Friday, April 21, 2006

Bill Gates’ Secret Weapon: Think

Bill Gates stops to think at least twice a year. Bill escapes to his wilderness lodge every six months for one week. It is during these times that he develops strategy for Microsoft. It was one of these thinking sessions that helped him to move his company to embrace the Internet and the related opportunities.

How often do you stop to think? Really think - about your business, about your future, about your life? You should invest at least one day every three months thinking. Try it – one out of 90 days thinking. That is only four days a year thinking. That is not a lot to ask. But imagine how much more that would be than your competition.

Schedule that undisturbed time to think. What could be more important than thinking? Yet we too often are too busy doing stuff without thinking. Your business will survive and thrive only if you think. Your life will be more satisfying if you think.

You might say that Bill Gates has time to think because he is the richest guy in the world. The reality is just that - he is the richest guy in the world – because he takes time to think.

What questions might you ask during these thinking sessions?
What business are you in?
Where is the industry going?
What trends do you see?
What threatens your business?
What are the unknowns?
How can you distinguish yourself from the competition?
What other questions should you be asking?
What issues/decisions are you avoiding that you need to confront?

Think

George Torok
Specialist in thinking and communication skills
http://www.torok.com/


Bill Gates' Web Site
http://www.microsoft.com/billgates/default.asp


William Gates III on Forbes World’s Richest People
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/10/BH69.html


Bill Gates' Personal Wealth Clock
http://philip.greenspun.com/WealthClock

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