Karen recently forwarded me a copy of an old promotional brochure with some more information about Dr. FG Beltrami, the founder of Quo Vadis and inventor of the Agenda planner with its one-week-on-two-pages layout.
Up till now, the only other thing I knew about Dr. Beltrami is that he practiced medicine in France and created his first planner by stamping a grid onto the pages of a notebook. Thanks to the brochure, I learned he was in charge of a dental school and hospital — no wonder he was interested in time management!
His outlook was also surprisingly modern:
Too much to do, and too little time to do it. It seems like that is what work, and modern life in general, is all about. That is why we have to fight back, and regain a sense of control.
As a doctor, I have a pragmatic outlook on people. We are all just simply… people. We all tend to do what is easy rather than what is more difficult.
I believe in taking simple steps to accomplish what is truly important.
Not so far from today’s world, is it?
It would be lovely if you can post on this blog a full scan of this vintage Quo Vadis promotional brochure.
It’s a copy of a copy, Bhaskar, and not particularly pretty! I’d be happy to scan it in, however — stay tuned.
Ok, I’ve got it scanned in! You can check it out at the bottom of today’s post. Enjoy…
Many thanks, Leah. I liked the contents and enjoyed the vintage feel.
I am really impressed that in between his job as a doctor and head of a dental school AND a hospital, he somehow found the time to start Quo Vadis! And I love his philosophy of taking simple steps to accomplish the important things in life. He clearly lived what he preached.
I’m married to a doctor, and it takes all of my husband’s time and energy to practice medicine. I’m just not sure how the modern day Dr. Ozs do all that they do!
The photo was undated, but I would guess since he was born in 1917 that he was taken in the late 1970s or 1980s. Dr. Beltrami still lives not far from the Quo Vadis plant in Carquefou, France (near Nantes) and keeps up with what is going on with the company.
Thanks, Karen, for satisfying my curiosity (nosiness?).
When was this? Could you add a date to that photo, please?
Ohh… I’ll have to ask Karen. It came to me with a batch of vintage ads that look like they’re from the sixties or early seventies. At any rate, I’ll keep you posted!
Wow, very interesting! I like his approach to simplifying the complicated and taking control of our lives.