Tom Peters

“Design is so critical it should be on the agenda of every meeting in every single department.”

“I don't read many business books. I read good fiction. Business is about people, so my favorite business books are anything by Dickens.”

“Remember my mantra: distinct... or extinct.”

“South Africa has all the tools to compete in the new global village - an eager workforce, ready to take on any challenge.”

“I think economics is about passion. Economic progress, whether it is a two-person coffee shop or whether it is Netscape, is about people with brave ideas. Because it is brave to mortgage the...”

“Statistically and emotionally, I believe that the way I can be of help to society is by doing what I know and what I've been good at.”

“I endorse a lot of people - sometimes people say I endorse too many books. And my response has always been the same: If I can get one case study that can give me one good idea that I can imp...”

“Anybody who is an entrepreneur is a person who essentially has impaired judgment. The odds of success are zilch.”

“The best leaders... almost without exception and at every level, are master users of stories and symbols.”

“Leaders don't create followers, they create more leaders.”

“The magic formula that successful businesses have discovered is to treat customers like guests and employees like people.”

“Excellent firms don't believe in excellence - only in constant improvement and constant change.”

“All business success rests on something labeled a sale, which at least momentarily weds company and customer.”

“If you really want to kill morale, have layoffs every two months for the next two years.”

“Mastery is great, but even that is not enough. You have to be able to change course without a bead of sweat, or remorse.”

“Celebrate what you want to see more of.”

“If your company has a clean-desk policy, the company is nuts and you're nuts to stay there.”

“One simply cannot pay tribute to Stephen Covey without saying at the outset that he was a lovely human being.”

“Communication is everyone's panacea for everything.”

“A passive approach to professional growth will leave you by the wayside.”