Excellence.
The “Six-step Program.”
Circa 2009.
Tom’s Six-step Program:
**Pursue a “non-negotiable” aspiration for growth and greatness that stretches us to the breaking point and perhaps beyond: … an emotional, vital, innovative, joyful, creative, entrepreneurial endeavor that elicits maximum concerted human potential in the wholehearted service of others—e.g., Employees, Customers, Suppliers, Communities, Owners, Temporary partners.
**Listen like maniacs. Consciously pursue Excellence in Strategic Listening. 100% “Listening Blackbelts.” Listening per se is at the Heart of Competitive Advantage.
**Ask and ask and ask again and again and again: “What do you think?” Engage everyone as Rockstar Participant in a Bold Adventure in Personal and Organizational Growth and Excellence.
**Celebrate failure. Yes, damn it, CELEBRATE. Try and fail and adjust and try and fail and adjust, then try and fail and adjust. Repeat. Forever. At the speed of light. To paraphrase my friend Richard Farson: “Whoever makes the most mistakes wins.”
**Total and unwavering focus on creating “100% life success sagas” among our staff and customers and vendors and other members of our extended family.
**Excellence. Always. If not Excellence, what? If not Excellence now, when?
[Above: Crabapples arriving!]