Google’s ex-CEO Eric Schmidt recently shared an advice for young engineers and junior staff. Work hard on week days but no screens on weekends. Instead, he said set aside a few hours for yourself on weekends and grab a pen and a paper. Speaking during a recent interview on The Gstaad Guy Podcast hosted by Gustaf Lundberg Toresson, Schdmit said:“You work really hard during the week, as hard as you can—you know, 12 hours, 14 hour days, whatever—and on the weekends, when you’re at home or with your family or whatever, carve out a few hours to think,” Schmidt said on the podcast. “Turn off the phone. You’re not texting. You’re not looking at Instagram and so forth. And think and write down your assessment of what you did last week, and then what you need to do next week to address the things you forgot to do last week.” Eric Schmidt explained that in an age where “attention has become a form of currency,” finding moments to disconnect and think deeply is essential.Schmidt insisted that this practice can be transformative as it helps one focus on accountability. “It’s a good trick because it forces you to take charge of your next week. Like, ‘Oh, I forgot that I have a sales problem over there,’ or ‘I forgot I was supposed to call this person,’ ‘Oh, I didn’t have this proposal and I had this idea but I didn’t get to it.’ And that usually works pretty well,” he said during the podcast.According to Schmidt, setting aside time each weekend to reflect can help people notice small issues before they turn into big problems and stay focused on what really matters. As he put it, “writing things down equals clarity” — and that clarity, he said, is what helps great leaders stay not just busy, but truly effective.
Spending more time at work doesn’t mean better results: Ex-Google CEO
Schmidt said he eventually found that working about 63 hours a week was ideal for him, instead of the 80-hour weeks he used to put in earlier in his career. It showed him that spending more time at work doesn’t always mean better results.He also stressed that reflection isn’t just for CEOs or business leaders — anyone, from engineers to junior employees, can benefit from it. In today’s world, where digital distractions are everywhere, taking time to think has become even more important.
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