What’s the stuff that’s really caught my attention over, say, the last 63 years? That was the reporter’s question. I’ll drop the first 23 and start in Vietnam in 1966. I figure, more or less, that 26 things have really gotten (way) under my skin. I’ve never had a plan. I proceed from Passion to Passion and let each one take me where it will. Some are eternal; some are transient. Anyway, I decided to foist them on you, accompanied by a little Special Presentation … what else? (Sorry: Some are in shorthand; most, though, I think are transparent.) To wit:
Leadership Effectiveness (Vietnam: 2 Commanding Officers: “Captain Do it.” vs “Captain Plan it.”) … ’66-’68 (’06)
Organization Effectiveness (Vietnam Seabee Battalion in the field vs Pentagon) … ’69-’70 (’06)
B>A* (R.F.A.) (*Behavior drives Attitude: Action takes precedence.) … ’71-’06
Implementation = #1 … ’73-’77 (’06)
“Soft is Hard” (“Management Style,” etc.) … ’77-’79 (’06)
Soft is Hard: “It’s the PEOPLE, stupid!” (Gobs of autonomy!) … ’66-’06
(Org) Structure>Strategy … ’77-’83 (’06)
Strategy-Structure+/ “McKinsey 7-S” Model … ’77-’81
Action>Planning … ’74-’06
Mess = Reality … ’77-’06
Skunkworks/Skunks (“Offline” Innovation/Innovators) … ’84-’91
MBWA/Hands On leadership … ’80-’85 (’06)
Excellence I … ’79-’84
Mid-size biz is cool … ’84-’89 (’06)
Customer service … ’84-’88
Innovation … ’87-’92
Free trade/Hayek … ’90-’92
New Org Models … ’92-’96
PSF … ’92-’06
WOW! (WOW Projects) … ’93-’06
Brand You … ’94-’00
Design … ’94-’06
Women (Markets-Leaders) … ’96-’06
EXCELLENCE II … ’06-??
Healthcare (Quality-Wellness-PatientCentric) … ’06-??
Exuberance-Passion (Soft is Hard) … ’42-’06
Same vein, same media conversation: Some stuff I’ve tried to do has caught on … such as my longterm passion for “Customers First” and “Design Mindfulness.” But there are 5 areas where I feel stymied. That is, I scream & shout & reason … and the tectonic plates creak but do not move. (Much.) Well, there has been some movement on the “women’s thing” (market potential, leadership) and Brand You … but neither have reached the “Go For It”/Revolution stage. Well, I’m not gonna take it anymore (not that I really have); I’m going to get more focused & turn up the volume & be more rude. Watch out! The 5 “Damn Its”:
* Women (market potential, leadership potential)
* PSF (Professional Service Firm “model” as driving force in Value Added/Intellectual Capital Revolution)
* Brand You.
* R.F.A. (“Bias for Action” from In Search)
* EXCELLENCE. ALWAYS.