Melinda French Gates, the 60-year-old billionaire philanthropist, has found that focusing on one task at a time is key to success. In an appearance promoting her new book “The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward,” she revealed that multitasking is a myth and led to errors in her career.
During her early days at Microsoft in 1987, French Gates said there was immense pressure to perform. However, it wasn’t until she realized multitasking wasn’t for her that she discovered her unique approach worked best. She now advises focusing on one task, even if it’s only 60% complete, before moving on to the next.
In contrast to Microsoft’s fast-paced culture, French Gates’ single-task focus has helped her avoid mistakes and achieve success. Her experience contrasts with that of former employees who reported thriving under the company’s demanding pace led by co-founder Bill Gates.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/melinda-french-gates-made-mistakes-while-multitasking-says-is-myth-2025-4