--- title: Tom Peters talks about the little big things image: https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1604223007-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e201310f9bfd52970c-200wi.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2010/03/tom-peters-talks-about-the-little-big-things.html#maincontent) [ «  View All Posts ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog) # Tom Peters talks about the little big things March 15th, 2010 1 min read By [David Meerman Scott](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) ![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1604223007-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e201310f9bfd52970c-200wi.jpg?width=200&height=305&name=6a00d83451f23a69e201310f9bfd52970c-200wi.jpg) [![Little_big_things](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1604223007-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e201310f9bfd52970c-200wi.jpg)](http://freshspot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451f23a69e201310f9bfd52970c-pi) [Tom Peters](http://www.tompeters.com/) sat down to answer some questions for us on video. Great stuff here. If you don't have 12 minutes for the entire thing, check out the timeouts below and do listen to Tom answer at least one question. We discuss business, excellence, writing, toilet reading, marketing using free content, and life on a Vermont farm. And we also talk a bit about his new book [The Little Big Things: 163 Ways to Pursue EXCELLENCE](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0061894087/freshspotpubl-20) (just released). Tom Peters has been writing bestselling books and has been a top-level speaker to international business audiences for more than 25 years. Both *Fortune Magazine* and *The Economist* call Tom, "uber-guru of business." His advice is just as important today as in 1982 when his groundbreaking book [In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best-Run Companies](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060548789/freshspotpubl-20) (called "the greatest business book of all time" by Bloomsbury UK), was published. [Direct link to video in high resolution](http://vimeo.com/10134694) **Here are some of the things we discussed:** **:00 - 1:25** Why the best place to read Tom's new book *The Little Big Things* is sitting on the toilet. **1:25 - 3:05** About excellence **3:05 – 4:40** What's changed and what's stayed the same in business over the past 30 years? **4:40 – 6:05** Tom talks about his idea: "Hard is soft and soft is hard." **6:05 – 7:40 **Tom's new book was written by drawing on 163 blog posts. I ask him how writing a book is different using this technique (which I use too). **7:40 - 10:20** Tom on giving away free content as a marketing technique. (Spoiler alert – he’s been doing this for nearly 30 years!) **10:20 – 12:00** I ask Tom why he doesn't just retire and sit by the fire in Vermont. **Thanks, Tom, for taking the time to speak to us!** [ David Meerman Scott ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) David Meerman Scott is a business growth strategist, advisor to clever entrepreneurs who are building emerging companies, and the international bestselling author of a dozen books published in 30 languages. David’s high-energy keynote presentations, masterclasses, and virtual events educate, energize, and inspire. Connect: [mailto:david@freshspot.com](mailto:david@freshspot.com) Topics: [ Public Speaking ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/public-speaking) [ Book Reviews ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/book-reviews) [ Personal branding ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/personal-branding) [ Books ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/books) [ Brand Journalism ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/brand-journalism) Don't forget to share this post: ## Related Articles [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DMS%20speaking%20BM%20LAS.jpg?width=2048&height=1060&name=DMS%20speaking%20BM%20LAS.jpg) ### Book Me to Speak for Free! (Plus... 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