It's been a while since I found a need to write, but Peter Drucker's death yesterday inspires me to reflect on what he meant to me. I was privileged to be able to take two classes from him while in the Executive Management Program at the business school that bears his name at Claremont Graduate University. I will never forget his "lightbulb" lectures, so-named because he would ramble on for what seemed like an eternity, musing on history, economics and whatever seemed to come to mind. At the end, he would tie it all together in a neat package and as the lightbulb went off in our heads, we would sit - mouths open - awestruck.His customer-based approach to marketing was so simple, yet rings so true. It applies to personal relationships, politics and cultural differences, too: Seek to know and understand the other person, their perspective and needs and you will succeed. Whether its enjoying life with your mate, working with your coworkers, marketing to your customers or negotiating a treaty with another nation, the ability to understand the needs of others is key. We could use a big dose of this in our foreign policy these days.
My favorite story about Peter involves a paper I wrote for one of his classes. At the time, I was director of marketing and communications for Claremont Graduate University and I had some work to do in the office on the Saturday when the paper was due. He told the class he would be home that day and students were welcome to drop off their papers there if they called in advance. After I got caught up on my work activities, I called him and asked if I could drop off my paper on my way home. "Yes," he said. "When will you be here?" I told him I was coming from the university and would be there in about 10 minutes. "Where on campus are you coming from?" he asked. I told him the location of my office (Harper Hall), and his Austrian-laced reply was, "In that case, you will be here in seven minutes." Always the economist.
Thank you, Peter.
