{
  "id": 8037369,
  "title": "Warren Buffett, Richard Branson, and Satya Nadella feel their hobbies make them more successful. Science says they’re right",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/warren-buffett-richard-branson-and-satya-nadella-feel-their-hobbies",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-17T13:39:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91608301/warren-buffett-richard-branson-satya-nadella-feel-their-hobbies-make-more-successful-science-says-theyre-right"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Warren Buffett, Richard Branson, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella share a belief that their hobbies contribute to their success. Nadella says cricket taught him teamwork and leadership lessons. Branson finds physical activities expand his day and make him more productive. Buffett champions bridge as the best brain exercise, as each turn demands adaptation to new information.\n\nHowever, conventional wisdom suggests success demands total focus, with no distractions. Yet, a study showed entrepreneurs who kept day jobs had 33% lower failure rates than all-in entrepreneurs. Another study on athletes found world-class athletes typically played various sports before specializing, suggesting a diverse background boosts athletic prowess.\n\nResearch also indicates Nobel Prize-winning scientists were three times more likely to have outside interests like singing, acting, or woodworking. This suggests hobbies can boost creativity and innovation.\n\nFor entrepreneurs, a hobby should be low in similarity to their profession to avoid burnout. A hobby that's too similar to your work can drain self-efficacy and identity. Instead, a hobby that's dissimilar and low-stakes can provide a mental break and increase self-belief. Epstein notes examples of successful individuals, like a world-class runner who took up knitting and an Olympic skier who built houses, who found hobbies that took their minds off their careers. Hence, a hobby could enhance overall performance and longevity in one's business.",
  "summary": "Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says playing cricket taught him lessons about teamwork and leadership —put your team first, and bring out the best in other people—that have stayed with him throughout his career. Richard Branson says spending several hours a day doing physical activities he enjoys actually expands his day by making him more energetic and productive . Warren Buffett says playing bridge…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}