Talk with Tom"The starting point of all significant change is mindset." Tom Peters
Get the Free Stuff
Tom Peters is a passionate communicator with many provocative ideas to share. The documents listed here include a number of Tom's most inspiring messages. And they're all absolutely free. Download, print, discuss, dissect, and disseminate to your heart's content. We ask only that you not alter the files, claim them as your own work, or charge for their use.
PDFs require Acrobat Reader which you can download for free from Adobe.
Combined Manifestos: Come to Believe/Human Capital Development/
Education
As is his wont, Tom has fiddled with and combined his last three manifestos, continually improving his work. Here is the end product, the combination of "What I've Come/Am Coming to Believe," the "Human Capital Development Manifesto," and his "Education Manifesto/Polemic." He offers the document as a PDF and as a PPT. Enjoy.
Download PDF, 409 KB |
Download PPT, 3.4 MB
| posted on 04/12/13
Education Manifesto/Polemic (updated 19 March)
As Tom explains it, our children's teachers are "the most important members of our society"—especially those who guide their young charges through the first eight grades. Making it imperative that the best and brightest be lured into teaching.
Download file, 150 KB | posted on 03/15/13
Systems Have Their Place—Second Place
When he posted this on the blog, Tom said: "My great friend Bob Stone, among other things former head of the (largely) stealth successes of VP Gore's re-inventing government program, dug up a paper of mine which he plans to use in his current professorial job. ... At any rate, we're attaching here the paper of mine that Bob's using. It focuses on the peril of a 'systems first' approach to Big Change, arguing that systems are of the utmost importance, but mostly fail ... because the organization's 'culture' does not support them. Hence a 'culture first' approach is usually/invariably the better bet. The paper is argued via 11 case studies from every setting imaginable."
Download file, 341 KB | posted on 02/20/13
What I've Come/Am Coming to Believe
As you can tell from Tom's posted reading list, he read even more than usual(!) in 2012. He describes the process as a re-education. On the first day of 2013, he posted this text to present his conclusions in brief, and it's provided along with an even briefer summary. Some of his conclusions are not too surprising (Brand You is on the rise), but some (the importance of gaming, the continuing role of government) may give you reason for reflection. As always, Tom provides a provoking picture of today's work environment ... with brief glimpses into the future.
Download file, 96 KB |
Download summary, 19 KB | posted on 01/01/13
Excellence: The Continuing Search 1-Page
Tom wrote this when he posted this document on his blog in July 2012: "The genesis was my speech in Tel Aviv a couple of weeks ago. I tried to cover 'everything I've learned in the last 35 years'—in the space of a (very) few minutes. When I got home, I was determined to boil it down to one page. Which was fun—but one hell of a struggle. Well, though I had to resort to 8-point type, I made it! All yours!"
Download file, 24 KB | posted on 09/29/12
Acknowledgement!
Tom argues that acknowledgement may be the most important gesture one person can make to another. Letting someone know he matters, that her effort was noticed and appreciated, may be the greatest gift a person can bestow on another. And in a leader's everyday performance, acknowledgement of workers' efforts is crucial.
Download file, 63 KB | posted on 09/29/12
Human Asset Development Manifesto
Inspired by the theme of The World Strategy Forum, "The New Rules: Reframing Capitalism," Tom started musing on the topic, in writing, of course. The result is this manifesto that demands a focus on possibly business's most important asset—the people.
Download file, 39.3 KB | posted on 06/25/12
A Brief History of the 7-S ("McKinsey 7-S") Model
Revisiting his early career and a highlight from In Search of Excellence (the 7-S Model actually predates its publication), Tom describes the origins of the McKinsey 7-S Model. Still in use and relevant to this day, the 7-S Model contains the beginnings of many ideas Tom has expanded on since its inception. For example, "Hard is soft. Soft is hard," can be traced back to the 7-S framework.
Download file, 177 KB | posted on 05/11/11
The Memories That Matter
Tom:
"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. When you look back at 'what really matters'—it's rarely 'the numbers.' What follows is then, '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."
Download file, 1.2 MB | posted on 10/06/10
X2: REALLY First Things Before First Things
X2 or The Excellence TWO. They encompass two notions of ... Surpassing Strategic Importance.
Two notions we all "care about"—but two notions that we frequently fail to ... OBSESS ... on. And it is precisely ... OBSESSION ... that is called for.
The X2:
EXCELLENCE in Cross-functional Communication and Integration.
EXCELLENCE in 1st-line management.
Download file, 0.05 MB | posted on 09/20/10
Independent Retailer Edge
Following a seminar Tom gave, aboard the "Seabourn Spirit" and "aimed at independent retailers under attack from their 'big box' brethren," he drafted "The Independent Retailer Edge." It's benefits are not limited to the retail industry.
Download file, 0.19 MB | posted on 09/13/10
Excellence Oath and Credo
Tom has been developing this Credo for a time. He blogged about it, included a version in The Little BIG Things, and has now added the Oath of Office for Managers/Servant Leaders. According to Tom "It is a set of ideas ("Principles for doing business well and profitably"? "Elements of Excellence"?) worthy of attention and emulation." With a focus on the development of your team's talent and considering leadership a sacred trust, Tom encourages you to be "explorer-adventurers proceeding toward individual and collective growth.". He puts it this way, "Our job as leaders—the alpha and the omega and everything in between—is abetting the sustained growth and success and engagement and enthusiasm and commitment to Excellence of those, one at a time, who directly or indirectly serve the ultimate customer."
Joy Stauber worked her magic on the design of this piece.
Download file, 0.84 MB | posted on 06/07/10
ChangeThis: Enterprise At Its Best
A complete section of Tom's book The Little BIG Things was published at ChangeThis as a manifesto titled "Enterprise* (*at its best)." Within its pages, Tom describes enterprise as a "vital, innovative, joyful, creative, entrepreneurial endeavor" in service to employees and customers. He goes on to explain his every-department-a-PSF theory and why you shouldn't let your competition rule your life, but at the same time never denigrate them. If this seems contradictory, you might want to download the PDF!
Thanks to Joy Stauber for the beautiful design of this manifesto.
Download file, 0.97 MB | posted on 04/08/10
Recession 46
This is what Tom calls "Recession46: Forty-six 'Secrets' and 'Clever Strategies' For Dealing with the Recession of 2008-XXXX." It's part of a collection titled "Tom Peters' Thoughts About Getting Things Done, in Good Times and Bad," and we offer it to you here as a stand-alone. At only two pages long, it is a tidy, handy list of counterintuitive thoughts on handling the current financial downturn.
Download file, 38 KB | posted on 08/14/09
Quality 136
A speech in New Delhi co-sponsored by the American Society for Quality led me to concoct this list. I have always had a broad view of "quality," and decided to let my mind and keyboard go where they would. Resulting in "Quality & Excellence: The Quality 136—One Hundred Thirty-six Random Thoughts on Quality, Emphasizing the Elements That Are Often Missing in Conventional Quality Programs."
Download file, 38 KB | posted on 06/04/09
Heart of Strategy
We usually think of business strategy as some sort of aspirational market positioning statement. Doubtless that's part of it. But I believe that the number one "strategic strength" is excellence in execution and systemic relationships (i.e., with everyone we come in contact with). Hence I offer 48 [now 56! 01 April 2009] pieces of advice for creating a winning strategy that is inherently sustainable.
Download file, 59 KB | posted on 02/26/09
Innovation Tactics
Recession or no recession, deep recession or not, the challenge to add more and more value grows, and the importance of innovation, and a culture of innovation, grows exponentially. A "culture of innovation" covers "everything." There is no half way. There of course are "first principles." Or are there? I started a list of "stuff" that's imperative to creating an innovative enterprise. The list of 10 or so grew to 25, than 45, and at the moment includes no less than 121 "tactics." Of course you can't do all of them. Or must you? Well, you can't do all 121, or maybe even half that number, or less, but the absence of any one or two or three or six weakens and perhaps even imperils the entire structure; that is, we are talking overall about an abiding "culture of innovation," and it takes a thousand signals roughly aligned to establish it and, especially, keep it in place.
Download file, 120 KB | posted on 01/08/09
Real People
"Real People" is the shorthand title for what Tom calls "Excellence for the Rest of Us: A Book for Real People, Working in the Real World in 2008." In this manifesto, Tom contrasts the thinking of gurus (like him!) to the thinking of the rest of us ... those who toil in more conventional settings. In Search of Excellence introduces this idea when Tom and Bob Waterman write, "Hard is Soft. Soft is Hard." By that phrase, they are referring to the people things, the soft stuff that's more difficult than the numbers game of business. Tom revisits and expands on this thinking in "Real People."
Download file, 552 KB | posted on 04/21/08
Cookie Lessons, 24 December 2007
We're re-issuing this column as a holiday offering from tompeters.com. Tom wrote it once upon a time for his column syndicated by the Chicago Tribune, but we think its lessons are timeless. And, what better way for us to recognize the holiday season than to post this article—"Lessons About Life & Enterprise from Baking Christmas Cookies."
Download file, 68 KB | posted on 12/24/07
XF 50
Tom introduced this collection as his effort to get you to pay "'strategic' attention to what has always been Issue #1 in organizational effectiveness ... from Napoleon to the man in the moon." Namely, cross-functional effectiveness, which will help you "'Deliver Speed,' 'Service Excellence,' and 'Value-added Customer Solutions.'"
Download file, 82 KB | posted on 12/11/07
"Top 50" "Have-Yous"
The Top 50 Have You [done these things in the last week, day, hour?] list is Tom's reaction to the phrase "Mapping Your Competitive Position." He contends that you should, instead, put some effort to the tasks on his list. In his estimation, they're important to the short- and long-term health of any enterprise, big or small. If so, the mapping will become a secondary issue.
Download file, 71 KB | posted on 12/11/07
Organizations Serve
Further ruminations on the ideas that led Tom to his "Purpose" screed, below, resulted in this offering—his attempt to lay out the "big stuff." He introduced this rambling piece in a blog titled "To Get Out of Bed. Or Not Get Out of Bed. That Is the Question." You can find Tom's answer in this PDF, "Organizations Serve."
Download file, 106 KB | posted on 09/04/07 buy viagra with paypal uk
Tom Peters' Purpose
As the 25th birthday of In Search of Excellence approaches, Tom has been pondering what the practice of management is all about—good, bad, or indifferent. He concluded that entrepreneurial capitalism is the strongest force possible for unleashing human potential, and that it depends upon the effective practice of management. And, according to a review of Thriving on Chaos, "Effective management is management that delivers more value to customers and more opportunity for service, creativity, and growth to workers. ... The decent thing to do is also the smart thing." That is, effective management is humanistic management.
After a lot of thought on these matters, Tom came up with this attempt to answer the perennial question, "What's it all about, Alfie?"
Download file, 335 KB | posted on 08/31/07
100 Ways to Succeed/Make Money: 51-75
This is the next installment in the Success Tips series. Tips 51-75 is a quick conversion from MSWord to Adobe Acrobat. When we get to 100, we'll have ChangeThis post the second half of the collection, and offer a more polished PDF here. But now, at the request of a member of our community, we present here Tom's Success Tips 51-75.
Download file, 71KB | posted on 01/10/07
Redux. Redux. Redux.
Tom unapologetically repeats himself and revisits a favorite theme—the importance of saying "Thanks." He asks you to send the PDF to ten colleagues-friends today. Get Tom's "Redux. Redux. Redux." here, and pass it on. Thank you.
Download file, 71KB | posted on 11/02/06
Pursuit of Luck
Unofficially called "Getting Lucky," of course. This is a list that appeared in Liberation Management in 1992, in which Tom offers 50 ideas for increasing the likelihood that you'll "get lucky"—in business. Download it below, and find its relevance to your life today. (Don't miss the challenge at the end.)
Download file, 166KB | posted on 09/08/06
111 Ridiculously Obvious Thoughts on Selling
On 24 January 2006, Tom spoke to a group at GE Energy, and he posted seven PPTs and two PDFs for the occasion. Among them were a PowerPoint presentation titled 89 Ridiculously Obvious Thoughts About Selling Stuff, and a PDF document titled "90 Ridiculously Obvious Thoughts on Selling." By 28 January, four days later, the piece had grown into "111 Ridiculously Obvious Thoughts on Selling," and made available on our website as a simple PDF. It was then picked up by our friends at ChangeThis to be produced as a manifesto. Thus, Tom's collection of sales theorems evolved into its final form, which you find below.
Download file, 476KB | posted on 03/31/06
The 209 Irreducibles
Confronted during an executive session with Investec in Mauritius, Tom was asked, "So what's 'for sure'? Anything?" He said, "No. The world is too fluid for certainties." But, then he got to thinking and the result was this list, his "Irreducibles," which began with 173 things he'd say "for sure," and expanded over time to 209.
Download file, 33KB | posted on 03/13/06
Cup Challenge
Asked to come up with some quotes suitable for printing on the side of a coffee mug, Tom was inspired to write this collection: The Cup Challenge.
Download file, 112KB | posted on 02/14/06
TP's "Top 41" Quotes
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As an alternative to New Year's Resolutions, Tom assembled his "Top 41" Quotes to live by in 2006. He offers them to you to adopt if you wish, also. Pick one or two, or use them all. TP's "Top 41" Quotes.
Download file, 166KB | posted on 01/03/06
What I've Done This Year
In Dubai, on September 18th, 2005, the head of IIR Middle East, Jessica Sutherland, asked Tom a "simple" question. He pondered it for weeks and gave us this, What I've Done This Year (updated 3 Jan 2006).
Download file, 228KB | posted on 01/03/06
The "PSF" Is Everything
In the face of outsourcing, automating, downsizing, and all the other possible assaults on your position, Tom gives you tips on turning your company, your department, yourself into a Professional Service Firm—doing work that makes a difference. Also available from ChangeThis.
Download file, 899KB | posted on 09/07/05
Project05
Tom's 2005 summer project, a 240-page PDF full of rants ("CEOs Are Idiots!"), raves ("Lord Nelson Had All the Answers"), and more. Link to PDF.
Download file, 1.3MB | posted on 08/08/05
Tomato, Toma[h]to!
They say, "Plan it." Tom says, "Do it." They say, "We need an initiative." Tom says, "We need a Dream. And Dreamers." Tom takes issue with what "they" say and goes against popular organizational wisdom in Tomato, Toma[h]to!.
Download file, 1.3MB | posted on 07/25/05
100 Ways: 1-50
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… to Help You Succeed/Make Money, Pt. 1 This is the first half, Success Tips #1-50, of a work in progress. Tom set out to post 100 success tips on the tompeters.com blog, and this PDF includes the first 50. Also available at ChangeThis.
Download file, 776KB | posted on 02/24/05
Tom's Big Blog
This Microsoft Word file includes every post Tom wrote for the tompeters.com blog from July 2004 through January 2005. It's a searchable, printable reference for easy reading of Tom's posts. Link to Big Blog.
Download file, 552KB | posted on 01/31/05
The Off-Shoring Manifesto
Tom presents 20 hard truths about the inevitabilities, pitfalls, and matchless opportunities arising as off-shoring, automation, and technology permanently change how we do business in the world. This manifesto is also available at ChangeThis.
Download file, 372MB | posted on 11/02/04 buy viagra online 25mg
A Baker's Dozen Eternal Verities
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Strategy. If your business strategy hinges on knowing where you're going, you'll find a very different point of view in Tom's questions and answers about "strategies" for success.
Download file, 1.1MB | posted on 10/18/04 mexico viagra
Summer04
This compilation of topics on Tom's mind in the summer of '04 features his "Summer of Soul" discussion of the journey to Greater Awareness. You'll also get "10 Good Reasons to Get Up in the Morning," and more. Link to PDF.
Download file, 716KB | posted on 09/26/04
This I Believe!
Tom's 60 TIBs. In honor of his 60th birthday, Tom put pen to paper (and fingers to keyboard) and compiled 60 thoughts, one for each year, that captured his professional and, to some extent, personal journey. He wrote about technicolor, audacity, revolution, weirdos, branding, and taking charge of your own destiny, among other things. This manifesto is also available from ChangeThis.
Download file, 900KB
| posted on 08/24/04
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