Cut to the Chase

I just finished reading "...Cut to the Chase" by Stuart R. Levine. In the 1st chapter the author writes, "We give our time away all day long, to emotions that gain us no advantages, to people who do not value our time, to inefficient habits. If you want to take back this time, you need to cut to the chase."

The author delivers solutions while clearly applying his own principles to his writing. The book is about 200 pages, but can be easily read in 2 hours. It has a huge ROI potential to "give back" the gift of time to the reader who learns and applies the concepts and solutions it contains. I recommend you buy it and read it (if you're a business owner, buy it for everyone on your staff).

In case you're not ready to "cut to the chase and buy it yet, here are the top 10 things (in sequential order) that personally impacted me:

1. “Multitasking is overrated. Depending on how many tasks you are juggling, you could be losing 20 to 40 percent of your time, because you have to reengage your focus and thoughts.”
2. “Every communication will be more effective and on point if you spend time considering your audience. And it will take less time to prepare.”
3. “Resisting change wastes time, can burn you out, and causes others to lose patience. Instead view change as an opportunity. “
4. “If you can have an important meeting with your doctor in 10 minutes, you can do the same at work.”
5. “While it’s important to be aware of your weaknesses, devoting time and energy to strengthening them will give you only limited gains.”
6. “When you have a job to fill, hire someone with the right skills and experience…if you need a drummer-hire a drummer.”
7. A quote from Truman Capote re: editing: “I believe more in the scissors than I do in the pencil.”
8. “Numbers can help you build a case, but stories drive your message home.”
9. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to do your best. But striving for perfection when ‘good enough is good enough’ is a waste of time.”
10. A quote from Goethe on self-renewal: “A person should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.”