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Guess I'll Keep on Truckin'

As you know if you follow this Blog, I occasionally have "crises of faith" (as a Priest friend of long standing, who knows me well, puts it). As in: What the hell am I doing running around like a madman at 63.9? God help me, is it all ego?

Yesterday [Meet the Press, 09.24.06], in response to a question by Tim Russert, President Clinton said in part: "The biggest problem confronting the world today is the illusion that our differences matter more than our common humanity. That's what's driving the terrorism."

As my out-of-U.S. work, for the first time, eclipses my in-U.S. work, I do to some extent (a significant extent) see my role as "Ambassador at large"—salesman for humanistic capitalism perhaps. You may recall that I returned to "excellence" (Excellence. Always.—my new signature) and the "basics" on the occasion of my April trip to Siberia. (Trying to answer my own query: "Why the hell am I in Siberia?") Furthermore I added a PPT slide and said, and believe, that:

"Business* [*at its "excellent" best] can be: An emotional, vital, audacious, innovative, joyful, frightening, risky, creative, entrepreneurial endeavor that breathes life & fire into our work & life & elicits maximum concerted human potential in the wholehearted effort to help others ** [**employees, clients, suppliers, communities, owners, temporary partners] succeed & profit & imagine & reach places they'd never dreamed they could go."

To usurp Clinton, that is effectively a plea to vigorously engage as many as possible to produce and pursue the fruits of our "common humanity." Amidst my far-flung travels, when I discuss "cultural differences," my unyielding perspective is that "of course they exist"—but a person who exudes common human decency will prevail—if not with bowls of profit, at least with the self-knowledge that her or his passing has added rather than subtracted from humanity's plight.

So, thanks, Mr President. Guess I'll keep on truckin.'

Tom Peters posted this on 09/25/06.

Comments

Tom, thank you for drawing my attention to yesterday's Meet the Press. It's worth everybody's time to listen to.

(Clinton's segment and the rest of the program are all accessible through the link, by the way.)

And cheers for MSNBC for making it available--free. As opposed to forbes.com, which is now charging a fee for articles from the magazine.

Posted by cathy mosca at September 25, 2006 10:36 AM

I was thinking about 'common humanity' yesterday as I sat through the 100-questions to ask a foreigner at a wedding session. I was the foreigner -- not so foreign as I've lived in the US for more than 18 years now.

One of the questions was: "What surprised you about the US?" I didn't need to think; nothing surpised me specifically of the US. People surprise me, not countries or entities.

Having grown up and studied in Europe and lived and worked in the US I've come to be regarded as a global thinker by the people who know me. With a foot in both places and yet not being completely vested in being either/or. I believe the future belongs to those who think in terms of and/and, the 'I get humanity' people.

Posted by Valeria Maltoni at September 25, 2006 10:39 AM

Clinton CAN pull it together at times - his Nervous Breakdown on Fox NEWS this past weekend was noteworthy - "right-wing to blame" - thanks!

Posted by sean at September 25, 2006 10:42 AM

Dear Tom:

Bravo! And I stand up to applause.

Few people in our days have the courage to speak about values.

And it is very good that you are helping others to live a Humanistic Capitalism. This is the real future.

Capitalism itself (or other systems) without any Moral create the problems we have today: Dictators, Terrorism, Goverments with corrupt people and more.

That is why Real principles are important.

For Your definition for Management I stand up and Applause once again. Bravo!

My Father always tell me something about age: "Your age is the one that you have in your heart. If you want to be old you will be old. If you want to be young you will be young".

With best regards

Juan Miguel Robles Vargas
General Manager
Deisa
Guadalajara, Mexico

Posted by Juan Miguel Robles Vargas at September 25, 2006 11:16 AM

"Your age is the one that you have in your heart. If you want to be old you will be old. If you want to be young you will be young". Juan, at 91, my Mom once said, "Tommy, there's an 18-year-old's spirit trapped inside this 90-year-old body." That was her! Her 97th birthday would have been tomorrow.

Posted by tom peters at September 25, 2006 11:41 AM

Within Europe, a lot of business folk are conscious of the "cultural differences" even within our continent - never mind further afield - and there's a small army of consultants offering cultural awareness training and all the trimmings.

The odd thing is, I've never seen a course pitched as or offered on cultural overlaps. It always struck me how different it would seem if Johnny Foreigner was presented as basically the same person as you and me but with a few differences rather than as an alien.

"Alien." Now there's an interesting word. He said to his American colleagues, provocatively!

Posted by MarkJF at September 25, 2006 1:09 PM

::Humanistic Capitalism::

Actually, Capitalism by itself is the most humane system designed to manufacture/distribute goods and services. Captitalism flourishes in countries which value freedom and their citizens benefit as a result.

::Moral create the problems we have today: Dictators, Terrorism, Goverments ::

The problems caused by Dictators, Terrorism and Big government are the direct result of a lack of capitalism/freedom.

It was WalMart that was first on the scene with supplies after Katrina, not the governement at any level.

More and more people in India experience a better standard of living due their government's embrace of capitalism.

Capitalism works everytime it is tried and has improved the human condition as a result...otherwise we would not have an obesity problem since we would all be starving to death.

Posted by Jerry Martinez at September 25, 2006 3:26 PM

Common human decency. We all know what it is. For those of you who travel worldwide, let me also suggest the Business for Diplomatic Action's "World Citizen's Guide". It is a simple reminder of how single individuals really can make a difference in our times...regardless of our age!

Posted by Kate at September 25, 2006 3:53 PM

Dear Tom:

I really thank you for your words. They where really inspiring.

Your Mother must have been a great person. Congratulations.

This are some words I read today:

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it."

I read it from one of the Greatest Books. This phrase is in: Proverbs 3: 27.

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With best regards

Juan Miguel Robles Vargas
General Manager
Deisa
Guadalajara, Mexico

Posted by Juan Miguel Robles Vargas at September 25, 2006 4:38 PM

On my nlog I happened to profile an 80 year old blogger a few months ago. I have since had 3 folks correct me. The oldest is a 92 year old.

So what were you doing at Siberia at 64? (sorry 63.9!) same as the 80, 90 year olds are doing blogging. Keeping their curiosity up, sharing their passions, setting examples for "youngsters" like me...keep on trucking.

viagra with prescription online BTW - I think history will be kinder to Slick Willie than we have been ...

Posted by vinnie mirchandani at September 25, 2006 8:37 PM

"As my out-of-U.S. work, for the first time, eclipses my in-U.S. work, I do to some extent (a significant extent) see my role as "Ambassador at large"â€”salesman for humanistic capitalism perhaps."

I don't disagree with what you do - but I'm curious to hear whether you think your Ambassador role is about telling the rest of the world about humanistic capitalism in the US, or whether you're telling the US about humanistic capitalism in the rest of the world!

Posted by Dave R at September 27, 2006 9:52 AM

So amazing how life and perception of everything lies within yourself. . . and just yourself.

When you realize that, everything can be seen in a more positive and enjoyable way.

I recommend an amazing documental called "Giant Leap", where a young-spirit gentleman said; "I never realize how old I was, until recently, I looked myself in the mirror, and I saw my wrinkle face", he was around 90.

Thanks Tom, for your such a nice words.

Posted by Rafael Marquez at September 27, 2006 2:53 PM