Haruki Murakami
"Presently our steaks and salads arrived. Beautiful steaks. Magazine-perfect medium rare. Gotanda dug in with gusto. His table manners were less than finishing-school polished, but he did have a casual ease that made him an ideal dining companion. Everything he ate looked appetizing. He was charming. He had a grace you don't encounter every day. A woman would be snowed."
Business wardrobe
Grey suit
Navy suit
10 dress shirts
10 ties
Black alligator belt
Silver knot cufflinks
Rolex Oyster date
Black cap-toe oxfords
Over the calf socks
Brass collar stays
Navy suit
10 dress shirts
10 ties
Black alligator belt
Silver knot cufflinks
Rolex Oyster date
Black cap-toe oxfords
Over the calf socks
Brass collar stays
Urban village
Human-scale buildings
Walkable neighborhood
Japanese restaurant
Florist
Wine shop
Newsstand
Bicycle rack
Independent convenience store
Post office
Full service laundry
Walkable neighborhood
Japanese restaurant
Florist
Wine shop
Newsstand
Bicycle rack
Independent convenience store
Post office
Full service laundry
Work ethic
Arrive early
Sit straight
Dress well, shined shoes
Smile when it's hell
Confident and warm
Relaxed but energetic
Articulate
Intensity masked by unruffled calm
Scorching ambition
Total commitment and teamwork
Sit straight
Dress well, shined shoes
Smile when it's hell
Confident and warm
Relaxed but energetic
Articulate
Intensity masked by unruffled calm
Scorching ambition
Total commitment and teamwork
Travel packing list
Carry-on only. Avoid waiting for or losing luggage
Discreet bag (50"L x 20"W x 30"H). Sufficient for 3 days. Or 3 months
Wear suit onboard, have attendant hang up suit jacket
2 x shirts, 1 x pants, 1 x sweater. 2 x socks, 2 x briefs, 2 x ties
Keep Thinkpad accessible for security screening
iPhone, Blackberry, digital camera, USB drive, socket converter, requisite cables
Namecards, post-its, 2 x ballpoint pens
Toiletries in small, refillable Muji bottles, aspirin, eyedrops, band-aids
Black T-shirt, navy gym shorts, Nike Zoom running shoes
Eyemask, small Yale padlocks, collapsible LL Bean tote, compact umbrella
Discreet bag (50"L x 20"W x 30"H). Sufficient for 3 days. Or 3 months
Wear suit onboard, have attendant hang up suit jacket
2 x shirts, 1 x pants, 1 x sweater. 2 x socks, 2 x briefs, 2 x ties
Keep Thinkpad accessible for security screening
iPhone, Blackberry, digital camera, USB drive, socket converter, requisite cables
Namecards, post-its, 2 x ballpoint pens
Toiletries in small, refillable Muji bottles, aspirin, eyedrops, band-aids
Black T-shirt, navy gym shorts, Nike Zoom running shoes
Eyemask, small Yale padlocks, collapsible LL Bean tote, compact umbrella
College dining hall
Cheerios and apple jacks
Bacon and scrambled eggs
Sausage muffin sandwich
Corned beef hash
Waffles with chocolate syrup
Spaghetti with meatballs
Turkey breast sandwich with pickles
Chickwich, popcorn chicken and tater tots
Hot dogs and buffalo wings
Beef fajitas
Bacon and scrambled eggs
Sausage muffin sandwich
Corned beef hash
Waffles with chocolate syrup
Spaghetti with meatballs
Turkey breast sandwich with pickles
Chickwich, popcorn chicken and tater tots
Hot dogs and buffalo wings
Beef fajitas
Cars
Fiat 500 (original)
Volkswagen Golf (Mk IV)
Subaru Forester (pre-2007)
Mercedes C-Class (pre-2001)
Mazda MX5 (NA)
Mercedes 200 (W123)
Saab 900 (Canary yellow)
Alfa Spider (Series 1-4)
Any Landrover
Audi A4 (pre-2006)
Rigorously black or red
Practical and low-key
Volkswagen Golf (Mk IV)
Subaru Forester (pre-2007)
Mercedes C-Class (pre-2001)
Mazda MX5 (NA)
Mercedes 200 (W123)
Saab 900 (Canary yellow)
Alfa Spider (Series 1-4)
Any Landrover
Audi A4 (pre-2006)
Rigorously black or red
Practical and low-key
Manners
Be polite
Don't curse or lose temper
Hello my name is _____
Stand when ladies leave
Open doors
Help with packages and seats
Excuse me
Pardon me
Tip discreetly and well
How are you this evening
Don't curse or lose temper
Hello my name is _____
Stand when ladies leave
Open doors
Help with packages and seats
Excuse me
Pardon me
Tip discreetly and well
How are you this evening
Essential
Have little but have exactly the right thing
Have less but treasure more
Remove desire for non-essential
Things lose uniqueness but add to clutter
Rent or borrow things that are rarely used
Have less but treasure more
Remove desire for non-essential
Things lose uniqueness but add to clutter
Rent or borrow things that are rarely used
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
"Simplicity in character, in manners, in style; in all things the supreme excellence is simplicity."
35 years old
Lovely wife
House with a garden
Excellent housekeeper/cook
Pet dog
No debt
4 day weeks/ 30 hr weeks
2 week holidays 3 times a year
Daily swim and run
Friends in business and the arts
Smart conversation
House with a garden
Excellent housekeeper/cook
Pet dog
No debt
4 day weeks/ 30 hr weeks
2 week holidays 3 times a year
Daily swim and run
Friends in business and the arts
Smart conversation
Death
Be ready to die each day - finish what you set out to do
We all die, there's nothing to lose so do what you love
Love what you do or you're dead
Memento mori - remember you will die
If today were the last day of my life, would I do the same thing?
We all die, there's nothing to lose so do what you love
Love what you do or you're dead
Memento mori - remember you will die
If today were the last day of my life, would I do the same thing?
Weekdays
12am-6am Sleep
6am-7am Workout
7am-8am Shower, breakfast
8am-9am Bus to work, read paper
9am-7pm Work, lunch, work
7pm-9pm Dinner with work associates / friends / family
9pm-12pm Read, think, reflect
Do not be over-absorbed in work. Seek balance, not money
Develop transferable skills, aim for next promotion
Be smart, hardworking, principled, a team-player
6am-7am Workout
7am-8am Shower, breakfast
8am-9am Bus to work, read paper
9am-7pm Work, lunch, work
7pm-9pm Dinner with work associates / friends / family
9pm-12pm Read, think, reflect
Do not be over-absorbed in work. Seek balance, not money
Develop transferable skills, aim for next promotion
Be smart, hardworking, principled, a team-player