Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, has been one of the wealthiest people in the world for years, but he believes that if he were raised in today’s era, there was a greater chance he would have failed in life.
In a recent blog post, Bill Gates shed light on the habit that played a key role in his success. He mentioned that today’s children, due to smartphones and social media, often get distracted and lose their way.
Gates shared that if one particular habit hadn’t been a part of his life, he might never have been able to establish Microsoft, the company with assets worth $3 trillion. He explained that during his childhood and adolescence, he used to hang out with friends and explore the outside world, but he also spent a lot of time reading and reflecting deeply in his room for hours.
He recalled, “When I felt bored or tired, or when I faced difficulties due to people’s behavior, I would lock myself in my room and lose myself in books or ideas for hours.” Gates added, “Using my free time for deep thinking and learning is what made me who I am today.” He described this habit as the most crucial factor for his later success.
In the blog post, Gates also recommended reading a book, The Anxious Generation, which explains how smartphones and social media have changed children’s minds. According to Gates, research shows that a childhood filled with physical activities helps with creative thinking.
He concluded by saying, “Our ability to focus is like muscles, and the use of social media makes it difficult to improve.”
