dispatches from the new world of work

Moscow Musings

"Leaders in Moscow" was a sparkling event. Ran into a lot of the "same old, same old" (ex-IBM boss Lou Gerstner, Swedish "guru" Kjell Nordstrom, etc.), but fell in love with the energy and unexpected youthfulness of the fully engaged Russian audience. Alas, the streets were a different story. Yes, there is a lot of evident building activity and the like. But my hotel (a superb Radisson) was near a major train station. I happened to go out for my morning walk as rush hour arrivals were peaking. To be sure, in Chicago or London or Frankfurt or Buenos Aires or Dubai, not everyone has on their "can't wait to get to the office" face upon disgorgement from a commuter train. Nonetheless, I was struck (exactly the right word!) by the totally consistent grim demeanors of everyone I passed. I was not looking for a smile or nod ... but ye gads ... the Weight of the World seemed to be on every pair of shoulders and in every pair of eyes. Within 20 minutes, tonic of a brisk power walk notwithstanding, I found myself encased with gloom & doom. I don't know what the deal is (beyond generic/genetic Russian despair), and I thought it was rude to inquire. Some of this may, of course, be old-fashioned projection. Face it, at my age, say "Moscow" or "Kremlin," and images of 10,000 nuclear-tipped missiles all aimed at Omaha and Manhattan still comes immediately and powerfully to mind; maybe I simply can't get beyond that.

NB: I am a Jack Welch fan (it's anti-American not to be), but I remain in outright awe of what Gerstner did at IBM in less than a decade. Bluntly, there is in my opinion no more impressive corporate turnaround story in American business history. Armstrong got nowhere at AT&T. Fisher made a mess of Kodak. Fiorina was a washout at HP. (And, after all, Welch inherited a machine in good operating order and a vigorous "culture" at GE.) But Lou pulled off a "180-degree culture change," and not only saved a great company, but launched it in a new direction which can enable if not insure decades of global leadership.

Tom Peters posted this on 10/13/05.

Comments

Hey Tom,

What do you think about the turnaround by Steve Jobs regarding Apple Computer?

Posted by Chris at October 13, 2005 12:25 PM

Tom, you stayed in the wrong hotel! Kiev train station is the portal for the folks going to and fro Ukraine, where life is definitely vastly more difficult than in Moscow (as it is in Russia, outside of Moscow). Had you been staying at one of the Marriotts, you would have avoided the "doom and gloom" and held onto the youthful energy buzz a while longer.

Posted by Jeffrey Barrie at October 14, 2005 9:37 AM

Another train station could have helped? Maybe. But it is about slightly different lifestyle and past experiences, when people do not expect much of pleasure coming, to be cheerfully ready to embrace it. It IS different, but I would not simplify it to plain 'worse'. Makeup was always better on those coming from the Land Of Dreams. As said, their experiences also could have been helpful. Still, people laugh and have their joys very own ways over there, too. Find their qualities to be after. Not that easy explanable - one must live trough from inside to judge properly.

Speaking about train stations in Moscow, just about month ago I had pleasure to meet dear Hanna Polak, whos film was just nominated (and much deserved to win) for the Oscar. Site is here, please check it:
http://www.childrenofleningradsky.com/

Film about children, whos home is train station in Moscow, film, that brought dramatic difference right to my door, and made catch Hanna next morning to offer what I could help with. Now people have comfort of clicking "donate" on site, hopefully they do, once they were exposed to the film.
DVD will be released soon. It was shown in U.S. by HBO September 28.

Posted by edis at October 14, 2005 3:06 PM

Jeffrey, I was at a Marriott as I recall. Though I know politics have taken a recent turn for the worse, during my July visit to Kiev I was sruuck by the relatively sunny disposition--which of course may only be a positive hangover fron the then only 8 month old Orange Revolution.

Posted by tom peters at October 16, 2005 6:15 AM

Yes, Lou Gertsner changed the white shirt culture and so much more at IBM. It was a remarkable achievement.

Another neglected hero is Lech Walesa who showed singular, sustained courage in challenging Soviet communism. Where would we be now without him?

Posted by nodelink at October 18, 2005 10:34 AM

order real viagra Dear Tom,
I was at that seminar and I am so much impressed and inspired by your powerful speech! You made me think a lot and doubt about how I am managing the 186-th largest business in Russia. It was great! Thank you. When are you in Moscow next time?

Posted by Roman Khapaev at October 18, 2005 2:35 PM