In 1982, Tom Peters published an instant business classic called In Search of Excellence. I don’t know if he coined the term “out of the box,” but he certainly thought that way.
Peters told his readers that to think outside the box, we must get outside our routines. Take vacations to different places. He said, “Try new foods. Listen to foreign languages. Notice how people act. Generally, explore things strange to you.”
And though Peters’ company grew large, he stayed quick to experiment—to take chances.
This is Howard Butt Jr. of Laity Lodge. Tom Peters’ point is that doing the same old thing gets the same old results. Staying open to the new brings renewal … in the high calling of our daily work.
“For this reason I speak to them in parables:
Although they see they do not see,
and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand.
And concerning them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
‘You will listen carefully yet will never understand,
you will look closely yet will never comprehend.’ “— Matthew 13:13-14
