Comments

Happy New Year everyone !
Best of luck to your loved ones, too.

Best thing I did was to find a firm and made use of my MBA course - Making a Difference. It is a small software company, powering the Danish design furniture 3d catalogue. They were experiencing plato in their sales and thought, we have a sales problem.
What I discovered was a marketing problem.
The company has never made a /list(s) of its clients, nevertheless, tried to contact them and hear what they need.
Recognize the issue ?
So, I began with re-defining the problem and choose three ares for intervention. And involved myself.
In the next year, I ll be teaching people how to use the software. Obvious, itn t it ? Weel, not for it-folk anyway.

Posted by La 4eHe at January 2, 2006 8:25 AM

Very Good questions to guid the direction a head

But some important things you have to spend more than one year to finish them.

I would like to add some question.

What I can do to create the legend today?

Keep asking this question will give you the power and the direction to execute important things every days.

Posted by Nut Suwapiromchot at January 2, 2006 9:24 AM

1. Maximize family and self happiness, health and wealth

2. See #1.

Seems to be the framework - giving though is key to maximizing opportunities and keeping your game ultra tight pays incredible dividends - exercise of body and mind perhaps as the foundation

Posted by Sean at January 2, 2006 11:12 AM

Important LastYr : Smoothest M&A initative
Important ThisYr : Being Amazing is job#1 !!

:)-

happy new year

Posted by /pd at January 2, 2006 2:31 PM

Last year: cut down on travel. I'm healthier, happier and my family is delighted! Customers don't seem to have noticed any difference. Was a lot of that travel only busy-work?

Next year: start a new (for me) activity on the Internet. Already receiving positive response from potential customers in South America.

Posted by Mike Linacre at January 2, 2006 2:49 PM

1. Most important thing I did was to lure the young genius Sam Beckford into co-writing a book with me so that my shallow imitations of Tony Robbins in my previous nine books would now be LEFT BEHIND by this book that finally has some content.
2. The most important thing I will do is publish the sequel in 2006 (QUICK) before Sam finds out I am using him for my own gain.

Posted by steve chandler at January 2, 2006 3:03 PM

Best thing I did was start a "re-invention project"...started law school after twenty years in the IT consulting business. It has been a wild ride, competing with the kids, but so far I am giving them a run for the money!

Next year, I have in mind a manifesto "Its the Platform Stupid, Why Geeks Still Matter" how blogs, KM, wikis, podcats and other "social computing" technologies are driving competitive advantage.

Posted by Carlos Leyva at January 2, 2006 7:23 PM

Thanks John for the daring in your question. You made me write!

As for '05, the most important thing I did was daring to quit my comfortable and prestidious job, deciding to start my own business, and actually resigning and starting.
This year, I decide to continue in this line, really establish my business, and follow through on the things that make a difference for me personally; calligraphy, language, music, and all the cultural stuff i really enjoy.

To balance both and to make them nourish each other. To profit financially from the "soft" stuff, and to grow personally through the business, would be a great achievement for me.

Of course, I'm betting on most of what I learned from Tom's work, the books and the blog.

Wish me luck! Thanks again...

Posted by Elias Dabbas at January 2, 2006 7:23 PM

Good post!

What's the most important thing I did this year? Well, aside from turning 25 and getting to mid-twenties ... Applied to the MBA course at the BI in Oslo, where my girlfriend is (she's Norwegian). Before that I was going to go to Switzerland, and I had been working in the City in London (I'm English): I was always chasing the next most prestigious/fantastic/big earning phenomenon and then, almost like a revelation, I woke up one morning and applied hours (quite literally) before the deadline for admission thinking "Damn it, this is my life and I'm going to damn well live it the way I want to live it and do what I really want to do/BE where I really want to BE!". Best decision I EVER made - course is fantastic, place is fantastic, relationship is awesome, I'm inspired, motivated, revved up every day despite having a net worth now of something in the region of minus something something! And those whose scepticism was initially prevalent have been totally out-proved (much to my glee upon returning to London at Christmas this year). Have just spent five lovely days up in the North of Norway where the sun never shines but where the snow makes up for it and am now back in Oslo at 2 am reading up for tomorrow's class ...

... and this year, 2006? Well, I have no idea, maybe some great financial journalism or consultancy position (still umming and arring over the two - suggestions and advice absolutely welcome) but whatever happens, I'm not going back to London or into finance and it's going to be motivating, inspiring, intelligent, thought-proving and totally unrelated to any kind of movement to sucumb to the mass paranoia of those that are always trying to run in amidst the clumsy herd of 'keeping up'.

Posted by Daniel M. Harrison at January 2, 2006 8:08 PM

Last Year: Becoming Debt Free, What a Feeling...
This Year: Co-Authoring Two Books

I find Nut's comment on becoming a legend interesting. When I think of Legends, I think of Tom Landry, Jack Nicklaus, Jack Welch, Ben Franklin, etc. Most legends spend a lifetime to make it to this level. Since almost all of us are still alive, is it possible to become a legend?

Posted by RTodd at January 2, 2006 9:33 PM

This is an impressive batch of commitments for 06—from far-flung respondents (I see we have strong representation in the Mideast) whose websites and blogs I found to be well-designed, comprehensive, and thoughtful.

I suppose I should answer the two questions myself... The most important thing I did in 05 was to speak on the phone to my 32 year old daughter—for the first time. The most important thing I'll do in 06 is to finally meet her, if she is willing.

Posted by John O'Leary at January 3, 2006 12:03 AM

To RTodd ..... Go! Legend creator

For me
Last years: Don't care for graduate the MBA or not?
This Years: I want to be entrepreneur

Posted by Nut Suwapiromchot at January 3, 2006 4:02 AM

TOUGH QUESTIONS John! ...I did a load of stuff - right, (just like you). Clearly I was very busy (just like you) ... But important ...Mmmm ... the answer (I think) is ...

(1) I managed to stay married whilst getting repeat / referred (consulting) business from every one of my clients. This has temorarily reassured me that I do work worth paying for AND I am a husband / father worth hanging onto, both of which are good for my ego.

(2) Help my Tom Peters Company clients push their organisational transformations even faster than last year because their world is speeding up ... not slowing down.

... and stay married!

Posted by Chris Nel at January 3, 2006 10:04 AM

The most important thing I did this year was to adopt a "fanatic's posture" toward exercise. Power-walking "streak"--typically 6 miles/80 minutes a day--at 217 days and counting. (Got to 701 in '88-'90--and will beat it this time.) Even managed an approximation the night of my surgery in December. While nurses making rounds at about 1 A.M., I more or less snuck out of my room with my portable I.V. stand and did 25 circuits of the ward. Not much mileage, but streak intact. I mention this because a v. high dose of exercise has such amazing benefits to everything from work to relationships to depression. Best meds I know of! This morning, the wind along the Charles River (Boston) was perhaps 20 knots, and sleet was horizontal. But I never felt better (hey, a little self-righteousness in there, no doubt); (also performed my Charles River ritual; there's a large statue of George Patton in the riverside park--I always give the General's bronze foot a Good Luck pat as I go by.)

Posted by tom peters at January 3, 2006 12:24 PM

"Just say 'NO' to toxicity in '06"?

Posted by tom peters at January 3, 2006 1:23 PM

Yes, Tom. That's a good way to put it. I think it's a serious problem. Way too many of us put up with toxic leaders who poison our whole lives because we believe that's the way it's supposed to be or believe there isn't anything we can do about it. Those leaders instill in us the fear to try to do anything about it because we "know" we will fail, etc. I say bull. Anyone with enough ambition and talent to hold a job has enough ambition and talent to find a job with a good organization. Life is too short to allow these bozos to ruin it for us. Maybe I'll branch out into teaching how to spot and stop the toxic leaders out there. That's got possibilities...

Posted by Mike at January 3, 2006 3:27 PM

Hi Sriram – thanks for that ‘plug’ but always remember the credit goes to the guy you see in the mirror. It is obvious to me you always ‘do your homework’ and you are ‘passionate’ about what you write. In my world those two things are perhaps the most important attributes of anyone wishing to make a difference. Your Blog gets better and better. I find it refreshing to read the words of an accountant who can tell stories. When you are a Chief Executive don't change :-)

Many of my best friends are accountants (and they are often the ‘life and soul of the party’ in social settings) … BUT …. SAD TO SAY …. At work (in my experience) most accountants dismiss story telling as ‘Trevor being all touchy feely' in favour of numbers, facts and bottom lines.

By the way just a thought ...A suggested title for your first book Sriram – “The story telling accountant”

Posted by Trevor Gay at January 4, 2006 4:25 AM

Great question John...Hmm last year...
Most important? That is a tough one...I think it probably was around focus..I got much clearer on where I wanted my professional ride to head, and got on with the planning. I still need the stimulation that comes from playing in new areas with new clients, but recognize the clients that have stayed with me for years really deserve my best focused efforts.

This year? It is probably going to be a new focus on health and staying active. In a moment of "Christmas shopping panic", I asked my wife what she would like this year..she said for me to join her on a triathlon in June...Gulp. Let go of some nasty habits and bad eating already, and doing five miles a day. Heard Ray Kurzweil say on an interview he hasn't aged physically in 15 years! Going to check out how he did it!

Best to you John...and looking forward to rocking some clients with you again this year

Posted by Mike Neiss at January 4, 2006 2:24 PM

Mike, a triathlon—technically speaking—is a contest of any three successive activities. If I were you I'd propose sunbathing, eating, and drinking.

Posted by John O'Leary at January 4, 2006 8:54 PM

2006 - Joined the "Y" (YMCA) - with my family - Two great ways to start the New Year.

Posted by Garr at January 5, 2006 10:11 PM

John

You and I know that...and have Webster to back it up...however I have a signed application that clearly defines this one as a half mile swim, 5.3 mile run, and 24 mile bike. I am counting on doing them over three days with a nice relaxing hotel overnight in between...Technically I think I would be able to say I competed it and still keep whatever is left of my credibility!

Posted by mike neiss at January 6, 2006 10:10 AM

Go, Mike!

Posted by cathy at January 6, 2006 2:09 PM