In response to a question in Quora:

"What is the best product you've bought that has changed your life/the way you carry out 'normal' tasks?"

 My Pocket Attache from Levenger, which I have had since the early 90’s.

AN INDISPENSABLE TOOL FOR ON-THE-GO THINKING II

In an earlier post, I have menioned about the innovative company known as Levenger on the net. It's corporate tagline reads:

'Tools for Serious Readers'.

To recap, its an emporium of products designed for reading, writing & working with ideas. Out of their many superb products available online, I have owned two from them, since the nineties.

One is the 'Shirt Pocket Briefcase', as shown in the picture here. It has a locking pen loop.

The other is the 'Swiftnotes Leather Pad Holder', which I have already reviewed in an earlier post.

It goes everywhere with me, in my pocket, especially when I hold short business meetings over lunch or drinks.

So, instead of the back of a napkin, I can use it to capture my points of discussion &/or ideas that float around during the meeting.

Besides space for 3 x 5 note cards to write on, it has a separate pocket for completed cards, to delineate from fresh cards, as well as another one for receipts, if any.

Incidentally, mine is still in pristine condition - since it's also one of my most treasured possessions - even though it has lasted for more than a decade in productive use. It also goes to show that the leather is genuine stuff.

Nowadays, I only procure the 3 x 5 cards locally.

If interested, please proceed to this link. Don't worry, I don't get any sales commission. I just want to share something great with readers!

By the way, one of the co-founders of Levenger, Steve, has written a great book, 'The Litle Guide to Your Well Read Life', which I have already reviewed in an earlier post. It encourages people to fall in love with books.

Coincidentally, I just love what he has said:

"People who read actively & vigorously lead larger lives, engage more with life."

He can be reached at his personal weblog.

AN INDISPENSABLE TOOL FOR ON-THE-GO THINKING

"When you write down your ideas you automatically focus your full attention on them. Few if any of us can write one thought and think another at the same time. Thus a pencil and paper make excellent concentration tools."

~ Michael Leboeuf, author of 'Working Smart: How to Accomplish More in Half the Time' (1993);

I reckon most readers are probably quite familiar with the innovative company known as Levenger on the net. It's corporate tagline reads:

'Tools for Serious Readers'.

For me, its an emporium of products designed for reading, writing & working with ideas. Out of their many superb products available online, I have owned two from them, since the nineties.

One is the 'Swiftnotes Leather Pad Holder' as shown in the picture here. It has a locking pen loop.

The other is the 'Shirt Pocket Briefcase', which I will review separately.

It goes everywhere with me, in my pocket - to the gym, window shopping, hanging out with my buddies, business meetings, attending seminars, & even loafing around. Hence, my fleeting ideas or spur-of-the-moment inspirations are never lost!

Besides space for the mini-note pad, it has a pocket for even business cards.

Mine is still in pristine condition - since it's also one of my most treasured possessions - even though it has lasted for more than a decade in productive use. It also goes to show that the leather is genuine stuff.

Nowadays, I only procure the pad refills locally.

If interested, please proceed to this link. Don't worry, I don't get any sales commission. I just want to share something great with readers!

HOW TO LEAD A WELL-READ LIFE

I am really glad that I have picked up a lot of wonderful gems from Steve Leveen's book, 'The Little Guide to Your Well-Read Life'.

Steve Leveen is the CEO of Levenger, the company known to many for its catalogue of 'tools for serious readers'.

In the book, he shares with readers the true power of reading: its ability to help us live richer lives.

According to him, a well-read life has little to do with reading the classics, or with how many books or even which books you read. Rather, he emphasises that it has everything to do with a life well-lived.

Being well-read is all about being in book love today, tomorrow, next week & always. I like that distinction very much.

He offers the following guidelines:

1) Read with yourself in mind: Actively choose your favourite books, or select out the best books to fill your interests, passions & desires;

2) Draw up a List of Candidates rather than a reading list;

(According to him, there's a difference:A reading list carries a sense of obligation, like those lists we were assigned as students. A List of Candidates carries this important difference: you have the freedom of never having to read the book.)

3) From your List of Candidates, create a physical Library of Candidates of books you may decide to read, e.g. Biography, etc.;

4) Draw up a Bookography, which is a list of books you have already read, & so they become sort of a diary of your reading life;

5) Be an active reader, by feeling free to write your own thoughts & comments in the margins or to make marginal annotations - he calls this reading endeavour, being a Footprint Leaver, & I am one too, whenever I read;

[Here's a link to a brief article from Levenger about 'How to Leave Masterly Marginalia'.]

6) Don't rush to put back a completed book on to the shelf after reading - review it in a day, a week, or a month;

[In my case, I write about the books I have enjoyed reading in my weblog or on Amazon.]

7) Give yourself permission to read your way;

8) Don't be afraid to give up on a book if you find that it doesn't speak to your interests;

9) Don't be afraid to experiment with reading more than one book at a time;

[Educator & philosopher Mortimer Adler called it 'syntopical reading' in his classic, 'How to Read a Book'.]

10) Explore audio books - the author calls it 'reading with your ears';

[Master motivator Zig Ziglar calls it 'Automobile University'.]

11) Form reading groups;

12) Draw up a 'For When I Go There', which is a list of books about special places you want to visit, saved to be read when you are finally there - this is certainly an interesting suggestion from the author;

[Extracted from the 'Optimum Performance Technologies' weblog.]