dispatches from the new world of work

Good Readin'

Exuberance: The Passion for Life. Psychiatrist Kay Redfield Jamison offers up an entire book on exuberance. "I believe exuberance is incomparably more important than we acknowledge," she begins. Amen! I pulled a few quotes from the book which you'll find here.

So what? "Hire for it" is one big "so what." "Promote for it" is another. While that's not news, the "news" is that I'm suggesting (insisting) that this be at the top of your hiring-promotion criteria.

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations ... One School at a Time. Greg Mortenson's story is downright amazing. And intimidating—it makes your and my travails look pretty puny. After failing to climb K-2, Mortenson takes a pilgrimage to very, very rural Pakistan, where he has so far built 55 schools. Amidst Taliban territory, they remarkably emphasize education for girls. To use terms like "amazing" or "unbelievable" is gross, almost negligent understatement.

Read the book. Re-assess your life. And three hearty cheers for the idea of "Wow." Wow-ing can indeed be life's aim.

Targeting the New Professional Woman: How to Market and Sell to Today's 57 Million Working Women. Speaking of "Wow," the marketing to women "thing" is ... finally ... gaining some traction. Faith Popcorn and Lys Marigold. Martha Barletta. Fara Warner. And, now, Gerry Myers. "Traction," yes—but examples of true strategic re-alignment around this issue are still too few and too far between.

Tom Peters posted this on 04/11/06.

Comments

Tom -

This is what Amazon had to say in the page devoted to Targeting the New Professional Woman:

"Customers interested in this title may also be interested in:
View Women in Your Area
View Photos, Email, Chat & IM Join Now, Post a Free Profile
www.find-women.us

Women Pictures (Read)
View 90,000+ Pictures, Chat, IM Forums, Rate, Email - 100% Free!
www.bookofmatchesinc.com

Women - Ready for action
Find beautiful women for free. Women to date, hookup, or befriend www.collaboradate.com"

Somehow I don't think they're appealing to the same market - we still have a long way to go!

Posted by Ann Michael at April 11, 2006 3:08 PM

I agree with Ann. We have a long way to go. If targeting the professional woman were important, I would not have heard the following from my newly assigned account manager from JPMorgan/Chase/BankOne: "We would pay more attention to your account if your income were higher". I am currently, obviously, seeking a new banking institution.

Posted by Kate Morrissey at April 11, 2006 4:40 PM

Ann, I'd say "unbelievable"--but all too believable. Nonetheless I heartily reccomend the book.

On a more crude business note--it is a demo of the enormity of the opportunity that still remains.

Posted by tom peters at April 11, 2006 11:13 PM

"Targeting ..." seems to be dated 1993. Is that still state-of-the-art ????

Posted by Mike L at April 12, 2006 1:39 AM

Exuberance - reminds me of my days as a middle school youth program leader at a church. The best book I read at the time was titled something like The Exuberant Years, and it really got at the essence of how kids at 12 or so can have a tremendous exuberance that can make them a delight to be with, inspite of their reputation for being difficult, and this was my experience.

Posted by brian moore at April 12, 2006 9:18 AM

Agree totally about women market dynamism - however - seems in the consumer driven and obesity riddled USA society - women as primary [90%?] decision makers in the market place must step up as accountable for FAT families / record debt.

Women as drivers of obesity - AND the same for record low USA investment and savings rate - shop - 'til - you drop DNA madness? Mad Avenue loves USA women to death.

Posted by Sean at April 12, 2006 10:48 AM

Obesity? Don't (always) blame Mom.
Four possible words: high fructose corn syrup.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A8003-2003Mar10?language=printer

Posted by John Q. Public at April 12, 2006 11:42 AM

Corn syrup - I agree John Q - suggest though that snacking at Mom's training table these days makes kids / men obese - women are used to eating for a natural higher bodyfat level - then it spreads - family nutrition as low priority.

Posted by Sean at April 12, 2006 11:52 AM