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What does it take to build a world-changing company? According to Michael Moritz, the legendary venture capitalist and early investor in companies like Google and PayPal, it’s obsession. In a fascinating anecdote from the early days of Microsoft, Moritz shares a story about Bill Gates that reveals the relentless focus and dedication required to achieve extraordinary success.
In this article, we’ll dive into Moritz’s story, explore why obsession is a superpower, and share inspiring examples of individuals who turned their singular focus into groundbreaking achievements.
Who is Michael Moritz?
Michael Moritz is one of the most successful venture capitalists in Silicon Valley. As a partner at Sequoia Capital, he’s backed some of the biggest names in tech, including Google, Yahoo, and PayPal. His insights into entrepreneurship and innovation have made him a respected voice in the startup world.
Moritz’s story about Bill Gates offers a rare glimpse into the mindset of one of the most influential entrepreneurs of all time.
The Day Bill Gates Drove Moritz to the Airport
In the early 1980s, Microsoft was still a small, private company, and Bill Gates was far from the household name he is today. Moritz recalls a memorable car ride with Gates:
“Bill Gates gave me a ride to the airport in his car. And not many people can say that they were chauffeured by Bill Gates. In fact, I may put that on my LinkedIn profile.”
But what stood out to Moritz wasn’t the ride itself—it was the missing radio in Gates’ car.
“The radio was missing in the car, a big gaping hole in the dashboard,” Moritz said.
When Moritz asked Gates about it, the response was revealing:
“I had it taken out. Why do you have it taken out? Well, I drive from my home to the office, which is seven minutes and 32 seconds. And then I'll drive from the office to the airport, which is however long. And he said, if I've got the radio, I'm afraid that I'll switch it on and I won't be thinking about Microsoft.”
That, Moritz says, is obsession.
Why Obsession is a Superpower
Gates’ decision to remove the radio from his car might seem extreme, but it underscores a critical trait of successful entrepreneurs: an unwavering focus on their mission.
“That's obsession,” Moritz says. “It’s the kind of focus that separates the good from the great.”
Obsession isn’t just about working hard—it’s about prioritizing your goals above all else, even in the smallest moments.
The Man Who Counted Every Second: Takashi Tezuka
Bill Gates wasn’t the only one who took an extreme approach to focus. If you’ve ever played a Super Mario game, you owe a lot of that experience to Takashi Tezuka.
In the 1980s, while working at Nintendo, Tezuka was obsessed with creating the perfect rhythm for Mario’s jumps. He believed that every movement in the game should feel natural and responsive, down to the millisecond. Tezuka would spend weeks tweaking a single jump animation, adjusting how long it took for Mario to reach the peak of his jump and land smoothly.
But his obsession went beyond just the gameplay. Tezuka refused to let any distractions into his work. He would arrive at the office before sunrise and stay late into the night, fine-tuning pixel art and testing levels relentlessly. While others saw game development as a job, he saw it as a craft that required undivided attention.
The result? Super Mario Bros. became one of the best-selling games of all time, largely because of the impeccable feel of the gameplay—a feel that players still love decades later.
Tezuka’s obsession with detail and focus helped shape Nintendo’s golden era. Like Gates, he eliminated distractions and devoted himself fully to his work.
The Professor Who Wore the Same Clothes for 40 Years: John Horton Conway
John Horton Conway, a brilliant mathematician, was another extreme example of deep focus. Best known for inventing The Game of Life (a mathematical simulation that fascinated computer scientists for decades), Conway’s approach to work was anything but ordinary.
To remove unnecessary decisions from his day, Conway wore the exact same outfit every single day—a plain white button-down shirt and dark pants. He believed that making even small, trivial choices (like picking out clothes) could drain mental energy that should be spent on bigger problems.
His routine was monastic:
He avoided meetings unless they were absolutely necessary.
He structured his day to maximize uninterrupted thinking time.
He would get so deep into problems that he often forgot to eat.
While some saw him as eccentric, his laser-sharp focus led to groundbreaking discoveries in mathematics, influencing everything from coding theory to artificial intelligence.
Obsession or Focus? The Thin Line That Defines Success
The stories of Gates, Tezuka, and Conway reveal an undeniable truth: the best in the world don’t just focus—they obsess.
But is this level of dedication necessary? And where does one draw the line between productive focus and unhealthy obsession? Here’s what we can learn from them:
1. Eliminate Distractions Like Gates
If something isn’t adding value to your goals, cut it out. Gates physically removed a potential distraction—the car radio—to ensure his mind stayed on Microsoft. While you don’t have to go that far, small changes (like limiting social media or setting clear work hours) can help keep your focus sharp.
2. Sweat the Small Stuff Like Tezuka
Details matter. Tezuka’s relentless tweaking of Mario’s jump physics made the game feel just right. Whether you’re writing, designing, or building something, the smallest improvements can lead to the biggest breakthroughs.
3. Automate Decisions Like Conway
Conway understood that mental energy is a finite resource. By removing unnecessary choices from his day (like picking outfits), he freed his mind to work on complex problems. You can do the same by automating or simplifying routine decisions.
Final Thought: How Obsessed Are You?
It’s easy to admire success from a distance, but behind every great achievement is an unreasonable level of focus.
Gates didn’t just think about Microsoft—he engineered his environment to ensure he never stopped thinking about it.
Tezuka didn’t just make games—he obsessed over every millisecond of gameplay.
Conway didn’t just study math—he removed anything that wasn’t math from his daily life.
So ask yourself: What’s your equivalent of removing the car radio?
If you’re working on something important, take a cue from these visionaries. Remove distractions, double down on details, and embrace the power of deep focus.
Because in the end, the people who change the world aren’t just talented. They’re obsessed.
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