All Play and No Rest?

For geniuses, a routine was more than a luxury - it was essential for their work…

Charles Dickens took three hours walks every afternoon - and what he observed on them fed directly into his writing. Tchaikovsky made do with two hour walks, but wouldn’t return a moment early, convinced that cheating himself of the full 120 minutes would make him ill. Beethoven took lengthy strolls after lunch, carrying a paper and pencil with him in case inspiration struck. Ernest Hemingway tracked his daily word output on a chart “so as not to kid myself”. Arthur Miller said, “I don't believe in draining the reservoir you see? I believe in getting up from the typewriter, away from it,  while I have still things to say.”

“I've realized that somebody who is tired and needs rest, and goes on working all the same”, wrote Carl Jung. “ is a fool.”

Are you?

- From the Daily Routines of Geniuses by Sarah Green

Picture Source: Wallcoo.com

What Hobbies Can Teach Us

Essaji Vahanavati is the son of the Attorney General of India and a partner at a law firm. His passion is wildlife photography which has ingrained in him the virtues of patience; given him an eye for detail; and taught him to stay cool in critical situations. During transactions, he can patiently wait for others to put their point on the table and at the same time quickly grasp the matter and come out with solutions.

Hobbies can teach us many valuable skills which can be assets to us in other dimensions of our lives. So give priority to hobbies that are both satisfying, as well as, capable of building and honing useful skills and virtues.

What's Your Blah, Blah Quotient?

Carter Murray, the CEO of ad agency Foote Cone Belding, makes for an unusual CEO. He hates buzzwords. Something that many of his contemporaries appear to find comfort and meaning in. Murray calls it "completely wanky, corporate rubbish speak." He can't stand the stuff. Asked how he gets by as CEO with such distaste for industry jargon, Murray says, "We are in the business of understanding people and advising clients on how to connect with them. I find it strange that we hide behind the corporate lingo."

What are you in the business of, and can you to get by without your industry blah, blah?