The action: Set aside time for thinking, for walking in nature, for taking the balcony view of your business.
The long-form: According to Naval Ravikant and Matt Mochary, all new companies are started by someone with an empty calendar. The founders are not yet caught in the whirlwind of everyday activities, so they have time to think through what would really move the needle on their business. A little thinking can save a lot of sweat and tears.
Contrast this to an existing business: All your workable hours are answered for, so while you are working on urgent problems, you may be ignoring the important. The wheels are spinning, everyone is busy, but you may not be moving the company in the right direction.
Setting aside time to think is therefore not a luxury or recreation time. It is a long-term necessity for a successful company.
Some people carve out a few hours each week. Bill Gates famously had think weeks. And it is not uncommon for people to return from an extended Summer holiday with new ideas about how to change the direction of company.
So unless your job requires no thinking, make sure you get some distance, let the mind wander without interruptions, and question whether you are doing the right things.
And it’s not just for you: If you want to create an organisation where everyone brings their brain to work, don’t underestimate the benefits of downtime for your team either!
Read more:
First Forty 