dispatches from the new world of work

Back from Saudi

It is true that most of the 9/11 principals were Saudi. It's true that women's rights are "meager" in Saudi. (Kuwaiti women got the Right to Vote yesterday!) It is also true that the internal terrorist threats in Saudi are high enough that my hotel had a camouflaged artillery piece at the front driveway (yes, I said artillery piece).

None the less ... I HAD A BOFFO TIME IN THE KINGDOM! Post 9/11, Americans have avoided the country like the plague, and thence a visitor was looked upon as an Excellent Aberration. Fact is, I met an extraordinary group of public & private & university execs yesterday who were exceptionally personable and who aim for nothing more than the improvement of their country and the lot of their fellow citizens. I considered myself an ambassador as much as a "speaker," and feel that I made several true friends, a couple of whom I invited to my Vermont farm.

To survive, we must learn (or re-learn) to be friends, while reserving the right to chide that of which we disapprove—e.g., the absence of women's rights (Saudi has allowed women to do the full bit in schooling, and apparently there are now more women than men with PhDs ... but the women still cannot work). I must also add that while I unflinchingly support our energetic efforts to deal with the War on Terror, I was appalled to hear the stories of our officials' harassment of senior Saudis on obviously innocent missions to the U.S. (I haven't confirmed this—Newsweek take note—but one Veeeery Senior Saudi Exec refused to visit the U.S. because he wanted to bring his wife, but on her Visa application she apparently had to certify that she was not a prostitute. If true ... )

The "back from" means, alas, not Spring-y Vermont but arrival into my "second home country" ... England. I'm taking R & R today and being cosseted by my Great Pals at the Four Seasons London as I prepare for my assault on Warsaw tomorrow.

NB: And re the above, as long as California Governator Arnie keeps driving his Hummer, we're gonna need the Saudis as pals! Q.E.D.

Tom Peters posted this on 05/17/05.

Comments

Tom - the Arab world like Saudi Arabia will always have its opium Newsweek and "prostitute" fantasies. Hopefully though peace and love will prevail and make the world a true community sooner than later. The Arabs' street generally are so misinformed though. The free world and USA/UK are responsible for the Tsunami of course - just ask the "Palestinians".

Hydrogen powered planes - must get there fairly soon - 'cause as long as we have world-travelers jetting off all the time / plus the Internet economy dependent on fast plane/truck delivery - we need the Saudi's - Canadians and Mexicans' oil production - and they need us.

Posted by Sean at May 17, 2005 9:32 AM

I must admit, first, that it has been an interesting and an eye opener seminar which I personally learned a lot from it. I knew about the speaker, you TOM, since 1999 from my manager who is, like you, obsessed with innovation and continuous change. But when I attend the seminar I appreciated your honesty personal integrity and openness. I have never seen a person who could say â€œI donâ€™t knowâ€ bravely and openly.

I thank you here for your nice gesture about our country and I ma sure that we have a lot in common between us ..

Yours truly,

Posted by Nasser at May 17, 2005 9:47 AM

..."i don't know" bravely and openly...

now that is a statement.

Posted by jens at May 17, 2005 10:25 AM

Thanks Tom - it's much easier to hate from a distance. Let's keep the reminders coming!

Posted by Bruce DeBoer at May 17, 2005 10:26 AM

Tom, were you ever scared that you could be targetted as an American ??

Secondly, I think that a standard visa application does not ahve an area "apparently had to certify that she was not a prostitute".. I think that the INS and DHS forms are freely available for scrutinty. However, what goes on in the EMBASSY maybe a total different thing.. !!

Second attaches' / undersectaries tend to forgot that represent their countries and in most cases go overboard, just because they can, and those are the type of indiuvduals who give the country a bad name..

All in All, I thnk most of the ME section needs to figure out (reimagine) how to be self sustatining without the oil !!

Posted by /pd at May 17, 2005 4:52 PM

The Saudi's (Viz, the government and OPEC) are not America's 'pals'. I'm sure you did meet some very nice people, Tom. That doesn't lessen the need for America to seek alternative energy sources and start moving away from a dependence on fossil fuels and the middle east.

The Saudi's have been exporting anti-American (and anti-west) extremism for decades. How long will Bush and his greedy, short-sighted war mongers be allowed to lead the country down this bloody cul-de-sac?

I had a trip to the middle east last year, with my wife. The people were lovely - warm, friendly, hospitable - despite their governments' appaling human rights record and their well-documented connections with terrorism.

pd is right about reimagining a post-hydrocarbon economy, but we're the ones who need to think the hardest, not the Middle East.

Do you drive an SUV, Tom? Isn't it about time you addressed some of the important energy issues facing the USA? They have as much (if not more) relevenace to the future success or failure of our businesses/enterprises as some of the other issues you regularly tout (design, marketing to women, etc).

It's time people like you used your considerable influence to enlighten others about the benefits of alternative energy and the post-hydrocarbon economy.

An economy less dependent on oil (and it's on its way, regardless of what Bush and his pals think) doesn't have to be smaller or less prosperous. There are some amazing technologies being developed around the world, by some very clever people/organisations. Energy conservation and alternative energy used to mean making sacrifices. Not anymore. Look at modernist architecture, for example (read Dwell magazine). Style and comfort.

Tom, I may be wrong, but I've never heard you mention sustainable energy or the post-hydrocarbon economy. If this is indeed the case, I challenge you to reimagine your energy future. Let's hear some insightful criticism and inspired ideas for how we can lessen America's (and therefore the world's) dependence on the black stuff.

Here's an idea, Tom. Stop taking so many polluting and gas-guzzling flights and start using more technology to get your messages across. You claim you want to take it easier on yourself; webcasts from the comfort of home would help you and the environment.

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For those who are interested, read The End of Oil, by Paul Roberts.

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Posted by The Dude at May 22, 2005 10:28 PM

Dude, I'm sure you know, it's not a popular topic amongst the (majority of) America's business leaders. I appreciate your support, but I was hoping for a reaction from TP himself.

Is the new-energy economy just too big a challenge for the 20th century brains running (and consulting for) our biggest and most influential businesses? It's THE single most important issue we - the western, industrialised economies - face, now and for the next 100 years. It's time to move on; time to overcome the inertia of the last century. We're letting ignorance, nostaglia, sentimentality, violence and greed get in the way of our (and our children's) future/s.

Could someone like TP ever take a stand against the old, hydrocarbon economy? Is he brave enough to stand up and address the most contentious of issues? Can he imagine an America that leads the world towards a better future? My feelings are that he'd rather spend the last few years of his career delivering rehashed statistics and other peoples ideas than use his considerable influence to make a real, lasting impact.

Posted by Matt at May 23, 2005 4:57 AM

Tom
Don't get your knickers in a twist about about a Saudi lady being asked on her visa application if she was coming here to engage in prostitution.
When I first came to the States from England as a student in the sixties I was aked the same question. Plus, was I a communist, anarchist, white slaver, drug dealer/adict, plotting to overthrow the government by force etc. I'll bet they haven't changed the question structure in fifty years. That way they can throw you out if you do engage in the laundry list of naughty things. It's not anti-arab, it's anti-crime. Not that it seems to be working.
By the way, there wasn't a single question about whether or not I was carrying weapons, or dealing in arms. You can bet your bottom dollar the NRA has made sure that there still isn't.
Oh, and if the Saudi lady in question did engage in the worlds oldest profession while here, she'd get thrown out. If she did it back in Saudi Arabia, they'd chop her head off. And if she committed adultery, they'd stone her to death. But hey, let's keep that oil flowing and mind our own business.

Posted by George Parker at May 29, 2005 2:50 PM