The "Thank You" Tweets

Got going on Twitter re "Thank You"-power. Herewith the riff. Brackets at the end of a tweet are the source when it's not me—brackets with question marks are "source unknown."

Herewith, in the order they were made:

Overdoing it on "Thank yous" is a problem—0.0000001% of the time.

Timing is not everything. Thank you is everything. [leadlikeahero]

Overdo thank yous? I am 70. I've had far more than my share of "Thank yous." Love 'em as much as ever! Please feel free to overdo it.

Whenever anyone does anything of any magnitude for me I am literally delighted. An effusive "Thank you" is always in order.

The wee-est of wee "un-necessary" efforts rate mega-"Thank yous."

Courtesy not only makes things easier, but heartfelt appreciation makes lives better. [??]

If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough. [M. Eckhart]

Saying thank you is a supreme leadership "tool." Believe it!

Saying thank you is in a way selfish. Reward is huge appreciation for tiny investment.

The more crushing the pressure or nearness of a deadline, the more powerful the pause to say "Thank you."

The most effusive thanks from a leader should be reserved for someone who has the nerve to bring her/ him bad news in a timely fashion.

"God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?" [William Arthur Ward]

Eye contact may be the ultimate acknowledgement. (Hey, significantly reduces retail shrinkage.)

Sorry to sound like somebody's mom, but power of thank you multiplied by crystal clear eye contact.

When we're busy, we often fail to make eye contact. For God's sake ... work on this! (Sooooo common when one is staring at a screen.)

Thank you/eye contact: Great news ... you can consciously practice and improve.

Funny, we think about getting better at fly fishing or carpentry, but not when it comes to the likes of saying "Thank you."

Don't ruin a good apology with an excuse. Don't ruin a sincere 'thank you' with noise. [??]

When I say "Thank you" to someone, that's 100% it for that communication. No pollution

It's like calling to wish someone "Happy birthday" followed by a reminder of a looming deadline

"Thank you" isn't a starting point of something else. It is "the point." [Vala Afshar]

Hate to be crude, but someone who is thanked is in your debt. ("Thank you" is a power tool as well as a gracious-humane gesture.)

Re "Thank you"s: I am preaching my Mom's Gospel ... enforced with the Wrath of God.

Over to you ...

Join The Mash-Up Revolution

[Our guest blogger today is Ian Sanders, marketer, writer, and idea communicator.—CM]

Glancing down my LinkedIn connections this morning, I was reminded how meaningless job titles have become in a world where so many of us have gone multidimensional: how can you communicate multiplicity in a singular title? In an increasingly competitive and uncertain job market, communicating our professional talents is more important than ever. Whilst some of my LinkedIn contacts have selected stand-out titles like Change Agent and Risk Taker, the reality is that, for many, a job title doesn't cut it anymore.

This idea is at the heart of my own new book co-written with David Sloly, Mash-up!: How to Use Your Multiple Skills to Give You an Edge, Make Money and Be Happier. Whether you work for yourself or for an organisation, not much may be clear in this new world of work and business, but one thing is certain: those who have more than one trade or talent to offer the workplace, those who can reinvent themselves, who can pivot to match client and employer demand may prove to be more hirable. The mash-up worker is agile, comfortable adding new strings to her bow, bringing breadth of disciplines to projects instead of pursuing a one-track single-specialism career. A mash-up work life blends multiple talents and disciplines, creating a plural offering that is more fulfilling and also more enterprising.

Many people are doing jobs that didn't exist a generation ago, especially in digital communications, marketing, tech, and creativity, where their roles are very much a feature of the present. The future needs what David Kelly at IDEO billed "T-shaped" people; with specific skills, but breadth in other empathetic disciplines. The T-shaped executive who can cross borders to mash together ideas from one discipline to another can help foster innovation. Not entrenched in a single way of doing things, they have the vision for analogous learning and ability to apply an experience from one industry to another. The mash-up worker doesn't stand still, but keeps pace with shifting trends and client needs, reinventing herself where required.

Being a master of reinvention serves you well in a period of rapid change so if your current world gets saturated, stagnates or stalls you can stay ahead of the game. So how do you communicate your plural, ever-changing talents? Whether it's a business prospect you meet online, someone you bump into at a conference, or a woman you sit next to at a dinner party, you need them to understand what you do. If you only share one of the many strings to your bow, you risk missing out on opportunities. Of course, in the old world a job title would have communicated this, but today you are more than your job title, and that means it's more difficult to communicate. So here's the secret to making all you do "gettable": you need a unifier.

Your unifier is the single theme or idea that unites all you do. A unifier means you can easily share your talents with the outside world; it's the common denominator that binds together all you do. A unifier will bring clarity to your professional life, helping make you gettable and memorable. My own unifier is "communicating business ideas." So whether I'm writing books, advising clients on marketing, or writing an entrepreneurial feature for the Financial Times, that unites everything I touch. But importantly, it's also my touchstone for ensuring I don't go "off-piste"; I may take on a side project or extend my portfolio, but it has to fit—it has to be about communicating ideas.

So if you're looking to raise your game in the job market, try developing some broad skills to complement your specialism, be prepared to reinvent your offering, and most importantly find that personal unifier to answer the "What do you do?" question.

[Ian Sanders is an Idea Capturer, Financial Times columnist, marketer, and writer. (And, most importantly, a communicator of ideas.) On Twitter: @iansanders. His new book is Mash-up!: How to Use Your Multiple Skills to Give You an Edge, Make Money and Be Happier by Ian Sanders and
David Sloly, out now for Kindle, out October 28 in paperback.]

Thought blocks

#1

Effective Leadership/100% Under Your Control/ "Rank" Irrelevant:

Attitude EXCELLENCE.
Task EXCELLENCE.
Relationship EXCELLENCE.
Learning EXCELLENCE.

When: NOW!
(Every day brings an infinite # of full-fledged leadership opportunities regardless of name, rank, or serial number.)

No.1 Life Decision: The attitude you take into your next conversation/interaction.

#2

"We do no great things, only small things with great love."—Mother Teresa

"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble."—Helen Keller

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."—Anne Frank

"Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones."—Churchill

"To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts."—Henry David Thoreau

#3

"The days come and go like muffled and veiled figures sent from a distant friendly party but they say nothing. And if we do not use the gifts they bring, they carry them silently away."—Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I suppose I've known all along that there was a lot more to life than a professional career, but surgery has been a very demanding mistress, and it has given me a self identity that will be hard to shake."—Ned Cabot, upon retirement from his medical career, and who died in a boating accident in the North Sea in September 2012

"Living alone has also made me much, much more conscious of inconsequential things, the sweet banalities of a day in a life. I feel now as if I spent most of my previous time on earth in a state of perpetually frenzied obliviousness, intent on executing all the Important Tasks at Hand.. The test to take. The application to finish, the man to marry. The job to get, the brief to write, the motion to file, the verdict to appeal, the meeting to schedule, the PowerPoint to prepare. The apartment to buy, the meals to organize, the two miles to run, the sex to have, the kids to get to school and playdates and doctors and volleyball games and SAT tutors and college. The marriage to end. The books to write. I was always good at screening out the noise and focusing exclusively on the signal, which made me successful at school and at work and (more or less) as a parent. Until I lived alone, I was not so good at understanding—really understanding, beyond the obligatory modern lip service to smelling the roses and living in the moment—that the extraneous noise can be lovely. The Buddhists call it mindfulness, a word I sort of hate but an MO I've come to believe in.

"Such as right now, when I put the half-full quart of grapefruit juice back on the refrigerator shelf hastily, and watch the sloshing make the carton swivel and teeter before it rights itself, like a wobbly drunk almost falling and then too firmly planting his feet to stand perfectly still. We deprive ourselves if we ignore all the tiny inconsequential bits and pieces, the flotsam and jetsam of life. Quarks and neutrons and atoms and molecules, the earth, asteroids, stars, the shaft of light angling through the kitchen window right this second, illuminating the slow motion Dance of Ten Thousand Dust Motes; isn't it all flotsam and jetsam?"—from the protagonist in the novel True Believers, by Kurt Anderson

TLBT Video #79
Brand You: Showing Up Matters

A new video, #79, in The Little BIG Things series is now available on YouTube. Tom presents his view that you can dramatically increase your influence in any negotiation/discussion/process by simply showing up. Take a lesson from The Delaware delegation to the U.S. Constitutional Congress. Be there!

You can find the video in the right-hand column of this page or watch it at YouTube (time: 2 minutes 12 seconds). Also, you can get a PDF transcript of the video's content here: Brand You: Showing Up Matters.

MOAP #13

Part 13 of Tom's "Mother of All Presentations," or MOAP, is available now at ExcellenceNow.com. You can download the PowerPoint version or a PDF. We'll be releasing a section every other week throughout 2012.

Here's the 6th entry in Tom's "15H Theory of Everything," featuring Sally Helgesen and presenting Brand You, Distinct or ... Extinct! We recommend you go back and also read the 1997 Fast Company article where Tom laid out the concept. Find it here: "The Brand Called You."

MOAP #10

The next installment of Tom's "Mother of All Presentations," or MOAP, is Part 10, available now at ExcellenceNow.com. You can download the PowerPoint version or a PDF. We'll be releasing a section every other week throughout 2012.

Part 10 brings us the third "H," in Tom's "15H Theory of Everything." This presentation, which sprouted from a habit of Starbuck's Howard Schultz, is also titled "You ARE Your Calendar."

Share Your Love (and, Do So Before It's Too Late)

(This is a guest post by Raj Setty to introduce LoveThiz.com, just in time for Valentine's Day. Rajesh Setty serves as the president of Foresight Plus, LLC. He is an entrepreneur, author, and speaker based in Silicon Valley. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/rajsetty.)

When I look back at my engineering days a couple of decades ago, I remember a few teachers that made a huge difference in my life—even today. One of them was the late Dr. Sudhakar Samuel. Dr. Samuel was special. Very special. I still remember the sixth semester where he taught us Digital Electronics. Long story short—every single student in the class became an expert on the topic by the end of the semester.

I had an opportunity to thank Dr. Samuel at the end of the class. I don't know whether I did justice to what he had given to all of us. My appreciation for what and how he taught me in those days grew over these years. A few years ago, I thought I should go back and thank him again for the difference he made in my life. For some or the other reason, that time did not come. One day, all of a sudden, I got an email from an old friend that Dr. Samuel had passed away. There were tears in my eyes instantly, but there was also a feeling of guilt that I had left something incomplete.

Intentions do count. But, not much in such situations. Actions are what matter most.

Think about your own life. You wanted to thank or appreciate or simply say to someone how much they mean to you. You wanted to share your love for someone. You thought one day you would do it. But, for whatever reason, you were a bit too late. Once that time passed, the opportunity had gone forever. The only thing that remained was guilt.

The other way is true, too. Most people who love and appreciate you don't come out openly and say why they love and appreciate you. There are many reasons for it, but let's just agree that only a small percentage of your fans will openly appreciate you and state the reason why.

If tomorrow all the people who love and appreciate you come out openly and say why they love and appreciate you, your world will instantly change. At the least, you will get an insight about what you should continue doing. You might even be surprised that people care about things that you yourself took for granted.

How about this?

Rather than asking the world to change, how about making a small change in your life? How about making a list of all the people you love and appreciate and going and telling them why you love and appreciate them?

Others are just like you—they want to be loved and appreciated and they want to know why they are loved and appreciated.

Rather than just talking about it, I embarked on a project to help with this. The project is called LoveThiz.com and the goal for the project is to make it easy to share your gratitude, love, and/or appreciation for someone on Twitter.

With LoveThiz, you have only two things to enter:

1. The twitter handle for the person to whom you wish to express your love and appreciation.
2. The reason why you love and appreciate them.

Yes, there is a limit of 140 characters as LoveThiz will post your love and appreciation on Twitter.

You might ask—why add another layer? Why not just post this on Twitter?

Because there are 750 tweets posted per second and sooner or later (sooner, in most cases) what you posted will disappear in the noise. When you post something on LoveThiz, the system instantly creates a page for that person or brand on LoveThiz.
It takes less than ten seconds to post a note of appreciation and love to someone on LoveThiz.com. And, it will stay permanently on that person or brand's page. Soon, that person or brand gets feedback from across the world why they are being loved and appreciated.

Go ahead and share your love and appreciation for someone over there. It will probably take you a few seconds only but it might make someone's day.

Off the Cuff #2

Our Off the Cuff video series is a direct response from Tom to your questions. This is the second video in the series, which poses the question, "What is the greatest piece of advice you ever received that has made you a better writer or communicator?" It's a terrific question for Tom, and he discusses not only writing influences, but touches on public speaking as well. Don't miss the Dan Pink technique at the end; it may feel excruciating in practice, but there's no denying the improvement gained.

Advice,
For What It's Worth ...

I was asked to contribute (a very few words) to a family page offering words of wisdom to a graduating high school senior. That's a serious challenge—and I literally spent days on the task. Here, for better or for worse, is the result:

Rules For Living Life to the Hilt

Nothing will turn out the way you thought it would.

There is no bigger waste of time than making plans.

Any success you have will be the byproduct of having thrown yourself headlong and without reserve into what you were most passionate about—and then ridden the wave you created wherever and at whatever speed it carries you.

The greatest long term satisfaction comes from having behaved at all times with common decency.

(Above: School starts next week in New Zealand. A bit of holiday cricket on the sandy Tasman Sea beach in front of our cottage.)

TLBT Video #72
Brand You: Three-Minute Apologies

We add another video to The Little BIG Things series on YouTube. In the spirit of the coming New Year, it offers, perhaps, a suggestion for change you might plan to make in the year to come. According to Tom, one of the most important practices you adopt should be the apology. Three minutes, BIG impact.

You can find the video in the right-hand column of this page or watch it at YouTube (time: 1 minute 49 seconds). Or, get a PDF transcript of the video's content: Brand You: Three-Minute Apologies.

And You Ordinarily Fit Where ...

Superstar psychologist Martin Seligman is most recently author of Flourish. Among other things, he reports on the ubiquitous U.S. Army training program he developed and helped implement—"Master Resilience Training." As I progressed through this captivating book, I came across the following hypothetical exchange, meant, obviously, for part of the training:

Private Johnson tells Private Gonzales: "Hey my wife called and told me she got a great job on post."

Active constructive response: "That's great. What's the new job? When does she start? What did she say about how she got it and why she deserved it?"

Passive constructive: "That's nice."

Passive destructive: "I got a funny email from my son. Listen to this ..."

Active destructive: "So who's going to be looking after your son? I wouldn't trust a babysitter. There are so many horror stories you hear about babysitters abusing kids."

I shall offer no commentary—but if this little vignette does not trigger a blockbuster bout of introspection, solo or with spouse or colleagues, and especially for males, I don't know what the hell would.

(I, for one, will not look at the world quite the same way I did before happening upon this.)

TLBT Video #69
Brand You: To-Don't List

The latest in the The Little BIG Things Video Series is now at YouTube. Watch it to see Tom explain that a must for executives and business managers of all kinds to supplement the "To-Do" list is the "To-Don't" list.

You can find the video in the right-hand column of our front page, or watch it here (Time: 2 minutes 27 seconds). Also available, a PDF transcript of the video's content: Brand You: To-Don't List.

Forget Overnight Success and Learn to Be Persistent

(This is a guest post from Alexandra Levit, whose new book, Blind Spots: The 10 Business Myths You Can't Afford to Believe on Your New Path to Success, is released today. She is Money Magazine's 2010 Online Career Expert of the Year and a winner of Forbes' 2011 Best Websites for Women. She interviewed Tom, and he invited her to submit this post.)

Forget Overnight Success and Learn to Be Persistent

Overnight success is one of the most widely held beliefs in the business world. It's also hugely misleading, and adopting this idea that you can easily become an overnight success could actually be quite damaging for your career and life. The truth is simple. There are very few—if any—genuine cases of overnight success. The majority of successful people have dedicated themselves to a goal and persevered for a long time before reaching a high level of achievement that is finally noticed and talked about by others.

Perseverance is defined as remaining constant to a purpose, idea, or task in spite of obstacles. Some people are born with the tendency to persevere. In fact, I can already see it in my young son. He likes to push his wagon around our backyard, but he doesn't always have enough strength and control to move it where he wants it to go. However, instead of giving up and crying, he faithfully pushes at the wagon from different angles until it's free of the tree or fence.

Pick up any one of Horatio Alger's rags-to-riches stories, and you'll be virtually hit over the head with the lesson that earlier generations didn't expect instant gratification the way we do today. If they had, we wouldn't have had the opportunity to evolve as fully as a society, with the most critical cultural and technological advances marinating over decades. We've become a society of now, now, now, but the truth is that most things worth having take a little bit of process and a lot of time. You shouldn't assume that if something doesn't manifest overnight that it won't happen at all, and, in fact, you will do wonders for your personal development if you can learn to be patient, maintain faith in your own potential, and increase your perseverance in driving important aspects of your career forward.

While it admittedly sounds a bit corny, the first step in this journey is to believe in yourself and what you want to do. If you try for a goal, but in the back of your mind you don't actually think you can accomplish it, you will wreck havoc on and sabotage your motivation. You will probably give up more easily, which will result in even poorer self-esteem. If you're like me and believing in yourself is sometimes challenging, you might talk to family members, friends, a psychologist, or a coach to address your doubts and insecurities head on.

Self-awareness is a critical part of developing perseverance. Admitting that you're the type to give up on a goal before you've completed it is the first step in changing that pattern. Then, practice keeping promises to yourself by setting small goals and refusing to quit until you've achieved them.

Another component is self-control. And how do you improve that? As John Tierney reported in the New York Times in 2008, research from University of Miami psychologists Michael McCullough and David Willoughby concludes that finding your religion may be the right move, since religiosity is correlated with higher self-control. Brain scans show that when people pray, the parts of the brain responsible for self-regulation and control of attention and emotion get a major workout. If you tend toward the agnostic, you can still get the self-control benefit by meditating privately or by getting involved with an organization that shares your values.

The final component in enhancing your perseverance is to think positively. Because you're human and not a cartoon character, it is difficult to have a positive attitude 100 percent of the time. When something unfortunate occurs, it's natural to feel negative emotions like anger, frustration, and sadness at first. But holding on to these until they result in constant depression and anxiety will make it all that much harder to persevere at a difficult goal.

(Read more about the book Blind Spots at
Penguin.ca and see Alexandra's blog at alexandralevit.typepad.com.)

Why It's Time To Compete on What You're Thinking

[Our guest blogger is Ian Sanders. He runs an ideas consultancy where he creates and delivers ideas to solve challenges, facilitate growth, and help businesses stand out from the crowd. His new book Zoom! The Faster Way To Make Your Business Idea Happen is due out in November 2011.]

It's the holy grail for every business, whether you're a freelancer, a start-up, or an established brand. How the heck do you stand out in a crowded market? Awesome product functionality or a niche specialty may only get you so far as a differentiator. So instead of marketing your product benefits, try communicating what you're thinking: your personality, your ideas, your attitude. Communicating your thinking—thought leadership marketing—can be really effective in resonating and engaging with your target audience.

Of course this is nothing new. We've always made brand choices based on what businesses think. That's why we fly Virgin, drink Starbucks, ride a Harley. We get what a brand stands for and we either line up behind it, or we run a mile.

Here's the opportunity. There's a long tail of small businesses right down to the one-person work-at-home enterprises that spring up by the hundreds every waking hour. This is where the marketplace is at its most abundant: similarly qualified, similarly positioned, similarly priced, smart boutique businesses. Creative agencies, digital companies, copywriters, web developers. Who do you pick if there's only a cigarette paper between their offerings? You pick the woman who demonstrates her expertise via her weekly blog; the business that provides a monthly video update of industry news; even the business owner who posts a daily picture of her products on Instagram. In sharing their expertise they're also giving an insight into their personality. So let's redefine the genre here: "thought leadership marketing" doesn't just have to be about publishing academic papers or writing posts for the Harvard Business Review. It's whatever content works for you, your business, and your audience. A blog post, a tweet, a newsletter, a video sharing your business tips, even a blackboard out on the street communicating your "Thought For The Day."

Back in 2008, Tom told the audience at the Inc. 5000 conference "If you're not blogging, you're an idiot". He was right. And he'd probably say the same today about Twitter. Because together with LinkedIn, Google+, (and whatever next month's hot new platform is) we have a bunch of tools available that provide a free platform for thought leadership.

The good news is that communicating your thinking does not discriminate on size: instead of s/he with the biggest budget wins, it's who can demonstrate the original ideas or the fresh thinking. So if you're a freelancer or small business, why aren't you blogging? Why don't you put your thoughts out there, why aren't you shining a spotlight on your DNA? Don't assume it doesn't matter—customers want to deal with experts and they need to see evidence of that. There's no point making claims about how innovative your business is if you can't back it up, if you can't prove you're living and breathing it.

King Of Shaves is a shaving brand that's become a success in the UK and is now entering the US market. Founder Will King may not have Gillette's ad spend but he plays out a David vs Goliath tale, competing with the big guys via Twitter and social media. Will is doing more than selling razors and shaving foam; he's engaging with his audience 1-to-1 through storytelling and giving advice to the entrepreneurial community. That's how he—and his business—stand out.

Don't miss out on the thought leadership marketing opportunity. Remember, you don't have to be the biggest or the best to stand out; you just need to have something interesting to say.

Little BIG Video #66
Brand You:
You Are the Company
You Keep

The Little BIG Things Video Series continues at YouTube. In the most recent video, Tom explains his theory that if you want to be more innovative, you must hang out with interesting people who pull you into the future.

You can find the video in the right column of the front page of tompeters.com or you can watch the video on YouTube. [Time: 1 minute 56 seconds] And, of course, a transcript of the video's content is also available as a PDF: Brand You: You Are the Company You Keep. Enjoy!

Little BIG Video #62
Brand You:
Two Decisions a Year Define You

We present video #62 from The Little BIG Things Video Series. In this video at YouTube, Tom insists that your legacy is defined by the people you leave behind—those you promote into strategic positions—so he asks you to choose wisely.

You can find the video in the right column of the front page of tompeters.com or you can watch the video on YouTube. [Time: 2 minutes 12 seconds] You can also download a PDF transcript of the video's content: Brand You: 2 Decisions a Year Define You.

Beyond Your "To Do" List.
Waaaay Beyond Your "To Do" List.

Nothing wrong with a thoughtful "To do" list. Everything right about it, in fact, unless your engineer-like devotion to it as such is that you stick to it no matter what—and some "must-do newbies" come along. There is a lot to say for inflexibility—and flexibility. (Go figure—management is an art.)

In any event, I want to use this space to say that "To do" lists are not enough—not nearly enough. In fact I want to urge three other daily "must" lists be added to your morning cogitations.

#2. "To be" list. If you went to a play, and someone appeared on stage and proceeded to read the play—with no acting—you'd say they missed the point of theater. Well, management of any sort is, pure and simple, theater with the acting. Who are you going to "be" this morning? How are you going to project yourself upon the scene? What is your tactical interpersonal approach to each and every one of those items on your "to do" list? A manager by definition can't do it all—or maybe can't do any of it. Hence her/his job is to "engage" others—and engagement is 100% about emotion—whereas the "to do" list is 100% engineering. So think through your "leaderhip" approach—and the unabashed "theater" you will use with each of the folks-teams you are attempting to engage re that particular "to do" item.

#3. "Relationship management/development" list. Life, including business life, is all about relationships. With allies. With doubters. With friends. With foes. Inside the organization—"above" you and "below" you. Outsiders as well as insiders. What is the extant "State of the Union" this morning? Come hell and high water, what relationships are in need of repair? What allies desperately need bucking up? Are you plugged in enough two levels "down"? Are you plugged in two levels "down" in a customer's or vendor's organization? Along with "to do" and "to be," we need a considered tactical plan to pro-actively manage our ongoing and prospective relationships.

#4. Strategic "To dos." Presumably you have some sort of more or less defined "strategic objectives" for the year (never more than three), or even for your expected 3-year tenure in your current assignment—or during the 4-month life of your project team. Amidst the hurdy gurdy of daily affairs (proceeding through the three prior lists, for example), are you visibly inching forward with your #1 or #2 priority—or are they silently lost in the shuffle? Maybe it's just a small gesture or two, but your gang should realize that in parsing any issue, that top strategic priority must be moved forward at least a millimeter or two.

You could readily argue that, even if you got up at 4AM, you'd still be constructing the lists per se at 4PM. My answer: Sure you could. Nonetheless, at some level, I'll go down swinging concerning each of these four ideas—and insist that each of the four, in a discrete and palpable fashion, must be top of mind as you navigate the day or week.

Four lists:

1. To do—gotta get done.


2. To be—how you play 'em.


3. Discrete relationship management tasks.


4. Activities directly or indirectly moving/nudging Strategic Priority #1/#2 forward.

Have at it!
Don't be a wimp!
(So get up at 3AM.)

Little BIG Video #59
Brand You:
Read These Books

Here's video number 59 from The Little BIG Things Video Series. Tom says it's all about relationships. Not only that, he provides a must-read book list that will help you with relationships in business.

You can find the video in the right column of the front page of tompeters.com or you can watch the video on YouTube. [Time: 1 minutes, 59 seconds] You can also download a PDF transcript of the video's content: Brand You: Read These Books.

Little BIG Video #55
Brand You:
Shut Up

Here's video number 55 from The Little BIG Things Video Series. You'll be amazed by what you learn if you're willing to do one very simple thing: Shut up. According to Tom, listening—even through uncomfortable silences—is an essential sales tool.

You can find the video in the right column of the front page of tompeters.com or you can watch the video on YouTube. [Time: 2 minutes, 59 seconds] You can also download a PDF transcript of the video's content: Brand You: Shut Up.

Little BIG Video #52
Brand You:
Thank You Notes

Here's video number 52 from The Little BIG Things Video Series. Tom once wrote 30 Rules of Implementation. The first one? Thank you notes. "Recognition, appreciation, nothing gets you further—and it also makes you a better human being."

You can find the video in the right column of the front page of tompeters.com or you can watch the video on YouTube. [Time: 2 minutes, 50 seconds] You can also download a PDF transcript of the video's content: Brand You: Thank You Notes.

The Little BIG Things
Synopsis Series
#34 Curiosity
#35 Learning

It's time for two new sections in The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series. The next two sections in The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence are titled "Curiosity" and "Learning." Both these sections are centered around the thirst for knowledge. "Curiosity" celebrates asking questions, no matter how dumb they may sound. In "Learning," Tom suggests particular areas of focus.

You can download free pdfs of those sections from The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series* by clicking below:

#34 Curiosity
#35 Learning

*The Synopsis Series is an adaptation that gives you a taste of the BIG idea in each of the 163 Little BIG Things. More information on the book can be found on this page. The Synopsis Series as released thus far can be found here.

Getting It Wrong

So often we use familiar quotes that leave out "the next couple of lines." And the meaning is distorted beyond recognition in the process. Consider "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblins of little minds," from Ralph Waldo Emerson. The meaning is obviously that changing your mind is no sin; and that the wise among us change when circumstances change.

In the aforementioned D.O., I found the fuller version of RWE's wisdom:

"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblins of little minds. Speak what you think today in words as hard as cannonballs, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict everything you said today."

To be sure, the idea remains the idea of acceptable, in fact admirable inconsistency. But the emphasis is startling. Not only is inconsistency "okay," but inconsistency delivered in the most forceful terms is to be desired: "hard as cannonballs," "hard words." Moreover a rapid shift is acceptable as well: "today," "tomorrow"—though the latter doubtless is of a metaphorical character. At any rate, a significant change, and as one regularly accused of "[hard-word] inconsistency," most welcome.

'Tis the Season

Forbes recently picked up on Tom's message of linking business success to kindness in the article "The Physics of Kindness and Lessons for Business." Regardless of the holiday you choose to celebrate, as the year comes to a close, it's the perfect time to take a moment and reflect not only on the typical resolutions, but how you'd like to behave toward your fellow humans in the new year.

The Little BIG Things
Synopsis Series
#26 Passion
#27 Presence

It's time for two new sections in The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series. The next two sections in The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence are titled "Passion" and "Presence." In "Passion" Tom points out the power of emotion and its role in success. "Presence" serves as a reminder of the importance of the classic Managing By Wandering Around.

You can download free pdfs of those sections from The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series* by clicking below:

#26 Passion
#27 Presence

*The Synopsis Series is an adaptation that gives you a taste of the BIG idea in each of the 163 Little BIG Things. More information on the book can be found on this page. The Synopsis Series as released thus far can be found here.

Little BIG Video #49
Excellence:
Courtesy Matters

Here's video number 49 from The Little BIG Things Video Series. Tom reminds us that grand gestures aren't always necessary, it's the little things that matter.

You can find the video in the right column of the front page of tompeters.com or you can watch the video on YouTube. [Time: 1 minute, 16 seconds] You can also download a PDF transcript of the video's content: Excellence: Courtesy Matters.

The Little BIG Things
Synopsis Series
#20 Yes
#21 No

It's time for two new sections in The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series. The next two sections in The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence are titled "Yes" and "No." In these sections, Tom reminds us that, "Time is your most precious resource." In Yes, the focus is on being intentional about having fun, and in No, the focus is on choosing what not to spend your time on. canada viagra mastercard

You can download free pdfs of those sections from The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series* by clicking below:

#20 Yes
#21 No

*The Synopsis Series is an adaptation that gives you a taste of the BIG idea in each of the 163 Little BIG Things. More information on the book can be found on this page. The Synopsis Series as released thus far can be found here.

Little BIG Video #47
Brand You:
TDY Finance

In video number 47 from The Little BIG Things Video Series, Tom advises you to take on a temporary duty assignment in the finance department. The relationships you build there will be priceless in getting things done.

You can find the video in the right column of the front page of tompeters.com or you can watch the video on YouTube. [Time: 2 minutes, 18 seconds] You can also download a PDF transcript of the video's content: Brand You: TDY Finance.

The Little BIG Things
Synopsis Series
#17 Networking
#18 Lunch

It's time for two new sections in The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series. The next two sections in The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence are titled "Networking" and "Lunch." Your relationships are the key to success, on a project level or career level. Tom not only explains why but how to improve these all-important relationships.

You can download free pdfs of those sections from The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series* by clicking below:

#17 Networking
#18 Lunch

*The Synopsis Series is an adaptation that gives you a taste of the BIG idea in each of the 163 Little BIG Things. More information on the book can be found on this page. The Synopsis Series as released thus far can be found here.

The Little BIG Things
Synopsis Series
#15 Leadership
#16 Words

It's time for two new sections in The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series. The next two sections in The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence are titled "Leadership" and "Words." Both sections focus on respect, with Leadership encouraging you to serve those who you lead, and Words emphasizing the power of simple phrases that can completely change a relationship.

You can download free pdfs of those sections from The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series* by clicking below:

#15 Leadership
#16 Words

*The Synopsis Series is an adaptation that gives you a taste of the BIG idea in each of the 163 Little BIG Things. More information on the book can be found on this page. The Synopsis Series as released thus far can be found here.

The Little BIG Things
Synopsis Series
#13 Work
#14 Initiative

It's time for two new sections in The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series. The next two sections in The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence are titled "Work" and "Initiative." Tom talks about what being a professional really means, suggests some counter-intuitive personal strategies for success, and advocates for making an Insane Public Effort.

You can download free pdfs of those sections from The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series* by clicking below:

#13 Work
#14 Initiative

*The Synopsis Series is an adaptation that gives you a taste of the BIG idea in each of the 163 Little BIG Things. More information on the book can be found on this page. The Synopsis Series as released thus far can be found here.

The Little BIG Things
Synopsis Series
#11 Attitude
#12 Performance

It's time for two new sections in The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series. The next two sections in The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence are titled "Attitude" and "Performance." They're a reminder to turn on your eye sparkle. After all, it's Showtime! All the time!

You can download free pdfs of those sections from The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series* by clicking below:

#11 Attitude
#12 Performance

*The Synopsis Series is an adaptation that gives you a taste of the BIG idea in each of the 163 Little BIG Things. More information on the book can be found on this page. The Synopsis Series as released thus far can be found here.

Little BIG Video #43
Brand You:
GTHOOTO

In video number 43 from The Little BIG Things Video Series, Tom simplifies the Managing By Wandering Around strategy. If you're a leader, you need to do it now.

You can find the video in the right column of the front page of tompeters.com or you can watch the video on YouTube. [Time: 1 minute, 40 seconds] You can also download a PDF transcript of the video's content: Brand You: GTHOOTO.

What Matters?

What follows was drafted as I prepared for my seminar in Zurich on 03 October. (You'll also find it in both PDF and PowerPoint formats.)

The Memories That Matter

In a month, as I write, I'll be 68. No matter how hard one tries to be forward focused, at that age there is a frequent urge to "sum things up." As one does look back, there is a certain class of memories that stand out. I know my own story—and I've talked to many others. When you look back at "what really matters"—it's rarely "the numbers." Make no mistake, as you soldier on, your tiny or huge enterprise must be profitable to survive. Wanna do great things? Well, check out the "cash flow" statement first. True, but still "the summing up statement" is far more about the basics of human behavior and character than about the angle of incline of a market share graph. What follows is then, in a fashion, "the memories that matter"—or will matter. Why point this out? Because to get the tally right on this one at age 68, the sorts of things enumerated here must have been "top of mind" throughout your career—i.e., yesterday and this morning.

The "memories that matter":

The people you developed who went on to stellar accomplishments inside or outside the company. (A reputation as "a peerless people developer.")

The (no more than) two or three people you developed who went on to create stellar institutions of their own.

The long shots (people with "a certain something") you bet on who surprised themselves—and your peers.

The people of all stripes who 2/5/10/20 years later say, "You made a difference in my life," "Your belief in me changed everything."

The sort of/character of people you hired in general. (And the bad apples you chucked out despite some stellar traits.)

A handful of projects (a half dozen at most) you doggedly pursued that still make you smile and which fundamentally changed the way things are done inside or outside the company/industry.

The supercharged camaraderie of a handful of Great Teams aiming to "change the world."

Belly laughs at some of the stupid-insane things you and your mates tried.

Less than a closet full of "I should have ..."

A frighteningly consistent record of having invariably said, "Go for it!"

Not intervening in the face of considerable loss—recognizing that to develop top talent means tolerating failures and allowing the person who screwed up to work their own way through and out of their self-created mess.

Dealing with one or more crises with particular/ memorable aplomb.

Demanding ... CIVILITY ... regardless of circumstances.

Turning around one or two or so truly dreadful situations—and watching almost everyone involved rise to the occasion (often to their own surprise) and acquire a renewed sense of purpose in the process.

Leaving something behind of demonstrable-lasting worth. (On short as well as long assignments.)

Having almost always (99 percent of the time) put "Quality" and "Excellence" ahead of "Quantity." (At times an unpopular approach.)

A few "critical" instances where you stopped short and could have "done more"—but to have done so would have compromised your and your team's character and integrity.

A sense of time well and honorably spent.

The expression of "simple" human kindness and consideration—no matter how harried you may be/may have been.

Understood that your demeanor/expression of character always sets the tone—especially in difficult situations.

Never (rarely) letting your external expression of enthusiasm/determination flag—the rougher the times, the more your expressed energy and bedrock optimism and sense of humor showed.

The respect of your peers.

A stoic unwillingness to badmouth others—even in private.

An invariant creed: When something goes amiss, "The buck stops with me"; when something goes right, it was their doing, not yours.

A Mandela-like "naïve" belief that others will rise to the occasion if given the opportunity.

A reputation for eschewing the "trappings of power." (Strong self-management of tendencies toward arrogance or dismissiveness.)

Intense, even "driven" ... but not to the point of being careless of others in the process of forging ahead.

Willing time and again to be surprised by ways of doing things that are inconsistent with your "certain hypotheses."

Humility in the face of others, at every level, who know more than you about "the way things really are."

Having bitten your tongue on a thousand occasions—and listened, really really listened. (And been constantly delighted when, as a result, you invariably learned something new and invariably increased your connection with the speaker.)

Unalloyed pleasure in being informed of the fallaciousness of your beliefs by someone 15 years your junior and several rungs below you on the hierarchical ladder.

Selflessness. (A sterling reputation as "a guy always willing to help out with alacrity despite personal cost.")

As thoughtful and respectful, or more so, toward thine "enemies" as toward friends and supporters.

Always and relentlessly put at the top of your list/any list being first and foremost "of service" to your internal and external constituents. (Employees/Peers/ Customers/Vendors/Community.)

Having treated the term "servant leadership" as holy writ. (And "preached" "servant leadership" to others—new "non-managerial" hire or old pro, age 18 or 48.)

Having created the sort of workplaces you'd like your kids to inhabit. (Explicitly conscious of this "Would I want my kids to work here?" litmus test.)

A "certifiable" "nut" about quality and safety and integrity. (More or less regardless of any costs.)

A notable few circumstances where you resigned rather than compromise your bedrock beliefs.

Perfectionism just short of the paralyzing variety.

A self- and relentlessly enforced group standard of "EXCELLENCE-in-all-we-do"/"EXCELLENCE in our behavior toward one another."

The Little BIG Things
Synopsis Series
#9 Others
#10 Connection

It's time for two new sections in The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series. The next two sections in The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence are titled "Others" and "Connection." They both focus on "Deliberate Acts of Relationship Enhancement."

You can download free pdfs of those sections from The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series* by clicking below:

#9 Others
#10 Connection

*The Synopsis Series is an adaptation that gives you a taste of the BIG idea in each of the 163 Little BIG Things. More information on the book can be found on this page. The Synopsis Series as released thus far can be found here.

The Little BIG Things
Synopsis Series
#7 Recession46
#8 Self

It's time for two new sections in The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series. The next two sections in The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence are titled "Special Section: The Recession 46" and "Self." The Special Section offers strategies for coping with the economic crisis. The "Self" section focuses on adjusting your attitude and working on your story, things that elevate your personal brand.

You can download free pdfs of those sections from The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series* by clicking below:
#7 Special Section: The Recession 46
#8 Self

*The Synopsis Series is an adaptation that gives you a taste of the BIG idea in each of the 163 Little BIG Things. More information on the book can be found on this page. The Synopsis Series as released thus far can be found here.

The Little BIG Things
Synopsis Series
#5 Opportunity
#6 Resilience

It's time for two new sections in The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series. The next two sections in The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence are titled "Opportunity" and "Resilience." Both new sections focus on how to respond to difficult times.

You can download free pdfs of those sections from The Little BIG Things Synopsis Series* by clicking below:
#5 Opportunity
#6 Resilience

*The Synopsis Series is an adaptation that gives you a taste of the BIG idea in each of the 163 Little BIG Things. More information on the book can be found on this page. The Synopsis Series as released thus far can be found here.

Little BIG Video #39
Brand You: Never Trash Your Competitors

In video number 39 from The Little BIG Things Video Series, Tom reminds us not to stoop so low as to badmouth the competition. It may be a simple truth, but it's a valuable one.

You can find the video in the right column of the front page of tompeters.com or you can watch the video on YouTube. [Time: 2 minutes, 38 seconds] You can also download a PDF transcript of the video's content: Brand You: Never Trash Your Competitors.

Little BIG Video #36
Brand You:
Engage Your Brain

In video number 36 from The Little BIG Things Video Series, Tom uses an example from Cool Friend Dan Coyle's The Talent Code to show how much more effective you are when you're engaged with what you're doing. Sounds simple, but the example provides an argument for adding challenges to your work.

You can find the video in the right column here at tompeters.com or you can watch the video on YouTube. [Time: 2 minutes, 23 seconds] You can also download a PDF transcript of the video's content: Brand You: Engage Your Brain.

Brand You: You Are Your Calendar

In the next video from The Little BIG Things Video Series, Tom tells it like it is: The calendar never lies. You can claim something is your priority, but if your calendar doesn't reflect it, you're lying to yourself.

You can find the video in the right column here at tompeters.com or you can watch the video on YouTube. [Time: 2 minute, 28 seconds] You can also download a PDF transcript of the video's content: Brand You: You Are Your Calendar.

Brand You: Everybody Is a Salesperson

You are an ambassador. That's right, an ambassador for your organization... or even your town. Tom explains why it's necessary to see yourself this way in a new video from The Little BIG Things Video Series.

You can find the video in the right column here at tompeters.com or you can watch the video on YouTube. [Time: 2 minutes, 21 seconds] You can also download a PDF transcript of the video's content: Brand You: Everybody Is a Salesperson.

"I Know This Guy Joe ..."

My economics prof introduced me to "Joe" years ago. He called it the "I know a man who" theory. I'll comment, "Statistically more lefthanders per capita get into injury-causing accidents." To which you respond, "Yeah, but my best friend, Alonzo, is a leftie without a mar on his record at age 32." In your mind, Alonzo overrides my analysis based on, say, a 3,000-accident sample.

I felt like Man-who Joe had me in an armlock the other day. I was tweeting about the economic value of kindness, thoughtfulness, etc. To which someone responded with a short list of names of wildly successful entrepreneurs and artists (symphony conductors) who are out-and-out jerks.

I know such folk, too. Many thereof. Yet my "defense"—which I fervently believe—was: "Yup, X & Y & Z are indeed v. successful jerks.

"But ...

"But you and I and the vast majority of us are simply not good enough to be able to overcome significant jerk-hood. That is, for those of us who are mortal (let's say 99% ++), thoughtfulness-kindness-attentiveness is a winning strategy, perhaps the only possible winning strategy."

I refuse to be trapped by "I know this guy Joe"!

The One-third Rule:
And You?

From No One Would Listen: A True Financial Thriller, by Harry Markopolos (the Madoff whistleblower):

"I had established the one-third rule: For every three hours you spend at work you have to spend at least one hour outside the office on professional development. That might mean reading material that might improve your life, but more likely it meant social networking [TP: this from a diehard quant!!!]. I encouraged Neil to take advantage of the pub culture in Boston, to go to professional association meetings, and to go to dinners."

I love this!
How are you doing on "the one-third rule"?

NB: While I believe that emerging "social media" is incredibly powerful, there is something about a pub.

Video: More on Brand You

Here's the latest video of Tom expounding on The Little BIG Things before starting work on the book. All the seeds of the 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence are in this video series, though the text of the book is different from what you'll find here, because Tom edited about 5 (or 10) times. In this video, Tom explains that taking control of your own career is not an option, but a must.

You can watch the video here. [Time: 3 minutes, 8 seconds]

[Or, get a PDF transcript of the video's content: More on Brand You.]

Woe Betide

I have been shaped morally as well as professionally as an adult by the institutions I served immediately after graduation from university. Of the United States Navy, in which I served in the late 1960s, I retain nothing short of reverential respect. Of McKinsey & Co., following the Jeff Skilling/Enron fiasco and the likely involvement of very senior officers with the Galleon insider trading case, I am in true despair; given an apparently reckless emphasis on growth, it appears to no longer be the institution that drummed integrity and professionalism into my soul in the 1970s.

The Job Hunting Paradox

A tweet I came across argued that job hunters (a lot of us these days) needed to: (1) have a good story, (2) dazzle with your energy, and (3) know the company.

There's nothing wrong with that.
And everything wrong with that.

Pro-action is a (very) good thing. So I've argued for years. On the other hand, I believe that there is no force more powerful than effective listening. And the three (fine) factors enumerated above implicitly suggest that job hunters are always on the attack.

A good story is great.
BUT IT NEEDS TO BE THE RIGHT STORY FOR THE RECRUITER.

Dazzling with energy is fine.
BUT BEWARE THE FINE LINE BETWEEN VIGOR AND AIMLESS FRENZY.

Knowing the company is imperative.
BUT KNOWING THE COMPANY CAN DEGENERATE INTO A RECITATION OF STATISTICS ... RATHER THAN AN APPRECIATION OF THE COMPANY'S CULTURE.

I am hardly arguing for applicant-as-shrinking violet. But I am arguing that the attentive listener, listener between the lines in particular, has an advantage that is priceless. That is, job hunting is a paradox. One must exhibit equal adeptness at talking and listening—but maybe with a nod to the latter.

Remember that old one-liner about God giving us one mouth, but TWO ears. Atheist or devout believer, keep that in mind at all times!

TLBT Video #23: You Are Your Story

Gandhi says that your life is your message. In the latest addition to The Little BIG Things video series, Tom says that your brand is your story.

You can click on the title to watch the video, Brand You: You Are Your Story (2 minutes, 27 seconds), or download a PDF transcript.

Jim Warren's Message!
And You?

I'm a lucky guy. Over the years, lots of people have said lots of nice things to me.

But few can top Jim Warren.

Who's he?

No idea.

Jim Warren left a phone message.

I guess I mentioned that I live in Tinmouth, VT somewhere in The Little BIG Things.

Jim W was in O'Hare.

Guess he used directory assistance or some app or another. uk viagra sales online

I'm listed in the phone book.

He called and left a message on our home phone answering machine.

He gushed and gushed about TLBT.

Wow!

There's a message or three or seven in Jim W's message:

1. One never gets tired of positive feedback/appreciation/recognition. (More precisely, "Thank yous.")


2. Spontaneous Acts of Thoughtfulness are Mighty Love Bombs.


3. SATs are MLBs that can lead to stratospheric profitability.


4. SATs are at the Heart of repeat business.


5. I'll [literally] remember Jim Warren, "the O'Hare guy," until my last breath.


6. I'll talk about Jim Warren until my last speech.


7. The fact that JW went to the effort (a) to call, (b) to call from the airport, (c) to go to the trouble of finding me adds multiplicative power to the act.

So:

1. When was the last time you "did a Jim Warren"?


2. Will you promise me to "Do a Jim Warren" at least once today, at least three times this week?


3. Will you use/urge "Jim Warren-ism" at your next ops meeting?


4. Will you measure your "Jim Warren-isms"?


5. Will you remember to tell your folks that the likes of me will remember Jim Warren approximately forever?


6. Will you tell your folks that this is TMALBTs? (The Mother of All Little BIG Things.)

NB1: Jim ... THANK YOU.

NB2: JW was not at all sure he'd gotten the "real me." Well, Bubba, you did!!!

The Awesome Act of Attention

"To be in the present with someone is a gift. The gift of attention is perhaps the most precious and envied of all. ...

"Think of someone who, while you are talking to him, is looking elsewhere, mentioning a subject that is irrelevant to what you are saying. Inattention has a disruptive, depressing aspect, which saps our vitality and robs us of our self-confidence."

From: The Power of Kindness, by Piero Ferrucci.

Message: Pay attention to the way you pay attention today/this week.

Consider: "Paying attention" is "the most precious gift."

Follow-up: Talk explicitly about the act of and power of paying attention. It is not only a "gift," but it is a "tool" that pays enormous practical dividends.

Why I Spent Last Summer Inside Writing a Book

I spent last summer inside, writing a book so that I could get notes like this:

"Thanks to your book, and the hit upside the head about the importance of flowers; we now have flowers every week in our offices AND I've arranged to have flowers delivered to my mom every two weeks—duh, why didn't I do that years ago. She's loving them!!

"Thank you for the continued inspiration."

That's from my colleague and friend Verne Harnish. Verne is CEO of Gazelles, and is the undisputed champion of growth companies.

And then there was the Tweet from a businessperson who had taken to heart my item on the power of a smile. He said he'd thought about it and was consciously applying "smile power" with remarkable results. I accused him of putting me on. He swears that he is not and that the change has been transformative.

Forget the "better human beings" bit. I'm not your pastor, so I'll settle for a more turned on-tuned in work force serving customers more effectively—courtesy smiles and flowers! (Well, I admit that I also do get off on the fact that Verne scored mega-points with his Mom!!)

Brand You: Build Your Legacy

In the latest installment from The Little Big Things Video Series, Tom asks, "What will your legacy be from today?"

You can watch the video here, or click on the video window in the right column of this page. [Time: 2 minutes, 5 seconds]

[A PDF transcript of the video's content is also available: Brand You: Legacy.]