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Shift your thinking by asking yourself one powerful question each day, "Who are you serving?" In a new Cool Friend interview, James Strock and Erik Hansen discuss this and its impact on current events. James Strock is a leadership expert and author of Serve to Lead. Find out more about him at his site.

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dispatches from the new world of work

100 Ways to Succeed #169:

Only You "Own" Your Attitude!

Does life suck sometimes?
Absolutely.

Nonetheless you and only you own your attitude. "Realistically," things may stink to high heaven. Still, the day is yours to Embrace with Vigor and Good Cheer—or not.

Your call.
100%.
Period.

Remember, if you will, the annoying-persistent TPR/Tom Peters Rant:

EXCELLENCE. Always.
If not EXCELLENCE, what?
If not EXCELLENCE now, when?

Tom Peters posted this on 05/14/09.

Comments

I am forever adjusting and re-adjusting my attitude to be sure that it is well aligned with goodness and grace. For those of us who feel so perfect that such is not needed, it is usually these who need to do so the most. I fall, but I get up.

Thank you for this reminder.

Posted by Judith Ellis at May 14, 2009 6:10 PM

I appreciate your reflection, Tom. On ManagemenTV I see your interviews frequently. Gratitude for your effort. Please keep going as you consider it wise.

Posted by Andres Agostini (Andy) at May 15, 2009 2:41 AM

The truth is the more challenging the environment, the more quality (excellence) demand the customers.

Posted by Andres Agostini (Andy) at May 15, 2009 2:49 AM

What a terrific message and one that I will now try to instill in every Call Center Customer Service rep I train.

Posted by dave wheeler at May 15, 2009 10:11 PM

Thank you all. As a firm believer of EXCELLENCE, Tom is really into it. I believe this subject matter and their actionable practices should always be, unless counseled otherwise, in this prominent blog. To further this fruitful and fun effort, I'll offer a quotation by the father of former UK prime minister Benjamin Disraeli. / ISAAC D'ISRAELI (1766 to 1848): "It is a wretched taste to be gratified with mediocrity when the excellent lies before us."

Posted by Andres Agostini (Andy) at May 17, 2009 3:09 PM

EXCELLENCE QUESTION: With optimum forever, Could we say? Excellence captured, too, equals to accomplishment, achievement, fulfillment, performance, execution, effectuation, implementation, realization, attainment, production, fruition, completing, finishing, culminating, consummating, instituting, et al.

Posted by Andres Agostini (Andy) at May 17, 2009 3:15 PM

Here is my summation on TP's recent posts which have been germinating within my thoughts: Excellence is most importantly an attitude which only then accomplishes good results. Try having Excellence without such; there is no impetus then for excellent work. But Excellence is not perfection as we are always moving towards a more excellent way. This is an attitude that produces greater works. Think Mother Teresa. Think Apple. Think Beethoven. Think Google. Think You. Excellence is an attitude first.

Posted by Judith Ellis at May 17, 2009 6:45 PM

The Holly Gray is found, pertaining to EXCELLENCE, in 'omni mode' heightened awareness.

Posted by Andres Agostini (Andy) at May 23, 2009 11:02 PM