While on vacation a few weeks ago I read a lot less than I usually do, only 2 books (The Reapers, John Connolly and Ready for Anything, David Allen).and a few of the usual magazines (Harvard Business Review, Harvard Management Update, Selling and Men’s Health).

The David Allen book is a good (not great) light read. A few highlights for me:

• ‘Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of nonessentials’   Lin Yutang

It is so hard to leave things undone.

• ‘All intellectual improvements arise from leisure’ Samuel Johnson.

This struck me as a great insight. That leisure time, just clearing the mind, often leads to the best of innovations (which is why it is always good to have a pen at hand!)

• ‘The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war’  Asian proverb.

This quote could be the introduction to First 90 Days. Prepare while you can, because when that new opportunity hits, time will disappear.

A few good thoughts.