Forty-four Secrets and clever Strategies For dealing with the Recession of 2008-XXXX Tom Peters/0326.09

Forty-four “Secrets” Forty-four “Secrets” and “clever Strategies” and “clever Strategies”

For dealing with the For dealing with the Recession of 2008-Recession of 2008-

XXXXXXXX

Tom Peters/0326.09Tom Peters/0326.09

I am constantly asked for “strategies/ 'secrets' for surviving the recession.” I try to appear wise and informed—and parade original, sophisticated thoughts. But if you want to know what’s really going through my head, see the list that follows.

44 “Secrets” and “Clever Strategies” For 44 “Secrets” and “Clever Strategies” For Dealing with the Recession of 2008-XXXXDealing with the Recession of 2008-XXXX

You come earlier.You come earlier.You leave later.You leave later.You work harder.You work harder.You may well work for less; and, if so, youYou may well work for less; and, if so, you adapt to the untoward circumstances with a adapt to the untoward circumstances with a smile—even if it kills you inside.smile—even if it kills you inside.You volunteer to do more.You volunteer to do more.You dig deep and always bring a good attitudeYou dig deep and always bring a good attitude to work.to work.You fake it if your good attitude flags.You fake it if your good attitude flags.You literally practice your "game face" in theYou literally practice your "game face" in the mirror in the morning, and in the loo mirror in the morning, and in the loo mid-morning.mid-morning.You give new meaning to the idea and You give new meaning to the idea and intensive intensive practice of “visible management.”practice of “visible management.”


You take better than usual care of yourself andYou take better than usual care of yourself and encourage others to do the same—physicalencourage others to do the same—physical well-being determines mental well-being andwell-being determines mental well-being and response to stress.response to stress.You shrug off shit that flows downhill in your You shrug off shit that flows downhill in your direction—buy a shovel or a “pre-worn” direction—buy a shovel or a “pre-worn” raincoat on eBay.raincoat on eBay.You try to forget about “the good old days”—You try to forget about “the good old days”— nostalgia is self-destructive.nostalgia is self-destructive.You buck yourself up with the thought that You buck yourself up with the thought that “ “this too shall pass”—but then remind this too shall pass”—but then remind yourselfyourself that it might not pass any time soon, and so that it might not pass any time soon, and so you re-dedicate yourself to making the you re-dedicate yourself to making the absolute best of what you have now.absolute best of what you have now.


You work the phones and then work theYou work the phones and then work the phones some more—and stay in touch withphones some more—and stay in touch with positively everyone.positively everyone.You frequently invent breaks from routine,You frequently invent breaks from routine, including “weird” ones—“changeups” preventincluding “weird” ones—“changeups” prevent wallowing and bring a fresh perspective. wallowing and bring a fresh perspective. You eschew all forms of personal excess.You eschew all forms of personal excess.You simplify.You simplify.You sweat the details as never before.You sweat the details as never before.You sweat the details as never before.You sweat the details as never before.You sweat the details as never before.You sweat the details as never before.You raise to the sky and maintain at allYou raise to the sky and maintain at all costs the Standards of Excellence by whichcosts the Standards of Excellence by which you unfailingly evaluate your own you unfailingly evaluate your own performance.performance.You are maniacal when it comes to respondingYou are maniacal when it comes to responding to even the slightest screwup.to even the slightest screwup.


You find ways to be around young people andYou find ways to be around young people and to keep young people around—they are lessto keep young people around—they are less likely to be members of the “sky is falling” likely to be members of the “sky is falling” school.school.You learn new tricks of your trade.You learn new tricks of your trade.You remind yourself that this is not justYou remind yourself that this is not just something to be “gotten through”—it is thesomething to be “gotten through”—it is the Final Exam of character.Final Exam of character.You network like a demon.You network like a demon.You network inside the company—get to knowYou network inside the company—get to know more of the folks who “do the real work.”more of the folks who “do the real work.”You network outside the company—get toYou network outside the company—get to know more of the folks who “do the realknow more of the folks who “do the real work” in vendor-customer outfits.work” in vendor-customer outfits.


You thank others by the truckload if goodYou thank others by the truckload if good things happen—and take the heat yourself things happen—and take the heat yourself if if bad things happen.bad things happen.You behave kindly, but you don't sugarcoat You behave kindly, but you don't sugarcoat oror hide the truth--humans are startlingly hide the truth--humans are startlingly resilient and rumors are the real killers.resilient and rumors are the real killers.You treat small successes as if they wereYou treat small successes as if they were Superbowl victories—and celebrate andSuperbowl victories—and celebrate and commend accordingly.commend accordingly.You shrug off the losses (ignoring what's You shrug off the losses (ignoring what's goinggoing on in your tummy), and get back on theon in your tummy), and get back on the horse and immediately try again.horse and immediately try again.You avoid negative people to the extent youYou avoid negative people to the extent you can—pollution kills.can—pollution kills.You eventually read the gloom-sprayers theYou eventually read the gloom-sprayers the riot act. riot act.


You give new meaning to the word "thoughtful.“You give new meaning to the word "thoughtful.“You don’t put limits on the flowers budget—You don’t put limits on the flowers budget— “ “bright and colorful” works marvels.bright and colorful” works marvels.You redouble, re-triple your efforts to "walk inYou redouble, re-triple your efforts to "walk in your customer's shoes." (Especially if theyour customer's shoes." (Especially if the shoes smell.)shoes smell.)You mind your manners—and accept others’You mind your manners—and accept others’ lack of manners in the face of their strains.lack of manners in the face of their strains.You are kind to all mankind.You are kind to all mankind.You keep your shoes shined.You keep your shoes shined.You leave the blame game at the office door.You leave the blame game at the office door.You call out the congenital politicians in noYou call out the congenital politicians in no uncertain terms.uncertain terms.You become a paragon of personal You become a paragon of personal accountability.accountability.And then you pray.And then you pray.

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Forty-four Secrets and clever Strategies For dealing with the Recession of 2008-XXXX Tom Peters/0326.09