The Circle of Innovation: You Can't Shrink Your Way to Greatness

I'm not a fan of management gurus or stream of consciousness writing and yet I liked this book. For whatever reason, Tom Peters has resonated with me since I first saw his In Search of Excellence tape in 1992. What he has to say makes great sense and his message gets better over time. The Circle of Innovation is a blend of quotes, thoughts, and exclamation points all in Peters's enthusiastic, staccato style. It's like I'm reading Emeril. Bam!

Peters spews page after page (do note that this is an atypical 518 page book - multiple quotes in large fonts, bullets, separated paragraphs; clearly, you don't need a condensed package to get the message across) of what he thinks works in the better businesses of the day (1997) ... and why. show more Unfortunately, some of those great businesses don't exist now, 14 years later. Streams of consciousness style irritate me in just about every other form, but not this one. I understand that Peters's later books are much like this one (a real find at a Half Price Books ... and it was signed!), but I am sure I'll like them.

I tabbed the heck out of the points (and quotes) I liked and either already do (validation, I guess) or more importantly want to do/implement. I know I'll keep coming back to it for refreshers. show less

"In 1982, business guru Tom Peters co-authored In Search of Excellence, one of the most influential business guides of all time. More recently, through 400 seminars in 47 states and 22 countries, Peters reexamined, refined, and reinvented his views on innovation -- the #1 survival strategy, he asserts, for business of the next millennium.
The Circle of Innovation brings these seminars -- and Peters' contagious passion -- to the reader in a landmark book. Through bold graphics, astounding facts and figures, and quotes whose sources range from Emile Zola to Steve Jobs, Peters blows the lid off accepted management styles. Here is a book that will open your eyes to new ways of envisioning the challenges of today's world. Here, too, is a show more practical guide that will teach you how to:
-- reverse the rising tide of product and service ""commoditization"" and foster uniqueness.
-- capitalize on the skyrocketing purchasing power of women.
-- convert sluggish staff into vital centers of intellectual capital accumulation.
-- build systems of elegance and beauty.
-- liberate your creativity and individual leadership style.
Whether you manage a six-person department or a 60,000-body behemoth, The Circle of Innovation empowers you to transform your organization, your career, yourself. Inspiring, timely, this blueprint for success is pure Peters -- a handbook as energetic as it is profound." show less