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I became a big fan of Tom Peters years ago after reading his first book, In Search of Excellence (including millions of other readers around the world). But don't expect the same kind of book here; be prepared for something entirely different. This is not your run-of-the-mill, look-the-same, kind-of-book. Tom's latest book looks and reads more like a textbook.
It's also a Tom Peters rant on paper. It may confuse some readers and turn others off because the layout, graphics and flow are so unusual for the author. It's a book that you experience. It's visual, entertaining and informative. It's thinking outside the box. It's the kind of book that I would encourage all business students to read. Come to think of it, encourage is not a strong enough word. I would make it required reading and a big part of any business school's curriculum.
"New times call for a new mandate. Shake free of the past - including past successes - and re-imagine your entire way of doing business. The point is not to "push the envelope" or to "think outside the box" - The point is to … rip up the envelope and to burn the box."
Rant on Tom; you have our attention. We now know for certain that the World Wide Web is not a passing fancy. New technology rules. You are either on board the bus or you're dead. You either look, think and act like a player or you're dead. Being a low-cost provider, and only a low-cost provider, is hazardous to your organization's health. Adding value for your client is the only strategy worth holding on to. We can't all be Wal*Mart or Dell. (However, it's worth noting that Dell is starting to diversify its product assortment in an attempt to appeal to more customers.) The Web has given even small companies the ability to be a player.
And to be a player means understanding leadership. Leadership; it's a word often misused, most certainly misunderstood. In fact, most participants in my Dimensions of Effective Leadership workshop confuse leading with managing. I think we manage processes but we lead people. Tom Peters expands on the definition even more. Be sure to check out page 320 of his book and commit to memory "The Leadership 50". "Leaders Create Opportunities - Leaders Say I Don't Know - Leaders Are Rarely The Best Performers - Leaders Are Talent Developers." (I won't list all 50 here but you get my point). Buy your copy of Tom's book and start learning how to dream in "Technicolour". (Sorry, Tom. Here in Canada we spell color, colour.) Rant on, Tom. We are listening.
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