Tom Peters
Trying Isn’t Enough—You Need Relentless Experimentation
“Whoever tries the most stuff wins” only scratches the surface. You win when you keep experimenting, refining, and learning.
Tom Peters nailed it—movement beats stagnation.
But let’s be real: trying random things without purpose gets you nowhere.
The key is thoughtful experimentation.
Think of it like running a thousand A/B tests: Fail fast, adjust fast.
Every iteration sharpens your skills and gets you closer to what works.
You don’t need endless resources to innovate; you need guts to pivot when things fall apart.
Most people fear failure.
You should fear inertia.
Testing often and failing early isn’t reckless—it’s survival.
The real winners are those who aren’t attached to their first draft.
They’re the ones who take feedback and evolve on the fly.
Trying isn’t the goal—continuous adaptation is.
Ship and iterate!
Here’s the takeaway: Make experimentation your competitive edge.
Double down on what works.
Learn from what doesn’t.
It’s not about counting how many things you’ve tried; it’s about how quickly you figure out the next step.
“Victory doesn’t go to those who try the most; it goes to those who adapt the fastest.” — Mike Brewer
Adding Value to Your Work: Insights from Tom Peters
Photo by Riccardo Annandale on Unsplash
As Tom Peters once implied, work is the act of adding value to the business. And he couldn’t have been more right. Work is not just a way to make a living; it’s an opportunity to contribute to something bigger than ourselves, to create something meaningful, and to make a difference in the world.
At its core, work is about adding value. Whether you’re an entry-level team member in the multifamily space or a seasoned executive, your job is to find ways to contribute to your organization’s success. That might mean increasing leasing activity, improving customer experience, streamlining processes, or developing new ideas that push the company forward.
But adding value isn’t just about achieving tangible results. It’s also about building relationships, cultivating a positive culture, and creating a sense of purpose and meaning for yourself and those around you. When you focus on adding value in all these areas, you create a workplace that people want to be a part of, inspiring them to do their best work and achieve their full potential.
Of course, adding value isn’t always easy. It requires hard work, dedication, and a willingness to take risks and embrace change. It means constantly pushing yourself to learn and grow, seeking new challenges and opportunities, and staying focused on the big picture, even when the day-to-day tasks can be overwhelming. And as we all know, apartment leasing offices can be overwhelming.
But the rewards of adding value are immeasurable. Not only does it benefit the business and its bottom line, but it also provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment for you as an individual. Knowing that your work makes a real difference in the world gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment that any paycheck or job title can’t match.
So if you want to be successful in your multifamily career, remember Tom Peters’ wise words: work is the act of adding value to the business. Focus on adding value to everything you do, and you’ll achieve success and make a meaningful impact on the world around you.
Measuring a Person by the Size of Their Heart: The True Essence of Success
Photo by DESIGNECOLOGIST on Unsplash
It can be easy to lose sight of what truly matters in a world that constantly measures success by wealth, power, and social status. Tom Peters, a renowned business thinker and author invites us to reevaluate our priorities by reminding us that the essence of a person’s worth lies in the size of their heart. We can experience deeper connections, purpose, and true success by cultivating empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence.
Tom Peters has long championed that the human element is key to success in business and life. As he puts it, “People are not a ‘soft’ issue; they are the issue.” In essence, the size of one’s heart, or the depth of emotional intelligence, is a powerful predictor of personal growth and success.
Empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, is a vital component of emotional intelligence. It enables us to form meaningful relationships, foster collaboration, and create a supportive environment. By putting ourselves in another’s shoes, we can better appreciate their perspective, needs, and emotions. This understanding can improve communication, foster stronger bonds, and create a more harmonious and productive workplace or home life.
Compassion goes hand-in-hand with empathy, urging us to take action when we witness others in need. A compassionate person not only recognizes the suffering of others but feels compelled to alleviate it. By extending kindness and support, we create positive energy that can transform lives and ultimately contribute to a more caring and inclusive society.
Benefits of a Healthy Heart
The benefits of cultivating a large heart extend far beyond our immediate circle. When we are empathetic and compassionate, we are more likely to lead purposefully and pursue goals that resonate with our core values. This alignment of values and actions can bring satisfaction, contentment, and lasting success.
How to Build a Healthy Heart
So, how can we go about enlarging our hearts? First, we must practice active listening, paying full attention to others, and seeking to understand their point of view without judgment. We can also work on developing our emotional vocabulary, as the ability to accurately identify and express our feelings will enable us to connect with others on a deeper level.
Furthermore, we can engage in self-reflection, considering our actions and their impact on others, and practice mindfulness to stay present and attuned to the emotions of those around us. By cultivating a greater understanding of ourselves and others, we can foster an environment of trust, respect, and collaboration.
In sum, measuring a person by the size of their heart may seem abstract, but its implications are profound. Tom Peters reminds us that a large heart – empathetic, compassionate, and emotionally intelligent – is the key to personal growth, meaningful relationships, and true success. By shifting our focus from material wealth to the development of our emotional intelligence, we can create a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and find their unique path to success.
Exaggerated Response
To the point: over-communicate
Do it in an Exaggerated Way
Quick story for your Monday morning reading pleasure. I can’t recall where and when I read this but it has been some time. The story made an impact on me because it was – in my mind – an exaggerated response to an otherwise routine request for service.
The story was about a plumbing company that made over doing it a part of their service routine. If they were called out to unclog a drain, they took the time to tidy up the space under the sink, mop the floor and vacuum the floor mats. And, get this – they cleaned up any and all dirty dishes in and around the sink. Whoa! #gameon
People are the Difference that Makes a Difference
If people are the difference then suffice it to say that their actions and behaviors are the tell. Are you acting and behaving in a manner that is exaggerated? Do you take projects beyond what is expected? Do you push your team to do the same?
The point after the point: do something today that rocks the socks off of the people who you serve.
Your looking to over-exaggerate my responses multifamily manic
M
My Boss is Killing Me
Make note of everything you hate about the ledership style of your current boss and commit to never doing any of it when you have the chance to seize your opportunity to lead. – Tom Peters Paraphrase
It doesn’t necessarily mean that they are bad people but every property management professional has come home professing; “My bosss is killling me!” We have all been on the downside of that kind of environment/culture. And, there is more truth in that statment than you might realize. Their is a literal mountain of research on the subject of negativity and it’s effect on workplace productivity. Chief reasons being: ill health, lack of moral, tardiness/absenteeism, motivation, wherewithal or outright spite. It’s just a fact; working for a bad leader [Read: Bully] just sucks. Pardon the slang.
There is Hope Out There
I recall many an instance in my journey through the leadership ranks where I preceived my supervisor/boss [I really have a distaste for both of those words as I see leadership/work as a collaborative concept not an up down or up down concept] to be an absolute debbie downer. And, under alternative circumstances I might have caved to the pressure and walked or worse yet undermined his authority in a spiteful way.
Tom Peters Rocks The Apartment World
Enter Tom Peters – I am a raging fan of TP and all of his exclamation point advice. Chief among it the advice that lead this post. Twelve years ago I vowed never to lead people the way I was being lead at that time in my career. That is not to suggest that I have not taken my lumps over the years but rather to say that it has worked in large part. The premise being creating a postive work environment that people cherish and rave about. Knowing that people want to be a part of something bigger than self and working to align that with their personal motives. Understanding that the chief reason for the existence of business organizations is to support the poeple that support it.
Interrupting our Regularly Scheduled Program
I’ve been through a tough season as of late; just crushed by the weight of budget season, one of our RM’s leaving, the search for a replacement and trying to run a business. I am coming out of it now brusied, scathed and inspired. Inspired by a greeat boss/supervisor – [Read: one who gets it].
As such I am reaching back to the roots of my inspirations – books, speeches, inspiring videos, letters, cards and gifts from those who have moved me and those I have moved. And, I am pumped.
All that to say that I am going to do my best to create a Monday Morning Minute that rocks your socks. Or, more realistically put, something that gives you pause for thought and inspiration to give some feedback in the comment seciton below.
Let’s smash 2012 and create some stuff that puts a dent in the multifamily universe.
Thanks for reading and have a compelling week! [That exclamation point is my paying hommage to TP].
Your getting back to inspiring multifamily maniac,
M
