died peacefully in his sleep at home.
Drucker's genius lay in his ability to find patterns among
seemingly unconnected disciplines and to focus on
opportunities rather than problems. Asked how he came
up with so many original insights, Drucker said, "I learn
only through listening," pausing, "to myself."
It was never Drucker's style to bring people clear, concise
answers to their problems but rather to frame questions
that could uncover the larger issues standing in the way
of performance. "My job," he once lectured a client, "is to
ask questions. It's your job to provide answers."
Drucker never fit into the button-down stereotype of a
management consultant. He always worked from a home
office filled with books and classical records on shelves
that groaned under their weight. He never had a secretary,
answered the telephone himself and admitted he was
something of a phone addict.
He responded to distracting requests with a preprinted
postcard that read: "Mr. Peter F. Drucker appreciates your
kind interest, but is unable to: contribute articles or
forewords, comment on manuscripts or books, take part
in panels or symposia, join committees or boards of any
kind, answer questionnaires, give interviews and appear
on radio or television." Yet, when asked to spend time
with an unknown and unproven young person seeking his
or her way in the world, Drucker freely gave the better
part of a day to mentor and give guidance.
"One does not make a difference unless it is a difference
in people's lives." Joseph Alois Schumpeter (1883-1950)
Source: John A. Byrne, Executive Editor
BusinessWeek, Nov. 28, 2005
______________________________
John G. Agno, certified executive & business coach
Signature, Inc., PO Box 2086, Ann Arbor, MI 48106
Telephone: 734.426.2000 (US Eastern Time Zone)
Email: mailto:info@CoachThee.com
