The transparency zeitgeist seems to be gaining momentum, and not a moment too soon as far as I’m concerned. Souped up, old school “control the message” press announcements are feeling more dated than ever. You know we’re making progress when Dominos Pizza takes a play out of the Zappos school of business.

Jeff Jarvis, author of What Would Google Do sums it up perfectly in Business Week this week:

Stop trying to control the message
“Institutional” speak is not a good way to have a relationship with your customer
Unleash the power of the people
Beta is a statement of humility and humanity (just ask Google)
Be free to fail
Perfection is a myth
People are generous and forgiving

And in case President Obama and Jeff Jarvis haven’t convinced you that transparency is “in,” check out Gary Vaynerchuk in his blog last week:

We’re pleased to report that foreign rights sales have continued to add up for Joann Davis’s magical fable, THE BOOK OF THE SHEPHERD, which HarperStudio will publish 10/27/09. Here are the 16 publishers/countries on board so far:

Slovakia/Ikar; Norway/Juritzen; Czech/Euromedia; Dutch/De Arbeiderspers; French/Michel Lafon; German/Pattloch (an imprint of Droemer); Hebrew/Matar; Italian/Mondadori; Japanese/PHP Institute; Korean/Munhakdongne; Polish/Proszynski; Portuguese in Brazil/Rocco; Portuguese in Portugal/Planeta; Russian/Eksmo; Swedish/Forum; Turkish/Dogan Kitapcilik

We’re looking forward to publishing Tom Peters’ new book next January, 2010. But we can’t wait until then to reprint his terrific piece on dealing with the recession. Tom posted this on his blog on March 26, and it will be part of the new book. But the world needs it now…so we’ve copied it here for you to read-and re-read-and share with those your colleagues:

I am constantly asked for “strategies/’secrets’ for surviving the recession.” I try to appear wise and informed-and parade original, sophisticated thoughts. But if you want to know what’s going through my head, read the list below:

You work longer.
You work harder.
You may well work for less; and, if so, you adapt to the untoward circumstances with a smile-even if it kills you inside.
You volunteer to do more.
You always bring a good attitude to work.
You fake it if your good attitude flags.
You literally practice your “game face” in the mirror in the morning, and in the loo mid-morning.
You shrug off shit that flows downhill in your direction-buy a shovel or a “pre-worn” raincoat on eBay.
You get there earlier.
You leave later.
You forget about “the good old days”-nostalgia is for wimps.
You buck yourself up with the thought that “this too shall pass”-but then remind yourself that it might not pass anytime soon, so you re-dedicate yourself to making the absolute best of what you have now.
You eschew all forms of personal excess.
You simplify.
You sweat the details as you never have before.
You sweat the details as you never have before.
You sweat the details as you never have before.
You raise to the sky the standards of excellence by which you evaluate your own performance.
You thank others by the truckload if good things happen-and take the heat yourself if bad things happen.
You behave kindly, but you don’t sugarcoat or hide the truth-humans are startlingly resilient.
You treat small successes as if they were Superbowl victories-and celebrate and commend accordingly.
You shrug off the losses (ignoring what’s going on inside your tummy), and get back on the horse and try again.
You avoid negative people to the extent you can-pollution kills.
You eventually read the gloom-sprayers the riot act.
You learn new tricks of your trade.
You network like a demon.
You help others with their issues.
You give new meaning to the word “thoughtful.”
You redouble, re-triple your efforts to “walk in your customer’s shoes.” (Especially if the shoes smell.)
You mind your manners-and accept others’ lack of manners in the face of their strains.
You are kind to all mankind.
You leave the blame game at the office door.
You become a paragon of accountability.
And then you pray.