Zhao Changpeng's Time Management Method

Original author: Zhao Changpeng, Binance

Compiled by: Katie Gu, Odaily Planet Daily

Today someone asked me, "How do you have time to read so many books?" Here is my answer.

I believe the most important aspect of time management is learning to say "no." What you don't do is more important than what you do.

I don't engage in small talk or self-introductions during meetings. These take a lot of time and are usually very inefficient. I directly refuse, even to the point that it may seem "rude" to others. For example, I send people the article “Communication Tips from CZ” (implying that I don't like to waste time). This may seem impolite, but it saves me time.

I like to be concise and clear. This way, I have time to do other things. If something can be summarized, then it should just be summarized.

I keep most meetings under 15 minutes, even face-to-face ones. I make it clear from the start that I only have 15 minutes.

If my attendance is not absolutely necessary, I won't attend the meeting. I don't just listen; I also ask for a summary that I can read in 30 seconds.

I don't engage in small talk, whether at work or in private, online or in real life. I always ask directly, "What do you want me to do?" If the other party doesn't take action, I end or ignore the conversation. I don't chat for fun.

I leave chat groups where I no longer need to speak, whether at work or in private. This way, I have one less thing to click on. One less notification means one less pop-up.

I also don't socialize much. I'm not a "social hub," and I don't keep in touch with many people. My social circle is small. I ensure that there are some "hubs" (people with wide social circles) in my social circle. When I need to, I reach out to some people through them.

I do socialize with a few friends, but much less frequently than most people.

I don't shop; I hate it. Most of my purchases are made online, and I buy in bulk. I buy 10 pairs of the same pants, shirts, socks, etc. Most of what I buy is one of the top 5 recommendations from search results or suggested by AI based on my consumption preferences, so I don't have to think.

I don't cook (it's a talent issue). I order one of the first three items I see on the menu, and I take no more than 10 seconds to decide. I prefer fast food over "French romantic dinners." Sorry, France, it's not a matter of taste, just a matter of time. I always ask French chefs to serve "all the dishes" at once and try to ignore the offended expressions on their faces.

I don't tidy my room, desk, or suitcase, so it's always a mess.

I don't read the news unless someone sends me a link. Even then, I only glance at it for about 10 seconds. I read quickly.

I don't watch sports unless we have sponsorships, like CR7 or Argentina in the World Cup. In fact, I only watched the last match of the World Cup on TV, which was an exciting game. I know that to make up for time, I have to give up something.

I don't watch TV. I used to watch a lot of movies, but now I find most movies boring; maybe I'm getting old.

I don't scroll through Douyin, video feeds, etc. For my back pain, I follow some "chiropractors/spinal therapists/exercise" accounts on Instagram, so I have the motivation to do some simple exercises every day.

I do spend quite a bit of time on Twitter and have written some blogs.

I don't listen to music. I also hate loud music playing in restaurants or meeting venues. I always ask them to turn it down. I prefer quiet places.

Basically, I am a very, very boring person.

I listen to audiobooks. I listen while showering and brushing my teeth, and of course, while using the toilet. I also listen while in the car or at the airport. I listen to about an hour of audiobooks before bed each day (just this alone makes it easy to reach one book a week). The most time I spend listening to audiobooks is on airplanes. If I get inspired, I try to write a blog or other content. When I'm tired, I just listen to audiobooks. I can listen to 2-3 books during a long flight. I fly a lot; last year I spent 600 hours in the air.

Most of the time, I listen at 2.5x speed (you get used to it after a while). The average time to finish most books is about 4 hours.

How do I choose books? Some are recommended by friends. Some are suggested by AI based on my reading preferences.

For books I don't like, once I realize I don't enjoy them, I stop listening. Most of the books I buy are not finished.

For books I like, I listen to them several times and also buy the Kindle version to read.

Time is the most limited resource, and knowledge is the most powerful leverage. Don't trade time for anything unimportant.