life is occupied in both perpetuating itself and in surpassing itself. If all it does is maintain itself, then living is only not dying.” —Simone de Beauvoir “… Longevity has its place, but I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will, and He’s allowed me to go up the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I have seen the Promised Land. And I don’t mind. … I may not get there with you. …” And I don’t mind. … I may not get there with you. …” —MLK/Memphis

“ In Tom’s world, it’s always better to try a swan dive and deliver a colossal belly flop than to step timidly off the board while holding your nose.” “ In Tom’s world, it’s always better to try a swan dive and deliver a colossal belly flop than to step timidly off the board while holding your nose.” —Fast Company /October2003

No “last word”

Flat as a Pancake (Or Worse) Wal*Mart … Dell … Intel … Home Depot … Microsoft … GE

The last word: There is no last word.

Low Risk 41% 13% High Risk35% 73% S&P Stability Ratings* 1985 2006 Low Risk 41% 13% Average Risk 24% 14% High Risk 35% 73% *Likelihood of stable long-term earnings growth Source: Fortune (2 October 2006)

EXCELLENCE. ASPIRATION. YOU & ME.

The First step in a ‘dramatic’ ‘organizational change program’ is obvious— dramatic personal change!” “The First step in a ‘dramatic’ ‘organizational change program’ is obvious— dramatic personal change!” —RG

“Work on me first.” “Work on me first.” —Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler/Crucial Conversations

“How can a high-level leader like _____ be so out of touch with the truth about himself? It’s more common than you would imagine. In fact, the higher up the ladder a leader climbs, the less accurate his self-assessment is likely to be. The problem is an acute lack of feedback [especially on people issues].” —Daniel Goleman (et al.), The New Leaders

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting … GERONIMO!’ ‘GERONIMO!’ ” —Bill McKenna, professional motorcycle racer (Cycle magazine)

“A typical day at the office for me begins by asking, ‘ What is impossible that I am going to do today?’” —Daniel Lamarre, president, Cirque du Soleil

“ Do one thing every day that scares you.” “ Do one thing every day that scares you.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

Kevin Roberts’ Credo 1. Ready. Fire! Aim. 2. If it ain’t broke... Break it! 3. Hire crazies. 4. Ask dumb questions. 5. Pursue failure. 6. Lead, follow... or get out of the way! 7. Spread confusion. 8. Ditch your office. 9. Read odd stuff. Avoid moderation! Kevin Roberts’ Credo 1. Ready. Fire! Aim. 2. If it ain’t broke... Break it! 3. Hire crazies. 4. Ask dumb questions. 5. Pursue failure. 6. Lead, follow... or get out of the way! 7. Spread confusion. 8. Ditch your office. 9. Read odd stuff. 10. Avoid moderation!

EXCELLENCE. DEFINED. X06

X.06 Tom Peters/Excellence.2006/1210.2006

X.06.23: Whole Foods Markets … Starbucks … Wegmans … Commerce Bank … John Laing Homes … Apple … London Drugs … Griffin Hospital/ Planetree Alliance … The Met School/Big Picture … Carl Sewell … Progressive Insurance … Stanford women’s sports … Stanford D-School … HSM … Washington Speakers Bureau … Build-A-Bear … RE/MAX … Donnelly’s Weather Strip Service … Jim’s Group … Cirque du Soleil … (U.S. Grant) … (Horatio Nelson) … (Stew Leonard’s) … (DeMar Plumbing) … (FBR/Friedman Billings Ramsey)

Wegmans

#1/100 #1/100 “ Best Companies to Work for” /2005

Wegmans: #1 100 Best Companies to Work for 84%: Grocery stores “are all alike” 46%: additional spend if customers have an “emotional connection” to a grocery store rather than “are satisfied” (Gallup) “Going to Wegmans is not just shopping, it’s an event.” —Christopher Hoyt, grocery consultant “You cannot separate their strategy as a retailer from their strategy as an employer.” —Darrell Rigby, Bain & Co.

starbucks

“It’s simple, really, Tom. Hire for s, and, above all, promote for s.” “It’s simple, really, Tom. Hire for s, and, above all, promote for s.” —Starbucks middle manager/field

“Insanely Great”

Big Picture schools/ The Met

“engage the kids around their passions.” EBF* to EBI** “engage the kids around their passions.” —Dennis Littky/ The Met-Big Picture Schools * Education By Fiat ** Education By Interest

Commerce Bank

The Power of WOW! How Commerce Bank Created a Super- Growth Business in a No-Growth Industry Vernon W. Hill, II

John Laing Homes

“We don’t ‘close units,’ we build homes.” —Larry Webb, John Laing Homes

“Soft Skills, Hard Dollars” Source: Headline, BigBuilder, September 2006

sewell

Customers for Life

Re/max

“We are a ‘life Success Company’” Dave Linegar, RE/MAX

NELSON

“[other] admirals more frightened of losing than anxious to win” On NELSON: “[other] admirals more frightened of losing than anxious to win”

* Focused on growth and revenue and “offense,” not defense and cost containment. not defense and cost containment. *People-talent obsession. *Provide mind-bending experiences. (Driven by design primacy.) by design primacy.) *Nuts about customers. *Happy to use words like “Wow.” *Pretty close to the high end of the market. [*Ability to make silk purses filled with gold out of sows’ ears: Wegmans-Whole Foods-Stew Leonard’s sows’ ears: Wegmans-Whole Foods-Stew Leonard’s and groceries; Jim’s Group and dog-walking; and groceries; Jim’s Group and dog-walking; Donnelly and weatherstrip installation; DeMar Donnelly and weatherstrip installation; DeMar and plumbing.] and plumbing.] * Execution!

EXCELLENCE. ALWAYS. ONE PERSON. DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE..

“It’s not people who aren’t credit-worthy. It’s banks that aren’t people worthy.” “It’s not people who aren’t credit-worthy. It’s banks that aren’t people worthy.” Muhammad Yunus

EXCELLENCE. REVENUE. MATTERS. MOST.

“Everyone lives by selling something.”. “Everyone lives by selling something.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

Sell Sell Sell

“Analysts … preferred cost cutting They said, ‘Oh my gosh, you need revenues to grow earnings over time.’ Well, Duh!” “Analysts … preferred cost cutting, as long as they could see two or three years of EPS growth. I preached revenue and the analysts’ eyes would glaze over. Now revenue is ‘in’ because so many got caught, and earnings went to hell. They said, ‘Oh my gosh, you need revenues to grow earnings over time.’ Well, Duh!” —Dick Kovacevich, Wells Fargo

BASICS K.I.S.S.

P = R – C

C R C R O* *Chief Revenue Officer

EXCELLENCE. INNOVATE. OR. DIE.

You don’t get better by being bigger. You get worse.” “ I don’t believe in economies of scale. You don’t get better by being bigger. You get worse.” —Dick Kovacevich/Wells Fargo

InnoTacs

try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Screw it up. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Screw it up. it. Try it. Try it. try it. Try it. Screw it up. Try it. Try it. Try it.

do things.

“We have a ‘strategic plan.’ It’s called doing things.” “We have a ‘strategic plan.’ It’s called doing things.” — Herb Kelleher

drill.

you only find oil if you drill wells. “ This is so simple it sounds stupid, but it is amazing how few oil people really understand that you only find oil if you drill wells. You may think you’re finding it when you’re drawing maps and studying logs, but you have to drill.” Source: The Hunters, by John Masters, Canadian O & G wildcatter

You only find oil if you drill wells. Source: The Hunters, by John Masters, Canadian O & G wildcatter

80 percent wildcatters “While many people big oil finds with big companies, over the years about 80 percent of the oil found in the United States has been brought in by wildcatters such as Mr Findley, says Larry Nation, spokesman for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.” —WSJ, “Wildcat Producer Sparks Oil Boom in Montana,” 0405.2006

try things.

“We made mistakes, of course. Most of them were omissions we didn’t think of when we initially wrote the software. We fixed them by doing it over and over, again and again. We do the same today. While our competitors are still sucking their thumbs trying to make the design perfect, we’re already on prototype version # 5. By the time our rivals are ready with wires and screws, we are on version ready with wires and screws, we are on version # 10. It gets back to planning versus acting: We act from day one; others plan how to plan— for months.” —Bloomberg by Bloomberg # 10. It gets back to planning versus acting: We act from day one; others plan how to plan— for months.” —Bloomberg by Bloomberg

“Experiment fearlessly” Tactic #1 “Experiment fearlessly” Source: BW0821.06, Type A Organization Strategies/ “How to Hit a Moving Target”— Tactic #1

“We ground up more pig brains!”

Screw. things. Up.

“FAIL, FAIL AGAIN. FAIL BETTER.” “FAIL, FAIL AGAIN. FAIL BETTER.” —Samuel Beckett

“Fail. Forward. Fast.” “Fail. Forward. Fast.” High Tech CEO, Pennsylvania

“Fail faster. Succeed Sooner.” “Fail faster. Succeed Sooner.” David Kelley/IDEO

Sam’s Secret #1!

“Reward Punish “Reward excellent failures. Punish mediocre successes.” Phil Daniels, Sydney exec

Whoever Makes the Most Mistakes Wins: The Paradox of Innovation Read This! Richard Farson & Ralph Keyes: Whoever Makes the Most Mistakes Wins: The Paradox of Innovation

try. Miss. try.

READY. FIRE! AIM. READY. FIRE! AIM. Ross Perot (vs “ Aim! Aim! Aim!” /EDS vs GM/1985)

S.A.V.

Paul Allaire: “We are in a brawl with no rules.” TP: “There’s [literally] only one possible answer— S crew A round V igorously Paul Allaire: “We are in a brawl with no rules.” TP: “There’s [literally] only one possible answer— S crew A round V igorously !

“You miss 100% of the shots you never take.” —WayneGretzky “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.” —Wayne Gretzky

EXCELLENCE. 4/40.

De-cent- ral-iz- a-tion!

“‘Decentralization’ is not a piece of paper. It’s not me. It’s either in your heart, or not.” “‘Decentralization’ is not a piece of paper. It’s not me. It’s either in your heart, or not.” — Brian Joffe/BIDvest

“If if feels painful and scary—that’s real delegation” “If if feels painful and scary—that’s real delegation” —Caspian Woods, small biz owner

Nelson. Grant.

6 divisions = 6 “tries” 6 divisions = 6 DIFFERENT leaders = 6 INDEPENDENT “tries” = Max probability of “win” 6 divisions = 6 very DIFFERENT leaders = 6 very INDEPENDENT “tries” = Max probability of “far out”/”3-sigma” “win” The True Logic* of Decentralization: 6 divisions = 6 “tries” 6 divisions = 6 DIFFERENT leaders = 6 INDEPENDENT “tries” = Max probability of “win” 6 divisions = 6 very DIFFERENT leaders = 6 very INDEPENDENT “tries” = Max probability of “far out”/”3-sigma” “win” *“Driver”: Law of Large #s

Ex-e- cu-tion!

“ Execution is the job of the business leader.” —Larry Bossidy “ Execution is the job of the business leader.” —Larry Bossidy & Ram Charan/ Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done

systematic process “ Execution is a systematic process of rigorously discussing hows and whats, tenaciously following through, and ensuring accountability.” —Larry Bossidy & Ram Charan/ Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done

“Never forget implementation boys. In our work it’s what I call the ‘missing 98 percent’ of the client puzzle.” “Never forget implementation boys. In our work it’s what I call the ‘missing 98 percent’ of the client puzzle.” —Al McDonald

Ac-count- a-bil-ity!

“ Realism is the heart of execution.” “ Realism is the heart of execution.” —Larry Bossidy & Ram Charan/Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done

“GE has set a standard of candor. … There is no puffery. … There isn’t an ounce of denial in the place.” “GE has set a standard of candor. … There is no puffery. … There isn’t an ounce of denial in the place.” —Kevin Sharer, CEO Amgen, on the “GE mystique” (Fortune)

6:15A.M.

ORIGINS OF SUSTAINABLE ENTREPRENEURSHIP Excellence: The SE22: ORIGINS OF SUSTAINABLE ENTREPRENEURSHIP

SE22/Origins of Sustainable Entrepreneurship 1. Genetically disposed to Innovations that upset apple carts (3M, Apple, FedEx, Virgin, BMW, Sony, Nike, Schwab, Starbucks, Oracle, Sun, Fox, Stanford University, MIT) Fox, Stanford University, MIT) 2. Perpetually determined to outdo oneself, even to the detriment of today’s $$$ winners (Apple, Cirque du Soleil, Nokia, FedEx) the detriment of today’s $$$ winners (Apple, Cirque du Soleil, Nokia, FedEx) 3. Treat History as the Enemy (GE) 4. Love the Great Leap/Enjoy the Hunt (Apple, Oracle, Intel, Nokia, Sony) 5. Use “Strategic Thrust Overlays” to Attack Monster Problems (Sysco, GSK, GE, Microsoft) 6. Establish a “Be on the COOL Team” Ethos. (Most PSFs, Microsoft) 7. Encourage Vigorous Dissent/Genetically “Noisy” (Intel, Apple, Microsoft, CitiGroup, PepsiCo) Microsoft, CitiGroup, PepsiCo) 8. “Culturally” as well as organizationally Decentralized (GE, J&J, Omnicom) (GE, J&J, Omnicom) 9. Multi-entrepreneurship/Many Independent-minded Stars (GE, PepsiCo)

SE22/Origins of Sustainable Entrepreneurship 10. Keep decentralizing—tireless in pursuit of wiping out Centralizing Tendencies (J&J, Virgin) Centralizing Tendencies (J&J, Virgin) 11. Scour the world for Ingenious Alliance Partners— especially exciting start-ups (Pfizer) especially exciting start-ups (Pfizer) 12. Acquire for Innovation, not Market Share (Cisco, GE) 13. Don’t overdo “pursuit of synergy” (GE, J&J, Time Warner) 14. Execution/Action Bias: Just do it … don’t obsess on how it “fits the business model.” (3M, J & J) how it “fits the business model.” (3M, J & J) 15. Find and Encourage and Promote Strong-willed/ Hyper-smart/Independent people (GE, PepsiCo, Microsoft) Hyper-smart/Independent people (GE, PepsiCo, Microsoft) 16. Support Internal Entrepreneurs (3M, Microsoft) 17. Ferret out Talent anywhere/“No limits” approach to retaining top talent (Virgin, GE, PepsiCo ) retaining top talent (Virgin, GE, PepsiCo )

SE22/Origins of Sustainable Entrepreneurship 18. Unmistakable Results & Accountability focus from the get-go to the grave (GE, New York Yankees, PepsiCo) the get-go to the grave (GE, New York Yankees, PepsiCo) 19. Up or Out (GE, McKinsey, big consultancies and law firms and ad agencies and movie studios in general) firms and ad agencies and movie studios in general) 20. Competitive to a fault! (GE, New York Yankees, News Corp/Fox, PepsiCo) Corp/Fox, PepsiCo) 21. “Bi-polar” Top Team, with “Unglued” Innovator #1, powerful Control Freak #2 (Oracle, Virgin) (Watch out when powerful Control Freak #2 (Oracle, Virgin) (Watch out when #2 is missing: Enron) #2 is missing: Enron) 22. Masters of Loose-Tight/Hard-nosed about a very few Core Values, Open-minded about everything else Core Values, Open-minded about everything else (Virgin) (Virgin)

Wallop Wal*Mart16* ABSURDLY EASY BEAT GIANT Wallop Wal*Mart16* *Or: Why it’s so ABSURDLY EASY to BEAT a GIANT Company

The “Small Guys” Guide: Wallop Wal*Mart16 * Niche-aimed. (Never, ever “all things for all people,” a “mini- Wal*Mart.) * Never attack the monsters head on! (Instead steal niche business and lukewarm customers.) *“Dramatically Different” (La Difference... within our community, our industry regionally, etc … is as obvious as the end of one’s nose!) (THIS IS WHERE MOST MIDGETS COME UP SHORT.) * Compete on value/experience/intimacy, not price. (You ain’t gonna beat the behemoths on cost-price in 9.99 out of 10 cases.) * Emotional bond with Clients, Vendors. (BEAT THE BIGGIES ON EMOTION/CONNECTION!!)

The thing that all these companies have in common is that they have nothing in common. “This is an essay about what it takes to create and sell something remarkable. It is a plea for originality, passion, guts and daring. You can’t be remarkable by following someone else who’s remarkable. One way to figure out a theory is to look at what’s working in the real world and determine what the successes have in common. But what could the Four Seasons and Motel 6 possibly have in common? Or Neiman- Marcus and Wal*Mart? Or Nokia (bringing out new hardware every 30 days or so) and Nintendo (marketing the same Game Boy 14 years in a row)? It’s like trying to drive looking in the rearview mirror. The thing that all these companies have in common is that they have nothing in common. They are outliers. They’re on the fringes. Superfast or superslow. Very exclusive or very cheap. Extremely big or extremely small. The reason it’s so hard to follow the leader is this: The leader is the leader precisely because he did something remarkable. And that remarkable thing is now taken—so it’s no longer remarkable when you decide to do it.” —Seth Godin, Fast Company

The “Small Guys” Guide: Wallop Wal*Mart16 * Hands-on, emotional leadership. (“We are a great & cool & intimate & joyful & dramatically different team working to transform our Clients lives via Consistently Incredible Experiences!”) * A community star! (“Sell” local-ness per se. Sell the hell out of it!) * An incredible experience, from the first to last moment—and then in the follow-up! (“These guys are cool! They ‘get’ me! They love me!”) * DESIGN DRIVEN! (“Design” is a premier weapon-in- pursuit-of-the sublime for small-ish enterprises, including the professional services.)

The “Small Guys” Guide: Wallop Wal*Mart16 * Employer of choice. (A very cool, well-paid place to work/learning and growth experience in at least the short term … marked by notably progressive policies.) (THIS IS EMINENTLY DO-ABLE!!) * Sophisticated use of information technology. (Small-“ish” is no excuse for “small aims”/execution in IS/IT!) * Web-power! (The Web can make very small very big … if the product-service is super-cool and one purposefully masters buzz/viral marketing.) * Innovative! (Must keep renewing and expanding and revising and re-imagining “the promise” to employees, the customer, the community.)

The “Small Guys” Guide: Wallop Wal*Mart16 * Brand-Lovemark* (*Kevin Roberts) Maniacs ! (“Branding” is not just for big folks with big budgets. And modest size is actually a Big Advantage in becoming a local-regional- niche “lovemark.”) * Focus on women-as-clients. (Most don’t. How stupid.) * Excellence! (A small player … per me … has no right or reason to exist unless they are in Relentless Pursuit of Excellence. One earns the right—one damn day and client experience at a time!—to beat the Big Guys in your chosen niche!)

tom peters: what I’ve Learned about “Small Business”

Passion for PRODUCT. OBSESSION With Product. LOVE The Product. Aim To Be “ONLY ONES WHO DO WHAT WE DO.” Keep ADDIN’ Stuff. Invest “UNWISELY” in R&D. Reside Permanently In The DISCOMFORT Zone. “Unhealthy” PARANOIA Is A Good Thing. Add Clients That PUSH-PULL. SELL. SELL. SELL. SELL. Go For Broke: CUSTOMER CONTACT PEOPLE. PERFECTION: Customer Contact People. Hire for ATTITUDE. INVITE On An Adventure. GREAT CFO/Biz Guy-Gal. NASTY CFO/Biz Guy-Gal. QUADRANGULAR LEADERSHIP: Visionary-Talent Fanatic- Project Manager-I.P.M. (I.P.M. = Inspired Profit Mechanic)

Seminars + Travel: 65% Research & Writing: 40-50%* Admin/“Stuff”: 15% Seminars + Travel: 65% Research & Writing: 40-50%* Admin/“Stuff”: 15% *Greater than 100%; considerable research-writing is performed on the road

GREAT Logo. DESIGN! “OVERDO” Marketing Materials. WOMEN Roar. WOMEN Rule. WOMEN Buy. Diversity = $$$$$$ Be RELENTLESS. Cut And RUN. Product Includes-Features the PACKAGING. Define Your DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE (R.P.O.V.8) Best STORY Wins. DRESS For Success. First Goal: AMUSE Yourself. Know YOURSELF. DON’T Do Stuff You Hate. “Over-invest” In RELATIONSHIPS. (R.O.I.R.: Return On Investment in Relationships) SYSTEMATICALLY “Manage” Relationships. “Work” The SUPPORT PEOPLE In Client Orgs.

BLOG As If Your Life Depended On It. SOPHISTICATED Use Of Infotech. RESPONSE To Problems. Make ’Em PAY. CLOSE The Sale. Invest BIGTIME In PR. Media FRIENDLY. Live-To-SCHMOOZE. Fun/Laughter = $$$$ MBWA: Stay In Touch. “You Must Be The Change You Wish To See In The World”/GANDHI 5K For 5M. Your CALENDAR Never Lies. OUT: Pastels. IN: Technicolor

JUST SAY “NO” TO C.E.O.: CIO/Chief Innovation Officer. CSO/Chief Sales Officer. CWO/ Chief Wow Officer EXCELLENCE Is Very Cool. “MICRO-MANAGE” Your Reputation. Wear Your Integrity On Your SLEEVE. KEEP Your Promises. EXECUTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “A Man Without A Smiling Face MUST NOT Open His Shop.” RECOGNITION! Work HARD, Not Smart. “Insanely Great.” THE STANDARD.

“ A man without a smiling face must not open a shop.” “ A man without a smiling face must not open a shop.” —Chinese Proverb

A Few Biases You Should Know About *I am not a macro-economist. * I am wholly biased by 30 years (1970-2000) in Silicon Valley. * I would rather work for e Bay than BankAmerica. *I believe that the Giant Merger Game is the single greatest waste of energy in the world of business. *Economies of scale are wildly over-rated. *I find the entire notion of “career” to be disturbing and a little silly. *I find the notion of “built to last” hilarious. *Between 1965 and 1980 I turned 179.9 degrees from “Mr Big Government” to “Mr ‘Cool’ Entrepreneur.” (Thank you, Frank Perdue.) *Joseph Schumpeter (“gales of creative destruction”) and F.A. Hayek are my economist “gods”; JK Galbraith is my bête noir. *“Innovation” is a wonderfully messy & chaotic process—not amenable to “strategic plans.” *I believe in Luck. (Fooled by Randomness—best book I’ve ever read.)

Small Giants: Companies That Choose To Be Great Instead Of Big Small Giants: Companies That Choose To Be Great Instead Of Big —by Bo Burlingham

Small Giants/Bo Burlingham I could see that, unlike most entrepreneurs, their founders and leaders had recognized the full range of choices they had about the type of company they would create." the leaders had overcome the enormous pressures on successful companies to take paths they had not chosen and did not necessarily want to follow." each company had an extraordinarily intimate relationship with the local city, town, or county in which it did business -- a relationship that went well beyond the usual concept of `giving back.'" they cultivated exceptionally intimate relationships with customers and suppliers, based on personal contact, one-on-one interaction, and mutual commitment to delivering on promises." "First, I could see that, unlike most entrepreneurs, their founders and leaders had recognized the full range of choices they had about the type of company they would create." "Second, the leaders had overcome the enormous pressures on successful companies to take paths they had not chosen and did not necessarily want to follow." "Third, each company had an extraordinarily intimate relationship with the local city, town, or county in which it did business -- a relationship that went well beyond the usual concept of `giving back.'" "Fourth, they cultivated exceptionally intimate relationships with customers and suppliers, based on personal contact, one-on-one interaction, and mutual commitment to delivering on promises."

Small Giants/Bo Burlingham the companies also had what struck me as unusually intimate workplaces." I was impressed by the variety of corporate structures and modes of governance that these companies had come up with." I noticed the passion that the leaders brought to what the company did. They loved the subject matter, whether it be music, safety lighting, food, special effects, constant torque hinges, beer, records storage, construction, dining, or fashion." "Fifth, the companies also had what struck me as unusually intimate workplaces." "Sixth, I was impressed by the variety of corporate structures and modes of governance that these companies had come up with." "Finally, I noticed the passion that the leaders brought to what the company did. They loved the subject matter, whether it be music, safety lighting, food, special effects, constant torque hinges, beer, records storage, construction, dining, or fashion."

EXCELLENCE. VALUE ADDED. UP THE LADDER.

Up, Up, Up, Up Up, Up, Up, Up the Value-added Ladder.

EXCELLENCE. VALUE-ADDED LADDER I. SOLVE IT.

OPPORTUNITY-SEEKING Gamechanging Solutions The Value-added Ladder/ OPPORTUNITY-SEEKING Gamechanging Solutions Services Goods Raw Materials

EXCELLENCE. SOLVE IT. NO OPTION. PSF. (PSF++)

you’ve become irrelevant to your customers.” “ ‘Disintermediation’ is overrated. Those who fear disintermediation-outsourcing should in fact be afraid of irrelevance; ‘outsourcing’ is just another way of saying that … you’ve become irrelevant to your customers.” —John Battelle/Point/Advertising Age/07.05

“support function” / “cost center”/ “overhead” or … “support function” / “cost center”/ “overhead” or …

“ Rock Stars of the Age of Talent” Are you … “ Rock Stars of the Age of Talent”

Managing Partner, ISInc. Department Head to … Managing Partner, IS [HR, R&D, etc.] Inc.

PSF Brand You Wow! Projects Core Mechanism : “Game-changing Solutions” PSF (Professional Service Firm “model”/The Organizing Principle ) + Brand You (“Distinct” or “Extinct”/The Talent ) + Wow! Projects (“Different” vs “Better”/The Work )

“Corporation” as Mega-“PSF” (Professional Service Firm*) Big Idea: “Corporation” as Mega-“PSF” (Professional Service Firm*) * “Virtual” Collection of Entrepreneurially-minded Professionals (“Talent”/“Roster”) Creating/Applying Intellectual Capital (“Work Product”)

Brand You(S) Wow! Project(s) = PSF(S) “Corporation” as “Mega-PSF” Core Mechanism : “Game-changing Solutions” Brand You(S) (“Distinct” or “Extinct”/The Talent ) + Wow! Project(s) (“Different” vs “Better”/The Work ) = PSF(S) (Professional Service Firm “model”/The Organizing Principle ) = “Corporation” as “Mega-PSF”

EXCELLENCE. VALUE-ADDED LADDER II. EXPERIENCE IT.

“What we sell is the ability for a 43- year-old accountant to dress in black leather, ride through small towns and have people be afraid of him.” Harley Experience: “Rebel Lifestyle!” “What we sell is the ability for a 43- year-old accountant to dress in black leather, ride through small towns and have people be afraid of him.” Harley exec, quoted in Results-Based Leadership

MEMORABLE CONNECTION Spellbinding Experiences The Value-added Ladder/ MEMORABLE CONNECTION Spellbinding Experiences Gamechanging Solutions Services Goods Raw Materials

EXCELLENCE. VALUE-ADDED LADDER III. DREAM IT.

DREAM : A dream is a complete moment in the life of a client. Important experiences that tempt the client to commit substantial resources. The essence of the desires of the consumer. The opportunity to help clients become what they want to be.” DREAM : “A dream is a complete moment in the life of a client. Important experiences that tempt the client to commit substantial resources. The essence of the desires of the consumer. The opportunity to help clients become what they want to be.” —Gian Luigi Longinotti-Buitoni

EMOTION Dreams Come True The Value-added Ladder/ EMOTION Dreams Come True Spellbinding Experiences Gamechanging Solutions Services Goods Raw Materials

“Dreams Come True”: IBM

EXCELLENCE. VALUE-ADDED LADDER IV. LOVE IT.

Tattoo Brand Tattoo Brand : What % of users would tattoo the brand name on their body?

Harley.… 18.9% Disney.... 14.8 Coke …. 7.7 Google.... 6.6 Pepsi.... 6.1 Rolex …. 5.6 Nike …. 4.6 Adidas …. 3.1 Absolut …. 2.6 Nintendo …. 1.5 Top 10 “Tattoo Brands”* Harley.… 18.9% Disney.... 14.8 Coke …. 7.7 Google.... 6.6 Pepsi.... 6.1 Rolex …. 5.6 Nike …. 4.6 Adidas …. 3.1 Absolut …. 2.6 Nintendo …. 1.5 * BRANDsense: Build Powerful Brands through Touch, Taste, Smell, Sight, and Sound, Martin Lindstrom

ECSTASY Lovemark The Value-added Ladder/ ECSTASY Lovemark Dreams Come True Spellbinding Experiences Gamechanging Solutions Services Goods Raw Materials

EXCELLENCE. NEW VALUE EQUATION. NEW “C-levels”.

C R O Revenue C R O* *Chief Revenue Officer

C X O e X perience C X O* *Chief e X perience Officer

C DM Dream C DM* *Chief Dream Merchant

C F O* C F O* *Chief Festivals Officer

C PI * C PI * *Chief Portal Impresario

C C O* C C O* *Chief Conversations Officer

C L O Lovemark C L O* *Chief Lovemark Officer

C S O* C S O* *Chief Seduction Officer

C ST O Storytelling C ST O* *Chief Storytelling Officer

C D O Design C D O * *Chief Design Officer

C ta O talent acquisition C ta O* *Chief talent acquisition Officer

C fa O freaks acquisition C fa O* *Chief freaks acquisition Officer

C Q O quest-meister C Q O* *Chief quest-meister

C T O Thrills C T O* *Chief Thrills Officer

C TR O Transcendence C TR O* *Chief Transcendence Officer

C W O *Chief WOW Officer C W O* *Chief WOW Officer

C ! O C ! O* *Chief ! Officer

EXCELLENCE. NEW MARKETS. ENORMOUS. OPPORTUNITIES.

women. BOOMERS. GEEZERS.

“Forget China, India and the Internet : Economic Growth Is Driven by Women.” “Forget China, India and the Internet : Economic Growth Is Driven by Women.” —Headline, Economist, April 15, 2006, Leader, page 14

Fara Warner : The Power of the Purse P-l-e-a-s-e Read … Fara Warner : The Power of the Purse

PrimeTime Women: How to Win the Hearts, Minds and Business of Boomer Big Spenders —Marti Barletta How She Does It: How Women Entrepreneurs Are Changing the Rules of Business Success. —Margaret Heffernan

94% of loans to … women* *M icrolending; “Banker to the poor”; Grameen Bank; Muhammad Yunus; 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner

“AS LEADERS, WOMEN RULE: TITLE/ Special Report/ BusinessWeek “AS LEADERS, WOMEN RULE: New Studies find that female managers outshine their male counterparts in almost every measure” TITLE/ Special Report/ BusinessWeek

10 UNASSAILABLE REASONS WOMEN RULE Women make [all] the financial decisions. Women control [all] the wealth. Women [substantially] outlive men. Women start most of the new businesses. Women’s work force participation rates have soared worldwide. soared worldwide. Women are closing in on “same pay for same job.” job.” Women are penetrating senior ranks rapidly [even if the pace is slow for the corner [even if the pace is slow for the corner office per se]. office per se]. Women’s leadership strengths are exceptionally well aligned with new organizational effectiveness & aligned with new organizational effectiveness & value-added imperatives. value-added imperatives. Women are better salespersons than men. Women buy [almost] everything—commercial as well as consumer goods. as well as consumer goods. So what exactly is … the point of men?

“Economic Growth Is Driven by … Women.” Economist —Headline, Economist, April 15, 2006, Leader, page 14

women. BOOMERS. GEEZERS.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “People turning 50 today have more than half of their adult life ahead of them.” “People turning 50 today have more than half of their adult life ahead of them.” —Bill Novelli, 50+: Igniting a Revolution to Reinvent America

13 7 Average # of cars purchased per household, “lifetime”: 13 Average # of cars bought per household after the “head of household” reaches age 50: 7 Source: Marti Barletta, PrimeTime Women

“New Customer Majority” 44-65: “New Customer Majority” * *45% larger than 18-43; 60% larger by 2010 Source: Ageless Marketing, David Wolfe & Robert Snyder

EXCELLENCE. BEDROCK. TALENT.

Hire very good people!

20 40 $25$802 “We believe companies can increase their market cap 50 percent in 3 years. Steve Macadam at Georgia- Pacific … changed 20 of his 40 box plant managers to put more talented, higher paid managers in charge. He increased profitability from $25 million to $80 million in 2 years.” —Ed Michaels, War for Talent

INVITE THEM TO JOIN US IN A JOURNEY TO EXCELLENCE!

invites “In the end, management doesn’t change culture. Management invites the workforce itself to change the culture.” —Lou Gerstner

is free to do his or her absolute best.” allow its members to discover their greatness.” Organizing Genius / Warren Bennis and Patricia Ward Biederman “Groups become great only when everyone in them, leaders and members alike, is free to do his or her absolute best.” “The best thing a leader can do for a Great Group is to allow its members to discover their greatness.”

Leadership’s Mt Everest/Mt Excellence free to do his or her absolute best” … “allow its members to discover their greatness.” Leadership’s Mt Everest/Mt Excellence “ free to do his or her absolute best” … “allow its members to discover their greatness.”

EMPHASIZE THE “SOFT SKILLS.”

Each hired and developed and evaluated in unique ways Attitude/Enthusiasm/Energy paramount Re-lent-less! “Practice is cool” Team and individual Aspire to EXCELLENCE = Obvious Ex-e-cu-tion Talent = Brand = Duh “The Project” rules Emotional language Bit players. No. B.I.W Delta events = Delta rosters A Few Lessons from the Arts Each hired and developed and evaluated in unique ways (23 contributors = 23 unique contributions = 23 pathways = 23 personalities = 23 sets of motivators) Attitude/Enthusiasm/Energy paramount Re-lent-less! “Practice is cool” (G Leonard/Mastery) Team and individual Aspire to EXCELLENCE = Obvious Ex-e-cu-tion Talent = Brand = Duh “The Project” rules Emotional language Bit players. No. B.I.W. (everything) Delta events = Delta rosters (incl leader/s)

PUT HR AT THE HEAD OF THE HEAD TABLE. BEST PEOPLE. NOBLEST MISSION.

A review of Jack and Suzy Welch’s Winning claims there are but two key differentiators that set GE “culture” apart from the herd: First: Separating financial forecasting and performance measurement. Performance measurement based, as it usually is, on budgeting leads to an epidemic of gaming the system. GE’s performance measurement is divorced from budgeting—and instead reflects how you do relative to your past performance and relative to competitors’ performance; i.e., it’s about how you actually do in the context of what happened in the real world, not as compared to a gamed-abstract plan developed last year. Putting HR on a par with finance and marketing. Second: Putting HR on a par with finance and marketing.

SO YOU’RE A “PEOPLE PERSON”? PROVE IT.

“Leaders ‘do’ people. Period.” “Leaders ‘do’ people. Period.” —Anon.

From sweaters to … people! Les Wexner: From sweaters to … people!

“Connoisseur of Talent” PARC’s Bob Taylor: “Connoisseur of Talent”

“The leaders of Great Groups love talent and know where to find it. They revel in the talent of others.” “The leaders of Great Groups love talent and know where to find it. They revel in the talent of others.” —Warren Bennis & Patricia Ward Biederman, Organizing Genius

SO YOU’RE A “PEOPLE PERSON”? PROVE IT.

People! People!

LIVE FOR TALENT!

To develop and manage talent; to apply that talent, throughout the world, for the benefit of clients; to do so in partnership; to do so with profit. Our Mission To develop and manage talent; to apply that talent, throughout the world, for the benefit of clients; to do so in partnership; to do so with profit. WPP

Internal “brand promise”!

EVP/ IBP What’s your company’s … EVP/ IBP?* *Employee Value Proposition, per Ed Michaels et al., The War for Talent; IBP/Internal Brand Promise per TP

EVP/IBP = Remarkable challenge, rapid professional growth, respect, satisfaction, fun, stunning opportunity, exceptional reward, amazing peer group, full membership in Club Adventure, maximized future employability Source: Ed Michaels, The War for Talent; TP

“We are a ‘Life Success’ Company.” “We are a ‘Life Success’ Company.” Dave Liniger, founder, RE/MAX

Brand = Talent.

EXCELLENCE. INDIVIDUAL. BRAND YOU.

“ If there is nothing very special about your work, no matter how hard you apply yourself you won’t get noticed, and that increasingly means you won’t get paid much either.” “ If there is nothing very special about your work, no matter how hard you apply yourself you won’t get noticed, and that increasingly means you won’t get paid much either.” —Michael Goldhaber, Wired

New Work SurvivalKit.2006 MASTERY! “Manage” to Legacy 1. MASTERY! (Best/Absurdly Good at Something!) 2. “Manage” to Legacy (All Work = “Memorable”/“Braggable” WOW Projects!) A “USP”/UNIQUE SELLING PROPOSITIONRolodex Obsession 3. A “USP”/UNIQUE SELLING PROPOSITION 4. Rolodex Obsession (From vertical/hierarchy/“suck up” loyalty to ENTREPRENEURIAL INSTINCT CEO/LEADER/BUSINESSPERSON/CLOSER Master of Improv horizontal/“colleague”/“mate” loyalty) 5. ENTREPRENEURIAL INSTINCT (A sleepless … Eye for Opportunity! 6. CEO/LEADER/BUSINESSPERSON/CLOSER (CEO, Me Inc. 24/7!) 7. Master of Improv (Play a dozen parts simultaneously, from Sense of Humor Chief Strategist to Chief Toilet Scrubber) 8. Sense of Humor (A willingness to Screw Up & Move On) Comfortable with Your Skin Intense Appetite for Technology 9. Comfortable with Your Skin (Bring “interesting you” to work!) 10. Intense Appetite for Technology (E.g.: How Cool-Active is your EMBRACE “MARKETING” PASSION FOR RENEWAL Web site? Do you Blog?) 11. EMBRACE “MARKETING” (Your own CSO/Chief Storytelling Officer) 12. PASSION FOR RENEWAL (Your own CLO/Chief Learning Officer) EXECUTION EXCELLENCE! 13. EXECUTION EXCELLENCE! (Show up on time! Leave last!)

Distinct Extinct Distinct … or … Extinct

Joe J. Jones 1942 – 2006 HE WOULDA DONE SOME REALLY COOL STUFF BUT … HIS BOSS WOULDN’T LET HIM!

1 Person! Wendy Kopp, Princeton senior (1989) Teach America (19,000-2,400) 10% Dartmouth, Yale 17,000 to date Principal hirer of college graduates “One of the few jobs that people pass up Goldman Sachs for is Teach America” (Edie Hunt, HR) 1 Person! Wendy Kopp, Princeton senior (1989) Teach America (19,000-2,400) 10% Dartmouth, Yale 17,000 to date Principal hirer of college graduates “One of the few jobs that people pass up Goldman Sachs for is Teach America” (Edie Hunt, HR) Source: Fortune, 1127.06

eliot + 7

EXCELLENCE. BEDROCK. LEADERSHIP. 9Ps. L23.

PURPOSE. PASSION. Potential. Presence. Personal. PERSISTENCE. PEOPLE. Potent. Positive.

“People want to be part of something larger than themselves. They want to be part of something they’re really proud of, that they’ll fight for, sacrifice for, trust.” “People want to be part of something larger than themselves. They want to be part of something they’re really proud of, that they’ll fight for, sacrifice for, trust.” — Howard Schultz, Starbucks (IBD/09.05)

“What is your vision for the future?” “What have you accomplished since your first book?” “Close your eyes and imagine me immediately doing something about what you’ve just said. What would it be?” “Do you feel you have an obligation to ‘Make the world a better place’?” Ah, kids: “What is your vision for the future?” “What have you accomplished since your first book?” “Close your eyes and imagine me immediately doing something about what you’ve just said. What would it be?” “Do you feel you have an obligation to ‘Make the world a better place’?”

“ Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm.” “ Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm.” —Samuel Taylor Coleridge

“Whenever anything is being accomplished, I have learned, it is being done by a monomaniac with a mission.” “Whenever anything is being accomplished, I have learned, it is being done by a monomaniac with a mission.” —Peter Drucker

“ A man without a smiling face must not open a shop.” “ A man without a smiling face must not open a shop.” —Chinese Proverb

become more than they’ve ever been before, more than they’ve dreamed of being.” “The role of the Director is to create a space where the actors and actresses can become more than they’ve ever been before, more than they’ve dreamed of being.” —Robert Altman, Oscar acceptance speech

“ You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” “ You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Gandhi

“ It’s always showtime.” “ It’s always showtime.” —David D’Alessandro, Career Warfare

Relentless: “One of my superstitions had always been when I started to go anywhere or to do anything, not to turn back, or stop, until the thing intended was accomplished.” Relentless: “One of my superstitions had always been when I started to go anywhere or to do anything, not to turn back, or stop, until the thing intended was accomplished.” —Grant

“ Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.” —William Feather, author

“The most successful people are those who are good at plan B.” “The most successful people are those who are good at plan B.” —James Yorke, mathematician, on chaos theory, in The New Scientist

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends upon the unreasonable man.” "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends upon the unreasonable man.” —GB Shaw, Man and Superman: The Revolutionists' Handbook.

“Leaders ‘do’ people. Period.” “Leaders ‘do’ people. Period.” —Anon.

“Leaders ‘SERVE’ people. Period.” “Leaders ‘SERVE’ people. Period.” —Anon.

Servant Leadership/Robert Greenleaf Servant Leadership/Robert Greenleaf 1. Do those served grow as persons? persons? 2. Do they, while being served, become healthier wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants?

Big Big “ Beware of the tyranny of making Small Changes to Small Things. Rather, make Big Changes to Big Things.” —Roger Enrico, former Chairman, PepsiCo

1. Ready. Fire! Aim. 2. If it ain’t broke... Break it! 3. Hire crazies. 4. Ask dumb questions. 5. Pursue failure. 6. Lead, follow... or get out of the way! 7. Spread confusion. 8. Ditch your office. 9. Read odd stuff. Avoid moderation! Kevin Roberts’ Credo 1. Ready. Fire! Aim. 2. If it ain’t broke... Break it! 3. Hire crazies. 4. Ask dumb questions. 5. Pursue failure. 6. Lead, follow... or get out of the way! 7. Spread confusion. 8. Ditch your office. 9. Read odd stuff. 10. Avoid moderation!

“[other] admirals more frightened of losing than anxious to win” On NELSON: “[other] admirals more frightened of losing than anxious to win”

“Parcells thought that Taylor’s size and speed were closer to the beginning than the end of the explanation. [The difference was] Taylor’s peculiar energy and mind: relentless, manic, with grandiose ambitions and private standards of performance. Parcells believed that even in the NFL a lot of players were more concerned with seeming to want to win than with actual winning, and that many of them did not know the difference. What they wanted, deep down, was to keep their jobs, make their money, and go home. Lawrence Taylor wanted to win. He expected more of himself on the field than any coach would dare to ask of any player.” —Michael Lewis, The Blind Side

The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it. The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it. Michelangelo

“Excellence can be obtained if you:... care more than others think is wise;... risk more than others think is safe;... dream more than others think is practical;... expect more than others think is practical;... expect more than others think is possible.” is possible.” Source: Anon. (Posted @ tompeters.com by K.Sriram, November 27, 2006 1:17 AM)

EXCELLE ALWAYS.

EXCELLENCE. ALWAYS. Lists. Irreducible209+ 0107.2007

The Irreducible209+ One Word+ The Cup Challenge Action Chronicle The Sales122 60TIBs Tom-A-to,Tom-ah-to

The Irreducible209

“What, if anything,” he asked, “do you believe ‘for sure’?” 209 A frustrated participant at a seminar for investment bankers in Mauritius listened impatiently to my explanation of differences of opinion among me, Mike Porter, Gary Hamel, Jim Collins, etc. Finally, he’d had enough. “What, if anything,” he asked, “do you believe ‘for sure’?” I mumbled something, but his query started rumbling around in my mind. Three days later, wandering on a Sunday in London, the idea of “the irreducibles” occurred to me—and I started jotting down notes on stuff I do indeed believe “for sure.” Before I knew it, a few days later, the list had grown to 209 items. Hence “The Irreducible209” that follows. Tom Peters

1. Hare 1, Tortoise 0. (Hare-y times.) 2. Tempo. (O.O.D.A.) 3. MBWA. 4. Appreciation. (“Motivator” #1.) (Can’t be faked. Good.) (Can’t be faked. Good.) 5. Decency. 6. Hurry. 7. Time out. 8. One matters. 9. Big change. Short time. (Alt not work.) 10. Excellence. Always. 11. Passion. Energy. Hustle. Enthusiasm. Exuberance. (Move mountains. No alt.) Exuberance. (Move mountains. No alt.) 12. You must care. 13. Emotion. 14. Hard is soft. (Soft is hard.)

15. Men. Women. Different. Contend. Connect. 16. Women. Buy. All. (RU listening?) 17. Quality. (“Mind-blowing.” Beyond 6-Sigma.) 18. Re-invent. Re-pot. (Required.) 19. Jaywalk. 20. Big change. Small # of people. (Always.) 21. Experiment. Now. 22. Failure. Normal. 23. Most failures, most success. (Fail. Forward. Fast.) (Fail. Forward. Fast.) 24. “Reward excellent failures. Punish mediocre successes.” mediocre successes.” 25. Women leaders. (Altered times.) 26. Extremism. (Good business. Bad politics.) 27. Innovation source. Only. Extreme irritation. 28. Smile.

29. You must care. 30. Mentor. (Highest ROI.) 31. Best “roster” wins. 32. Wow. (Okay in biz.) 33. We all have customers. (Biz. Personal.) 34. All contacts = Experiences. 35. Cirque du Soleil. (Peerless.) 36. Leaders create space for growth. 37. Quests. (Only.) 38. High aspirations, “high” results. (Self-fulfilling prophecy.) (Self-fulfilling prophecy.) 39. Attitude 1, Skills 0. (Mostly.) (Attitude 1, Skill 0.3?) (Attitude 1, Skill 0.3?) 40. Sometimes: Skill 1, Attitude 0.1. 41. Must “love,” not “like.” 42. Wegmans.” (No excuses. “Mere” groceries.) 43. Less than your best. Cheating.

44. Brand You. (No alt.) 45. Self-sufficiency. (Biggest LT turn-on.) 46. In the moment. 47. The moment wins. 48. Tomorrow = Never. 49. Action 1, Plan 0.1. 50. “Execution” can be a “system.” 51. Realism. 52. Own up. Move on. 53. Accountability. 54. Work hard > Work smart. (Mostly.) 55. Feedback. Necessary. Fast. (R.F.A. in “RFA times.”) “RFA times.”) 56. Customers. Listen. Lead. (Paradox.) 57. “On stage.” Always. (GW, FDR, RG = Supreme actors.) Supreme actors.)

58. Master statistical analysis. 59. Excellence = Set the table. 60. Legacy. (Will it have mattered?) 61. “Great.” (Why not?) 62. Radicals rule. (Think … Olympics.) 63. !!! = Good. 64. Red 1, Brown 0. (Red times.) 65. Talk. Listen. (“Big 2.” Master.) 66. Politics. (Normal-inevitable state of affairs. Master.) of affairs. Master.) 67. Student. Forever. 68. “Why?” (Question #1.) 69. Don’t belittle. 70. Respect. 71. All we have: this moment. (“Moments matter most”?) (“Moments matter most”?) 72. Now. (Procrastination. Death.)

73. Exercise. 74. Paint. (Leader. Portraits of Excellence.) 75. Best story wins. 76. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” to see in the world.” 77. Two “big ones.” Max. (Priorities.) 78. No “I” in Team. (“I” in Win.) 79. “I” in Win. (No “I” in Team.) 80. Different 1, Better 0. (Better = 0.1) 81. Imitation = Mistake. (Learn, from who?) 82. Choose/battle the “right” competitor. 83. Schools. Creativity. Entrepreneurship. (Not.) (Not.) 84. MBAs. Creativity. Entrepreneurship. Leadership. (Not.) Leadership. (Not.) 85. Design. Under-rated. Wildly. (Still.) (Everything.) (Still.) (Everything.)

86. You = Calendar. (Calendar. Never. Lies.) 87. Laugh. 88. Handshake. (Quantity. Quality.) 89. Don’t fold your hands in front of your chest. Ever. (Never.) 90. Grace. (“Works” in biz.) 91. Weird. Wins. (Weird times.) 92. Crazy times. Crazy orgs. 93. Internet. All. 94. Women. Boomers-Geezers. Market. All. 95. Passion. (Repeat. So what?) 96. Energy. (Repeat. So what?) 97. Hustle. (Repeat. So what?) 98. Enthusiasm. (Repeat. So what?) 99. Exuberance. (Repeat. So what?) 100. Smile. (Repeat. So what?) 101. Care. (Repeat. So what?)

102. Simplicity. Redundancy. Resilience. Bloody- mindedness. Visible optimism. (Success.) mindedness. Visible optimism. (Success.) 103. Act. (Repeat. So what?) 104. Appreciate. (Repeat. So what?) 105. Fun. (Biz. Why not?) 106. Joy. (Biz. Why not?) 107. Sales = Life. 108. Marketing = Life. 109. Long-term. “Top line.” c.r.o. 110. Great company = Creates the most individual success stories. (RE/MAX) individual success stories. (RE/MAX) 111. Talent first, performance byproduct. 112. Sustained Wow* 1, “Shareholder value,” 0.2 (*Product, People.) value,” 0.2 (*Product, People.) 113. Commitment. by invitation only. 114. Creativity. by invitation only. 115. HR = #1. (Ought to.)

116. Face-to-face. (5K miles, 5 minutes.) 117. Negotiation. Make all winners. (Save face.) (Save face.) 118. Grace makes enemies friends. 119. Network. 120. Invest in relationships. (Think ROIR. Return On Investment in Relationships.) Return On Investment in Relationships.) 118. Relationship investment. Forethought. Calendar item. Intensity. Calendar item. Intensity. 119. Innovation. Easy. (Hang out with weird.) with weird.) 120. Weird = Win. (Weird times.) 121. “The bottleneck is at the top of the bottle.” of the bottle.” 122. Good Board = Weird Board. (At least, surprising.) (At least, surprising.) 123. No contention, no progress.

R.O.I.R. R.O.I.R.* *Return On Investment In Relationships

124. “Crucial conversations.” “Crucial confrontations.” (Study. Learn. Do.) confrontations.” (Study. Learn. Do.) 125. Honest feedback. 126. Gaspworthy. Yes. 127. “Insanely great.” 128. “Astonish me.” 129. “Make it immortal.” 130. “Will you remember it in 20 years?” 131. No small opportunities. (Reframe.) 132. One playmate, one playpen = Enough. 133. End run. Sensible. 134. Allies are there for the finding. 135. Find successes. Build on successes. (Pos > Neg. Encourage > Fix.) (Pos > Neg. Encourage > Fix.) 136. Somebody’s doing it today. Find ’em. 137. Someone is living 2016 in 2006. (Find ’em. Study ’em.) (Find ’em. Study ’em.)

138. Don’t “benchmark.” “futuremark.” 139. “PMA.” It works. (Positive. Mental. Attitude.) Attitude.) 140. There are no experts. (You are the expert.) 141. Life is short. 142. “Sustained success.” Fat chance. Make today matter. (“Sustained.” Ha.) Make today matter. (“Sustained.” Ha.) 143. Collaborate. (Networked world.) 144. Go solo. (Individual. Unit of Intellectual Capital.) Intellectual Capital.) 145. There are no “perfect” plans. (Do. Wins.) 146. Plans motivate. (Right or wrong. Sense of purpose.) Sense of purpose.) 147. Never rest. 148. Get some sleep. 149. Winning = Embracing paradox. 150. Ambiguity = Opportunity.

151. Resilience. 152. Relentless-ness. 153. None. Above. Comeuppance. No. “ultimate.” “business model.” No. “ultimate.” “business model.” (GM. Sears. U.S. Steel. DEC.) (GM. Sears. U.S. Steel. DEC.) 154. Be yourself. Period. 155. Never work with jerks. Including customers. (Life. Too short.) customers. (Life. Too short.) 156. Under-promise, over-deliver. 157. Talent. (Powerful word.) 158. “Customer = Anyone whose actions affect your results.” affect your results.” 159. Competition stinks. (Seek the soft spots where you can dominate.) spots where you can dominate.) 160. K.I.S.S./Keep It Simple, Stupid. 161. Beauty. (Good biz word.) 162. “See the beauty in a hamburger bun.” (Go. Ray.) (Go. Ray.)

163. Own up. Quick. ( Denial. Cancer.) 164. Celebrate. Often. 165. 78 people = 78 approaches. (Each. Unique.) 166. Weed. Ceaselessly. (Prune. Stupid. Rules. Non-stop.) 167. Get out of the way. (You = The problem.) 168. Smile. Sunny. Optimism. (If it kills you.) 169. Flowers. (Cheery workplace.) 170. Enjoy. (Or get the hell.) 171. Be intolerant of “sour.” (1 = Major pollution) 172. No “quick trigger” on promotion. (Too important.) 173. Evaluation = Lots of study-time. 174. Evaluation = “Life or death” to evaluee. 175. “360” evaluation. No fad. 176. Exit when you’re done. (Done. Sooner than you think.) 163. Own up. Quick. ( Denial. Cancer.) 164. Celebrate. Often. 165. 78 people = 78 approaches. (Each. Unique.) 166. Weed. Ceaselessly. (Prune. Stupid. Rules. Non-stop.) 167. Get out of the way. (You = The problem.) 168. Smile. Sunny. Optimism. (If it kills you.) 169. Flowers. (Cheery workplace.) 170. Enjoy. (Or get the hell.) 171. Be intolerant of “sour.” (1 = Major pollution) 172. No “quick trigger” on promotion. (Too important.) 173. Evaluation = Lots of study-time. 174. Evaluation = “Life or death” to evaluee. 175. “360” evaluation. No fad. 176. Exit when you’re done. (Done. Sooner than you think.)

177. Today. Now. My Project. Am. Is. I. Period. 178. “Beautiful” systems. (Good biz phrase. Not oxymoron.) Not oxymoron.) 179. Build on strengths > Fix weaknesses. 180. “To don’t” = “To do.” (“To don’t” > “To do” ?) “To do” ?) 181. Leaders “Do” People. (Period.) 182. Leaders enjoy leading. 183. Serious leadership training = Serious. 184. Priorities. Obvious. (Or else.) 185. 5 “Priorities” = 0 Priorities. (3 “Priorities” = 0 Priorities?) (3 “Priorities” = 0 Priorities?) 186. People. First. Last. Always. 187. It. Is. Always. The. People.

188. Handshake. (Quantity. Quality.) 189. Don’t fold your hands in front of your chest. Ever. (Never.) 190. Simplicity. Redundancy. Resilience. Bloody-mindedness. Visible optimism. (Success.) (Repeat.) 191. Employee Entrance = Guest Entrance. 192. Put the customer … SECOND. (Thanks, Hal.) 193. Flowers. (Or did I say that before? No matter if I did.) 194. Big Mergers don’t work. Small acquisitions can/do work—if you don’t screw with their energy. 188. Handshake. (Quantity. Quality.) 189. Don’t fold your hands in front of your chest. Ever. (Never.) 190. Simplicity. Redundancy. Resilience. Bloody-mindedness. Visible optimism. (Success.) (Repeat.) 191. Employee Entrance = Guest Entrance. 192. Put the customer … SECOND. (Thanks, Hal.) 193. Flowers. (Or did I say that before? No matter if I did.) 194. Big Mergers don’t work. Small acquisitions can/do work—if you don’t screw with their energy.

195. Instinctively “head for the front line.” (In all contexts.) 196. Success = DDMMPR/"D-squared, M-squared, PR” = DramDiff + M-squared, PR” = DramDiff + Money-Financial Acumen + Good Money-Financial Acumen + Good “Marketing” Instincts + Stellar People “Marketing” Instincts + Stellar People + Resilience (The “fab five”: What. + Resilience (The “fab five”: What. Every. Small. Biz. Needs.) (Big too.) Every. Small. Biz. Needs.) (Big too.) 197. Core Mechanism (“Game-changing Solutions”): PSF (Professional Service Solutions”): PSF (Professional Service Firm “model”) + Wow! Projects Firm “model”) + Wow! Projects (“Different” vs “Better”) + Brand You (“Distinct” or “Extinct”) (“Different” vs “Better”) + Brand You (“Distinct” or “Extinct”) 198. 2011/2016 has already happened. Find it. Find it.

199. Kids “know” kids. Oldies “know” oldies. Women “know” women. (Staff accordingly.) 200. Everybody is my customer. 201. Cosset “vendors.” 202. I want to run a Housekeeping department. (And you?) 203. The military doesn’t follow the “military model.” (Initiative = Excellence.) 204. No such thing as “going to absurd lengths” to serve the Customer. (HSM & Lefties.) 205. Forget the “customer.” All = “Clients.” 206. It takes decades to get over “sleights.” (So don’t sleight.) 207. Don’t “dumb down.” Ever.

208. NO LESS THAN EXCELLENCE. EVER. 209. EXCELLENCE. ALWAYS.

XXX. One size fits. One. Only. (Evaluations. Period.) XXX. Teaching. Individualized. Only. (6 billion people = 6 billion learning trajectories.) (Montessori.) XXX. First impression. Matters. Shapes all that comes. Hard to overcome. (Understatement.) XXX. Jerks. Don’t work with. (Life = Too short.) XXX. Manage [the hell out of] first impressions. XXX. Last impression. Matters. Dominates memory. Hard to overcome. (Understatement.) XXX. Manage [the hell out of] last impressions. XXX. Plain English. XXX. K.I.S.S. (450/8.) XXX. $798. $55,000,000,000. 3,000,000,000. 7AM-7PM. 6:15AM. XXX. Donnelly Weatherstrip rules. XXX. Managers do things right. Leaders do the right thing. NOT. Work In Progress XXX. One size fits. One. Only. (Evaluations. Period.) XXX. Teaching. Individualized. Only. (6 billion people = 6 billion learning trajectories.) (Montessori.) XXX. First impression. Matters. Shapes all that comes. Hard to overcome. (Understatement.) XXX. Jerks. Don’t work with. (Life = Too short.) XXX. Manage [the hell out of] first impressions. XXX. Last impression. Matters. Dominates memory. Hard to overcome. (Understatement.) XXX. Manage [the hell out of] last impressions. XXX. Plain English. XXX. K.I.S.S. (450/8.) XXX. $798. $55,000,000,000. 3,000,000,000. 7AM-7PM. 6:15AM. XXX. Donnelly Weatherstrip rules. XXX. Managers do things right. Leaders do the right thing. NOT.

ONE WORD+

Drill more wells R.F.A.AccountabilityRealismDecentralizationExecution Action bias Most mistakes wins 6:15amEnergyEnthusiasmDo>PlanAct>ThinkBehavior>AttitudePassion

ONE WORD+ 5 min/5,000 miles WomenDecencyGrace Innovate or Die Re-imagine Fight irrelevance Just Do It Care (You Must) Flowers (Say It With) I’m sorry Thank You Insanely Great Silence 2-cent candy

ONE WORD+EmotionIntuitionSellO.O.D.A.IntegrityWeirdAppreciateCelebrateRespectListenWander Calendar rules Calendar doesn’t lie “To don’t Max priorities = 3

ONE WORD+Gasp-worthy Insanely great Different>betterImpact>longevity Dramatic Difference Only ones do what we do Smile$7987-7-7 Design rules Beautiful Systems 450/8 VP S.O.U.B. Women buy all Women lead better

ONE WORD+MBWAWhy?PSFWow! ! (red) Buy a Mirror Know thyself InviteQuestAdventureTalent Brand You LovemarkExperienceDreamketing

ONE WORD+ Boomers-geezers own all 2.6/2125253,000,000,000(900,000,000) 26 minutes 43 hours Perception Is All There Is Enthusiasm: The Ultimate Virus

For Starbucks … The Cup Challenge* Tom Peters/1107.2006 *Potential Quotes for Cups

Enthusiasm! The Ultimate Virus! The Ultimate Virus!

Re-imagine!Re-do!Re-vise!Re-vo-lu-tion!

“Passion!”“Energy!”“Enthusiasm!” “Passion! Energy! Enthusiasm!” "Enthusiasm! Enthusiasm! Enthusiasm!" "Enthusiasm Moves Mountains!" "Enthusiasm Moves Mountains!" "Nothing Matches Enthusiasm as a 'Motivator'!" "Nothing Matches Enthusiasm as a 'Motivator'!" “Technicolor Times Demand Technicolor Actions” “Technicolor Times Demand Technicolor People” “Wow. Now.” “Re-imagine!” “Re-imagine! Re-do! Re-vise! Re-vo-lu-tion!”

Excellence.Always.

“No Less Than Excellence. Ever.” Ever.”

No Excellence. no excuse. no excuse.

"Respect!" “Leaders ‘Do’ People. Period.” “Credibility. Asset No. 1.” “Tell the Truth.” “Truth Wins.” “Challenge. Challenge. Challenge.” “Two Big Goals. Tops.” “Focus. Your Calendar Never Lies” “Good Story. Good Leader.” “Best Story Wins.” “Live the Story.” “Change the World. Accept Nothing Less.” "Dream!" "Dream!" “Dream. The Only Worthwhile Reality.” “Beware Those Who Agree With You” “Seek Dissidents. Nurture Dissidents. Cherish Dissidents”

Do. Do. Do.

try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. try it. Try it. Try it. try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it.

iMplementation … The “last 98%” … The “last 98%”

Do it. Now.

start.Now.

Most. Relentless. wins.

“Excellence!” “Demand Excellence!” “Demand Excellence. The Greatest Gift.” “Excellence, Life’s Gold Standard” “Stop Talking! Start Doing!” “Execute. Execute. Execute.” “‘Good Execution’ Beats ‘Good Strategy’” “Agility Trumps Size” "Women make the best bosses!" "Women make the best bosses!" “Women Rule. Believe It.” "You must care!" "You must care!"“Listen.” “Ask. ‘Why?’”

distinct. Or … Extinct.

2007.Self-reliance. No option.

2007.Excellence.

Excellence. Not optional.

it’s a … “brand you” world. “brand you” world.

“‘Me Too’ = ‘Me Dead’”

“‘Different’ beats ‘Better.’” “‘Distinct’ or ‘Extinct.’” “Innovate or Die” “‘Me Too’ = ‘Me Dead’” “Talent Time!” “Best Talent Wins.” “Best Roster Wins. “Moderation Fails in Immoderate Times”

“freaks win in freaky times.”

Seek Dissidents. Nurture Dissidents. Cherish Dissidents.

“besttalentwins.”

women = best leaders. Women = biggest market. Women = control wealth. Women = rule.

Roir/return on investment in relationships

Respect = magic.

“thank you” = magic.

“thank you” = magic potion #1.

Tom Peters’ Action Chronicles. EXCELLENCE. ALWAYS. Think-Do.ACTION.base.0107.2007

Think! vs. do!

Never forget implementation, boys. In our work, it’s what I call the ‘last 98 percent’ of the client puzzle.” “Never forget implementation, boys. In our work, it’s what I call the ‘last 98 percent’ of the client puzzle.” —Al McDonald, former Managing Director, McKinsey & Co, to a project team that included TP

HERBERT SIMON. (Administrative Behavior.) JAMES MARCH. KARL WEICK. (The Social Psychology of Organizing.) EUGENE WEBB. Henry MINTZBERG. (The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning.) JAMES UTTERBACK. THOMAS KUHN. (The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.) CHARLES LINDBLOM. Daniel goleman. INNOVATION BIOGRAPHERS.* MOST POLITICAL SCIENTISTS. SILICON VALLEY. Etc. The (Strange) Case of Peter Drucker & Michael Porter vs. The “Non-linearists” HERBERT SIMON. (Administrative Behavior.) JAMES MARCH. KARL WEICK. (The Social Psychology of Organizing.) EUGENE WEBB. Henry MINTZBERG. (The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning.) JAMES UTTERBACK. THOMAS KUHN. (The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.) CHARLES LINDBLOM. Daniel goleman. INNOVATION BIOGRAPHERS.* (*Transcontinental Railroad, Electrification, Radio, Television, Containerization, DNA, Computers, Military History, Etc.) MOST POLITICAL SCIENTISTS. SILICON VALLEY. Etc.

think! do! “Linearist”: think! “Non-linearist”: do!

Plan it! Try it! “Linearist”: Plan it! “Non-linearist”: Try it!

hypothesize! experiment! “Linearist”: hypothesize! “Non-linearist”: experiment!

failure = unnecessary failure = life “Linearist”: failure = unnecessary “Non-linearist”: failure = life

a>b* b>a** “Linearist”: a>b* “Non-linearist”: b>a** *Attitude shapes behavior **Behavior shapes attitude

deliberate!* relentless!** * “Do it right the first time” (Hero: Phil Crosby) **Never retreat (Hero: U.S. Grant) “Linearist”: deliberate!* “Non-linearist”: relentless!** * “Do it right the first time” (Hero: Phil Crosby) **Never retreat (Hero: U.S. Grant)

logical! passionate! “Linearist”: logical! “Non-linearist”: passionate!

give me genius! give me luck! “Linearist”: give me genius! “Non-linearist”: give me luck!

spotless academic record! a.d.d. “Linearist”: spotless academic record! “Non-linearist”: a.d.d.

measured pace! Tempo! Tempo! Tempo! “Linearist”: measured pace! “Non-linearist”: Tempo! Tempo! Tempo!

think! Plan! (r.a.f.*) Try it! Screw it up! Fix it! Try it again! (r.f.a.**) *Ready. Aim. Fire. **ready. Fire. Aim. (Or, circa 2006: fire. Fire. Fire.) “Linearist”: think! Plan! (r.a.f.*) “Non-linearist”: Try it! Screw it up! Fix it! Try it again! (r.f.a.**) *Ready. Aim. Fire. **ready. Fire. Aim. (Or, circa 2006: fire. Fire. Fire.)

minimize cost. maximize revenue. Cheap Shot “Linearist”: minimize cost. “Non-linearist”: maximize revenue.

marketing rules. sales rules. “Linearist”: marketing rules. “Non-linearist”: sales rules.

Background: planning, marketing & finance. background: sales & operations. “Linearist” Background: planning, marketing & finance. “Non-linearist” background: sales & operations.

likes: ideas. likes: people. “Linearist” likes: ideas. “Non-linearist” likes: people.

likes: parts. likes: wholes. “Linearist” likes: parts. “Non-linearist” likes: wholes.

office: walls. office: none. “Linearist” office: walls. “Non-linearist” office: none.

style: meetings. style: m.b.w.a.* *Managing by wandering around “Linearist” style: meetings. “Non-linearist” style: m.b.w.a.* *Managing by wandering around

reads: michael porter. Peter drucker.* reads: waterman & peters. Tom clancy.** *Michael & peter **Bob & tom & tom “Linearist” reads: michael porter. Peter drucker.* “Non-linearist” reads: waterman & peters. Tom clancy.** *Michael & peter **Bob & tom & tom

reads: michael porter. Peter drucker. reads: doesn’t “Linearist” reads: michael porter. Peter drucker. “Non-linearist” reads: doesn’t

preferred baseball score: 1-0. preferred baseball score: 11-9. “Linearist” preferred baseball score: 1-0. “Non-linearist” preferred baseball score: 11-9.

preferred football score: 7-0. preferred football score: 41-38. “Linearist” preferred football score: 7-0. “Non-linearist” preferred football score: 41-38.

criminal record: none. criminal record: disorderly conduct. Chronic jaywalking. “Linearist” criminal record: none. “Non-linearist” criminal record: disorderly conduct. Chronic jaywalking.

drives: lincoln town car. Ford explorer (weekends). drives: bmw. Harley- davidson (weekends). “Linearist” drives: lincoln town car. Ford explorer (weekends). “Non-linearist” drives: bmw. Harley- davidson (weekends).

HERBERT SIMON. (Administrative Behavior.) JAMES MARCH. KARL WEICK. (The Social Psychology of Organizing.) EUGENE WEBB. Henry MINTZBERG. (The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning.) JAMES UTTERBACK. THOMAS KUHN. (The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.) CHARLES LINDBLOM. Daniel goleman. INNOVATION BIOGRAPHERS.* MOST POLITICAL SCIENTISTS. SILICON VALLEY. Etc. The (Strange) Case of Peter Drucker & Michael Porter vs. The “Non-linearists” HERBERT SIMON. (Administrative Behavior.) JAMES MARCH. KARL WEICK. (The Social Psychology of Organizing.) EUGENE WEBB. Henry MINTZBERG. (The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning.) JAMES UTTERBACK. THOMAS KUHN. (The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.) CHARLES LINDBLOM. Daniel goleman. INNOVATION BIOGRAPHERS.* (*Transcontinental Railroad, Electrification, Radio, Television, Containerization, DNA, Computers, Military History, Etc.) MOST POLITICAL SCIENTISTS. SILICON VALLEY. Etc.

do! Addendum!

“Action is the foundational key of all success.” —Picasso

Translating Picasso “ Doing something is the key to getting something done.” “A BIAS FOR ACTION” Translating Picasso “ Doing something is the key to getting something done.” —TP (Co-author, In Search of Excellence, first “Basic”: “A BIAS FOR ACTION”)

“The secret to having good ideas is to have a lot of ideas, then throw the bad ones away.” “The secret to having good ideas is to have a lot of ideas, then throw the bad ones away.” —Linus Pauling

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” — Agatha Christie

“Intelligent people can always come up with intelligent reasons to do nothing.” —Scott Simon

EXCELLE ALWAYS.

The Sales122: 122 Ridiculously Obvious Thoughts About Selling Stuff GE (more or less) : The Sales122: 122 Ridiculously Obvious Thoughts About Selling Stuff Tom Peters/0402.2006

This list was first prepared for GE Energy sales & marketing people in January. It started with a half-dozen items, and grew like Topsy. Possibly, given its origins, it’s a little tilted toward complex, engineering- based sales. In any event, it makes a perfect companion to “The Irreducibles209.” This, too, is effectively a list of “irreducibles.” Tom Peters

1. “Strategy” overrated, simply “doin’ stuff” underrated. See Kelleher and Bossidy: “We have a ‘strategic plan,’ it’s called doing things.”—Herb Kelleher. “Execution is a systematic process of rigorously discussing hows and whats, tenaciously following through, and ensuring accountability.” —Larry Bossidy & Ram Charan/ Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done. Action has its own logic—ask Genghis Khan, Rommel, COL John Boyd, U.S. Grant, Patton, W.T. Sherman. 2. What are you personally great at? (Key word: “great.”) Play to strengths! “Distinct or Extinct.” You should aim to be “outrageously good”/B.I.W. at a niche area (or more). 3. Are you a “personality,” a de facto “brand” in the industry? The Dr Phil of... 4. Opportunism (with a little forethought) mostly wins. (“Successful people are the ones who are good at Plan B.”) 5. Little starts can lead to big wins. Most true winners—think search & Google—start as something small. Many big deals— Disney & Pixar—could have been done as little-er deals if you’d had the guts to jump before the value became obvious.

Everyone lives by selling something.” “Everyone lives by selling something.” —Robert Louis Stevenson

6. Non-obvious targets have great potential. Among many other things, everybody goes after the obvious ones. Also, the “non-obvious” are often good Partners for technology experiments. 7. The best relationships are often (usually?) not “top to top”! (Often the best: hungry division GMs eager to make a mark.) 8. IT’S RELATIONSHIPS, STUPID—DEEP AND FROM MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS. 9. In any public-sector business, you must become an avid student of “the politics,” the incentives and constraints, mostly non-economic, facing all of the players. Politicians are usually incredibly logical—if you (deeply!) understand the matrix in which they exist. 10. Relationships from within our firm are as important— often more important—as those from outside—again broad is as important as deep. Allies—avid supporters!—within and from non-obvious places may be more important than relationships at the Client organization. Goal: an “insanely unfair ‘market share’” of insiders’ time devoted to your projects!

C(I)>C(X)

11. Interesting outsiders are essential to innovative proposal and sales teams. An “exciting” sales-proposal team is as important as a prestigious one. 12. Is the proposal-sales team weird enough—weirdos come up with the most interesting, game-changer ideas. Period. 13. Lunch with at least one weirdo per month. (Goal: always on the prowl for interesting new stuff.) 14. Gratuitous comment: Lunches with good friends are typically a waste of (professional) time. 15. Don’t short-change (time, money, depth) the proposal process. Miss one tiny nuance, one potential incentive that “makes my day” for a key Client player—and watch the whole gig be torpedoed. 16. “Sticking with it” sometimes pays, sometimes not—it takes a lot of tries to forge the best path in. Sometimes you never do, after a literal lifetime. (Ah, life.) 17. WOMEN ARE SIMPLY BETTER AT RELATIONSHIPS—don’t get hung up—particularly in tech firms—on what industries- countries “ women can’t do.” (Or some such bullshit.)

18. Work incessantly on your “story”—most economic value springs from a good story (think Perrier)! In sensitive public or quasi-public negotiations, a compelling story is of immense value—politics is about the tension among competing stories. (If you don’t believe me, ask Karl Rove or James Carville.) (“Storytelling is the core of culture.” —Branded Nation: The Marketing of Megachurch, College Inc., and Museumworld, James Twitchell) 19. Call this 18A, or 18 repeat: Become a first-rate Storyteller! (“A key – perhaps the key – to leadership is the effective communication of a story.”—Howard Gardner, Leading Minds: An Anatomy of Leadership) 20. Risk Assessment & Risk Management is more about stories than advanced math—i.e., brilliant scenario construction. 21. Good listeners are good sales people. Period. 22. Lousy listeners are lousy sales people. Period. 23. GREAT LISTENERS ARE GREAT SALES PEOPLE. (Listening “skills” are hard to learn and subject to immense effort in pursuit of Mastery. A virtuoso “listener” is as rare as a virtuoso cello player.) (“If you don’t listen, you don’t sell anything.”—Carolyn Marland/MD/Guardian Group)

24. Things that are funny to me (American) are often-mostly not funny to those in other cultures. (Humor is as fine-edged as it gets, and rarely travels.) 25. You don’t know Jack Squat about other peoples’ cultures— especially if you are a typically myopic American. (Like me.) 26. Are you a great interviewer? It’s a make or break skill. (Think Barbara Walters’ skill at extracting unwanted truths from pros in persona-protection... in front of 10s of millions of people. 27. Are you a great (not merely “good”) presenter? Mastering presentation skills is a life’s work—with stupendous payoff. 28. Work like hell on the Big 2: LISTENING/INTERVIEWING, PRESENTING. These are “the essence of [sales] life”—and usually picked-up in an amateurish fashion. Mistake! (Become a “professional student” of these two areas, achieve Mastery.) 29. Are you good at flowers? Think: FLOWER POWER ! (see Harvey Mackay’s “Mackay 66”—what you should know about a Client; e.g., birthdays & anniversaries.) (My “flowers budget” is out of control. Hooray for me.) 30. You can’t do it all—be clear at what you are good at, bad at, indifferent at. Hubris sucks.

31. The point is not to “prove yourself.” (That’s ego-talk.) Let the best person present to the Client—perhaps a “lower level” geek. (“Control freaks” get their just desserts in the long haul— or sooner.) 32. The numbers will more or less take care of themselves over the long haul—if the relationship/s is/are solid gold. 33. The Gold Standard in selling: INDISPENSABLE to the Client. No other goal is worthy. 34. Never stop growing-broadening-deepening the relationship. The key to “indispensability” is to get the Client more and more … and more … and then more … imbedded in “our” web. Hence the so-called “selling process” is only the first step! 35. USE THE WORD “WE” … CONSTANTLY & RELIGIOUSLY! (E.g.: “We”—the Client & me—“are going to change the world with this service.”) 36. Don’t waste your time on jerks—it’ll rarely work out in the mid- to long-term. 37. Genius is walking away from lousy “scores” (deals)—and accepting the attendant heat. Big Business is the premier home to Big Egos overpaying by a factor of 2 to 22 with billion$$$$ at stake. (Think Jerry Levin and AOL Time Warner.)

“If you don’t listen, you don’t sell you don’t sell anything.” anything.” —Carolyn Marland/ Managing Director/ Guardian Group

38. You haven’t a clue as to how this situation will actually play out—be prepared to move fast in a different direction. 39. Keep your word. 40. KEEP YOUR WORD. 41. Underpromise (i.e., don’t over-promise; i.e., cut yourself a little slack) even if it costs you business—winning is a long-term affair. Over-promising is Sign #1 of a lack of integrity. You will pay the piper. 42. There is such a thing as a “good loss”—if you’ve tested something new and developed good relationships. A half-dozen honorable, ingenious losses over a two-year period can pave the way for a Big Victory in a New Space in year 3. 43. It’s a competitive world out there. New, innovative products are harder to sell than old stand-bys. Nonetheless, you will be a long-term star to the extent that you are willing to push the harder-to-sell-at-the-moment Innovative Products that cement long-term Client success (Indispensability!) —even if it means a #s hit this quarter. PART OF YOUR JOB: TAKE CLIENTS ON AN ADVENTURE THAT PUTS THEM AHEAD OF THE GAME CALLED (GAMECHANGING—hopefully) COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE!

“ You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” “ You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” —Dale Carnegie

44. Think “legacy”—what the hell is all this really about for you and the world? (“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” —Mary Oliver) 45. THERE ARE NO “MODERATES” IN THE HISTORY BOOKS! 46. Keep it simple! (Damn it!) No matter how “sophisticated” the product. If you can’t explain it in a phrase, a page, or to your 14- year-old... you haven’t got it right yet. 47. Know more than the next guy. Homework pays. (of course it’s obvious—but in my work it is too often honored in the breach.) 48. Regardless of project size, winning or losing invariably hinges on a raft of “little stuff.” Little stuff is and always has been everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!—or, “one man’s little stuff is another man’s 7.6 Richter deal-breaker.” 49. In public settings in particular, face saving is all. When something changes, allow the other guy to come out looking like a winner, especially if he has lost. (Even if you must accept the egg on your face—he will always remember you!) 50. Don’t hold grudges. (It is the ultimate in small mindedness— and incredibly wasteful and ineffective. There’s always tomorrow.)

51. IT’S ALWAYS “THE POLITICS”—wee private-sector deal or giant public sector deal. (Every player, small or large, is angling for something. Master the calculus of advantage.) 52. To beat the “turnover problem” in key Client posts amidst long negotiations, invest outrageous amounts of time building a wide & deep set of relationships with mid-level (& lower!!) “plodding” “careerists.” The invisible careerists are the bedrock upon which repeated success is built! (My “Capitol Hill Axiom”: It’s the 24-year-old LA who in the end briefs the Senator right before she goes to the Floor to vote.) 53. Speaking of “she”: Gender differences are Enormous— dealing with a woman and dealing with a man are different kettles of fish—you must become an A+ student of gender differences. (E.g.: Men are typically more interested in the short-term “score.” Women are more interested in the long- term consequences.) 54. “LITTLE PEOPLE” OFTEN HAVE BIG FRIENDS. 55. This is not war, damn it. All parties can win (or not lose, anyway). And losing bidders can walk away from a deal with increased respect for you and your team.

56. Never, ever dump on a competitor—the Tom Watson IBM glory-days mantra. 57. Never forget the “Law of Cousins!” In developing nations in particular, power brokers at all levels are at least cousins! Consideration for a second cousin can pay off big time. 58. Speaking of “favors,” jail sucks. 59. Work hard beats work smart. (Mostly.) 60. REPEAT: HE/SHE WHO HAS THE MOST-BEST RELATIONSHIPS WINS. RELATIONSHIPS ARE THE ESSENCE OF THE WORK OF THE SALESPERSON. THE HARD... AND LONG... WORK OF THE SALESPERSON. 61. Mano v mano “hardball” is seldom the answer—end runs based and patient multi-level relationship building via deeper- wider networks win. 62. If the deal is wired from below, truly wired, than the so- called “big negotiations” are essentially irrelevant. 63. If every quarter is a “little better” than the prior quarter— then you are not taking any serious risks. 64. Phones beat email.

“Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm.” —Samuel Taylor Coleridge

65. A THREE-MINUTE CALL TODAY CAN AVOID A GAME-LOSER OF A FIASCO NEXT MONTH. There was always a time when a little thing could have been addressed that headed off a subsequent big thing. As to avoiding that call, didn’t someone say, “Pride goeth before the fall”? 66. Be hyper-organized about relationship management—you are in the anthropology business. Study the great pols! Brilliant NRM (network relationship management) is not accidental! It is not catch-as-catch can. (Football analogies are cute—but deep political understanding pays the private-school tuition.) 67. Obsess on ROIR (Return On Investment In Relationships). 68. “THANK YOU” NOTES: World’s highest-return investment!! 69. The way to anyone’s heart: Doing a nice thing for their kid. (But, gawd, does this take a gentle touch.) 70. Scoring off other people is stupid. Winners are always in the business of creating the maximum # of winners—among adversaries at least as much as among “partners.” 71. Your colleagues’ successes are your successes. Period. (Trust me, my greatest personal success—financially as well as artistically—has been creating a bigger pond in which everyone wins, even if my “market share” is down.)

72. Lend a helping hand, especially when you don’t have the time. E.g. share relationships—the more you give away the more you get in return (just like they say in church). 73. Listen up: “It was much later that I realized Dad’s secret. He gained respect by giving it. He talked and listened to the fourth-grade kids in Spring Valley who shined shoes the same way he talked and listened to a bishop or a college president. He was seriously interested in who you were and what you had to say.” —Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, Respect. (I.e., Respect is Cool.) 74. Mentoring is a thrill—and the practical payoff is enormous. The best mentors have the whole world working its buns off for them! 75. Hire for enthusiasm. Promote for enthusiasm. Cherish enthusiasm. REMOVE NON-ENTHUSIASTS—THEY ARE CANCERS. (“Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm.”— Samuel Taylor Coleridge. “A man without a smiling face must not open a shop.”—Chinese Proverb.) 76. IT’S ALWAYS YOUR PROBLEM—you sold it to them.

77. It’s never over: While there may be an excellent service activity in your company, the “relationship” belongs to You! Hence the “aftersales” “moments of truth” are at least as—if not more than*--important to the Continuing Relationship as the sale “transaction” itself. (*I vote for “more than.”) You’ll get your biggest “points” with the Client for being an effective after-the-fact go-between with your company. 78. Don’t get too hung up on “systems integration”—first & foremost, the individual bits have got to work. 79. For God’s sake don’t over promise on “systems integration”—it’s nigh on impossible to deliver. 80. On the other hand … winners clamber Up the Value-added Ladder, and offer ever so much more than “mere” product. ALL SUCCESSFUL SALES PEOPLE ARE IN THE “SOLUTIONS BUSINESS”—no matter how jargony that may sound.

81. “Systems” / “Solutions” selling means grappling directly with “culture change” in Client organizations. (“The business of selling is not just about matching viable solutions to the customers that require them. It’s equally about managing the change process the customer will need to go through to implement the solution and achieve the value promised by the solution”—Jeff Thull, The Prime Solution: Close the Value Gap, Increase Margins, and Win the Complex Sale) 82. Shit happens. That’s what they pay you for. 83. This is not a “GE” or “Ben & Jerry’s” sale—it is a Joe Jones/Jane Jones sale. YOU ARE THE “BRAND” THE CLIENT BUYS—especially over the long haul. 84. Duh: You make money, the company makes money—on repeat business. 85. Master—yes, you—the “PR” Game. “Word of Mouth” is not accidental! You want Word of Mouth? Make it happen! 86. GOAL #1: MAKE YOUR CLIENT A HERO—YOU ARE NOT THERE TO GET CREDIT. (“Taking credit” is for egomaniacs. And losers.) 87. “Decent margins,” over the mid- to long-term, are a product of better relationships, not better “negotiating skill.” (Mostly.)

“You can’t behave in a calm, rational manner. You’ve got to be out there on to be out there on the lunatic fringe.” the lunatic fringe.” —Jack Welch

88. In the immortal words of ex-GE Vice Chairman Larry Bossidy, more or less, “Realism rocks.” (“Bullshit artist” and “great salesperson,” contrary to conventional wisdom, are Diametric Opposites. “Truthteller” and Great Salesperson is more like it.) 89. Be the first to tell the Client bad news (e.g., slipped delivery); his intelligence sources will tell him fast—you want to be there first with your story and to enhance your rep as Truthteller! 90. Work like hell to get a reputation as a valued industry expert, to become an industry resource. 91. Work the Trade Association angle for all its worth—it may take a decade to pay off—e.g., when you become an officer or are on an important panel or testify Before Congress. 92. PAY YOUR DUES IN THE CLIENT ORG AND IN YOUR OWN ORG! 93. It’s all bloody tactics. 94. You must... LOVE.... the product! (Period.) 95. YOU MUST LOVE THE PRODUCT! 96. Don’t over-schedule. “Running late” is inexcusable at any level of seniority; it is the ultimate mark of self-importance mixed with contempt.

97. Women are better salespeople. (See Addendum.) 98. Women alone understand Women. 99. Actually, Women by and large understand Men better than Men understand Men. 100.Women purchasers buy Stories and recommendations. 101. Women take longer to become Loyal purchasers, but then stay Loyal. 102. Men buy Stats. 103. Men decide fast, but are fickle. 104. Men & Women are … VERY, VERY … Different. 105. Women buy most things. Consumer. Increasingly, professional goods and services. 106. Women’s Market is Opportunity #1. 107. Boomers. Many, many. Lots & lots & lots of … $$$. 108. Boomers-Geezers are very different purchasers than those in other categories.

Women Rock … as Salespersons (From Item #97.) Women Rock … as Salespersons (From Item #97.) And the answers are? “TAKE THIS QUICK QUIZ: Who manages more things at once? Who puts more effort into their appearance? Who usually takes care of the details? Who finds it easier to meet new people? Who asks more questions in a conversation? Who is a better listener? Who has more interest in communication skills? Who is more inclined to get involved? Who encourages harmony and agreement? Who has better intuition? Who works with a longer ‘to do’ list? Who enjoys a recap to the day’s events? Who is better at keeping in touch with others?” Source: Selling Is a Woman’s Game: 15 Powerful Reasons Why Women Can Outsell Men, Nicki Joy & Susan Kane-Benson

109. It takes time to get to know people. (DUH.) 110. The very idea of “efficiency” in relationship development is... STUPID. 111. MBWA (still) rules. 112. “Preparing the soil” is the “first 98 percent.” (Or more.) 113. WORK THE PHONES! 114. Rule 5K-5M: 5K miles for a 5-Minute meeting often makes sense. (Yes, often.) (Even with constrained travel budgets.) (Thanks, super-agent Mark McCormack.) 115. Become a student! Study great salespeople! (Including Presidents.) (“Natural” is a little bit true—but then Naturals are always the ones who study hardest— e.g., Jerry Rice.) 116. Become a student! Yes, you can study Relationship Building. So, study … 117. Beware complexifiers and complicators. (Truly “smart people”... Simplify things.)

118. The smartest guy in the room rarely wins—alas, he usually is aware he’s the smartest guy. (And needn’t waste his time on that “soft relationship crap.”) 119. Be kind. It works. 120. Be especially kind when there are screw-ups. (There’s plenty of time later to Play the Great Accountability Game.) 121. Presidents never tire of being treated like Presidents. 122. Luck matters. Good luck! Good luck!

Tom’s 60TIB s * Tom’s 60TIB s * *TIB = This I Believe

Sixty for Sixty: Tom’s 60TIB s The architect Bill Caudill was a contrarian. He pioneered the idea of working intimately with clients to create spaces that met their needs; this flew in the face of conventional wisdom, which held that the architect was pure artist, barely deigning to make client contact. Caudill’s approach was wildly successful—so much so that today it’s become conventional wisdom. wildly successful—so much so that today it’s become conventional wisdom. Over the years Bill jotted notes on this and that, and began to organize them for his children. The title of his musings: This I Believe. After Caudill’s death, his colleagues collected the notes and published them. That is, The TIB s of Bill Caudill. A sixtieth birthday is a monumental occasion, and I chose, among other things, to give myself a present to mark the/my date in November 2002. I sat on a hill overlooking my farm in Vermont, and scribbled down 60 thoughts, one for each year, that seemed to capture my professional and, to some extent, my personal journey. Those thoughts—Tom’s 60TIBs—herewith.

1. TECHNICOLOR RULES! (Passion Moves Mountains!) 2. Audacity Matters! 3. Revolution Now! 4. Question Authority! (& Hire Disrespectful People.) 5. Disorganization Wins! (LOVE THE MESS!)

6. Think 3M: Markets Matter Most. ONLY EXTREME COMPETITION STAVES OFF STALENESS. (You can take the boy out of Silicon Valley, but you can’t take Silicon Valley out of the boy!) 7. Three Hearty Cheers for Weirdos. (Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Larry Ellison, Scott McNealy, Craig Venter et al.) 8. Message 2003: Technology Change (Info-sciences, Biosciences) Is in Its Infancy! (WE AIN’T SEEN NOTHIN’ YET!) 9. Everything Is Up For Grabs! Volatility Is Thy Name! (Forever & Ever. Amen.) RE-INVENT … OR DIE! 10. Big Sucks. (Mostly.) (VERY Mostly.)

11. “Permanence” Is a Snare & a Delusion. (Forget “Built to Last.” It’s Yesterday’s Idea.) 12. Kaizen” (Continuous Improvement) Is … Dangerous. 13. DESTRUCTION RULES! 14. Forget It! (“Learning” = Easy. “Forgetting” = Nigh on Impossible.) 15. Innovation Is Easy: Hang Out with Freaks. (Employees, Board Members, Customers, Suppliers, Alliance Partners, Consultants.)

16. Boring Begets Boring. (Cool Begets Cool.) 17. Think “Portfolio.” (We’re All V.C.s.) 18. Perception Is All There Is. (“Insiders” … ALWAYS … overestimate the Radicalism of What They’re Up To.) 19. Action … ALWAYS … Takes Precedence. Think: R.F!A./Ready. Fire! Aim. (REWARD SUCCESS. REWARD FAILURE. PUNISH … INACTION.) 20. He Who Makes & Tests the Quickest & Coolest Prototypes Reigns!

21. Haste Makes Waste. (SO GO WASTE!) 22. Screw-ups are … the … Mark of Excellence. (“Do It Right the First Time” Is a Very Stupid Idea.) 23. Play Hard! Play Now! (Cherish Play!) 24. TALENT TIME! (He/She Who Has the Best “Roster” Rules!) 25. Re-do Education. Totally. (FOSTER CREATIVITY … NOT UNIFORMITY.) (THE NOISIEST CLASSROOM WINS.)

26. Diversity’s Hour Is Now! 27. SHE … Is the Best Leader! 28. MARKETING MANTRA: Embrace the “BIG THREE” Demographics. (1) SHE … is the Customer. (For everything.) (2) Rapidly Aging Boomers Have … ALL THE MONEY. (3) Green … Matters. (TRILLIONS OF $$$$$ Are at Stake.) (NOBODY … Gets It.) (Mere “Programs” Will Not Suffice.) 29. Re-boot Healthcare. (UNDERSTATEMENT.) 30. WHAT ARE WE SELLING? “Experiences” & “Solutions” > “Quality” & “Satisfaction.” (The Traditional Value-added Equation Is Being Set on Its Ear.)

31. DESIGN = New Seat of the Soul. 32. Branding Is for … EVERYONE. He Who Has the … BEST STORY … Takes Home the Marbles. 33. DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE = Only Difference. 34. WORDS/Language Matters … a Lot. (E.g.: Three Hearty Cheers for “Wow”!) 35. WHAT MATTERS IS STUFF THAT MATTERS. (Query #1: “Are You Proud of It?”)

36. eALL. (IS/IT: Half-way = No Way.) 37. DREAM … Big! DREAM … Enormous. DREAM … Gargantuan. (These Are XXXL Times.) 38. THINK MIKE! (Michelangelo: “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.”) 39. There Is Only … ONE BIG ISSUE. Cross- functional Communication. 40. Stop Doing Dumb Shit. (SYSTEMATIZE THE PROCESS OF “UN-DUMBING.”)

41. Beautiful Systems Are … BEAUTIFUL. 42. The … WHITE-COLLAR REVOLUTION … Will Devour Everything in Its Path. 43. Take Charge of Your Destiny! BrandYou Moment! DISTINCT … OR EXTINCT! 44. “Powerlessness” Is a State of Mind! Think: King. Gandhi. De Gaulle. 45. Pursue Adventure … in Every Task.

46. EXCELLENCE … Is a State of Mind. (Excellence Takes a Minute.) (No Bull.) 47. SHOW UP! (If You Care, You’re There.) 48. YOUR CALENDAR KNOWS ALL. (You = Calendar.) (Mind Your “TO DON’T” List.) 49. LIFE IS SALES. (The Rest Is Details.) 50. Boss Mantra #1: “I DON’T KNOW.” (“I Don’t Know” = Permission to Explore.)

51. Management Role 1: GET OUT OF THE WAY. (Clear the Way.) (“Manager” = Hurdle Removal Professional.) 52. Epitaph from Hell: “He Woulda Done Some Truly Cool Stuff … But His Boss Wouldn’t Let Him.” 53. Change Takes However Long You Think It Takes. (Eschew … “Incrementalism.”) 54. Respect! (Rule 1: Don’t Belittle!) 55. “Thank You” Trumps All!

56. Integrity Matters! Integrity = Credibility. (Dennis K. Is a Jerk.) 57. SOFT IS HARD. HARD IS SOFT. (Numbers Are Soft. People Are Not.) 58. Try Sunny! (Sunny Begets Sunny. Gloomy Begets Gloomy.) 59. DISPENSE ENTHUSIASM! 60. FUN …Is Not a 4-Letter Word. So, too … JOY. (And … GRACE.)

Tom Peters’ to-m A -to to-mah-to

New Delhi. Thirteen September 2004. I awoke, jetlagged and sweaty, at 3A.M. I’d had a nightmare. Stark realism. I was, as usual, accused of overstatement and a few (or more) too many exclamation marks (!!!!!). Only this time I’d acceded to “They.” The “They” who believe in “The Plan” and “Built to Last” and “Continuous Improvement” and “Quiet, Humble Leaders.” No! No! I had failed, in my dream, to live up to my Fervent Beliefs! This must not pass! In a sweat, fearful that the time would not come ‘round again, I turned on the light, picked up a pad of paper, and began to scribble frantically. Herewith the result.

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto! They say … my (Tom) language is extreme. I say … the times are extreme. They say I’m extreme. I say I’m a realist. They say I demand too much. I say they accept mediocrity & continuous improvement too readily. too readily. They say “We can’t handle this much change.” I say “Your job and career are in jeopardy; what other options do you have?” options do you have?” They say Brand You is not for everyone. I say the alternative is unemployment. They say “What’s wrong with a ‘good product’?” I say Wal*Mart or China or both are about to eat your lunch. Why can’t you provide instead a Fabulous lunch. Why can’t you provide instead a Fabulous Experience? Experience?

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto! They say “Take a deep breath. Be calm.” I say “Tell it to Wal*Mart. Tell it to China. Tell it to India. Tell it to Dell. Tell it to Microsoft.” to India. Tell it to Dell. Tell it to Microsoft.” They say the Web is a “useful tool.” I say the Web changes everything. Now. They say “We need an Initiative.” I say “We need a Dream. And Dreamers.” They say Great Design is “nice.” I say Great Design is “necessary.” They say I “overplay” the “women’s thing.” I say the share of Women in Senior Leadership Positions is a Waste and a Disgrace and a Positions is a Waste and a Disgrace and a Strategic Marketing Error. Strategic Marketing Error.

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto! They say the Women’s Market Opportunity I harp on is “doubtless important.” I say 9 out of 10, make that 99 out of 100, companies aren’t within striking distance of accurately estimating the potential within striking distance of accurately estimating the potential of the Women’s Market … let alone exploiting it. of the Women’s Market … let alone exploiting it. They say the boomer-geezer market is also “doubtless important.” I say the boomer-geezer market amounts to a Redefining Moment. Moment. They say we need a “project” to exploit the women-boomer-geezer market. I say we need Total Strategic Realignment to exploit the Women-Boomer-Geezer Opportunity. Women-Boomer-Geezer Opportunity. They say “Wow” is “typical Tom.” I say “WOW” is a Minimum Survival Requirement. They say “effective governance” is important. I say bold-brash Boards that are representative of the market served—more than a token woman or two and an empty seat served—more than a token woman or two and an empty seat for the “forthcoming Hispanic”—are an Imperative. Now. for the “forthcoming Hispanic”—are an Imperative. Now.

I say “Different!” They say “Better.” I say “Different!”

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto! They say “Plan it.” I say “DO IT.” They say “We need more steady, loyal employees.” I say “WE NEED MORE FREAKS WHO ROUTINELY TELL THOSE ‘IN CHARGE’ TO TAKE A FLYING LEAP … THOSE ‘IN CHARGE’ TO TAKE A FLYING LEAP … BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.” BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.” They say “We need Good People.” I say “We need Quirky Talent.” They say “We like people who, with steely determination, say, “I can make it better.’” I say “I love people who, with a certain maniacal gleam in their eye, perhaps even a giggle, say, ‘I can turn in their eye, perhaps even a giggle, say, ‘I can turn the world upside down. Watch me!’” the world upside down. Watch me!’” They say “We must speed things up.” I say “We must Radically change the Corporate Metabolism until Insane Urgency becomes Metabolism until Insane Urgency becomes a Sacrament.” a Sacrament.”

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto! They say, “Sure, we need ‘Change.’” I say we need “REVOLUTION NOW.” They say (acknowledge), “Okay, we need revolution.” I say, “REVOLUTION.” They say “fast follower.” I say “battered and bruised leader.” They say “Conglomerate & Imitate!” I say “Create & Innovate!” They say “Market share.” I say “Market CREATION.” They say “Improve & Maintain.” I say “DESTROY & RE-IMAGINE.”

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto! They say “We like words such as ‘calm’ … ‘certainty’ … ‘is.’” I say “I like words/phrases such as ‘turbulent’ ‘opportunity’ … ‘might be’.” ‘opportunity’ … ‘might be’.” They vote for Republicans and Democrats. I vote for Independents and Libertarians. They say “Normal.” I say “Weird.” They say “Happy balance.” I say “Creative Tension.” They say they favor a “team” that works & lives in “harmony.” I say “give me a raucous brawl among the most creative people imaginable.” creative people imaginable.” They say “Peace, brother.” I say “Bruise my feelings. Flatten my ego. SAVE MY JOB.” SAVE MY JOB.”

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto! They say “Vanilla.” I say “Cherry Garcia.” They say “Basic Black.” I say “TECHNICOLOR RULES!” They say “Branding is for the likes of Nike.” I say “Branding is for Everyone & Anyone with the Passion & Tenacity to foist their Wonderful & Weird Passion & Tenacity to foist their Wonderful & Weird Point of View on the world … and the New World’s Point of View on the world … and the New World’s (read: Web’s) power allows-encourages such “silly” (read: Web’s) power allows-encourages such “silly” (until recently) visions-of-ubiquity to become reality, (until recently) visions-of-ubiquity to become reality, perhaps overnight.” perhaps overnight.” They say we need “happy customers.” I say “Give me pushy, needy, nasty, provocative customers who will drag me down Innovation customers who will drag me down Innovation Boulevard.” Boulevard.” They say they want to partner with “best of breed.” I say “Give me Coolest of Breed.”

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto! They say we need “supply chain harmony.” I say we need “supply chain Innovation.” They say “We seek Harvard MBAs.” I say I seek Certificate-free “PhDs” from the School of Hard Knocks. of Hard Knocks. They say they want recruits with a “spotless records.” I say “the Spots are what matter most.” They say “Integrity is important.” I say “Tell the Unvarnished Truth, All the Time … or take a Long Hike.” or take a Long Hike.” They read Jim Collins and grok on “quiet, humble leaders.” I say “Give me the Bold, the Brash, the Brassy, the Egocentric Dreamers who, like Steve Jobs, Egocentric Dreamers who, like Steve Jobs, ‘Dent the Universe.’” ‘Dent the Universe.’”

I say “Re-imagine!” They say “Improve.” I say “Re-imagine!”

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto! They say they need a “vision” born of McKinsey. I say we need a “Grandiose Dream” born of a Passionate & Intemperate Belief that the world can be a different, & Intemperate Belief that the world can be a different, better place. better place. They say healthcare, our biggest industry, is “a mess.” I say our hospitals, which kill over 100,000 patients a year, are part of a system that is “a disgrace.” year, are part of a system that is “a disgrace.” They say “obesity is a problem” … “lose some weight.” I say Re-imagine the entire healthcare system … NOW … to focus on Prevention & Wellness. NOW … to focus on Prevention & Wellness. They say “no child left behind.” I say “education” is leaving ALL our children behind, as it is totally mis-aligned to deal with tomorrow’s as it is totally mis-aligned to deal with tomorrow’s (this afternoon’s) uncertain, ambiguous, creativity- (this afternoon’s) uncertain, ambiguous, creativity- driven economy. driven economy.

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto! They say, “Of course we believe in marketing.” I say “Is the CMO [Chief Marketing Officer] on the Board of Directors?” of Directors?” They say “Of course we believe in marketing.” I say “Has your customer data base won numerous major industry awards?” They say “Of course we believe in marketing.” I say “Is your Web site Sooooo Cool, Sooooo Fresh, Sooooo Friendly to Use that it gives you goose pimples just to e-visit, Friendly to Use that it gives you goose pimples just to e-visit, even though you’ve seen it 1000 times?” even though you’ve seen it 1000 times?” They say “Of course we believe in marketing.” I say “How many in-depth customer visits did the CEO make last month?” last month?” They say “Yes, the ‘Women’s thing’ is important.” I say “Do women hold at least 1/3rd of your Board seats?” They say “We’re coming around on the design bit.” I say “Is, as at Braun, your Chief Design Officer on the Board of Directors?” of Directors?”

Tom’ Re-imagine Manifesto! They say “Of course we think the ‘experiences thing’ is important.” I say “Is there an ‘EVP Experiences’?” They say “Of course innovation is important.” I say “Is your percentage of revenue devoted to R&D at least 1.5 (2.0? 2.5?) times the industry average?” at least 1.5 (2.0? 2.5?) times the industry average?” They say “Of course we believe in IS/IT.” I say “Is the CIO on the Board of Directors?” (Only 5% of Fortune500 CIOs are on the Board. One example: Wal*Mart.) They say “Of course we believe in IS/IT.” I say “How many members of your Board are under 35 years old?” years old?” They say “We believe in having a ‘flat organization.’” I say “Is your headquarters in a Tower?”

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto ! They say we need to “bring effectiveness to the supply chain.” I say we need an IS/IT/Best Sourcing revolution based on nothing less than an Entirely Original Vision of what on nothing less than an Entirely Original Vision of what organizations are and how they interact. organizations are and how they interact. They say “Globalization is a bumpy road.” I say India and China and Asia in general are within two decades of running the show: Get ready or get decades of running the show: Get ready or get trounced. trounced. They say “defense” and “consolidation” are musts for a global game. I say encourage Offense, nurture a Generation (or 10) of Entrepreneurs, cherish Creativity & Risk-taking from Entrepreneurs, cherish Creativity & Risk-taking from primary school onwards … and don’t expect to be primary school onwards … and don’t expect to be saved by a bunch of bulky, retro behemoth commanded saved by a bunch of bulky, retro behemoth commanded by a phalanx of Old White Guys who think 30 minutes a by a phalanx of Old White Guys who think 30 minutes a day on the corporate treadmill and 27 holes on the day on the corporate treadmill and 27 holes on the links are a fit defense against Revolution. links are a fit defense against Revolution.

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto! They say “Get an MBA.” I say “Get an MFA.” They say “If it can’t be precisely measured then it isn’t real.” (And I suppose if it can be measured it is real? Think Enron? Adelphia? WorldCom?) I say “If it can be precisely measured it isn’t real.” (Think Age of Intangibles & Relationships.) (Think: “He knew Age of Intangibles & Relationships.) (Think: “He knew the price of everything and the value of nothing.”) the price of everything and the value of nothing.”) They say “Rationality is the Bedrock of Modern Society.” I say “Irrationality [irrational exuberance?] is the Mother of all True Entrepreneurial Pilgrimages.” of all True Entrepreneurial Pilgrimages.” They say “Order is the necessary precursor to measured, sustainable success.” I say “Dis-order is the precursor to Opportunistic Sorties, Market Creation, Quantum Leaps, and Entrepreneurial Market Creation, Quantum Leaps, and Entrepreneurial Adventure. Adventure.

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto! They say “To get anywhere, you have to know exactly where the hell you’re headed.” I say “If you know precisely where you’re headed and exactly how you’re gonna get there, then you clearly exactly how you’re gonna get there, then you clearly suffer from Advanced Shrivelus Imaginationus.” suffer from Advanced Shrivelus Imaginationus.” (This disease is fatal.) They say “Employees need Well-defined Structure.” I say “Talent should be encouraged to embark on Quests to the Unknown.” to the Unknown.” They say “I’m here to maximize shareholder value.” I say “I’m here to inflame each & every member of my Awesome Staff to embark with Vigor & Determination Awesome Staff to embark with Vigor & Determination & Passion & Enthusiasm on a Quest of Monumental & Passion & Enthusiasm on a Quest of Monumental Consequence.” (And if I come even close to succeeding, Consequence.” (And if I come even close to succeeding, it will, in fact, dramatically up the odds of Thriving it will, in fact, dramatically up the odds of Thriving Amidst Today’s Chaos—and creating untold shareholder Amidst Today’s Chaos—and creating untold shareholder value in the process.) value in the process.)

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto! They say “men.” I say “WOMEN.” They say Diversity is a “good thing.” I say Diversity is a Fresh Breath of Creative Air … Absolutely Necessary for Economic Salvation in perilous times. Necessary for Economic Salvation in perilous times. They say “Wait your turn, honor those who have marched these corridors before you.” I say Get Off Your Butt & Go for the Gold … TODAY … or sign the transfer papers willing your job in perpetuity to a the transfer papers willing your job in perpetuity to a Chinese or Indian who Gives a Shit and Gets Up Chinese or Indian who Gives a Shit and Gets Up (VERY) Early and works Saturdays & Sundays. (VERY) Early and works Saturdays & Sundays. They say “offshoring” is a “blight.” I say the Earth proved not to be the center of the Solar System … and the USA is not the epicenter-in-perpetuity System … and the USA is not the epicenter-in-perpetuity of the Earth … and that we had best learn … NOW … to of the Earth … and that we had best learn … NOW … to prosper and take pleasure in a dynamic, exciting, creative, prosper and take pleasure in a dynamic, exciting, creative, multi-polar economic environment. (Damn it.) multi-polar economic environment. (Damn it.)

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto! They say “It’s a fright.” I say “It’s a Helluva Ride.” They say it’s “daunting.” I say it’s “a bronco-bustin’ day at the rodeo.” They say “Life is a marathon; husband your strength.” I say “Life is a sprint. Begin planning your World-beating Me Inc. start-up … TODAY.” Me Inc. start-up … TODAY.” They say lifetime employment was a boon. I say lifetime employment was Indentured Servitude, modern-day Slavery. modern-day Slavery. They say “safety net.” I say “I am my safety net; give me some version of the ‘Ownership Society.’” ‘Ownership Society.’” They say “zero defects.” I say “A day without a screw-up or two is a day pissed away.” away.”

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto! They say “Think about it.” I say “Try it.” They say “Plan it.” I say “Test it.” They say “continuous improvement.” I say “Bold Leaps.” They say “Keep on Improvin’.” I say “Keep on Leapin’.” They say “Built to last.” I say “Built to Soar. We’re all dead in the long run … live your Insane Fantasy. Devil take the hindmost.” live your Insane Fantasy. Devil take the hindmost.” They (Jim Collins) say “Walgreens is Cool.” I say “I love Larry Ellison.” (Oracle rules … at least for the next ten minutes.) for the next ten minutes.)

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto! They say “Play the odds.” I say “Reward excellent failures. Punish mediocre successes.” (Thanks, Phil Daniels.) They say “Eighty-hour weeks will kill you.” I say “Work 35-hour weeks, and the Chinese will kill you.” kill you.” They say “Install cost controls with teeth.” I say “Ha. Ha. Ha. Blow Up the existing enterprise and start with a Clean Sheet of Paper.” start with a Clean Sheet of Paper.” They say “Install cost controls with teeth.” I say “Grow the Top Line.” They say “Radical change takes a decade.” I say “Radical change takes a Minute.” (See AA.) They say “Times are changing.” I say “Everything has already changed. Tomorrow is the First Day of Your Revolution … or you’re Toast.” First Day of Your Revolution … or you’re Toast.”

Tom’s Re-imagine Manifesto! They say “We can’t all be Anita Roddick or Maxine Clark or Stan Shih or Les Wexner or Jerry Yang.” I say “Why not?” They say “We can’t all be Revolutionaries.” I say “Why not?” They say “We can’t all be a Brand.” I say “Why not?” They say “Beware the Hype.” I say “Been to China lately? Visited Infosys in Bangalore lately?” Bangalore lately?” They say this is just a Rant. I say this is just Reality. They say “The man is not nice.” I say “The times are not forgiving.”

EXCELLE ALWAYS.

LONG Tom Peters’ X25* EXCELLENCE. ALWAYS. 25 th Annual Inc. 500 Conference World’s Best City/20 January 2007 *In Search of Excellence 1982-2007.

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "LONG Tom Peters’ X25* EXCELLENCE. ALWAYS. 25 th Annual Inc. 500 Conference World’s Best City/20 January 2007 *In Search of Excellence 1982-2007."— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback

Log in

Auth with social network:

LONG Tom Peters’ X25* EXCELLENCE. ALWAYS. 25 th Annual Inc. 500 Conference World’s Best City/20 January 2007 *In Search of Excellence 1982-2007.

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "LONG Tom Peters’ X25* EXCELLENCE. ALWAYS. 25 th Annual Inc. 500 Conference World’s Best City/20 January 2007 *In Search of Excellence 1982-2007."— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback