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Bill Gates' Secret Weapon: Stop to Think

Written by: George Torok

Article Overview: 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.

Bill Gates' Secret Weapon: Stop to 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? Too many business owners are too busy running the day-to-day business to bother thinking about what they are doing or plan to do. What a shame. I suggest that you should invest at least one day every three months thinking. And do it alone. 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. No phone calls. No email. No interruptions. If you believe that you can't afford do that - what does say about your business? What could be more important that thinking about your future? 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 also schedule some strategic planning time with your team - but you need the time alone to think.

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

What questions might you ask yourself 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 smarter and you will do smarter!

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Article Tags: Bill Gates, creative thinking, strategic planning



Related Forum Posts
Re: Who inspired you to start? - Hi Evan, I was inspired by Mr. Bill Gates ever since I was a student learning Computers. But I was motivated for Internet as my Business, when I read his book "The Road Ahead" in 1995. It was in this book that Gates laid out his vision of an interconnected world built around the Internet. Based on the premise that life will be transformed by the convergence of inexpensive computing and inexpensive communications, Gates drew from his experience at the center of the personal computer revolution to give insights on the growth, evolution and impact of technology. I had always looked up to Bill Gates as my idol. When I read this book, it made me more focussed on Microsoft and Internet, The Internet was one of the upcoming things in this time. So I took over to the Internet as my primary business. Regards,
Re: Question of the Week: Who is your favorite entrepreneur of a - Great feedback Peter. I did a Facebook poll and Bill Gates was the #1 pick!
You don't need a degree to be an Entrepreneur - You don't need a dergree to be an entrepreneur, if in doubt please ask Bill Gates Micheal Dell Richard Branson and host of others ....................
Re: Citizen Journalism: There's no such thing - I agree with ideasuniversity and OmnivoreInk, Steve should appoint a successor now. He should follow the example of Bill Gates who had left Microsoft in the hand of his able men
Re: Question of the Week: Who is your favorite entrepreneur of a - This is a tough question but mine is Bill Gates. Not to age myself but I remember chatting with one of my professors in university talking about this "new" personal computer thing and how he thought it was going to revolutionize the world. He was right.


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