The EXCELLENCE 25: Master the Basics


[This photo and the one at the end of this post were both taken by Tom at his farm in VT. Signs of spring are literally cherished after a long winter in northern climes.–SD]

Tripped over this list—and, frankly, liked it. (After a few edits.) Here it is—FYI. (Download the PowerPoint version here.)

  1. Read.
  2. Write.
  3. Talk.
  4. LISTEN.
  5. Appreciate.
  6. Kind.
  7. Walk.
  8. Work.
  9. EXECUTE.
  10. EXECUTE.
  11. Relentless.
  12. Enthuse.
  13. WOW!
  14. PEOPLE.
  15. Frontline.
  16. ACT.
  17. Anger.
  18. Band.
  19. Apologize.
  20. Weird-out.
  21. Why?
  22. Network I.
  23. Network II.
  24. Wired.
  25. EXCELLENCE.


The EXCELLENCE 25/Expanded

  1. Read. (Out study ’em. Read wide. Read deep.)
  2. Write. (Clear. Concise. Compelling. Powerful.)
  3. Talk. (Presentation MASTERY. Study. Practice-PRACTICE-Practice. Storytelling, mastery of.)
  4. LISTEN. (Study. Practice-PRACTICE-Practice. Understand enormous-MATCHLESS power thereof.)
  5. Appreciate. (Engaged. Compassionate. Appreciative always. “Thank you” rules.)
  6. Kind. (Pays off big-time. K =R =P/Kindness = Repeat business = Profit.)
  7. Walk. (MBWA/Managing By Wandering Around. “In touch” as fetish. Practice!)
  8. Work. (Work harder than the next person.)
  9. EXECUTE. (SWEAT THE DETAILS WITH MANIACAL PASSION.)
  10. EXECUTE. (SWEAT THE DETAILS WITH MANIACAL PASSION.)
  11. Relentless. (Keep on keepin’ on. “Know when to fold ’em”: NO!! Master of “Plan B.”)
  12. Enthuse. (Enthusiasm begets Enthusiasm. Enthusiasm moves mountains.)
  13. WOW! (Knock-your-socks-off standard for positively everything.)
  14. PEOPLE. (People 1st. People 2nd. People 3rd … Great-engaged people>>Great strategy. Best bosses = Best people developers. Your people are your #1 customers.)
  15. Frontline. (First-line supervisors, quality of, determine just about everything.)
  16. ACT. (Most tries wins! READY. FIRE! AIM. “Blame no one. Expect nothing. Do something.” “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.”)
  17. Anger. (Impatience. Constantly question the status quo.)
  18. Band. (Small, passionate, relentless bands of people change the world!)
  19. Apologize. (“I’m sorry,” enormous-STAGGERING power thereof.)
  20. Weird-out. (Multiple, unusual sources of information and feedback. You are who you hang out with. PERIOD.)
  21. Why? (Curiosity power! Always/repeatedly ask and ask and ask: “Why?”)
  22. Network I. (Work like a demon on wider-deeper relationships. Think R.O.I.R./Return On Investment in Relationships. NEVER WASTE A LUNCH.)
  23. Network II. (“Suck down” for success. “Real work” happens 2-3 levels “down”—master the “working underbelly” of your own/customer/etc. organizations.)
  24. Wired. (Use every trick in the Internet/Co-create/Social Media book.)
  25. EXCELLENCE. (The only standard. Always capitalize all letters.)

EXCELLENCE. Always.
If not EXCELLENCE, what?
If not EXCELLENCE now, when?

Tom Peters posted this on May 2, 2011, in Excellence.
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