Amazon Founder, Chairman and CEO Jeff Bezos said during a discussion in Washington, D.C., Sept. 13 that the best business decisions he has ever made "have been made with heart," according to Axios.
Mr. Bezos spoke with David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-executive chairman of The Carlyle Group and president of Economic Club of Washington, D.C., which hosted the 70-minute discussion at the Washington Hilton Sept. 13.
During the conversation, Mr. Bezos outlined a number of practices he uses to successfully lead his company. Here are three thoughts Mr. Bezos shared during the conversation, compiled by Axios:
1. Mr. Bezos said he likes to "putter in the morning," spending quality time with his family before everyone embarks on their daily activities. He also said he requires at least eight hours of sleep per night.
"I prioritize [sleep] ... I think better. I have more energy. My mood is better," he said. "As a senior executive, you get paid to make a small number of high-quality decisions. Your job is not to make thousands of decisions every day. … Is that really worth it if the quality of those decisions might be lower because you're tired or grouchy?"
2. In keeping with his slower morning routine, Mr. Bezos said he tries to avoid early morning meetings, saving key discussions for just before noon.
"I do my high-IQ meetings before lunch. Like anything that's going to be really mentally challenging, that's a 10 o'clock meeting. And by 5 p.m., I'm like, 'I can't think about that today. Let's try this again tomorrow at 10 a.m.,'" he said.
3. While he acknowledged good decision-making is important, Mr. Bezos said his goal is solely to make at least three good decisions per day.
"If I make, like, three good decisions a day, that's enough. Warren Buffett says he's good if he makes three good decisions a year," he said.
To access the full report, click here.