From Bill Gates to Steve Jobs, 2 powerful habits all high achievers share— And how you can use them too

Time of India

12-06-2025

From Bill Gates to Steve Jobs, 2 powerful habits all high achievers share— And how you can use them too
While most people want to be successful in life, not many can do so. But why is it so? What are the things that most successful people are doing right that set them apart from the rest? Bestselling author-entrepreneur Tim Ferriss set out to discover what makes successful people tick, and that's when he spent over a decade interviewing some of the world's top performers.
From tech founders and elite athletes to mental health experts and billionaires, he uncovered two surprising habits that consistently showed up in most high achievers, which helped them succeed in life.
Talking about this, in a conversation with CNBC Make It, Ferriss explained how these two habits have helped countless high achievers stay focused, calm, and productive. It's something he's seen time and again through his popular podcast The Tim Ferriss Show, where he's spoken with everyone from Oprah to Ray Dalio.
So, what are these powerful habits, and how do they shape one's success? Read on to know more:
1. Meditation: A powerful workout for your mind
Ferriss says that around 70% of the top performers he's interviewed have some form of meditation or mindfulness routine. And it's not just sitting in silence. Meditation can include anything that helps clear the mind— and it includes journaling, walking, or swimming.
His personal favourite? Transcendental Meditation (TM)— a simple technique where you silently repeat a mantra for 20 minutes twice a day.
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Big names like Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga, and even Ray Dalio swear by it.
Even
Bill Gates
, who once dismissed meditation as 'mystical,' now practices it for about 10 minutes a few times a week and says it helps him stay focused and sharp.
If traditional meditation feels hard, Ferriss suggests rhythmic activities like running, biking, or even swimming. These can serve as meditative moments that calm your thoughts and center your focus.
2. The power of saying 'No': The productivity superpower
While meditation helps calm the mind, saying 'no' helps guard your time.
Ferriss noticed that high achievers are incredibly intentional about what they say 'yes' to. He cites
Steve Jobs
, who once said, 'Focusing is about saying no.' It's not about being rude— it's about protecting your time, peace, and energy.
Warren Buffett agrees. He famously said, 'The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.'
Ferriss believes that learning to say 'no' politely but firmly is one of the most powerful habits you can build in a world full of distractions.
How you can start practice these habits
You don't have to be a billionaire to use these strategies. Ferriss says anyone can benefit from them with small, consistent effort.
Try meditating for just 5 minutes a day to start. You can take the help of guided meditation videos online or even use certain apps for it. Once you get used to it, try increasing the duration gradually.
Practice gentle ways to say 'no', like:
- 'Let me think about it and get back to you.'
- 'Thanks for the invite, but I'll have to pass this time.'
The more you build these habits, the more clarity, energy, and focus you'll have for what truly matters.
In a noisy, always-on world, success often comes down to just two things: Quieting your mind and guarding your time. These aren't just habits of the wealthy— they're skills that anyone can learn and apply. And they just might be your edge in achieving more with less stress.
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