Note: This is a republished post from my old Web site (now defunct and removed). It still has value towards the "Big Picture" concepts discussed here.
Tom Peters has published another great ChangeThis manifesto called Tomato TomA[h]to. OK, it was published back in July, but I'm finally getting around to it today. In it Tom explains how while on a trip for a speaking engagement he woke up in the middle of the night sweating. He had a nightmare of being accused of explaining his point of view with too many exclamation points (!!!!). To combat his nightmare, he picked up a pad of paper and a pencil to write. What came out was a manifesto of ‘They’ vs. Tom explanations for how business must be conducted today. Some examples of what Tom had to say were:
They say…my [Tom’s] language is too extreme.
I say…the times are extreme.They say that Brand You is not for everyone.
I say the alternative is unemployment.
This goes on for about ten solid pages of back and forth. I wanted to point out a few that I found thought provoking and true from my point of view.
They say “We need more steady, loyal employees.”
I say “WE NEED MORE FREAKS WHO ROUTINELY TELL THOSE ‘IN CHARGE’ TO TAKE A FLYING LEAP…BEFORE IT’s TOO LATE.”They say “Of course we believe in marketing.”
I say “Is your Web site Sooooo Cool, Soooo Fresh, Soooo Friendly to Use that it gives you goose pimples just to e-visit, even though you’ve seen it 1,000 times?”They say “Employees need Well-defined Structure.”
I say “Talent should be encouraged to embark on Quests to the Unknown.”
and finally,
They say “We can’t all be a Brand.”
I say “Why not?”
There are many more that are just as inspiring and make you think about the way business is conducted today. I had a few observations of my own about the business world and what I see in the news today. I would add the following to Tom’s list:
They say “It is just the <insert your company here> way of doing things.”
I say, “Well is this the best way to do business, and how can we do it better.”They say “We can’t turn this big ship of a company on a dime in a new direction. It will take time, both politically and culturally.”
I say, “Turn HARD RIGHT or HIT the iceberg.”They say “Senior management won’t go for it or approve it.”
I say, “Have you tried?”
You see, I observe a lot of complacency in the workplace. I read about it everyday; hear it from my friends; etc. It doesn’t matter who you work for, I will bet you have heard one of the lines I rattled off above. I believe that anyone can make a difference in an organization if they truly believe that they can. I believe that the lowest man or woman on the totem pole can come up with the most brilliant idea, but most times no one will listen, or they feel that no one will care. Corporate culture needs to change to embrace knowledge management, ideas, and efficiency, no matter where the idea or concept came from. Turf wars, corporate silos, and political agendas need to evaporate for all of us to survive. Maybe that’s why you see more and more entrepreneurs in the world. They want to do it their way, on their terms. So when was the last time you had a great idea but didn’t think anyone would listen? Next time SPEAK UP!
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