Pearls from Ms. Paula: What I Learned from Bill Gates

Years ago, I would take monthly business trips to Seattle and stay at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Every Saturday morning, around 7am, Bill Gates would be there setting up a coffee station outside a meeting room.

An Unexpected Privilege

There he was - in his Hush Puppies, sweater, collar slightly askew - one of the world's most influential leaders in an unassuming setting.

So I would go down there and offer to help him.

Call for commitment over convenience

I asked him why he chose to meet on weekends, and his response was illuminating: “This is a meeting with my inner circle. I'm growing it. And this is kind of a test.”

He continued: “I don't want people with a 'Thank God It's Friday' attitude in my inner circle. If they're just looking for a way to skate through life, they can't help me move the world.

And I want to move the world. “

Switching up the setting

I was curious: why not gather on Saturday at Microsoft’s campus? "When I get them out of that business and administrative environment, they tend to be more creative."

Realizing real results

The results of this approach? As he put it: "Great collaboration, tremendous commitment, unbelievable loyalty."

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