It has become an yearly tradition of sorts to dust off this quote from the late J P Morgan during this time of year – “I can do a year’s work in nine months but not in twelve.”
In saying this, the late J P Morgan referred to the fact that he kept a workaholic schedule for 9 months a year in New York but made sure he had at least 3 months away from work every year to ensure he kept his spirits up and got enough perspective.
It is a fascinating way to think about the relationship between intense work and breaks. While few can take a quarter off from their chosen path every year, there’s something to be said for prioritizing breaks that are long enough for us to get some distance and perspective.
