Warren Buffett: more thinking and reading time, fewer meetings
In a 2023 Family Office Club talk, Richard listed one big takeaway from each billionaire he studies. For Warren Buffett, it was about how he spends his time.
The takeaway
Richard summed up Buffett as way more thinking and reading time, and fewer meetings. In other talks Richard notes Buffett is known for reading for hours each day.
Big ideas only
In the same list, Richard said to work only on big, scalable ideas and to ask whether the juice is worth the squeeze. Time freed from meetings should go to those ideas.
Connection to other billionaires
Richard links this to Mark Cuban, who pushes people to put things in email instead of meetings. Both protect long blocks of time to think.
In Richard's words
"Buffett, one big takeaway, is way more thinking and reading time, less meetings." (Richard C. Wilson, 2023 Family Office Club event)
"is the juice really worth the squeeze." (2023 Family Office Club event)
How to use this
- Block thinking time on your calendar before meetings fill it.
- Cancel one recurring meeting and use email instead.
- Read daily in your field.
- Ask if a project is big enough to be worth the effort.
Questions and answers
What is Richard's big takeaway from Buffett?
Way more thinking and reading time, and fewer meetings.
How much does Buffett read?
Richard has said Buffett is known for reading four to seven hours a day.
What does is the juice worth the squeeze mean?
Whether a project's payoff is worth the work it takes.
Who else avoids meetings?
Richard cites Mark Cuban, who prefers email.