I n s p i r a t i o n ! b a s e d o n s l i d e s g a t h e r e d f r o m w w w . t o m p e t e r s . c o m

1. Every morning, write a list of the things that need to be done that day 2. Do them

Intelligent people can always come up with intelligent reasons to do nothing

The secret of getting ahead is getting started

Action is the foundational key of all success

Blame nobody Expect nothing Do something

Do things

Get mad Start doing something about it Now

Do what needs to be done

Build

We have a ‘strategic plan’ It’s called doing things

This is so simple it sounds stupid, but it is amazing how few oil people really understand that you only find oil if you drill wells. You may think you’re finding it when you’re drawing maps and studying logs, but you have to drill.

Drill

I saw that leaders placed too much emphasis on what some call ‘high-level strategy,’ on intellectualizing and philosophizing, and not enough on implementation. People would agree on a project or initiative — and then nothing would come of it.

Start Now !

Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Screw it up. Try it. Try it. Try it. Try it. Screw it up. Try it. Try it. Try it. Screw it up. Try it. Try it. Try it. try it. Try it. Try it. Screw it up. Try it. Try it.

Try things

Exuberant Variety vs. the Great Blight of Dullness Spontaneous Discovery Process The Gales of Creative Destruction

Natural selection is death. Without huge amounts of death, organisms do not change over time. Death is the mother of structure. It took four billion years of death to invent the human mind.

Effective prototyping may be the most valuable core competence an innovative organization can hope to have

The paradox of innovation: whoever makes the most mistakes wins

The most successful people are those who are good at plan B

The key to a great painting is the nerve, after weeks of effort, to ‘bet the painting’ on the next brush stroke

Screw things up

Fail Fail again Fail better

S.A.V. (Screw Around Vigorously!)

The secret to having good ideas is to have a lot of ideas, then throw the bad ones away

Reward excellent failures Punish mediocre successes

In business, you reward people for taking risks. When it doesn’t work out you promote them, because they were willing to try new things.

No try No deal

You miss 100% of the shots you never take

READY? FIRE! AIM.

Fail Forward Fast

Learn not to be careful

Human creativity is the ultimate economic resource

Every child is born an artist. The trick is to remain an artist

I think it is very important for you to do two things: act on your temporary conviction as if it was a real conviction; and when you realize that you are wrong, correct course very quickly

Fail faster Succeed sooner

The Silicon Valley of today is built less atop the spires of earlier triumphs than upon the rubble of earlier debacles

Experiment fearlessly

My only goal is to have no goals. The goal, every time, is that film, that very moment.

The secret of fast progress is inefficiency, fast and furious, and numerous failures

We made mistakes, of course. Most of them were omissions we didn’t think of when we initially wrote the software. We fixed them by doing it over and over, again and again. We do the same today. While our competitors are still sucking their thumbs trying to make the design perfect, we’re already on prototype version #5. By the time our rivals are ready with wires and screws, we are on version #10. It gets back to planning versus acting: We act from day one; others plan how to plan—for months.

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

What makes God laugh? People making plans!

A year from now you may wish you had started today

One who does less than he can is a thief

The one thing you need to know about sustained individual success: Discover what you don’t like doing and stop doing it.

Active mutators in placid times tend to die off. They are selected against. Reluctant mutators in quickly changing times are also selected against.

If things seem under control, you’re just not going fast enough

Beware those who agree with you Seek, nurture, cherish dissidents

The art of war does not require complicated maneuvers; the simplest are the best, and common sense is fundamental. From which one might wonder how it is generals make blunders; it is because they try to be clever.

I’m not comfortable unless I’m uncomfortable

If it works, it’s obsolete

If the с ustomer says it’s confusing... It’s confusing. PERIOD.

It’s just a fact: survivors underperform

I am often asked by would-be entrepreneurs seeking escape from life within huge corporate structures, ‘How do I build a small firm for myself?’ The answer seems obvious: Buy a very large one and just wait.

Success Kills ! The more successful a company, the flatter its forgetting curve

Ninety percent of what we call ‘management’ consists of making it difficult for people to get things done

Beauty Contest 1. Select a document (invoice, airbill, sick leave policy, customer returns claim form) 2. On 4 dimensions (beauty, grace, clarity, simplicity) rate the selected doc on a scale of 1 to 10 [1 = Sucks; 10 = Work of Art] 3. Re-invent! 4. Repeat, with a new selection, every 15 working days

K.I.S.S.

If a system gives you a stupid answer, it’s probably a stupid system. Measures should routinely produce surprises (if not, discard them). Constantly review what’s not being measured. (Ever tried to drive a car using only the dashboard?) “ Models” are incredibly stupid (very rough approximations of reality). Make sure everyone understands that!

Nothing is easier than lying with statistics (Measurement is not Reality)

Use a great graphic designer on all systems development teams. And a damn good psychologist.

“ Budgets” as we’ve known them are more than a “wretched waste”. They are Danger #1 in Turbulent Times! Budgets are exercises in Negotiated Timidity . “ Managing to budget” is a Mortal Sin.

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Invent a parallel universe Whatever you think, think the opposite Forget strategy, gut feel rules! A big delta is easier than a small one Hot, bizarre language Start weird alliances, stop listening to customers MBWA with freaks/weirdos Acknowledge messiness, pursue serendipity

Pursue a mission that rocks the world. Hire awesome, weird people for 100% of jobs. Give them lots of room to experiment, fail, grow. Re-imagine as “routine”. Have fun. Exude joy. Enjoy It While It Lasts.

“ Intelligence” is always obvious after the fact. Great Biz Intelligence depends on Freaks & Whackos. All intelligence gathering is a Political Activity.

Forget vs Learn The problem is never how to get new, innovative thoughts into your mind, but how to get the old ones out

“ Do one thing every day that scares you.” --Eleanor Roosevelt “ Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” --Helen Keller “ Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” --Mary Oliver “ Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.” --James Dean “ The two most powerful things in existence: a kind word and a thoughtful gesture.” --Ken Langone “ The deepest human need is the need to be appreciated.” --William James “ If you don’t listen, you don’t sell anything.” --Carolyn Marland

“ If you can’t state your position in eight words or less, you don’t have a position.” --Seth Godin “ Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” --Margaret Mead “ Make your life itself a creative work of art.” --Mike Ray, The Highest Goal “ Have you invested as much this year in your career as in your car?” --Molly Sargent “ What have you done this year?” --Jessica Sutherland “ To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” --Oscar Wilde

“ People want to be part of something larger than themselves. They want to be part of something they’re really proud of, that they’ll fight for, sacrifice for, that they trust.” --Howard Schultz “ It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” --Charles Darwin “ We may not be interested in chaos but chaos is interested in us.” --Robert Cooper, The Breaking of Nations: Order and Chaos in the Twenty-first Century “ If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance even less.” --General Eric Shinseki “ We eat change for breakfast!” --Harry Quadracci “ You can’t behave in a calm, rational manner. You’ve got to be out there on the lunatic fringe.” --Jack Welch

“ I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living, or get busy dying.” --Tim Robbins (The Shawshank Redemption) “ A man without a smiling face must not open a shop.” --Chinese Proverb “ There are people who prefer to say ‘Yes’ and there are people who prefer to say ‘No’. Those who say ‘Yes’ are rewarded by the adventures they have and those who say ‘No’ are rewarded by the safety they attain.” --Patricia Ryan Madson, Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up “ Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” --Steve Jobs “ Groups become great only when everyone in them, leaders and members alike, is free to do his or her absolute best.” --Warren Bennis

“ The best thing a leader can do for a Great Group is to allow its members to discover their greatness.” --Warren Bennis “ You are the storyteller of your own life, and you can create your own legend or not.” --Isabel Allende “ Nobody can prevent you from choosing to be exceptional.” --Mark Sanborn “ A leader is a dealer in hope.” --Napoleon “ Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm.” --Samuel Taylor Coleridge "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." --Michelangelo

Linearist Non-linearist Think Do Plan Try, screw up, fix it, try again Hypothesize Experiment Failure = unnecessary Failure = life Attitude shapes behavior Behavior shapes attitude Do it right the first time Never retreat Logical Passionate Give me genius! Give me luck! Spotless academic record Attention Deficit Disorder Measured pace Tempo! Tempo! Tempo! Ready. Aim. Fire. Ready. Fire. Aim. Minimize cost Maximize revenue Likes ideas Likes people Meetings Manage by wandering around Preferred football score: 1-0 Preferred football score: 6-5

You must BE the change you wish to see in the world

You = Your calendar * *Calendars never lie

All we have is our time. The way we spend our time is our priorities, is our “strategy.” Your calendar knows what you really care about. Do you?

A blinding flash of the obvious Amidst the hubbub and travails of a typical day’s work, the so-called obvious is often-usually left unattended. For perfectly good reasons, another week just passes.

You need a To-don’t List !

Two big goals, tops. Best story wins. Live the story.

(1) Sum of Projects = Goal (“Vision”) (2) Sum of Milestones = Project (3) Rapid Review + Truth-telling = Accountability

If if feels painful and scary — that’s real delegation

Just say “no” to “no”

The person who is a little less conceptual but is absolutely determined to succeed will usually find the right people and get them together to achieve objectives. If you have to choose between someone with a staggering IQ and an elite education who’s gliding along, and someone with a lower IQ but who is absolutely determined to succeed, you’ll always do better with the second person.

The genius of Ulysses Grant’s command style lay in its simplicity. Grant never burdened his commanders with staff conferences or written orders. He recognized the battlefield was in flux. By not specifying movements in detail, he left his subordinates free to exploit whatever opportunities developed.

No interest in grand strategy. Do the thing until it is done. Do not overcomplicate. Do the next thing. Pleasure in perseverance per se. Do not ask for help or advice. Do not complain of difficulties or ask for more time or resources --U.S. Grant

You do not merely want to be the best of the best. You want to be considered the only one who does what you do.

Business The Ultimate Creative Endeavor The Ultimate Personal Growth Experience

It’s a “brand you” world Me Too = Me Dead

The Leader’s Seven Essential Behaviors Know your people and your business. Insist on realism. Set clear goals and priorities. Follow through. Reward the doers. Expand people’s capabilities. Know yourself. --Larry Bossidy, The Discipline of Getting Things Done

Play

If it’s not fun, you’re not doing it right

Serious play

You can’t be a serious innovator unless and until you are ready, willing and able to seriously play. ‘Serious play’ is not an oxymoron; it is the essence of innovation.

It’s always showtime

Enthusiasm! The Ultimate Virus!

Passion! Energy! Enthusiasm! Passion! Energy! Enthusiasm! Enthusiasm! Enthusiasm! Enthusiasm! Nothing Matches Enthusiasm as a Motivator! Enthusiasm Moves Mountains! Wow. Now. Re-imagine! Re-do! Re-vise! Re-vo-lu-tion!

“ If you’re enthusiastic about the things you’re working on, people will come ask you to do interesting things.” --James Woolsey “ Before you can inspire with emotion, you must be swamped with it yourself. Before you can move their tears, your own must flow. To convince them, you must yourself believe.” --Winston Churchill “ If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.“ --John Quincy Adams “ To me business isn’t about wearing suits or pleasing stockholders. It’s about being true to yourself, your ideas and focusing on the essentials.” --Richard Branson “ Strive for Excellence. Ignore success.” --Bill Young

Enthusiasm. Emotion. Service. Excellence. Energy. Creativity. Excitement. Joy. Growth. Vitality. Surprise. Independence. Spirit. Imagination. Community. Limitless human potential. Diversity. Profit. Innovation. Quality. Entrepreneurialism. Design. Wow!

Credibility: Asset No. 1 Tell the truth, truth wins

Respect = Magic Thank you = Magic

ROIR Return On Investment in Relationships

Be personal

People are always ready to tell their story!

Talk to one person. Have a [private] conversation. Use humor. Talk about kids, etc. Ask questions. “Be” that person’s world.

Every issue has at least a little blameworthiness on both sides. Take the blame, deserved or not. Taking the heat is a winning strategy!

The problem is hardly ever the problem. The response to the problem invariably ends up being the real problem .

You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you

Make a short list of all things done to you that you abhorred. Don’t do them to others. Ever. Make another list of things done to you that you loved. Do them to others. Always.

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle

Women Best leaders Biggest market Control wealth Rule

Forget China , India and the Internet : Economic Growth Is Driven by Women

Enterprises that matter and change the game offer solutions and experiences that surprise, amaze, and transform perceptions of what’s possible, and stick like super-glue in customers’ minds. Such offerings are brilliantly conceived and flawlessly delivered by unconventional, creative, hyper-committed, energetic talent from within and outside the organization.

Excellence (not optional)

Challenge Challenge Challenge

How to obtain Excellence more than others think is wise safe practical possible Care Risk Dream Expect

Watchwords: Respect. Decency. Integrity. Demand excellence. Make accountability instinctive Emphasize revenue

Diversity trumps ability Randomly formed groups of problem solvers consistently outperform groups consisting of the best and the brightest individuals.

Change the world Accept nothing less Dream! The only worthwhile reality