In an undisclosed location somewhere in the Pacific Northwest lies a small waterfront cottage. Twice a year, that cottage is home to Bill Gates.
He stays there for seven days, armed with stacks of carefully curated reading materials, and a plentiful supply of diet coke (formerly diet orange crush).
From the early 90s onwards, Gates has used that stretch of time to step away from the everyday, and do his biggest, most creative, thinking. He calls them Think Weeks.
Understandably, we all want, from time to time, the space to step back and think. Helping our users do that is the heart of Ashore’s mission, so we get asked about them a lot
So here’s the latest on Think Weeks - what they are, why they’re worth doing, and how you can incorporate them into the way you - and your team - work.
A Think Week, as inspired by Gates, are dedicated periods set aside to spend time thinking deeply and creatively. As he describes it himself:
"Think Week is a time when I can be creative and push my own thinking. It's a time to step outside the day-to-day demands of my job and really focus on the big picture."
For Bill, papers are provided and printed in advance, which he then takes with him to his aforementioned cottage. He reads. Digests. And thinks. For seven days.
The way Gates conceptualises his time away is - unsurprisingly - by comparing the brain to a computer’s central processing unit:
“You write down all these things [...] then you think, okay do I need to read some books about this? Who do I need to talk to about that? And some things, I say to myself - ‘Hey, I just need to think. It’s CPU time. When you write down these things to think about, that’s like the code.”
Gates’ think weeks well known for being responsible for many of the decisions that have taken Microsoft to its place as the largest company in the world were made.
Most notably, a trip in 1995 led to the decision for Microsoft to develop its own internet browser, taking down Netscape, and leading to the birth of Internet Explorer.
It’s not only Bill. Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, decided to borrow the idea.
In late 2002 he took a Think Week, coming up with not only a new company structure, but the now famous two-pizza principle.
The idea of a Think Week might look like it’s only the preserve of CEOs with private helicopters, a chef, and a gorgeous cabin in Washington State, but ultimately anyone can do it.
At heart - the idea of going somewhere new to unlock great work - is not a particularly new one. Artists and writers have been doing it for centuries.
Gates has taken the concept and applied it in such a way that anyone working on anything creative and important - whether they’re a software engineer, a commercial lawyer, or a tech founder - can do it.
It’s now relatively well-evidenced that a change in routine boosts creativity:
Similarly, getting away from the city seems to help:
What a Think Week does is combine both of these things, and in doing so boosts your productivity and creativity, meaning you’re in the perfect state to get stuff done.
Well, if you’re reading this and are thinking about doing your very own Think Week, you’ve come to the right place.
Ashores are designed to be the perfect spaces to think, create, and build, and we’ve been fortunate to help hundreds of guests do their best thinking.
You can directly book a stay via our website, or, if you want to get our thoughts on how you can do your best possible Think Week, drop us a message in a chat.
We recommend using a home that’s specifically set up to help you do your very best work - Rush Cabin and The Vines are our two most popular Think Week spots.
With the location sorted, the next thing to think about is timing.
Bill does a Think Week twice a year. We’ve seen people do more, and less - often combining weeks spent alone with weeks spent with others (often co-founders).
Two or four times a year feels to us like a good cadence.
In terms of the time you spend away, we actually recommend slightly less than a week - finding that three full days of work provides the optimum combination of being able to go really deeply into a problem, whilst not succumbing to cabin fever.
Often users combine those three full days of work with some time resting and exploring the nearby area: a great combination.
Some will say yes. We think not. Solo stays are perfect for the deepest, most important thinking: particularly when it comes to a big decision about a career or company pivot.
But we’ve seen spending time away with co-workers or partners unlock some of the most needle-moving insights and decisions that we’ve been privileged to help make happen.
If you need inspiration, look to another fan of the Think Week, Lin-Manuel Miranda.
The idea that would become Hamilton came to Miranda whilst on holiday with his wife (he picked up Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton in an airport bookstore.)
CEO Aled has recently written about the power of the Think Week, and that article is a good place to start if you’re looking for tips to success.
Alongside those, we recommend:
Given the entrepreneurial pedigree behind it, it’s no surprise that some of the most forward- thinking companies have copied Microsoft and incorporated Think Weeks into how their company operates.
We work with a number of partners - currently via our startup programme - to help them quickly and easily provide their employees and teams with best-in-class Think Weeks for whenever they need to step away and do their most important thinking.
Either leave your details via the startup page, or email CEO Aled at aled@ashore.io.
X (Formerly Twitter)
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Host Agreement
Frequently Asked Questions
Ashore For Teams
Founder Residencies
Team Retreats
About Us
The Journal
Aled’s Desk Notes