Steve Jobs on focus: saying no to things you know would work
Richard closed day 1 of Family Office Club's 2024 Beverly Hills Super Summit with a talk on focus. He took the title from Peter Thiel, who calls extreme focus a superpower. Then he gave Steve Jobs' definition of what focus really means.
Jobs' definition
As Richard tells it, Jobs saw focus as more than ordering priorities. It means having something you know could make a lot of money and help a lot of people, that you could do, and saying no to it.
Richard's morning line
Richard says one of the one-liners he reads every morning is to say no to things that would for sure make money. He admits it is counterintuitive. He says you have to do it to stay focused.
Thiel's superpower
Richard frames the talk with Thiel's view that extreme focus is one of the most important skills you can have. He notes Thiel has made billions more than once, starting with PayPal.
In Richard's words
"You're totally capable of doing it and say no to it." (Richard C. Wilson, Beverly Hills Super Summit 2024 closing remarks)
"So one of the one liners that I read to myself every morning is to say no to things that would for sure make us money" (Beverly Hills Super Summit 2024 closing remarks)
How to use this
- Keep a list of good ideas you are choosing not to pursue.
- Say no to profitable side projects that pull you from your main goal.
- Read your focus rules each morning.
- Judge an opportunity by what it would take away, not just what it adds.
Questions and answers
How did Steve Jobs define focus?
Per Richard, as saying no to something you know could make money and help people, even though you could do it.
What does Peter Thiel say about focus?
Richard says Thiel calls extreme focus a superpower.
What does Richard read each morning?
A one-liner reminding him to say no to things that would for sure make money.
Why say no to profitable things?
Richard says it is counterintuitive but needed to stay focused on what matters most.