Do not attend meetings, avoid socializing, skip news, only "listen" to books: Zhao Changpeng's time management principles

The following content is translated from the Binance Blog, original link.

Someone asked me, "How do you have time to read so many books?" So I wrote this.

I believe the most important thing in time management is to say "no," what you don't do is more important than what you do.

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Dislike Meetings

I don't attend offline meetings or conferences as they are time-consuming and inefficient. I ruthlessly refuse, almost to the point of being impolite. Sending this article to others may seem impolite, but it saves me time.

I prefer brevity, which frees up time for other things. If something can be summarized succinctly, it should be presented in a clear and simple manner.

I aim to keep most meetings under 15 minutes, even face-to-face, emphasizing that I only have 15 minutes.

If my presence isn't required, I won't attend. I avoid meetings where I'm just required to listen. I prefer a meeting summary that I can read in 30 seconds.

Aversion to Chitchat

Whether in work or personal interactions, online or in real life, I'm not one for small talk. I always ask, "What do you need from me?" If there's nothing relevant, I'll promptly end or ignore the conversation. I avoid idle chatter.

Both in work and personal settings, I exit groups where my input is no longer necessary to reduce distractions and notifications.

Not a Social Butterfly

I'm not very social. I'm not a "central hub" and don't stay in touch with many people. However, I maintain a small social network and ensure there are some "super connectors" in my network whom I rely on when needed.

I go out with a few friends, but probably not as frequently as most people.

Not a Shopper

I dislike shopping and avoid it whenever possible. Most of my purchases are made online. For items like pants, shirts, socks, etc., I typically choose from the top 5 search results or recommended items to save time on decision-making.

Avoids Cooking

I don't cook due to a lack of talent in the kitchen. When dining out, I usually pick one of the top three items on the menu I see and make my selection within 10 seconds. I prefer fast food over fine dining, much to the dismay of French cuisine.

It's not about taste but rather a matter of time. I often request that French chefs bring out all dishes at once and try to overlook any offense they may take.

Disorganized

I don't keep my room, desk, or luggage organized; it's always a mess.

News Avoidance

I don't follow the news unless someone sends me a link. Even then, I quickly skim through it in 10 seconds. I'm a speed reader.

Not a Sports Fan

I don't watch sports unless it's sponsored by Binance, such as Cristiano Ronaldo in a World Cup match or the Argentine national team. In reality, I only watched the finals on TV, which was a classic match, but I knew I had to make up for the time spent watching it.

Avoids Television

I don't watch TV. While I used to watch many movies in the past, I now find most movies boring—perhaps I'm just getting old.

I don't browse TikTok or watch short videos, but due to my back pain, I follow videos on chiropractic care, spinal massages, exercises, etc., on Instagram. This motivates me to do some simple exercises daily.

Not a Music Listener

I don't listen to music. I also dislike loud music in restaurants or meeting places and always ask for the volume to be lowered. I prefer quiet environments.

Essentially, I'm a rather boring person.

Writing

I do spend a lot of time on Twitter and have written some articles on my blog.

Reading Books

I prefer listening to books. I listen to books while showering, brushing my teeth, using the restroom, during car rides, on flights, and for about an hour before bed each night, easily finishing a book every week.

Flight time is crucial for me. Last year, I flew approximately 600 hours. Sometimes I try to write an article or something; when I get tired, I switch to listening to books. I can finish two to three books on a long-haul flight.

I usually listen to books at 2.5x speed, and after a while, I get used to it. On average, I finish a book in about four hours.

How do I choose books? Some are recommended by friends, while others are suggested automatically and align with my interests.

If I don't like a book, I stop listening once it feels off, and most of the books I buy remain unfinished.

For books I enjoy, I listen to them repeatedly and also buy e-books on Kindle for reading.

Time is the most limited resource. Knowledge is the most powerful tool that can exponentially grow you. Don't trade time for anything else.