Idea: 87
Saturday, 28 March 2015
By. Francis Pedraza
BYOB
Since the start of this year, I’ve been keeping a reading list, mostly populated by submissions from friends (you). When I read or watch items, I delete them from the list, so it functions as an inbox. As you can see, the list piles up. I don’t know how you cope with information overload, but I consume more content than most people, and even I’m playing triage against this overwhelming barrage of fascinating material.
The Bill Gates method for dealing with this is to schedule bi-annual reading retreats. For two weeks, Bill goes off-the-grid to a small cabin in the woods on a lake, doesn’t check his e-mail or phone, gets his meals delivered to him, and does nothing but read, take notes on his reading, walk, and brainstorm. Apparently, he emerges from these retreats with clarity and full of ideas. The Buffett / Munger method for dealing with this is to schedule less meetings. They’ve said that leaving as much of their calendar clear as possible has given them the space to think, to read, and to let serendipity work its subtle magic.
Would you be interested in a bi-annual reading retreat for entrepreneurs & creatives? Most of the schedule would be unscheduled. The expectation would be that most of the time would be introverted. But every night, the group convenes (around the fire, the jacuzzi, wine, etc.) to have long conversations into the night, as a way to process the material absorbed throughout the day. Perhaps, on the first day, the group would receive one book in common, but the rest would be BYOB (bring your own book). :-D
Questions
? Number of participants
? Schedule and format
? Brand name
? Quarterly, bi-annual, or annual frequency
? Price point
