The Long View - Richard Fisher

 Abhinay gifted me this book and I am glad I finished reading it today simply because it gives me a greater purpose as I embark on the New Year in 2025 - or rather what I do from now on. Simply put, Fisher says that we must be 'good ancestors' and look at the long view or be long termists. All we do must be something we do to carry forward this chain that our ancestors have bequeathed to us with much sacrifice and effort and we must do the same going forward for the future generations.

In so many ways Richard explains how short termism which has now crept into our lives does not really work for us as mankind and we are better off having a long term perspective of time. To not seek instant or short term gratification and to be able to hold ourselves in return for long term good, not just for us, but for those who we leave this earth, this legacy for. In teams, companies, work, we can do what we can with a long term view which may not have immediate benefits for us, but will give us immense satisfaction of having done really good work.

Fisher gives many examples, of art, the hidden horse in a Welsh forest, how Japanese companies work long term, Unilever's boss who thought long term and pulled off good results - but most of all the story that impressed me most was his daughter Grace's - how she overcame an early infection and her current world view. We owe it to our Graces.

Thanks Richard. This was very timely. I will now reorient my work with a long view.

And thanks Abhinay. Thoughtful and timely gift once again.

Definitely recommend reading.