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A friend recently shared a Latin phrase, “Non multa sed multum.” Translated, this means something along the lines of, “Not many, but much.”

The emphasis here is quality over quantity. A little, depth, quality.

Ever heard the phrase, “a job worth doing is worth doing well”? Well, my mother played that tape quite a bit during my childhood and adolescent years.

There’s something we can really extract here. Slow down, think, be attentive and careful. Whether it’s building a relationship, working on a task, or the dimensions of planning and executing, we can grow as leaders by emphasizing the quality of our endeavors. It yields the fruit of prudence and excellence. 

For me, I’ve been considerate with this Latin phrase in three areas of my daily life. One, writing nicely. For those that know me, I used to rush my calligraphy. It often looked like chicken scratch. Two, I’ve taken the time to eat slowly. Yes, I have a big appetite and I often eat quickly. And three, I am reading for depth and brevity, not necessarily to plow through a book a month. I am allowing the material to sink in.

Think about it: not many, but much. How would this motto apply to you?

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