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The Infinite Power of Positive Thinking and Acting

"Think positive" is a/the watchword of almost every "improving performance" seminar or self-help book. Thinking right (positive) is dead on, but far easier said than done—obviously.

Nonetheless, I wish to hell my U.S.A. could find a way to get back into the positive mental orbit. Suddenly (9/11/01), we are all about borders and barriers. Don't I believe there's a serious terror threat? Well, actually, that's my point.

I think there is a severe terrorist threat—and that there will be for as far into the future as I or my 20-something boys can see. (And there will doubtless be nasty events in the process.) The disruptive power of one person, or a small band, is matchless, and will only get worse. Forever and ever, Amen—and regardless of the size of our Army or the CIA or Homeland Security.

And, I think, perhaps arrogantly, that the single most important step toward ameliorating (not eradicating—impossible, even unthinkable) the terrorist threat (small bands, not nations with well-defined positions on maps) is for the United States to continue to be the matchless, energetic, open, self-improving Beacon of Hope it has been for two-and-a-quarter centuries. (Maybe we can even brighten the wattage of that Beacon.) I'm reading a marvelous and thoughtful book, Inventing Human Rights. In effect, there was not even the idea of human rights until the 1700s. And—clearly!—the American and French revolutions were the seminal landmarks in the one giant step for mankind toward human liberty. Then the U.S., unlike France, blessed with an infinite horizon, what we now call the continental United States, took the next giant step and effectively invented Positive Thinking. "Strike out on your own! Move West (the Appalachians first)! Re-define yourself." Re-imaginings and Re-definition and Exploration and Entrepreneurship and Brand You (sorry, couldn't help myself—but Ben Franklin would have applauded) were and are the underpinnings of America's great, successful, productive society—along with our steady flow of immigrant-malcontents setting out on ridiculously dangerous voyages of re-definition and self discovery. (Immigrant = In Search of Re-definition. Right?)

My conclusion then, as an apparently strong voice in the unabashedly Positivist Reagan Revolution, is that the power of positive thinking must be retained or regained at all costs. (My White House friends of that era tell me that In Search of Excellence was a seminal clarion call, perceived as such, for American businesses to stop hiding behind our growing protectionist walls and emulation of Japanese management—and come out swinging in our own style, which we subsequently did). Which to me means that we must deal with, and to some extent learn to live with, the near-infinite in length threat of havoc, never to be fully eradicated, caused by somebody at any given time pissed off about something—and return posthaste to our more careful to be sure, historic positivist selves. Of course we must be "tough with terrorists," but the idea that bombs and fortified borders and cowering behind said borders are the solution is insane. Positivist, open, daring, freedom-obsessed America is still the world's best hope.

I say all this because I have been troubled of late, very troubled, by the strident words of several of our 2008 presidential candidates from both parties. Their message: Build walls and hide now and forevermore.

And I say that all this from me is the antithesis of a political statement. American-style Positivism is my life's work at home and abroad. Cubicle slaves and bedraggled corporations—in Turkey or Romania or Siberia or in Kansas City or Miami or Boston—rise up and cast off your self-imposed shackles. Join the Global Economy (you have no choice, for God's sake), re-imagine and re-invent yourselves or your company. Understand that pioneering is the back to the future requisite. It is indeed—again—your great grandfather's world of self-reliance.

To hide is the ultimate victory for Osama and other terrorists. If we build walls, bomb, and slash the flow of immigrants, we may survive for awhile, even decades—but we will cease to be America and to be the globe's Beacon of Liberty and the Infinite Possibilities of Re-imaginings.

(Why the hell do you think I called my last book Re-imagine—it was a 300-page Technicolor rant that said ... rise up and regain your great grandfathers' sense of infinite possibilities and accountability. My Grandfather Peters came to our Beacon of Hope, Baltimore variety, in about 1870 and proceeded, from nothing, to become a wildly successful contractor and philanthropist—until he was wiped out, never to recover, by the Great Depression. He was gone before I arrived, but I never stop thinking of him, his victories, and his losses; perhaps he was my Quintessential American Beacon, when, at age 22, helped along by the Navy, I migrated to California and proceeded to stay there for the next 35 years—making my way, as a noisy participant, through the birthing and coming of age of the Silicon Valley colossus; in the process I avoided my father's tiresome professional life as a Cubicle Slave in the Tall Towers of the Eastern Seaboard.)

Four deafening cheers for the power of positive thinking—and acting! May we re-discover it posthaste!

Tom Peters posted this on 06/13/07.

Comments

I hope you are wrong about America building walls. Walls need to be knocked down not built. It is interesting and perhaps symbolic you use the expression â€˜building wallsâ€™ in 2007 when 18 years ago we all thought one of the greatest moves forward for democracy and freedom was knocking down a wall. As for positive thinking, we all have an individual choice. We can pretend the massive changes donâ€™t really affect us in our work and just carry on in our old ways. Alternatively we can see change as an opportunity, grasp it and make things happen for us. We have never had such a fantastic opportunity â€“ we are the Chief Executive of our own future.

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 13, 2007 2:47 PM

It seems like our current approach to terrorists might accomplish everything that's being asked. Realizing that there will always be radical groups, we still need to do what we can to stand for freedom in their strongholds and hold them back to those areas. At the same time, we are brightening the wattage by symbolically raising a call to arms in defense of what liberty is left. Borders were meant to be open in certain situations, but rigidly closed in others. Everyone knows that growth occurs when we allow the good in but block the bad without hesitation. I don't advocate raising walls against the good. That will only damage us and everyone else. But raising walls against everything that we stand against is something that we don't do enough of. I believe that most of America is wanting (in the literal sense) for someone to advocate taking a stand against all that is wrong and place hard walls. I think that Stumbling Upon Happiness and Paradox of Choice would both agree.

Posted by Dan Sage at June 13, 2007 6:01 PM

Dan, I think you make a good point. Those of us who support the building of a fence are not trying to keep people from immigrating. I personally think anyone who is willing to embrace our way of life, adopt our constitution, and live by our laws is welcome. I am a free market advocate. The more people are willing to work and contribute, the more prosperous we will all be (See Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations).

There are those who donâ€™t have a â€œcontributionâ€ mindset. Many come with a â€œtake what you can getâ€ mindset. Some would do everything they could to undo our freedom, our way of life, and our constitution. I donâ€™t think defending our border is â€œcowering behind a fence.â€ I donâ€™t think enforcing our laws is narrow-minded. Tightening our border and loosening our legal immigration policy for those willing to work I think is a good policy.

Also, Tom, you speak about terrorism as though it was an inevitable part of life that we should just accommodate to. These are well organized, and well-funded groups that donâ€™t believe that you and I have a right to live and would destroy our constitution and way of life if they could.

I donâ€™t believe that â€œthinking positivelyâ€ will change how they feel. I do think that in the arena of ideas, â€œthinking positivelyâ€, free people, and free markets will win as long as people have a right to choose. Reaganâ€™s call to tightening our borders was considered completely consistent with the â€œPositivist Reagan Revolution.â€ Unlike the Berlin Wall, we can debate the fence and put one up, and debate it again, and take it down.

Posted by Greg at June 13, 2007 9:33 PM

America rebuilds:

http://www.newamericancentury.org/defensenationalsecurity.htm

Posted by mike at June 14, 2007 1:56 AM

Thanks so much for the reminder that our great grand parents really Got It, valued rugged individualism and radical positivism... All too often the modern world looks down on history, as if by virtue of being born later we are somehow intellectually or practically superior to those who came before.

There's a lot to learn from those founding fathers & mothers. There's a lot to emulate. Building up new walls is remarkably short sighted, and I hope we can avoid following that path...

Posted by Dan Ward at June 14, 2007 7:27 AM

1. Clearly TP USA partnering with French against tyranny of England was key start to fabulous freedoms the free world flourishes with today.

2. English world-wide export heritage of indentured servitude, slavery, tobacco cultivation, "colonizing" aka slavery-pillage-plunder Africa/India/Asia resources was a model that like Nazi germanic perversion - USA prevailed over.

3. USA must pursue Asian, European, Indian talent as immigrant design to $0 out USA debt by 2020 & expand free world values & rule of law [positive inheritance via England]. Southern wall build $1/hr. jobs perfect for TP illegal immigrant friends ... pay back for their radical drain on taxpayer resources.

Posted by sean_free at June 14, 2007 8:37 AM

Other than people on the news and radio talk show, I don't see or hear much negative thinking from people I actually know. Turn off the TV and the radio.

Posted by pete stafford at June 14, 2007 8:50 AM

Positive thinking should be banned in business - certainly in management - it's too dangerous

Ok - so I am making a point in a strong way.

Most of the business problems I see around me are where some idiot has thought up a really positive "thing" whilst being clueless to what actually goes on on the ground.

Everyone in the room feels that they have to positively support the idea (especially if it is the boss') and the whole charade begins from there

No what is needed is appropriate thinking - the right style for the right situation.

Posted by PaulH at June 14, 2007 9:29 AM

TOM: ".. the single most important step toward ameliorating ...the terrorist threat ... is for the United States to continue to be the matchless, energetic, open, self-improving Beacon of Hope it has been for two-and-a-quarter centuries."

Writing as a European, I can only say "hear hear!". Rightly or wrongly, we have missed that particular America in the last few years. :(

A good American pal was saying how things like Gitmo were necessary because the terrorists were so very very bad. I couldn't agree with him, and I said "I though it was about being the greatest nation in the world, not about being slightly less nasty than the other guy."

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America has the power, the potential and - I believe - the heart to lead the world. Inspire us, don't force us to follow!

Adam Lawrence
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PS Sean: It's a bit unfair to lay so much of that on England's doorstep. The British Empire was not a good thing, but it has often been compared favourably with other European empires of the time. And we did ban slavery more than 100 years before the USA...

Posted by Adam Lawrence at June 14, 2007 11:22 AM

America has always been at its best when it has been the place where people could aspire to come and, because "anything is possible," achieve great things. It has not been the rich immigrants that have made us, it has been the poor ones.

Posted by Wally Bock at June 14, 2007 11:39 AM

We'll get back to it. I'm sure about that.

Posted by Andrew Hayden at June 14, 2007 11:51 AM

1. Totally agree Pete on turn off TV & radio - one must FAST from hard news to stay balanced.

2. Adam - must disagree though on Guantanamo - military rule detention is mandatory - it is what radical terrorists respect - must have them by the balls early & often ... no military detention means TP's ACLU liberal left lawyers in USA rule = 10 USA terror attacks since 9/11 rather than 0 ... 7 more Gitmos needed.

Posted by sean at June 14, 2007 11:52 AM

Hear Hear Tom, I am a very recently self-liberated cube slave. I just signed on with a very small (there are 4 of us) company doing what I feel to be my life's calling. As a father and husband, it's sort of terrifying to leave a big corporate job, but I've never felt more alive and vital. And that is among the many things that make this country great. You can strike out, and make your way here. The freedoms and opportunity found here are unmatched, and despite a tarnished image in the world, our reputation for freedom and opportunity still preceeds us. Thanks for being a great self-apointed ambassador of our country in your travels...all the best

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Posted by John Barnes at June 14, 2007 11:56 AM

well spoken tp.

Posted by jens at June 14, 2007 3:43 PM

One tiny piece of a very big picture.
My son who is a captain in the British army has just returned from a seven month posting to Iraq and he genuinely believes the security forces are making a difference. Try finding a positive comment in the British news & newspapers.
Thankfully there are many others who think the same.

Posted by Stuart Jones at June 14, 2007 3:49 PM

Well said Stuart and thank you for that very powerful comment. May God continue to protect your brave son. It is rather like scouring the media to find a positive comment about Tony Blair at the moment. In my view Mr Blair is a great leader that history will be kinder too than todayâ€™s media. To coin a phrase â€˜we have never had it so goodâ€™ in the UK as we have in the last 10 years under Tony Blairâ€™s leadership.

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 14, 2007 5:39 PM

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1. Thanks Stuart for family service - same media here in USA - never a mention of Afghan & Iraq new schools/hospitals/homes built, infrastructure, et al. Albeit am unsure if Iraqis have passion & republic-building savvy for peace & sect cooperation to make it happen given Iran's terror war @ free world expense.

Posted by sean at June 15, 2007 8:17 AM

What kind of analysis is it Tom, that choses to ignore the not so small matter of, in the words of Dr Ron Paul, "the empire"?

There are times when positive thinking is not enough. Now the need is to go back the words of John Kennedy in his 10 June 1963 address to the American University, Washington DC, as per Jeffrey Sachs in this years Reith Lectures and to re-imagine the politics of peace. Of course, this endeavour is not something just for Americans.

Posted by wmmbb at June 15, 2007 11:04 AM

Tom, I think the walls you should be worried about aren't the walls the US is putting up. Post-Iraq, countries around the world fear the US, not love the US. Hence, they feel the need to put up walls too, as a deterrent against a possible US onslaught on some trumped-up charge.

Sadly, America in Iraq reminds me of the spoof movie Mars Attacks. As the aliens slaughter people, they carry a Martian-translating machine that keeps announcing loudly, "Don't run, we are your friends."

Posted by Chetan Dhruve at June 15, 2007 1:31 PM

my irish ancestors came here . They all obeyed the laws on the books at thetime .. many came through ellis island . Learning english wasn't a problem . But they obeyd the laws .

This country has a right to enforce it's border . To say who can comein and who can't . To deport those who come here illegaly .

There is a process for Entering the counrty. one i support and i know people who have gone through . We need immigrants We need lots of them . But we as a country have a right to say only those who follow the rules can come here.

There are peopl in many countries of the world legally waiting to enter the us and get jobs here. I welcome them . Is it right for those whohave followed the rules and play by the system . To reward those who broke the laws .

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Posted by Ken at June 16, 2007 11:05 PM female viagra canadian

Holy cow, what a great, inspiring post Mr. Peters.

"rise up and regain your great grandfathers' sense of infinite possibilities and accountability"

... my favorite line.

Michael

Posted by Michael at June 18, 2007 10:09 AM

Two great books I just read...Barak Obama's "The Audacity of Hope" which does just that in documenting the inspirational spirit of our forefathers and countrymen and Al Gore's book "Assault on Reason" which tells how we arrived in this sad state of muddled thinking today..We each have this little block of space to make as positive, powerful and gigantic in the scheme of things as possible...work it, design it, mold it and make it so that all those around you will be inspired to create their own space as positive, big and majestic as they can imagine so that collectively we can make the USA continue to inspire the rest of the world. The Constitution of the United States was the greatest document ever conceived for the freedom of mankind - revisit it, reread it, and reenact your beliefs in the pursuit of liberty, justice and freedom for all - Keep America a beacon of light for the rest of the world by actions that promise the possibility of limitless freedoms and creativity.

Posted by s. guglielmi at June 19, 2007 1:05 PM

i think we Indians are slowly coming out from the strong negative feeling that we were left with when British left us.

Posted by Dr. Vikas Sharma at June 21, 2007 10:44 AM