dispatches from the new world of work

Yikes!

I know that a fair number of my friends read this Blog from time to time, and as we head into the new year, I want to offer a heartfelt blanket apology. I have been remiss in my communications—including many non-responses to rather urgent professional and personal emails.

I am sorry!
Period!

While rudeness allows no mitigating circumstances, I can only say lamely in partial defense that the last six months have been marked by unexpected and unremitting book pressure. It was precisely July 4th week that I began to re-work the rough draft. For reasons mostly of stupidity, I though it would take a bit of "touching up."

Ha!

There have been no more than a few days respite for six rather grueling months—including a 2-week August "vacation" in New Zealand during which I edited (re-wrote) from more or less 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. each and every day. (Total number of hikes: 0.)

It's been worth it, alas, even the rudeness. Which is not to say the book is worth a damn. It may well not be worth a damn, but it is always worth infinite effort, to one's limits, to try and make something that allows one to occasionally say, "Not bad." At this point, with my work (and that of Erik, Cathy, Shelley) more or less done, I'm going through that horrendous phase when I am powerless—and yet am certain I have produced a pile of crap.

We shall see.

But, again my apologies for behavior that, though beyond my control (no kidding—book writing is for me a garden-variety addiction), is still shameful!

Tom Peters posted this on 01/04/10.

Comments

Forgiven ;)

Happy New Year, Tom. Hope to see you more this year. Thanks for your kind words this fall. Was a tough holiday, but mom is doing as well as can be expected.

Best from home

Jamie

Posted by Jamie Hathaway at January 4, 2010 11:37 AM

Two questions:

- What will be de title of your new book (if you can say) ?

- When will be it available for selling ?

Thans

Posted by Ignacio at January 4, 2010 12:21 PM

Tom, we all know that you must be 'rude' by ignoring distractions to produce excellent work.

And if you still think it's crap that's a great sign that your self-criticism is alive and well to consistently produce books that change peoples careers and lives for the better.

I feel privileged of having been touched by your magic and I can't wait for your next dose of it!

Posted by gustavo at January 4, 2010 12:51 PM

So you got loose and goosey...gahh! you are only human!

Posted by GareyT at January 4, 2010 2:27 PM

Ignacio,
Thanks for asking about Tom's new book. The title is "The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence" and will be out in March. You can read more about it here (there's also a link Buy Now that will point you to booksellers offering preordering)
http://theharperstudio.com/authorsandbooks/tom_peters/the-book/the-little-big-things/

Posted by Shelley Dolley at January 4, 2010 5:26 PM

Thanks, Shelley.

I'm looking after reading it.

Posted by Ignacio at January 5, 2010 5:33 AM

Tom,
Thanks for the apology, but none is needed. Those who follow your work will benefit from "job well done" with the new book, and your labor/passion in giving it value-added, not just a quoting of extant work, will also infuse your new work in 2010.
Thank you for that form of "playing it forward", as well!

Posted by Randy Bosch at January 5, 2010 12:59 PM