Crisis Timing as Competitive Edge

“Timing played an important role in the success. Rupert’s view of business people as ‘cats on a hot tin roof’ created a spirit of urgency that could inspire miracles.”

“This was another typical quality of the entrepreneurial Rupert: he demanded much of his employees because of his belief that speed, timing and quality were crucial competitive advantages. With this sense of urgency, he would often remind his associates: ‘We are cats on a hot tin roof.’”

“Buffett spends his time differently than other Fortune 500 CEOs, managing his schedule to avoid unnecessary distractions and preserving uninterrupted time to read (five newspapers daily and countless annual reports) and think. He prides himself on keeping a blank calendar, devoid of regular meetings. He does not have a computer in his office and has never had a stock ticker.”

““I don’t reserve any day-to-day responsibilities for myself, so I don’t get into any particular rut. I do not define my job in any rigid terms but in terms of having the freedom to do whatever seems to be in the best interests of the company at any time.””