Business Quote by Daniel Yergin
““It is certainly to be regretted that we have so many things to do and our business day is so fully occupied that somehow or other we seem to make mistakes which could have been avoided if we had really spent the time necessary to think the matter through to a logical conclusion.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations, 2020
Overloaded schedules cause avoidable errors; taking time to think leads to better decisions.
In simple terms: Busy days cause mistakes; think before acting.
Key Takeaway
Pause to reflect before acting.
Themes
decision making
time management
error prevention
business
logic
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
advice
reflective
When to use this quote
- project planning
- budget reviews
- policy drafting
- team meetings
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
strategic planning
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- What processes help you allocate thinking time?
- When is rapid action more important than deliberation?
A Different Perspective
Rushed decisions can still be necessary under pressure.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)