Go to Garrison Keillor's Cool Friends interview

On a trip away from Lake Wobegon, Garrison Keillor took time to talk to us at tompeters.com. He and Erik had a great conversation about his latest book, A Christmas Blizzard, and many other topics, including a note from Julie Christie. We know you'll enjoy reading his Cool Friends interview.

View our Archives for past interviews.

Blog Roll

The 26th Story
800-CEO-Read
Ageless Marketing
andHow To Reach Women
Katya Andresen
Tom Asacker
Asiabizblog
Jordan Ayan
Martha Barletta
Dave Barry
Ed Batista
Becker-Posner
The Big Picture
The Bing Blog
Blog Critics
John Bogle
BoingBoing
Boomer411
Brand Autopsy
Chris Brogan
BusinessPundit
BW Brand New Day
BW Management IQ
BW The Tech Beat
Cali and Jody
Ben Casnocha
Change This
Church of the Customer
Clear Path International
Conversation Agent
Cooking for Engineers
Copy Blogger
Core77
Coudal Partners
Mark Cuban
Aubrey Daniels
Design Gazette, jkr.co.uk
design*sponge
Jory Des Jardins
Betsy Devine
Don the Idea Guy
Dooce
Down the Avenue
Daniel W. Drezner
Esther Dyson
eHub
Frank Eliason
Judith Ellis
English Cut
Enterprise Media
Evhead
Steve Farber
Fast Company
Fast Lane
Brad Feld
The Fischbowl
Richard Florida
Ze Frank
Freakonomics
Free Business Tips
Gil Friend
gapingvoid
Dan Gillmor
Global Neighborhoods
Seth Godin
Good Experience
Gothamist
Great Leadership
Alan Gregerman
Health Affairs
Health Beat
The Health Care Blog
Dick Heller
Hyperthinker
IDEO Eyes Open
iinnovate
Influx Insights
Innovate on Purpose
In Pursuit of Elegance
Instapundit
The Intuitive Life
Isenblog
Joi Ito
Rich Karlgaard/Forbes
Josh Kaufman
Guy Kawasaki
Leading Blog
Learned on Women
Jonah Lehrer
Martin Lindstrom
Chris Locke
The Long Tail
Made to Stick
John Maeda
Management by Baseball
MarketingProfs:DailyFix
Marketing to Boomer Women
Mavericks at Work
The Messaging Times
Metacool
Nick Morgan
Name Wire
Mike Neiss
Netwoman
No Bullet Points
The Nudge Blog
Nuts about Southwest
John O'Leary
Persistence Unlimited
Personal Branding
Dan Pink
Pink Slip
Play the Game of Life
Pollster
John Porcaro
Portfolio Careers
Virginia Postrel
Power Line
Presentation Zen
PSFK
Pyromarketing
Mitch Ratcliffe
Fred Reichheld
ResearchBuzz
Retailer Blog
Jennifer Rice
Dan Roam
Kevin Roberts
Scott Rosenberg
Rules of Thumb
Samizdata
Ian Sanders
Tim Sanders
Todd Sattersten
Mary Schmidt
Robert Scoble
Scripting News
Doc Searls
Andy Sernovitz
Rajesh Setty
Stephen Shapiro
Signal vs. Noise
Slashdot
Simplicity
Smart Mobs
Sorted Books
Springwise
Halley Suitt
Andrew Sullivan
Sustainable Work
Bob Sutton
The Talent Code
TechCrunch
The Technium
Third Age
Trend Hunter
Trend Watching
Trump University
Penelope Trunk
Trusted Advisor
Twist Image
Web Worker Daily
David Weinberger
What's Next
Susan Willett Bird
The Wisdom of Improv
WonderBranding
Wooster Collective
Steve Yastrow
Your White Room

Tom's Videos, Etc.

Along the way, Tom has recorded a wide selection of video and audio products. From the earliest video made when In Search of Excellence was all the rage, to the videos made to accompany Tom's tour de force, Re-imagine!, we've gathered many of them here. The categories include:

• The Little BIG Things Video Series

• Videos for Purchase

• Speaking Samples

• Tom Topic Videos

• Audio

The Little BIG Things Video Series

Our talented friends at Enterprise Media captured Tom's thoughts during an early draft stage of Tom's book, The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence (Harper Studio, due out early 2010).

Return to the Introduction.

Leadership: The Problem Isn't the Problem

Tom argues that the reaction to the problem often becomes more of a problem than the original misstep would have been if dealt with honestly. As he's been known to say: "Foul up. Fess up. Fast. Fastidiously."

Watch the video. [Length: 2 minutes, 10 seconds]

[If you'd like a transcript of this video, you can download it as a PDF: Leadership: The Problem Isn't the Problem.]

Brand You: Work on Your Writing

Tom reminds us that writing is a craft to be honed.

Watch the video. [Video length: 2 minutes, 58 seconds]

[If you'd like a PDF transcript of this video, you can download it here: Brand You: Work on Your Writing.]

Brand You: Start Something Dull

Tom shares the story of two men who, by doing very dull things, have made a lot of money.

Watch the video. [Video length: 3 minutes, 57 seconds]

[If you'd like a PDF transcript of this video, you can download it here: Brand You: Start Something Dull]

Excellence: Don't Fear Failure

Tom tells a story about a man who was unafraid to fail, and why that makes him an Excellent role model.

Watch the video. [Video length: 2 minutes]

[If you'd like a PDF transcript of this video, you can download it here: Excellence: Don't Fear Failure]

Leadership: Listening

Tom uses an example from the healthcare industry to highlight the importance of listening. According to Tom, "the single most significant strategic strength that an organization can have is not a good strategic plan, but a commitment to strategic listening on the part of every member of the organization."

Watch the video. [Video length: 3 minutes, 37 seconds]

[If you'd like a PDF transcript of this video, you can download it here: Leadership: Listening]

Recession Thoughts: 44 Strategies

Tom's frequently asked to provide the "secret" or the "clever strategies" for surviving and thriving in a great recession. Here are his suggestions.

Watch the video. [Video length: 4 minutes, 53 seconds]

[If you'd like a PDF transcript of this video, you can download it here: Recession Thoughts: 44 Strategies]

Recession Thoughts: Sacred Trust

Tom describes leadership as a sacred trust. He says that the decision to lead is the decision to be responsible for the growth and development of your fellow human beings.

Watch the video. [Video length: 3 minutes, 25 seconds]

[If you'd like a PDF transcript of this video, you can download it here: Recession Thoughts: Sacred Trust]

Out-Read the Other Guy

Tom reminds us that a key to success is reading. Staying informed and developing your analytical skills is essential.

Watch the video. [Video length: 2 minutes, 4 seconds]

[If you'd like a PDF transcript of this video, you can download it here: Brand You: Out-Read the Other Guy]

Recession Thoughts: Lending

Tom shares some thoughts on the recession. Business is ultimately all about individuals. Good lending officers understand this and, as a result, pay attention to individuals and they stay in touch.

Watch the video. [Video length: 2 minutes, 50 seconds]

[If you'd like a PDF transcript of this video, you can download it here: Recession Thoughts: Lending]

Videos for Purchase

The videos in this category are designed as training programs for businesses. They come with trainers' guides and cover a wide range of topics including leadership, customer service, and design. There are more Tom Peters videos like these available from our friends at Enterprise Media. Click here to see their full listing.

Return to the Introduction.

Tom Peters' Re-imagine! Business Excellence in a Disruptive Age

In this revolutionary program that originally aired on PBS stations throughout America during the spring and summer of 2004, Tom will show you how organizations are meeting the challenges of tomorrow—and achieving new levels of excellence. You’ll see how one company dealt with tremendous change and came up with an innovative solution that transformed their brand and the corporate culture. You'll also watch great customer service and WOW! projects at work. Tom delivers inspirational and thought-provoking messages in these video case studies.

You can order the 78-minute Re-imagine! video from Enterprise Media, or shorter videos presenting individual case studies taken from the above are also available:

• Ellie Mae: Re-imagine Technology & the Customer
• Jordan’s Furniture: Re-imagine The Customer Experience
• Memorial Hospital and HealthWorks Kids Museum: Turning Work Assignments into WOW Projects
• OXO Good Grips: Think Differently
• The Container Store: Re-imagine Customer Service and Talent
• TNT: Dealing With Change

In Search of Excellence

Motivate your employees to be more innovative, responsive, and committed than ever before with this classic video! In this intriguing and inspiring case-study-based program, Tom Peters is your host and guide for a far-ranging, behind-the-scenes investigation of phenomenally successful organizations. You'll see how "Quality" and "Customer Service" have truly become a way of life.

You can order this 88 minute video from Enterprise Media.

Passion for Excellence with Tom Peters

In this classic program, Tom Peters highlights the creative methods and accomplishments of some "hang-tough, never-say-die" individuals. You'll hear about Air Force Ret. General Bill Creech who motivated airmen into being better maintenance and support people through the use of medals, medallions, and flags. You'll hear about Baltimore Mayor Donald Schaefer who "sold" potholes to promote city restoration. Those are just two examples of the people who have a passion for excellence profiled in this video.

You can order this 63 minute video from Enterprise Media.

Passion for Customers with Tom Peters

Tom Peters gets to the heart of the "excellence message" by taking you on location to five leading organizations that provide superior customer service. Viewers will be privy to the inner workings of these acclaimed customer-driven organizations as Tom details the essential characteristics that have given them their competitive edge. You'll visit Federal Express, The Limited, Worthington Industries, University National Bank & Trust, and the Louisville Redbirds.

You can order this 67 minute video from Enterprise Media.

Excellence in the Public Sector with Tom Peters

Tom Peters does more than destroy the myth that, by definition, public sector management must be poor. He offers examples of five organizations whose managerial excellence provides a blueprint for success in both public and private sector organizations.—Houston Metropolitan, Houston, TX
The film accomplishes its purpose: to show that it is possible to achieve excellence with the taxpayer's money and to explain how it's done.—Barbara Holsopple, the Phoenix Gazette

Tom Peters proves that the management revolution is not confined to the private sector—that a revolution is brewing in the public sector, too. He travels to five organizations—the Navy Depot at Alameda, California; the National Theater Workshop of the Handicapped in New York City; the City of Phoenix, Arizona; the Department of Juvenile Justice in New York City; and the National Forest Service in Ochoco, Oregon—and uncovers the secrets of their management success.

You can order this 59 minute video from Enterprise Media.

Everything is Design© Video with Tom Peters

Presented by ChartHouse Learning, 2002

Everything is design … and we are all designers! Design is more than the curve of a handle, a flashing icon, or a translucent toothbrush holder.

Design affects everything we create—products, services, processes, websites, conversations, even careers. Its effect is rarely neutral. The purposeful thought—or lack of it—that we put into design is the difference between an experience that is easy, helpful, fun, inspiring—or totally frustrating!

In a world in which so many experiences are the same, great design is the key to creating an emotional connection that makes people crave what you do. Join Tom for a passionate exploration of what he calls one of the most "promising untapped economic opportunities" of our time. Everything is Design© will challenge you to recognize all the opportunities you have to win your customers' hearts by meeting their needs and desires.

You can order this 41 minute video from Enterprise Media.

The Leadership Alliance

Never has management expert Tom Peters been more impassioned than he is about our need for leadership. On location with four outstanding individuals, and in front of a live audience, Peters reveals the practical lessons in leadership and teambuilding that can be learned from compelling examples:

• Pat Carrigan, the first woman to manage an assembly plant at General Motors
• Dennis Littky, the principal of formerly problem-plagued Thayer High School
• Vaughn Beals, Chairman of Harley Davidson—the last of the American companies to succeed in the highly competitive motorcycle industry
• Ralph Stayer of Johnsonville Foods

You can order this 64 minute video from Enterprise Media.

Speaking Samples

If you should go to the website of Tom's Speakers Bureau, that is, Washington Speakers Bureau, you would find samples of his appearances so that you could see him in action before choosing him for your keynote. We offer these videos, also—free samples—short takes of Tom, speaking before various groups and on various subjects.

Return to the Introduction.

Re-imagine!

Tom explains that your company's size doesn't matter—if you have a different selling proposition. Yes, he says you can take on the biggest competitor imaginable, in this video of 7 minutes and 8 seconds.
Windows Media Player (ASF file, 39.02 MB) or Flash Player (FLV file, 11.45 MB)

Setting the Agenda

Does what you're doing keep the CEO of your competitors up at night? If not, you're not setting the agenda, Tom declares, in this video of 3 minutes 41 seconds.
Windows Media Player (ASF file, 26.56 MB) or Flash Player (FLV file, 8.76 MB)

Twenty-five

Twenty-five is the number of stores visited each week by a well-known CEO. See Tom tell the story in this video lasting 2 minutes 45 seconds.
Windows Media Player (ASF file, 15.97 MB) or Flash Player (FLV file, 7.81 MB)

Power Tools

IS and IT are the Power Tools that make powerful strategies, according to Tom in this 59-second clip.
Windows Media Player (ASF file, 6.97 MB) or Flash Player (FLV file, 2.49 MB)

Try It!

If you don't throw enough stuff against the walls, you won't get much to stick. Tom exhorts us all to try things—many new things—in this video of 3 minutes 10 seconds.
Windows Media (21.55 MB) or Flash file (8.14 MB)

Experience

Tom describes the now-familiar value-add ladder—from raw materials, to products, to services, to the ultimate business offering of an experience, in this video of 4 minutes 7 seconds.
Windows Media Player (ASF file, 17.33 MB) or Flash Player (FLV file, 6.68 MB)

Talent

Find talent; pay them well; hire young talent; choose diversity to foster innovation. These are Tom's lessons in this video of 4 minutes 24 seconds.
Windows Media Player (ASF file, 18.36 MB) or Flash Player (FLV file, 7.50 MB)

We Are in a Brawl with No Rules

Classic Tom. He predicts that 90 percent of white-collar jobs will be lost or changed beyond recognition, in this video of 3 minutes 11 seconds.
Windows Media Player (ASF file, 14.39 MB) or Flash Player (FLV file, 5.45 MB)

Tom Topic Videos

We continue to gather a large number of short-length videos of Tom speaking on various topics.

In 2009, BVO filmed an interview with Tom that lasted over an hour. You can find the interview in its entirety at their site, as well as several interview segments focused on topics such as innovation, talent, leadership, and passion. We've embedded the segment on branding below.

In April 2008, Skillsoft Leadership Development Channel broadcast a live event with Tom that went out to about 10,000 people. At the end of the hour-long talk, Tom was asked to record some short videos on various topics. And then Tom added a couple of his own. The folks at Skillsoft have been kind enough to let us use these videos at tompeters.com.

Return to the Introduction.

Brand, Design, and Differentiation

Tom Peters on standing out through brand and design from Bvo on Vimeo.

Organizational Excellence

According to Tom, "fundamentally the brand is the talent" and the best way to serve your external customer is to be sure to serve your internal customers, your employees, first. By happenstance, this topic coincides with one of Tom's slide sets called "The Customer Comes Second." [Video length: just under 3 minutes]

Tom Peters on Organizational Excellence from Tom Peters on Vimeo.

[If you'd like a PDF transcript of this video, you can download it here: Organizational Excellence]

The Dream Manager

Tom describes discovering Cool Friend Matthew Kelly's book, The Dream Manager. Watch the video for Tom's take on engagement and what a leader's role is when it comes to the dreams of their talent. [Video length: 3 minutes, 16 seconds]

Tom Peters on The Dream Manager from Tom Peters on Vimeo.

[If you'd like a PDF transcript of this video, you can download it here: The Dream Manager]

Corporate Social Responsibility

In this video, Tom exhorts that corporate social responsibility shouldn't just be an empty branding tactic. After all, organizations are groups of humans and he believes that CSR is about being a member of the community. [Video length: nearly 4 minutes]

Tom Peters on Corporate Social Responsibility from Tom Peters on Vimeo.

[If you'd like a PDF transcript of this video, you can download it here: Corporate Social Responsibility]

Politics

In this video, Tom gives his opinion of politics on the job. His opinion being that politics is part of every task, and if you don't want to "play politics," you really won't get much done. If you want to succeed at implementation, then you'd better want to involve yourself in politics, too. [Video length: 1 minute 44 seconds]

Tom Peters on Politics from Tom Peters on Vimeo.

If you'd like a PDF transcript of this video, you can download it here: Politics]

Definition of Leadership

We frequently get asked for Tom's definition of leadership, and, in this video you'll find the answer. The essence can be found in this quote from Robert Altman's lifetime achievement Oscar acceptance speech: "The director allows an actor to become more than they've ever dreamed of being." [Video length: nearly 4 minutes]

Tom Peters on the Definition of Leadership from Tom Peters on Vimeo.

[If you'd like a PDF transcript of this video, you can download it here: Definition of Leadership]

Passion!

Tom makes the case for hiring for passion over experience. He says, as he and Bob Waterman argued in In Search of Excellence, that the numbers are the soft stuff and the truly hard stuff is "passion, energy, values, character, enthusiasm." [Video length: 3 minutes]

Tom Peters on Passion! from Tom Peters on Vimeo.

[If you'd like a PDF transcript of this video, you can download it here: Passion!]

Yes, You Are in Sales!

No matter your job title, no matter your function within an organization, no matter your skills, you must also be a salesperson. Tom gives as an example a successful Hollywood producer who taught himself sales to pave his own path to big success. He continues on to say that if you want to get anything done [and implementaion is paramount to Tom], then you are in sales. [Video length: 3 minutes, 17 seconds]

Tom Peters on Yes, You Are in Sales! from Tom Peters on Vimeo.

[If you'd like a PDF transcript of this video, you can download it here: Yes, You Are in Sales!]

Excellence. Always.

Tom asks, "If not excellence, what?" What else should you be doing with your time, your life? He agrees with Thomas Watson, Sr., the talented early leader of IBM, that you should make a personal commitment never again to do anything that is not excellent. [Video length: 3 minutes, 44 seconds]

Excellence Always from Tom Peters on Vimeo.

[If you'd like a PDF transcript of this video, you can download it here: Excellence. Always.]

Newpreneurs and the Economy

Tom discusses the state of the economy in June 2009 along with tips for starting a business and the Alibaba.com Newpreneur of the Year contest (the contest is now over).

Start up Advice for Newpreneurs

After speaking at the Alibaba.com Newpreneur of the Year Finale in San Francisco, CA on November 18, 2009, Tom Peters sat down to give advice to budding entrepreneurs on how to get started and be successful in this economy.

Audio

Great for your commute, these audio collections of Tom's speaking will inspire you on your way to work, during a flight, or any time you have a long drive ahead of you. Get to your destination energized by Tom's messages.

Live in London

Live in London features highlights from Tom Peters' Dec. 9, 2003, all-day seminar at the London Hilton Metropole to more than 500 business leaders. In this program, Tom discusses his latest thinking on leadership and challenges the audience to "re-imagine" excellence in the 21st century. As always, Tom is energetic and thought-provoking, offering ideas and case studies that you can use in your career and business.

You can order this 60 minute CD from Red Audio or Amazon.com.

The Leadership Eleven Masterclass

This 5 CD set is the recording in its entirety of Tom Peters' Dec. 9, 2003, all-day seminar at the London Hilton Metropole to more than 500 business leaders. The seminar focuses on Tom's Leadership Eleven - the eleven most important elements of modern management. These include Talent Management, Opportunity Management and Barrier Management. For each topic Tom presents his research and ideas in an inspiring and engaging way that leave you with plenty of thoughts on how to improve your management style and your company.

You can order this 5 CD set from Red Audio or Amazon.com.

The Fight for Competitive Advantage

This unique one day event, set in a mock boxing ring at the prestigious venue The Brewery in London, examines the key drivers in the fight for competitive advantage, presenting the very best experience and models from the US and from Europe. Tom Peters and Richard Scase debate key issues such as business leadership, technology, HR strategies, globalisation, marketing, branding and future trends from a UK, European, US and global perspective. In the ring in this sparring match of inspirational words, are:
Tom Peters: best selling business author and the world's top management guru
Richard Scase: author, academic, entrepreneur and Europe's leading business strategist

You can order this 5 CD set from Red Audio.

Categories

Blog Roll

Tom's Videos, Etc.

The Little BIG Things Video Series

Videos for Purchase

Speaking Samples

Tom Topic Videos

Audio