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This week’s 6 of the Best comes from Paul Graham, Managing Director of Mark Jarvis.
In the latest edition we discover which album is a timeless classic, what technology Paul Graham can’t live without and what sporting experience was the Best of British.
Best Holiday
Just after Christmas until early in the New Year we embarked on what we called the 2018 Christmas Extravaganza! My better half and I travelled with our four kids to London, Paris and Dublin. It was hectic, tiring, but such an amazing experience. It was literally Planes, Trains and Automobiles but with four kids too! Siobhan’s family are from Ireland so we got to see them. Some were meeting the kids for the first time, which was special. The best for me was New Year’s Eve on Champs-Élysée. Definitely unforgettable.
London is my favourite city in the world though. Go to London and do the touristy things, there is no place like it.
Best AlbumSt
This is a tough one. The Joshua Tree by U2 is a brilliant album that does not really age for me. With other music I tend to listen to it a lot and then go off it. It is so easy to listen to new music all the time now via streaming apps.
I am a huge fan of the Stereophonics though, especially their acoustic version of I Wanna Get Lost With You. I have never seen them live so that is one for my list to check off.
Best Sporting Experience
Nigel Benn vs Chris Eubank fight number 1. My dad took me to the NEC in 1990. I was 17 and absolutely loved it. I already liked boxing but I had never experienced the atmosphere and what a fight! Chris Eubank I love to hate, Nigel Benn was always my favourite though. I have been to a few big title fights since, including Tyson vs Holyfield and the infamous ear biting incident. Nigel Benn vs Eubank rivalry and the sheer heart they both showed in those fights I do not think I have seen since and probably will not ever. They are classic fights. The best of British.
Best Film
I have to name a few here. The Godfather Part 2 I have seen dozens of times and I never get bored of it. Al Pacino’s plays that role perfectly. He is calm, calculating and always several steps ahead.
Unforgiven with Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman I cannot put my finger on what it is about that film but again I have seen it dozens of times. Recently I thought Bohemian Rhapsody was an excellent film.
Best Book
The best business book I have ever read is Principles by Ray Dalio. There is so much wisdom and advice in that book which is actually just stone cold common sense. Ray has a fantastic understanding of people and the problems that hold back companies. Read this book if you manage anything from a team to a multinational corporation.
Outside of business books I really enjoyed some of Michael Palin’s travel books, such as Around The World in 80 Days. Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab is excellent too.
Best App
I am an Apple fan because of how seamlessly everything works. The single thing I could absolutely not do without is my Apple Watch. I was dubious at first as I thought ‘will I really take a call on my wrist?’ The most useful feature though is not having to take my phone out of my pocket to see a message. My phone is constantly vibrating with email, WhatsApps, Google Chat, Skype… I keep my phone in my pocket and look at my watch. It sounds like a small thing but I could not be without it now. Specific app? I would have to say Siri. I constantly use Siri to remind me of things.
