For those of you who really know me - holidays and rest don’t come easily but this year on a few days (well, ten to be precise) R & R, I managed to work my way through FIVE physical books.
Yes, I have “read” over a hundred books already this year by interrogating the AI summaries but these five actually appeared in hard and paperback forms in my luggage.
And here is what I’ve learned about them - related to business of course:
And Away by Bob Mortimer - his autobiography was like watching him on “Would I Lie To You” with his stories (both good and bad).
Business Lesson: Life has a way of presenting opportunities amid challenges - being able to spot which is which and remain positive is key.
Dead Line by Steph McGovern - her first novel and whilst not my favourite thriller (the ending was telegraphed way too early) it did keep me entertained for a day by the pool.
Business Lesson: You never really know the baggage that someone is carrying with them every day.
How To Win the Premier League by Ian Graham - a guide to how data is used across sport to make decisions and provide a greater chance of success as a team and a bettor.
Business Lesson: Having data is one thing but knowing how to interpret it and use it is a completely different thing.
AI Demystified by Antonio Weiss - a deep review of the background to AI in business and beyond, covering where it has come from, the key players and where the author thinks the future lies (will be out of date in months though)
Business Lesson: The power of AI is like a snowball in an avalanche and it’s going faster and faster down the mountain - those who embrace it will ski on top, not be buried under.
The Trading Game by Gary Stevenson - one side of the idea that the economy is controlled and benefits the few and that how inequality and not intelligence moves markets.
Business Lesson: Understand the game you’re playing in. Success often comes not from playing harder, but from playing smarter; by spotting what others miss and exploiting it with precision.
Getting downtime and the ability to, refresh the mind and the soul is key - what is your happy place, how do you relax and when was the last time you really did this.
It’s important.
Best,
James