Summer: A Time for Reflection and Making Sound Decisions
Recommended vacation reading
As summer approaches, many of us are considering how to make the most of our free time. It's a perfect opportunity to step back, reflect, and make informed decisions.
On my summer reading list is "Anatomy of a Breakthrough" by Adam Alter. I came across a conversation between Scott Galloway and Adam Alter in May, and some of the ideas resonated with me. The book delves into a kind of innovation management for individuals, emphasizing the importance of taking extra time to understand one's goals before exploring a wide range of ideas (the "phase of exploration") and selecting the best ones (the "phase of exploitation").
This reminded me of a slide on innovation management from my consulting days about innovation management which I just dug out - some things never change…
I've been applying the first two steps of this process since stepping down as the CEO and joining the board of ottonova in January. It has been a fulfilling journey, meeting exceptional people and working on great ideas with them. During the summer, I plan to prepare for the "idea selection phase" slated for the latter half of 2023.
These principles may also be relevant to your challenges, whether in the field of innovation, investment, or your personal journey.
Another book worth considering, recommended in the INSEAD alumni newsletter, is "Die with Zero" by Bill Perkins. It emphasizes the significance of memorable experiences and highlights the importance of health in finding fulfillment. This book could motivate you to lead a healthier life mid-year, rather than waiting for the new year.
Finally, in the midst of heat waves, I recommend "The Wizard and the Prophet: Two Remarkable Scientists and Their Dueling Visions to Shape Tomorrow's World" by Charles C. Mann. As described by The New York Times, this book “explores the lives and philosophies of two historical thinkers who had competing visions for the Earth's future.”
It essentially discusses how innovation and moderation both play a role in saving our ecosystem.
Do you have any summer reading recommendations? Feel free to share them in the comments! Summer is an excellent time to explore new knowledge and different perspectives, helping us all improve in innovation and making well-informed investment decisions!
Will give Anatomy of a Breakthrough a look. Thanks for the reco, Roman.
A couple books I've enjoyed:
The Good Life by Waldinger and Schulz. About the Harvard study following hundreds of boys and their offspring since the '30s. Before getting into it, I thought, "I get it. Relationships are all that matter." But the book surprised me. Hit home the point that we don't know what's good for us, so have to act counterintuitively at times out of our own interests.
A Short Stay in Hell by Steven Peck. Short book. Fiction. Wild. Memento mori on acid.