You can learn a lot about someone depending on what's in their bag, or what they leave out.
A huge chunk of successful executives' lives is spent traveling, in meetings, and trying to keep track of a massive list of priorities, so they have refined what they carry and how they work into an art.
LinkedIn asked 50+ of its influencers to name the "secret weapons" that they simply can't work without.
Richard Branson would be lost without his personal assistant, Helen. Asana co-founder Justin Rosenstein relies on pen and paper for big ideas and the satisfaction of physically ripping up discarded plans. And the Samsung vs. Apple battle rages all the way at the top, with devotees of both the Galaxy Note, iPad, and everything in between.
Richard Branson's assistant is his 'extra memory.'
"I couldn’t get through the workday without my assistant, Helen. While gadgets like smartphones and tablets certainly do have a huge positive impact upon my working life,
it is the people around me who really make the difference.
"Helen is my memory. She travels the world with me, is delightful to have around, and is
extremely adaptable and sociable wherever we find ourselves. With so much going on with my mind, having an extra memory is important. Before I ask her to do something, she can read my mind and know what it is I am thinking before I ask."
Source: LinkedIn
HP CEO Meg Whitman can't live without her country music playlist.
"While I’m accustomed to frequent travel and moving at a fast pace, there are a few things I always try to carry and can’t go without. These help me stay focused, tune out the noise and provide the flexibility I need whether I’m at home or on the road."
Here are her essentials:
- Her phone, loaded with country music. "Favorites include George Strait, Brooks & Dunn and Shania Twain," she writes.
A swimsuit, so she can get in a morning swim regardless of her time zone.
HP's latest laptop hybrid, the HP Envy which she uses to work on a plane, and to watch movies when she wants to decompress.
Source: LinkedIn
Buddy Media Co-Founder Michael Lazerow keeps 'wonder drug' Tylenol PM on him whenever he travels.
"I’m a morning person. It’s when I function my best. I love going to sleep early. I love getting up before everyone else. It’s when I work out, write and focus my brain on tasks at hand. I sometimes find myself sitting in a hotel bed not able to fall asleep late at night. More often than not, it’s because I have a headache from exhaustion, dehydration or other abuses of my body while I’m on the road. Tylenol PM gets rid of any headaches while helping me fall asleep. It’s the wonder drug. And it doesn’t even require a prescription."
Source: LinkedIn
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