Comments

"Reinforcing the Need for a Sense of Personal Urgency" - somewhere an English composition teacher is reading that title and quietly crying.

Posted by mark at February 27, 2007 12:19 PM

Yeah there definitely is a "crisis" brewing in a cubicle near you unless you have already vacated it or you been dismissed from it. As always with such clearly discernable trends this is either a WOW! event or a POOR ME! event.

I have been banging on about this event for the past few years because I perceive it as a WOW! happening.

As you know and appreciate Tom "crises" (ie dangerous opportunities) cut both ways as they pose a "threat" to you if you are determined to continue mindlessly doing what you have always done. But equally they are an "opportunity" if you are prepared to change old habits, behaviours, ways of thinking, etc.

Trevor Gay appears regularly on TP & Company telling people of his experience of moving on after a long and dedicated career. He openly shares his experience about his success with the BRAND YOU measures he is taking to join the wonderful new world of work rather than sitting at home crying POOR ME...

Tom Peters & Co could do itself some a favour by putting Trevor and his ilk on the payroll as part-time advisers, mentors, coaches, consultants, etc.

As you know Tom, my message is simple..

"Staying with old habits, behaviours, and ways of thinking is not an option."

I propose that you and everyone else engage in what I call "Clear Space Thinking" to change your mindsets and ways of being in the world. What I propose is not for everyone - indeed it probably will only ever appeal to a very select group of people. But Tom you have the truly WOW! opportunity, through your speaking engagements, to appeal to a massive number of people who are lost and need help if they are to reap the benefits of BRAND YOU...

Furthermore you have a WOW! opportunity with TP & CO - especially if you recruit Trevor and his ilk - to help a massive array of organisations within the commercial and the non-profit sectors to find new ways of becoming EXCELLENT...

Your audio message really hit all my buttons I guess.... This is truly an exciting time to be alive!!!!

Cheers, Richard.

Posted by Richard Lipscombe at February 27, 2007 4:11 PM

Good to hear your voice deliver this message. As one who lives day to day churning in the global soup, yes, we all need to constantly remember that a sense of personal urgency and purpose is critical and you have to work at it. As I converse with customers and colleagues all over the world, that word survival keeps coming up. Onslaught it is.

Posted by Kate at February 27, 2007 4:57 PM

Mark, you're on. I felt something was wrong with the formulation when I dictated it from the airport. But, no baloney, I can't figure out the problem. Awkward, yes, but ...

Posted by tom peters at February 27, 2007 5:43 PM

For those who still believe outsourcing is an issue of price, this article did a great job of dispelling that notion. The loan servicing company who hired the outsourcing firm got better quality, secondarily at a better price.

If we are to personally save our jobs, we must learn to reinvent the value we personally bring to the company party on a more frequent basis.

And, of course, we have to stop whining for a liberal president who will build higher walls around our borders!

Posted by Tim Miner at February 27, 2007 6:15 PM

Tom, you are so right -- the pressures to compete are creating decisions to cut, cut, cut instead to add, add, add meaningful points of difference. It is hard to argue where these cuts are truly innovative, but it begs bigger questions around service, competency and as you said, who is irreplaceable? Certainly an urgency for all of us!

Posted by Jim Schafer at February 27, 2007 10:01 PM

I agree with the content of the posting completely and would take it further to point out that none of us needs to be at the mercy of global trends and changes. If we take proper care of our marketable selves we can actually be drivers of these moves.

I would prefer to read posts rather than listen to them. I am often in an environment where listening to audio posts is not practical. Just my un-asked-for opinion on audio blogs.

Posted by Mike at February 28, 2007 5:51 AM

1. Tom & Richard - Brand Sean Luxury @ Minimalist Measure ... New gift to me of 50" HDTV - so have laptop broadcast financials & net wealth worth 24/7 ... on that 50 incher ...

Posted by sean_luxury at February 28, 2007 9:21 AM

Nothing is sacred – everything is up for grabs. We are flying to Belfast tomorrow and we have just selected seats and downloaded boarding passes so we don’t have to be at the airport hours before flight. I have visited my bank twice in the last 30 months – both at their invitation. A young girl we know did all her Christmas shopping online by September without leaving her front room. Books can be self-published and on sale to the world within minutes of the last word being typed in your manuscript – goodbye publisher. I speak to friends worldwide now free of charge through Skype. Nothing is sacred and it feels great. The world is becoming virtual. As regards the old versus new world for TG I would say each has its bits of charm and a mixture of both ‘worlds’ is a healthy living option but for me the new world is definitely a more exciting place to be because I feel like I’m pushing the boundaries. It also feels like paradox is a normal way of life. It feels good to be alive.

Posted by Trevor Gay at February 28, 2007 10:58 AM