A Passion for Excellence: The Leadership Difference [Paperback]

Nancy Austin (Author), Thomas J Peters (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 4, 1989 | ISBN-10: 0446386391 | ISBN-13: 978-0446386395

A Passion For Excellence is the single most existing, inspiring, career-transforming book ever published for people who want to get ahead. It takes you behind, the scenes in some of the most successful organizations and analyzes what makes them distinctive.Here are real people, real companies, real numbers. Here is what you need to know about the crucial elements of success: constant innovation, staying in touch with customers, encouraging the contributions of everyone in the company, and maintaining the integrity that is basic to leadership. Here are the secrets of building excellence.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

A Passion For Excellence is the single most existing, inspiring, career-transforming book ever published for people who want to get ahead. It takes you behind, the scenes in some of the most successful organizations and analyzes what makes them distinctive.

Here are real people, real companies, real numbers. Here is what you need to know about the crucial elements of success: constant innovation, staying in touch with customers, encouraging the contributions of everyone in the company, and maintaining the integrity that is basic to leadership. Here are the secrets of building excellence. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (January 4, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446386391
• ISBN-13: 978-0446386395
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1.2 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #583,063 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tom Peters is co-author of In Search of Excellence--the book that changed the way the world does business, and often tagged as the best business book ever. Sixteen books and almost thirty years later, he's still at the forefront of the "management guru industry" he single-handedly invented. What's new? A lot. As CNN said, "While most business gurus milk the same mantra for all its worth, the one-man brand called Tom Peters is still reinventing himself." His most recent effort, released in March 2010: The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence. Tom's bedrock belief: "Execution is strategy--it's all about the people and the doing, not the talking and the theory." (Keep up with Tom at tompeters.com, ranked #9 among "The Top 150 Management and Leadership Blogs.")

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars SUPERB CASE HISTORIES OF WHAT PRACTICAL PASSION CAN DO February 5, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Many people have written that they like Tom Peters, but do not think that he has much to say that is new or different. Others criticize Peters for being changeable in his views. What these people miss is that Tom Peters is passionate about using passion for customers, employees, and everyone else to create great results for all of us. By awakening our passion, we will do more, we will try more, and we will succeed more often. In many ways, this book is much more important than IN SEARCH OF EXCELLENCE. A PASSION FOR EXCELLENCE clearly shows that passionate leadership about the right things sets a good example and the right tone for the organization. This book is helpful in that each section is meant to be read as a stand-alone, so you can go to the places that you did not feel very passionate about when you read IN SEARCH OF EXCELLENCE and get some good reinforcement about the value of passion in that area. A good companion piece if you need more passion and self-direction is Tony Robbins' AWAKEN THE GIANT WITHIN.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read June 11, 2006

By Elijah Chingosho

Format:Paperback

Having read and enjoyed "In Search for Excellence", I decided to also read "A Passion for Excellence". This book proposes that it is unnecessary to go through the traditional data-based doctrine of management. Instead the book advocates championing an innovative, customer and people oriented spirit. The authors give hundreds of actual, real-world examples, focusing on the key areas of competence that add up to excellence, offering scores of anecdotes and practical insights to help all business people on their road to leadership, success, and more importantly, excellence.

The book provides imaginative management practices and techniques that should help organization stay competitive and profitable. It is instructive and inspirational with useful reminders to managers. It is an important handbook to a brave, new way to manage people and companies.

A Passion for Excellence examines some of the most successful organizations and offers a thoughtful analysis of what makes them distinctive. Readers should benefit from gaining an insight about the critical elements of success namely constant innovation, staying in touch with customers, encouraging the contributions of everyone in the company, and maintaining the integrity that is basic to leadership.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! Easy and straightforward. May 12, 2007

By Anamaria Pelegrini

Format:Paperback

It's a book to keep for future reference. I've used it many times with colleagues and subordinates. Its examples are fantastic, it's written in a direct and easy way. All managers should read it to grasp hints on how to manage people and achieve the aimed results. Worth every penny spent on it. I've also read 'Thriving on Chaos' from the same author. Some chapters overlap, but it is an even deeper book on the subject matter. 'A Passion for Excellence' is written in a passionate way. You'll never forget it while working in management.

5.0 out of 5 stars school book October 25, 2011

By Brittany Long

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I had to purchase this book for a class and was very pleased with it. While the content was a little outdated the concepts were relevant. It came on.time and was in the condition stated. Very pleased with this purchase

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Understanding and Living Values" January 7, 2010

By John Hogan VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

While I tend to focus on the hospitality industry in my weekly columns, I also believe that many business practices are transferable from one industry to another and I recalled reading about this topic of VALUES in a number of places the past 20 years.

One of the best books I ever read on the topic was A Passion for Excellence , the 1985 sequel to IN SEARCH OF EXCELLENCE by Bob Waterman and Tom Peters. This book offered example after example of what they called âaethe Leadership Difference.â

While this is now a 20 year old reference, I used it again recently
in a column titled "Understanding and Living Values" and had numerous responses from readers globally.

As always, feedback or comments are welcome
Dr. John Hogan CHA CHE
HoganHospitality
HospitalityEducators com

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, lasting lessons November 20, 2009

By Casey Spencer

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

No other book makes me smile (AND take action) like this one. EXCELLENT, PLENTIFUL EXAMPLES assure that the authors' messages hit home with conviction.

I'm re-reading this book over a decade after it first inspired me. Originally, it helped in "DOMESTIC" life as a leader of stay-at-home dads! The book got under my skin...and since 2004, its lessons were an integral part of building a top-producing real-estate business.

Casey Spencer: [...].

7 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read December 1, 1997

By [e-mail]

Format:Audio Cassette

One of the best practical business texts around. Tom Peters is easily one of the most charismatic of the business preachers today, and the book fits right in line with his style