Conrad Conrad Hilton …Hilton …

Conrad Hilton, at a gala Conrad Hilton, at a gala celebrating his career,celebrating his career,

was asked, was asked, “What was the most important lesson you’ve learned in you

long and distinguished career?” His immediate His immediate

answer …answer …

““remember remember to tuck the to tuck the

shower curtain shower curtain inside the inside the bathtubbathtub””

““Execution Execution isis strategy.”strategy.”

—Fred Malek—Fred Malek

““The art of war does not The art of war does not require complicated require complicated

maneuvers; the simplest maneuvers; the simplest are the best and common are the best and common

sense is fundamental. From sense is fundamental. From which one might wonder which one might wonder how it is generals make how it is generals make

blunders; blunders; it is because theit is because theyy trtryy to be clever to be clever.”.” —Napoleon—Napoleon

Jim Jim Penman …Penman …

Jim’s Mowing CanadaJim’s Mowing CanadaJim’s Mowing UKJim’s Mowing UKJim’s AntennasJim’s Antennas

Jim’s BookkeepingJim’s BookkeepingJim’s Building MaintenanceJim’s Building Maintenance

Jim’s Carpet CleaningJim’s Carpet CleaningJim’s Car CleaningJim’s Car Cleaning

Jim’s Computer ServicesJim’s Computer Services

Jim’s Dog WashJim’s Dog WashJim’s Driving SchoolJim’s Driving School

Jim’s FencingJim’s FencingJim’s FloorsJim’s Floors

Jim’s PaintingJim’s PaintingJim’s PavingJim’s Paving

Jim’s Pergolas [gazebos]Jim’s Pergolas [gazebos]Jim’s Pool CareJim’s Pool Care

Jim’s Pressure CleaningJim’s Pressure CleaningJim’s RoofingJim’s Roofing

Jim’s Security DoorsJim’s Security DoorsJim’s TreesJim’s Trees

Jim’s Window CleaningJim’s Window CleaningJim’s WindscreensJim’s Windscreens

Note: Download, free, Jim Penman’s book: What Will They Franchise Next? The Story of Jim’s Group

*Basement Systems Inc.*Basement Systems Inc.*Larry Janesky*Larry Janesky**Dry Basement ScienceDry Basement Science (115,000!)(115,000!)

*1990: $0; 2003: $13M; *1990: $0; 2003: $13M; 2007: 2007:

$62,000,000$62,000,000

Tom Peters’Tom Peters’

Excellence.Excellence.Always.Always.

Newpreneurs. Newpreneurs. Inc./Inc./San Francisco/18 November 2009San Francisco/18 November 2009

(PP available to download at tompeters.com)(PP available to download at tompeters.com)

NOTENOTE:: To appreciateTo appreciate this presentation this presentation [and ensure [and ensure

that it is not a that it is not a messmess],], you need you need Microsoft fonts:Microsoft fonts:

“Showcard Gothic,”“Showcard Gothic,” “Ravie,”“Ravie,” “Chiller”“Chiller”

andand “Verdana”“Verdana”

#1#1

14,00014,000

20,00020,000

3030

14,000/14,000/eeBayBay20,000/Amazon20,000/Amazon

3030/Craigslist/Craigslist

#2#2

““Insanely Insanely Great”Great”

Steve JobsSteve Jobs

““Radically Radically thrilling”thrilling”

BMW

#3#3

19821982

MBWMBWAA

Excellence1982: The Bedrock “Eight Basics”Excellence1982: The Bedrock “Eight Basics”

1. A Bias for 1. A Bias for ActionAction2. Close to the 2. Close to the CustomerCustomer3. 3. AutonomAutonomyy and and EntreEntreppreneurshireneurshipp4. Productivity Through 4. Productivity Through PeoPeopplele5. 5. Hands OnHands On, , Value-DrivenValue-Driven6. 6. Stick toStick to the Knitting the Knitting7. 7. SimSimpplele Form, Form, LeanLean Staff Staff8. Simultaneous 8. Simultaneous Loose-TightLoose-Tight Properties” Properties”

““Breakthrough” 82*Breakthrough” 82*

People! People! CustomersCustomers

! ! Action! Action! Values! Values!

**In Search of ExcellenceIn Search of Excellence

Hard Is SoftHard Is SoftSoft Is HardSoft Is Hard

Hard Is Hard Is SoftSoft (Plans, (Plans, ##ss))

Soft Is Soft Is HardHard (people, (people, customers, values, customers, values,

relationships)relationships)

#4#4

““The doctor The doctor interruptsinterrupts after …*after …*

*Source: Jerome Groopman, *Source: Jerome Groopman, How Doctors ThinkHow Doctors Think

1818 secondsseconds

[An obsession with] Listening is ... the ultimate mark[An obsession with] Listening is ... the ultimate mark of of RespectRespect..Listening is ... the heart and soul of Listening is ... the heart and soul of EngagementEngagement..Listening is ... the heart and soul of Listening is ... the heart and soul of KindnessKindness..Listening is ... the heart and soul of Listening is ... the heart and soul of ThoughtfulnessThoughtfulness..Listening is ... the basis for true Listening is ... the basis for true Collaboration.Collaboration.Listening is ... the basis for true Listening is ... the basis for true PartnershipPartnership..Listening is ... a Listening is ... a Team SportTeam Sport..Listening is ... a Listening is ... a Developable Individual SkillDevelopable Individual Skill.* .* (*Though women (*Though women are are farfar better at it than men.) better at it than men.)

Listening is ... the basis for Listening is ... the basis for CommunityCommunity..Listening is ... the bedrock of Listening is ... the bedrock of Joint Ventures that workJoint Ventures that work..Listening is ... the bedrock of Listening is ... the bedrock of Joint Ventures thatJoint Ventures that lastlast..Listening is ... the core of Listening is ... the core of effective Cross-functional effective Cross-functional Communication* Communication* (*Which is in turn Attribute #1 of (*Which is in turn Attribute #1 of organizational effectiveness.)organizational effectiveness.)

[cont.][cont.]

Listening is ... the engine of Listening is ... the engine of superior EXECUTION.superior EXECUTION.Listening is ... the key to Listening is ... the key to making the Sale.making the Sale.Listening is ... the key to Listening is ... the key to Keeping the Customer’s BusinessKeeping the Customer’s Business..Listening is ... the engine of Listening is ... the engine of Network development.Network development.Listening is ... the engine of Listening is ... the engine of Network maintenanceNetwork maintenance..Listening is ... the engine of Listening is ... the engine of Network expansionNetwork expansion..Listening is ... Social Networking’s Listening is ... Social Networking’s “secret weapon.”“secret weapon.”Listening is ... Listening is ... Learning.Learning.Listening is ... the Listening is ... the sine qua non of Renewalsine qua non of Renewal..Listening is ... the Listening is ... the sine qua non of Creativitysine qua non of Creativity..Listening is ... the Listening is ... the sine qua non of Innovationsine qua non of Innovation..Listening is ... the core of Listening is ... the core of taking Diverse opinions aboardtaking Diverse opinions aboard..Listening is ... Listening is ... StrategyStrategy..Listening is ... Listening is ... Source #1 of “Value-added.”Source #1 of “Value-added.”Listening is ... Listening is ... Differentiator #1.Differentiator #1.Listening is ... Listening is ... Profitable.*Profitable.* (*The “R.O.I.” from listening is higher than(*The “R.O.I.” from listening is higher than from any other single activity.)from any other single activity.)

Listening is … the bedrock which underpins a Listening is … the bedrock which underpins a Commitment toCommitment to EXCELLENCEEXCELLENCE

*Listening is of the*Listening is of the

utmost … utmost … strategic importance! importance!

*Listening is a proper … *Listening is a proper …

core value ! !

*Listening is … *Listening is … trainable !!

*Listening is a … *Listening is a … profession ! !

ListenListen = Profession = Study = practice = evaluation = = Profession = Study = practice = evaluation = Enterprise value:

"We listen intently "We listen intently to and fully to and fully

engageengage all with whom all with whom

we work."we work."

*Listening is a … *Listening is a …

professionprofession!!

#5#5

““The The fourfour most most imimpportantortant wordswords in any in any

organization are …organization are …

The four most important words in any organizationThe four most important words in any organization

are …are … “What do “What do youyou

think?”think?”

Source: courtesy Dave Wheeler, posted at tompeters.comSource: courtesy Dave Wheeler, posted at tompeters.com

Tomorrow: How Tomorrow: How many times will you many times will you

“ask the WDYT “ask the WDYT question”?question”?

[Count!] [Practice [Practice

makes better!] [This is a makes better!] [This is a

STRATEGIC skill!]skill!]

#6#6

““The deepest The deepest human need is human need is

the … the … need to be need to be aappppreciatedreciated.”.”

—William James—William James

Tomorrow: How many Tomorrow: How many times will you mange to times will you mange to blurt out, “Thank you”? blurt out, “Thank you”?

[Count ’em!]

[Practice makes better!* *The engineer from [Practice makes better!* *The engineer from

Manchester.]] [This is a Manchester.]] [This is a STRATEGIC skill!]skill!]

*appreciation is of the*appreciation is of the

utmost … utmost … strategicstrategic importance! importance!

*appreciation is a proper … *appreciation is a proper …

core core valuevalue ! !

*appreciation is … *appreciation is … trainabletrainable !!

*appreciation is a … *appreciation is a … professionprofession ! !

And the answer is ….And the answer is ….

otisotis

““It was much later that I realized It was much later that I realized Dad’s secret. He gained respect by Dad’s secret. He gained respect by giving it. He talked and listened to giving it. He talked and listened to

the fourth-grade kids in Spring Valley the fourth-grade kids in Spring Valley who shined shoes the same way he who shined shoes the same way he talked and listened to a bishop or a talked and listened to a bishop or a

college president.college president. He was He was seriously interested in seriously interested in

who you were and what who you were and what you had to say.”you had to say.”

—Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, Respect

#7#7

““I regard I regard aappoloologgizinizing as the g as the most magical, healing, most magical, healing,

restorative gesture human restorative gesture human beings can make. It is the beings can make. It is the

centerpiece of my work with centerpiece of my work with executives who want to get executives who want to get better.”better.” —Marshall Goldsmith—Marshall Goldsmith, What Got You , What Got You

Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People BecomeHere Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More SuccessfulEven More Successful

Relationships (of all varieties): THERE THERE ONCE WAS A TIME WHEN A ONCE WAS A TIME WHEN A

THREETHREE--MINUTEMINUTE PHONEPHONE CALLCALL WOULD HAVE AVOIDED WOULD HAVE AVOIDED

SETTING OFF THE DOWNWARD SETTING OFF THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL THAT RESULTED IN A SPIRAL THAT RESULTED IN A

COMPLETE RUPTURE.COMPLETE RUPTURE.

THE PROBLEM IS THE PROBLEM IS RARELY/NEVER THE RARELY/NEVER THE

PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM. THE RESPONSERESPONSE TO THE TO THE

PROBLEM INVARIABLY PROBLEM INVARIABLY ENDS UP BEING THE ENDS UP BEING THE

REAL PROBLEMREAL PROBLEM.**PERCEPTION IS ALL THERE IS!*PERCEPTION IS ALL THERE IS!

*effective “Repair”/Apology is of the*effective “Repair”/Apology is of the

utmost … utmost … strategicstrategic importance! importance!

*effective repair is a proper …*effective repair is a proper …

core core valuevalue ! !

*effective repair is …*effective repair is …

trainabletrainable !!

*effective repair is a …*effective repair is a …

professionprofession ! !

#8#8

““We are We are thoughtful in thoughtful in all we do.”all we do.”

ThoughtfulnessThoughtfulness is key to is key to customer retentioncustomer retention..ThoughtfulnessThoughtfulness is key to is key to emempploloyyee recruitmentee recruitment and satisfactionand satisfaction..Thoughtfulness Thoughtfulness is key to is key to brand perceptionbrand perception..ThoughtfulnessThoughtfulness is key to your ability to is key to your ability to look in look in the mirrorthe mirror —and tell your kids about your job. —and tell your kids about your job.

““ThoughtfulnessThoughtfulness is is freefree.”.”ThoughtfulnessThoughtfulness is key to is key to ssppeedineedingg thin thinggs us up—p— it it reduces frictionreduces friction..ThoughtfulnessThoughtfulness is key to is key to transtranspparencarency and y and eveneven cost containmentcost containment—it abets rather than stifles—it abets rather than stifles truth-telling.truth-telling.

*Thoughtfulness is of the*Thoughtfulness is of the

utmost … utmost … strategicstrategic importance! importance!

*thoughtfulness is a proper … *thoughtfulness is a proper …

core core valuevalue ! !

*Thoughtfulness is … *Thoughtfulness is … trainabletrainable !!

*Thoughtfulness is a … *Thoughtfulness is a …

professionprofession !!

““Courtesies of a small Courtesies of a small and trivial character are and trivial character are

the ones which strike the ones which strike deepest in the grateful deepest in the grateful

and appreciating heart.”and appreciating heart.”

—Henry Clay

#9#9

nonenone!!

Press Ganey AssocPress Ganey Assoc:: 139,380139,380 former former patients from patients from 225225 hospitals: hospitals:

nonenone of THE top 15 of THE top 15

factors determining factors determining PPatient atient

SSatisfaction referred to patient’s atisfaction referred to patient’s health health outcomeoutcome

P.S.P.S. directldirectly related to y related to StaffStaff InteractionInteraction

P.P.S.P.P.S. directldirectly correlated with y correlated with EmploEmployyee ee SatisfactionSatisfaction

Source: Source: Putting Patients FirstPutting Patients First, Susan Frampton, Laura Gilpin, Patrick Charmel, Susan Frampton, Laura Gilpin, Patrick Charmel

““There is a misconception that supportive interactions require There is a misconception that supportive interactions require more staff or more time and are therefore more costly. Although more staff or more time and are therefore more costly. Although

labor costs are a substantial part of any hospital budget, the labor costs are a substantial part of any hospital budget, the interactions themselves add nothing to the budget. interactions themselves add nothing to the budget.

Kindness is Kindness is freefree.. Listening to patients or answering their Listening to patients or answering their

questions costs nothing. questions costs nothing. It can be argued that negative It can be argued that negative interactions—alienating patients, being non-responsive to their interactions—alienating patients, being non-responsive to their needs or limiting their sense of control—can be very costly. … needs or limiting their sense of control—can be very costly. …

Angry, frustrated or frightened patients may be combative, Angry, frustrated or frightened patients may be combative, withdrawn and less cooperative—requiring far more time withdrawn and less cooperative—requiring far more time than it would have taken to interact with them initially in a than it would have taken to interact with them initially in a

positive waypositive way.”.” ——Putting Patients FirstPutting Patients First, Susan Frampton, , Susan Frampton, Laura Gilpin, Patrick CharmelLaura Gilpin, Patrick Charmel

““KindnesKindness is free.”s is free.”

#10#10

1. Listen/Respect1. Listen/Respect2. Ask/Engage2. Ask/Engage3. Thank/Acknowledge3. Thank/Acknowledge4. Apologize/Rectify4. Apologize/Rectify

#11#11

#1 Truthteller …#1 Truthteller …

You = You = Your Your

calendarcalendar***Calendars *Calendars nevernever lielie

““Dennis, you need a … Dennis, you need a …

‘To-don’t ’‘To-don’t ’

List !”List !”

Don’t > Don’t > Do*Do*

* “Don’ting,” systematic, > WILLPOWER* “Don’ting,” systematic, > WILLPOWER

#12#12

Entrepreneurial Excellence TENEntrepreneurial Excellence TEN

1. “Insane” 1. “Insane” PassionPassion for and commitment to for and commitment to the idea. the idea.2. Can explain the idea in Simple English and2. Can explain the idea in Simple English and Excite others about its Excite others about its UniquenessUniqueness in ONE in ONE MINUTE (or less). MINUTE (or less).3. Good 3. Good AccountantAccountant/“Wise-man (-woman)”//“Wise-man (-woman)”/ 5050--5050 Partner. Partner.4. Devotee of the Experimental Method (“Try4. Devotee of the Experimental Method (“Try it. Now.”)/Master of “Plan B”/ it. Now.”)/Master of “Plan B”/RelentlessRelentless// Resilient Resilient..5. Patience in 5. Patience in HiringHiring/“/“Great Place to WorkGreat Place to Work”” from the get-go. from the get-go.6. 6. “d”“d”iversity/iversity/M-FM-F balance. balance.7. Exude 7. Exude DecencyDecency--CharacterCharacter--IntegrityIntegrity..8. 8. PlayfulnessPlayfulness/Fun./Fun.9. Sweat the details (9. Sweat the details (ExecutionExecution = Strategy). = Strategy).10. 10. EXCELLENCEEXCELLENCE. Period.. Period.

““Excellence …Excellence … can be obtained if you:can be obtained if you:

... care more than others think... care more than others think is wise;is wise; ... risk more than others think ... risk more than others think is safe;is safe; ... dream more than others think ... dream more than others think is practical;is practical; ... expect more than others think ... expect more than others think is possible.”is possible.”

Source: Anon.Source: Anon. (Posted @ tompeters.com by K.Sriram, November 27, 2006 1:17 AM) (Posted @ tompeters.com by K.Sriram, November 27, 2006 1:17 AM)

The failure to The failure to pursue pursue

EXCELLENCEEXCELLENCE is is incomprehensible incomprehensible

to me.to me.

““remember remember to tuck the to tuck the

shower curtain shower curtain inside the inside the bathtubbathtub””

The endThe end