Maybe Tom Peters is old hat in some circles. To me, he's a favorite person, favorite visionary. He's not playing it close to the vest in Re-imagine!. I love it. I bought the book after reading his fun blog for a while which increased my interest in learning some of the details of what he's talking about and why.
I get inspired reading the book, the blog to get more creative and audacious. At 62 or so, Peters is very aware that he doesn't have all the time in the world. He communicates that sense of urgency every time.
I'm an incurable futurist. Always looking ahead. I like history too, but my true love is the future. I spend lots of my spare think time understanding trends and trying to grasp the implications of new technologies (my favorite).
Peters is very concerned about the US falling behind. He talks about China all the time reminding people how many schools they have or how many engineering grads or how many new this or that they've built lately. He thinks they and others are going to eat our lunch if we don't get on the stick and keep getting on the stick from here on out.
Peters fired his publisher so that he could get a publisher who would make a book that is a lot more graphic than usual. He's become a design buff in his spare time. He wanted a book that exemplifies the take no prisoners, brash, in your face but out-there philosophy that he espouses. Dorling Kindersley stepped up to the plate. I love this book. It's got tons of color and side bars.
Most important, it's got great information and analysis. Peters is all about the future and how we can kick into the higher gear and creativity needed to address the uncertainties and change we are dealing with now. Here are a couple samples to whet your appetite:
What's the biggest problem in the world of national security today? Simple. The CIA won't talk to the FBI... who won't talk to Customs.. who won't talk to the INS ... who won't talk to the Air Force ... who won't talk to the Army ... who won't talk to the Navy. ... Fighting "virtual states," like al Qaeda demands seamless integration of our domestic and international security forces. In fact, integration of the civilized world's domestic and international security assets.
It became very clear to me reading this book that what we are doing vis-a-vis terrorism is not working and won't work. I realized that besides all these agency folks talking to each other, what we really need is for all of us to be talking to each other. Until we citizens feel connected and trusting and committed to dealing with terrorism, there are going to be so many holes in our defenses ... I was pleased to realize that people being semi-comatose consumers were going to be the last ones to really help in a situation like ours. We need active, passionate, discriminating people for this.
I don't want Amazon to offer smiling faces when I place an order! I want to ... take charge ... do things as I wish them done when I wish them done. ... I want that damn book! I want it now! I want to be able to send it to my best friend! Now! I want that drug! I want it delivered today! I want to be informed about the side effects! Totally! I don't want to be treated like a child! I want total knowledge! I want absolute convenience! I want the ability to get what I want! Now!
Peters is talking about experience marketing in the radical use of the term here. We all know what he is talking about. What I love is he is yelling at mostly corporate audiences about 80 times a year and is paid very well for it.
Who would have guessed that 19 terrorists, using the Internet and arming themselves with box cutters, could bring the United States effectively to its knees? Anything is possible. Anything is likely. Are you ready? Change is coming and coming fast. One question confronts every institution and every individual: Fight the change ... or grab hold and enjoy the ride? I say: Enjoy yourself! It's later than you think!