United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby prioritizes avoiding being excessively busy to focus on strategic thinking. He maintains a rigorous routine that includes daily workouts and ample sleep, emphasizing its importance. Kirby dedicates significant time to reading newspapers, magazines, and books daily. This extensive reading habit helps him connect disparate ideas and gain insights others miss. He limits his meeting schedule to four hours daily, preferring conversational discussions over slide presentations. This structured approach allows him to concentrate on the broader aspects of his role. Kirby believes a CEO's primary responsibility is to think deeply, not just work hard. He suggests that excessive reliance on data and past metrics is a common executive mistake. Instead, Kirby focuses his attention on anticipating future trends and opportunities. His aim is to identify emerging issues that others have not yet recognized.