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The Circle of Innovation - You Can't Shrink Your Way To Greatness
How to improve your business. By the author of "Thriving on Chaos".
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First published November 4, 1997
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February 26, 2019
Just like how a Design Data Book is important to a Mechanical Engineer, The Circle of Innovation is a must-have handbook for all the business people out there. This book caters to a wide range of audience - from a person who is just starting out a company to the CEO of a well-established firm. To improve the readability of this review, I'd rather furnish the key takeaways from the book instead of writing them in a paragraph format.
1. First things first, the book is well structured. In fact, before you even get to the First Chapter, you are presented with a 'Readers Guide' which essentially walks you through the format of the book. Once you get yourself familiarised with it, you would find the narrative much easier to follow.
2. There are totally 15 chapters. Each and every chapter is filled with numerous quotes, case studies, data, pictures, flowcharts, and semantics alert which lists keywords of the concepts discussed in the chapter. A subtle but profound feature. I found it to be very helpful.
3. Throughout the book, the tone of Tom Peters never seems to peter out. You could visibly sense his energy, zeal, and passion towards innovation. With 400+ seminars in 22 countries under his belt, Tom is a person who clearly knows what he is doing. He brings his vast experience to the table and also curates it to suit our needs. The kind of information he dispenses clearly reflects the amount of research he did.
4. As the title suggests, this book is all about Innovation. It lays down the key steps/concepts to be pursued in order to improve or take the firm to the next level. Right from the CEO, the upper echelon of an organization to the clerk (the lower echelon), Tom has got it all covered. He stresses the fact that small, incremental changes employed in a system are as important as the R&D division which tries to come up with revolutionary ideas. Tom is the kind of teacher who would absolutely refuse to back down until you get all the core ideas and concepts etched into your mind. He repeats the keywords, notions multiple times for our benefit.
5. It was quite interesting to learn about the various strategies and tactics the top tier companies of today employed to be the front runners of the pack 12 years ago. The way the companies adapted to the fast-changing circumstances especially the advent of the Internet. (World Wide Web). Yes, as you might have guessed, this book was written in the year 1997. But that doesn't mean that the ideas and the concepts presented in the book are obsolete. As quoted in the book, "In the end, any system essentially comprises of 5% Technology - 95% psychology and attitude". If you ask me, the technology is basically a tool. A tool by itself can't bring out innovation. It requires a skilled person to make good use of it. The Key competencies any person in an organization should possess were also laid down quite neatly.
6. As mentioned earlier, because of the unique format of the book, it's very easy to comprehend his intentions and ideas which in turn makes this 500+ page read, less tedious. However, I wouldn't recommend you to read it in a single sitting. It isn't supposed to devoured that way. Reading one chapter per day is the best way to get more out of this book. Also, I'd request you to take notes whilst reading the book. I took pictures of the passages, quotes which impacted me so that I could re-read them whenever I feel stumped or hit a mental block in my quest for success.
*Review originally posted on www.bookishdevil.com
1. First things first, the book is well structured. In fact, before you even get to the First Chapter, you are presented with a 'Readers Guide' which essentially walks you through the format of the book. Once you get yourself familiarised with it, you would find the narrative much easier to follow.
2. There are totally 15 chapters. Each and every chapter is filled with numerous quotes, case studies, data, pictures, flowcharts, and semantics alert which lists keywords of the concepts discussed in the chapter. A subtle but profound feature. I found it to be very helpful.
3. Throughout the book, the tone of Tom Peters never seems to peter out. You could visibly sense his energy, zeal, and passion towards innovation. With 400+ seminars in 22 countries under his belt, Tom is a person who clearly knows what he is doing. He brings his vast experience to the table and also curates it to suit our needs. The kind of information he dispenses clearly reflects the amount of research he did.
4. As the title suggests, this book is all about Innovation. It lays down the key steps/concepts to be pursued in order to improve or take the firm to the next level. Right from the CEO, the upper echelon of an organization to the clerk (the lower echelon), Tom has got it all covered. He stresses the fact that small, incremental changes employed in a system are as important as the R&D division which tries to come up with revolutionary ideas. Tom is the kind of teacher who would absolutely refuse to back down until you get all the core ideas and concepts etched into your mind. He repeats the keywords, notions multiple times for our benefit.
5. It was quite interesting to learn about the various strategies and tactics the top tier companies of today employed to be the front runners of the pack 12 years ago. The way the companies adapted to the fast-changing circumstances especially the advent of the Internet. (World Wide Web). Yes, as you might have guessed, this book was written in the year 1997. But that doesn't mean that the ideas and the concepts presented in the book are obsolete. As quoted in the book, "In the end, any system essentially comprises of 5% Technology - 95% psychology and attitude". If you ask me, the technology is basically a tool. A tool by itself can't bring out innovation. It requires a skilled person to make good use of it. The Key competencies any person in an organization should possess were also laid down quite neatly.
6. As mentioned earlier, because of the unique format of the book, it's very easy to comprehend his intentions and ideas which in turn makes this 500+ page read, less tedious. However, I wouldn't recommend you to read it in a single sitting. It isn't supposed to devoured that way. Reading one chapter per day is the best way to get more out of this book. Also, I'd request you to take notes whilst reading the book. I took pictures of the passages, quotes which impacted me so that I could re-read them whenever I feel stumped or hit a mental block in my quest for success.
*Review originally posted on www.bookishdevil.com
November 8, 2009
Not great...maybe because this is older and so many more recent books have covered the same material...Some gems...
"It is easier to kill an organization that to change it"
You don't leap a chasim in bound - avoid incemental improvements.
Promote fast prototyping - Forget professional, Provoke.
Any on-going responsiblities or work try to convert to a project with milestones and budget. Don't accept on-going drudgery.
"It is easier to kill an organization that to change it"
You don't leap a chasim in bound - avoid incemental improvements.
Promote fast prototyping - Forget professional, Provoke.
Any on-going responsiblities or work try to convert to a project with milestones and budget. Don't accept on-going drudgery.
January 15, 2011
Had this book on tape and listened to it many times back in the early noughties. I was writing a blog post about "The Agile Heart" (http://goo.gl/aBCae) and quoted from it, so I got a second-hand copy from Amazon to verify the quote, my tape player having gone the way of all flesh a while ago. Still need to change the quote, but there you go.
Thing is, even now, nearly 15 years after it was first published, it's a gem. The style is designed to look like his presentations, with a slide-like set of images setting up a proposition and then some discussion about the ideas. I've also been reading Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? and they cover a lot of similar ground. Peters' take is more based on subverting the traditional workplace, "brand you", "making everything a project", "making where you work into a company in its own right". Godin talks about the kinds of behaviour and attitude you need to make what Peters talks about become a reality. The two books complement each other. I think Linchpin is an essential read for anyone who cares about where we are today, but Peters' book gives some historical context.
The subtitle you can't shrink your way to greatness is a polemic with the late 90's obsession with the bottom line: how big corporations were doing a slash and burn on their workforce and their working conditions to drive profit up. But if you race to the bottom you end up competing with people who are much poorer than you are and will do the same low-value work for less in a different country. You lose, the whole enterprise loses, and that's it. This is also the theme of Linchpin. Two recessions later we are still learning the same lessons, funny that. Those lessons being that creativity and what Peters terms "emotional labour" (as in giving it some heart and caring about it) will keep you fed, but charging to the bottom won't.
Both authors say that if you're stuck somewhere you can't do "emotional labour" or become a Linchpin - move on. Good advice.
Thing is, even now, nearly 15 years after it was first published, it's a gem. The style is designed to look like his presentations, with a slide-like set of images setting up a proposition and then some discussion about the ideas. I've also been reading Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? and they cover a lot of similar ground. Peters' take is more based on subverting the traditional workplace, "brand you", "making everything a project", "making where you work into a company in its own right". Godin talks about the kinds of behaviour and attitude you need to make what Peters talks about become a reality. The two books complement each other. I think Linchpin is an essential read for anyone who cares about where we are today, but Peters' book gives some historical context.
The subtitle you can't shrink your way to greatness is a polemic with the late 90's obsession with the bottom line: how big corporations were doing a slash and burn on their workforce and their working conditions to drive profit up. But if you race to the bottom you end up competing with people who are much poorer than you are and will do the same low-value work for less in a different country. You lose, the whole enterprise loses, and that's it. This is also the theme of Linchpin. Two recessions later we are still learning the same lessons, funny that. Those lessons being that creativity and what Peters terms "emotional labour" (as in giving it some heart and caring about it) will keep you fed, but charging to the bottom won't.
Both authors say that if you're stuck somewhere you can't do "emotional labour" or become a Linchpin - move on. Good advice.
December 17, 2017
Twenty years too late.
I read this twenty years too late and really only hit the gray-collar job status once, eighteen years ago. This book is geared towards the white-collar peoples of the U.S.A. of the late 1990's, (and beyond), at the early stages of the great exodus of jobs to cheaper labor countries and the loss of middle management to technology, (written and maintained in cheaper labor countries).
Many lessons here still hold true. You've read them before, (I have), in (perhaps) better books.
New to me was (twenty year old) data on the purchasing power of women, (over 50% - the majority, women in your purchasing department buy it, decide on your appliances/ furniture / automobile / home), and to see (in print) the only way to differentiate in product development will be in great design and customer service since quality and function will be nearly equal across many offerings.
My feeling (I have feelings) on this book is that it was written to show a sector of white collar workers, most of whom will soon be without jobs, how to survive the crunch (how to be the best).
I read this twenty years too late and really only hit the gray-collar job status once, eighteen years ago. This book is geared towards the white-collar peoples of the U.S.A. of the late 1990's, (and beyond), at the early stages of the great exodus of jobs to cheaper labor countries and the loss of middle management to technology, (written and maintained in cheaper labor countries).
Many lessons here still hold true. You've read them before, (I have), in (perhaps) better books.
New to me was (twenty year old) data on the purchasing power of women, (over 50% - the majority, women in your purchasing department buy it, decide on your appliances/ furniture / automobile / home), and to see (in print) the only way to differentiate in product development will be in great design and customer service since quality and function will be nearly equal across many offerings.
My feeling (I have feelings) on this book is that it was written to show a sector of white collar workers, most of whom will soon be without jobs, how to survive the crunch (how to be the best).
November 14, 2021
Tom Peters es uno de los gurúes más famosos del marketing y su libro In search of excellence un clásico. Yo soy más de la generación de su sucesor, Seth Godin, así que lo conocí con material que encontré online (PDFs llamativos que compartía gratuitamente). Más adelante compré varios libros nuevos en edición económica o usados como éste. No tardé en darme cuenta que escribe siempre el mismo libro con leves variantes en el foco y que lo que mejor hace es venderse a sí mismo como consultor visionario. Mayúsculas, siglas, guiones que separan las letras de palabras clave y expresiones efectistas son parte de su marca registrada. Logran hacer vistoso un contenido que muchas veces remite al sentido común (“almorzá con gente distinta a vos para ampliar tu mirada”)
Este libro describe un círculo del cual lo puntos que más destaco son: ‘el intermediario está condenado’, ‘lo principal son los detalles’, ‘la distancia ha muerto’, ‘destruir es excelente’ que prefiguran Internet cuando recién estaba empezando su uso comercial. A lo largo de más de quinientas hojas llenas de fotografías, tipografías gigantes desarrolla cada uno de estos puntos (sin toda esa grandilocuencia el contenido probablemente entraría en cincuenta o cien páginas pero perdería la puesta en escena visual parte del estilo del autor). Como suele pasar con estos libros el título y la descripción de los capítulos resumen casi perfecto el contenido que resulta casi superfluo. A favor puede alegarse que pasaron más de dos décadas desde su publicación y que mucho de lo que afirma (hacer prototipos rápido y baratos para innovar, etc.) eran disruptivo para su época. Pero me parece muy pretencioso desde todo aspecto y termina entregando muy poco.
Fragmentos preferidos
“No se supera un abismo en dos brincos.” (Proverbio chino).
“El incrementalismo es el peor enemigo de la innovación.” (Nicholas Negroponte)
“Las palabras son importantes. Parte de mi esfuerzo consiste en poner nuevas palabras en su boca.”
“El problema nunca es cómo introducir pensamientos nuevos e innovadores en su mente, sino cómo sacarse de la cabeza las ideas viejas.” (Dee Hock)
Este libro describe un círculo del cual lo puntos que más destaco son: ‘el intermediario está condenado’, ‘lo principal son los detalles’, ‘la distancia ha muerto’, ‘destruir es excelente’ que prefiguran Internet cuando recién estaba empezando su uso comercial. A lo largo de más de quinientas hojas llenas de fotografías, tipografías gigantes desarrolla cada uno de estos puntos (sin toda esa grandilocuencia el contenido probablemente entraría en cincuenta o cien páginas pero perdería la puesta en escena visual parte del estilo del autor). Como suele pasar con estos libros el título y la descripción de los capítulos resumen casi perfecto el contenido que resulta casi superfluo. A favor puede alegarse que pasaron más de dos décadas desde su publicación y que mucho de lo que afirma (hacer prototipos rápido y baratos para innovar, etc.) eran disruptivo para su época. Pero me parece muy pretencioso desde todo aspecto y termina entregando muy poco.
Fragmentos preferidos
“No se supera un abismo en dos brincos.” (Proverbio chino).
“El incrementalismo es el peor enemigo de la innovación.” (Nicholas Negroponte)
“Las palabras son importantes. Parte de mi esfuerzo consiste en poner nuevas palabras en su boca.”
“El problema nunca es cómo introducir pensamientos nuevos e innovadores en su mente, sino cómo sacarse de la cabeza las ideas viejas.” (Dee Hock)
July 17, 2020
If I had it my way I would have wished for all Business Authors to produce such visually stunning business books that really are more insightful then your typical business books.
Innovation as peters likes to put it is the core of the business today and the purpose why many of the top 100 business todays are still alive, I came to know about Tom peters through my course of Manging change and Innovation where my proffesor highly recommended me to read this book if i was intrested in innovation.
At first I was shocked with how my concept of success was very much the total opposite although his insight into branding isn't something new but other subjects where really fascinating.
The importance of finding talent and the need to forget your successes whilst trying to move out of your comfort zone. Peters provides us with the answers we all have been looking for and its not as hard as people think it is.
I particularly enjoy this side of business which is why I had alot of fun reading this book and managed to finish this 500 page book in less than 2 days!
Even if u are not a business headed person, it still is a good choice of a book to read.
Innovation as peters likes to put it is the core of the business today and the purpose why many of the top 100 business todays are still alive, I came to know about Tom peters through my course of Manging change and Innovation where my proffesor highly recommended me to read this book if i was intrested in innovation.
At first I was shocked with how my concept of success was very much the total opposite although his insight into branding isn't something new but other subjects where really fascinating.
The importance of finding talent and the need to forget your successes whilst trying to move out of your comfort zone. Peters provides us with the answers we all have been looking for and its not as hard as people think it is.
I particularly enjoy this side of business which is why I had alot of fun reading this book and managed to finish this 500 page book in less than 2 days!
Even if u are not a business headed person, it still is a good choice of a book to read.
May 28, 2021
The Circle of Innovation is a progression and re-design of Peters's writing style. In stark contrast to classics such as "In Search of Excellence" and "Liberation Management", "The Circle of Innovation" is (roughly) a third book, a third magazine and a third power-point deck. This makes for extremely friction-less reading. If you are after depth, you are better off with some his earlier books. On the other hand, if you are after provocation and extremely digestible content, this is a book for you.
While now dated, the ideas espoused in "The Circle of Innovation" have entered mainstream management thinking. There is nothing that has been disproven. It is, in effect, a standard reference work for (dis)organisation and product development in the networked economy.
As always, Peters's enthusiasm is contagious and his thoughts are spell-binding.
While now dated, the ideas espoused in "The Circle of Innovation" have entered mainstream management thinking. There is nothing that has been disproven. It is, in effect, a standard reference work for (dis)organisation and product development in the networked economy.
As always, Peters's enthusiasm is contagious and his thoughts are spell-binding.
September 28, 2011
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. 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.
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. 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.
September 3, 2010
"15 truths = 1 big truth."
I get the luxury of reading this book 10 years after it came out. It's difficult from this side of history to tell if he helped cause certain things or was just describing them. For instance, the "white collar revolution", which he sees as a wonderful thing. Turns out to be a lot of job-insecurity, paranoia, and back-stabbing.
His joy at the emergence of the 20-somethings leading silicon valley and parts elsewhere, people eagerly "forgetting" instead of "learning", helped edge the internet bubble.
A quick read (even at 500 pages), mostly taken up by big pictures and blow-up quotes. So if you like your books like a PowerPoint presentation, this might be the one for you. And, as with PP slides, complexity of thought is sacrificed for speed. Peters would rather hang out the flsshy quote than make sure he defines his generalized words in the specific sense that means them (such as "forgetting", which is actually, "not being tied to past inertia").
I get the luxury of reading this book 10 years after it came out. It's difficult from this side of history to tell if he helped cause certain things or was just describing them. For instance, the "white collar revolution", which he sees as a wonderful thing. Turns out to be a lot of job-insecurity, paranoia, and back-stabbing.
His joy at the emergence of the 20-somethings leading silicon valley and parts elsewhere, people eagerly "forgetting" instead of "learning", helped edge the internet bubble.
A quick read (even at 500 pages), mostly taken up by big pictures and blow-up quotes. So if you like your books like a PowerPoint presentation, this might be the one for you. And, as with PP slides, complexity of thought is sacrificed for speed. Peters would rather hang out the flsshy quote than make sure he defines his generalized words in the specific sense that means them (such as "forgetting", which is actually, "not being tied to past inertia").
July 10, 2013
I was fortunate to be in the seminar audience the day that Tom Peters said he was unveiling his CIRCLE OF INNOVATION. It caused quite a stir that day.
One fellow told me that Tom Peters was essentially collecting the work of others in this book, but I pointed out the copyright date. If you've heard most if this before, I'd hazard a guess that it was from others who jumped on the Tom Peters bandwagon.
I find the writer's work to always be provocative, although he did upset some folks this time with his observations and conclusions. Love him or hate him, he will start the wheels turning...and that was his intent.
For the reader today, I would suggest that this would be a good one for the entrepreneur who is putting together a business plan. It will not tell you what to do, but it will pose the questions that you'll want to answer for investors.
One fellow told me that Tom Peters was essentially collecting the work of others in this book, but I pointed out the copyright date. If you've heard most if this before, I'd hazard a guess that it was from others who jumped on the Tom Peters bandwagon.
I find the writer's work to always be provocative, although he did upset some folks this time with his observations and conclusions. Love him or hate him, he will start the wheels turning...and that was his intent.
For the reader today, I would suggest that this would be a good one for the entrepreneur who is putting together a business plan. It will not tell you what to do, but it will pose the questions that you'll want to answer for investors.
April 12, 2010
I was a charter member of the Tom Peters fan club during my "business" days. Unfortunately I never had the chance to work for an organization that glommed on to his ideas. Still, watching his seminars is always inspiring and fun, and his books, for the most part, are quenching sips at the business revolution kool-aid.
September 7, 2013
Tom Peters’ THE CIRLCE OF INNOVATION is that stuff written, my apologies, presented by Tom in a way different from the traditional style of book. Pages depicting slides of a presentation and words that are in parentheses representing Tom’s heart. The Circle has to be in a hatke style because it is about innovation after all. Hats off Tom you made an impact.
April 3, 2010
This is a good "big idea" book. I would recommend it for entrepreneurs and inventors as they're the ones who will get it best. It's a quick read that shouldn't take you more than an evening to get through.
If you're a fan of Seth Godin's material, you'll like this one.
If you're a fan of Seth Godin's material, you'll like this one.
June 14, 2014
This book was hard to digest, it's like the author was on speed while menacingly jotting words down. Its several years old now and very outmoded, you could skim through for some gold nuggets but they are sparse
January 12, 2017
Excellent and very creative writing style in presenting and explaining Branding and Marketing of business by differentiating from other businesses. Loved the read and helped me understand some of my success and how to maintain, as well as increase it.
July 5, 2007
Innovation Matters !!
August 9, 2007
Kind of weak. Yay positive energy!
Read
July 8, 2008inspirational book by tom Peters
July 26, 2009
A book that give you ideas on how to run your business.
February 9, 2011
From The Ten Must-Read Books in Love Is the Killer App
July 30, 2011
probably the best i have read as far as innovation or survival in business guidlines go..read this and the purple cow and you are off to point of no return ..he he he loving it ..:-)
March 9, 2013
Another must-read! Fantastic, insightful, brilliant & rich..
July 21, 2013
Fantastic. Thought provoking. Most excellent read. Read it. Today.
November 4, 2015
crazy but interesting read. challenges the status quo
June 7, 2016
Must read for the people who are looking for leadership and management lessons.
Read
April 27, 2011Pretty good
March 29, 2013
An optional-read book on innovation for knowledge workers and entrepreneurs.
February 17, 2017
Lost/found/lost again/found again: now dated, was 'bleeding edge's. Interesting to read what companies/managements have survived; even more interesting to read those that haven't.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews