A Taste of Tom - Part 1

Tom Peters is one of my favorite authors. He has a unique perspective and he is passionate, even a little crazy, about effective leadership. I recommend that you read anything that he has written. You can't go wrong. However, if you're hesitant to spend your own money, you can get a taste of Tom for free. He has written a great two-part manifesto called 100 Ways to Help you Succeed/Make Money.

While reading his suggestions, I noticed that many of them supported the Four Factors (4F). So, over the next few weeks, I'll be doing a series that focuses on his ideas and their relationship to those in my book.

One major theme in 4F is Me-First leadership. This is the belief that leadership is inside-out. Leadership starts with you.

Tom addresses this issue in #5.

TARGET #1: ME!

Stand in front of the mirror . . . Smiling. Saying . . . "Thank you." Doing . . . Jumping Jacks.

Whatever. (See below.)

Fact: "It" begets "it."  Fact: "Not it" begets "It-less-ness."

Smiling begets a warmer (work, home) environment.

Thanking begets an environment of mutual appreciation.

Enthusiasm (those Jumping Jacks) begets enthusiasm.

Love begets love. Energy begets energy.

Wow begets Wow. Optimism begets Optimism. (I've been devouring Martin Seligman lately.)

Honesty begets honesty. Caring begets caring. Listening  begets engagement. Etc. Etc.

How do you motivate others? Take a B-school course on Leadership? No! (You were joking, right?)

Answer: Motivate yourself first.  By hook or by crook.

Call it: Leadership by Unilateral Attitude Adjustment

Are there things that can be labeled "circumstances"? Of course.

Do bad things happen to good people? Doubtless.

Is there such a thing as "powerlessness"?  No! No! No! Take charge now!

Task one: Work on ourselves.  Relentlessly!

If you can figure out how to go to work with a smile today, I (trained as an engineer, and indeed carrying the baggage or an MBA from a "quant school") will guarantee you that you will not only "have a better day," but will (eventually) infect others! (And, uh, "productivity" will soar . . . once "they" - your boss, your peers, your subordinates - get over the shock.)

Smile! Enthuse! Thank! Wow! Win! Now!