Salesforce Co-CEO Marc Benioff On ‘Mindfulness Zones’ And Not Using A Computer Anymore

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 25, 2019
  • Salesforce co-CEO Marc Benioff revealed at the Dreamforce event that he no longer uses a computer due to the functionalities offered from his smartphone. But he also advocates being “mindful” to avoid burnout.

Last week, Salesforce -— the $143 billion sales cloud software company used by more than 100,000 companies — hosted its annual Dreamforce conference. And at the event, Salesforce co-CEO Marc Benioff sat down with Apple CEO Tim Cook to talk about the partnership between the two companies.

One of the most notable things that Benioff pointed out during their discussion was that he works primarily from his phone now. And he does not own a computer anymore. While this may sound surprising, Benioff is always on-the-go as the CEO of one of the fastest-growing software companies so he has to rely more on mobile devices.

“I don’t even own a computer anymore,” said Benioff to Cook at the event via Business Insider. “I don’t need one. You guys have done such a good job. Well, I have it somewhere but I couldn’t tell you where it is.”

At the event, Salesforce and Apple revealed that they partnered to launch customer experience and learning apps for iOS. And Salesforce unveiled its next-generation Salesforce Mobile SDK so developers can build and deploy native apps for iPhone and iPad on the Salesforce Platform.

“The phone has really become an extension of my office,” added Benioff at Dreamforce. “Wherever I am, if I have a phone, I can work.”

Earlier this year, Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey said something similar. In an interview with BNN Bloomberg, Dorsey pointed out that he got rid of his computer and iPad about five years ago and now uses his iPhone XS Max primarily for work. And Dorsey said in the interview that he turned off all the notifications so he could stay focused. Plus he has been testing out some programming environments to make reviewing code easier.

Benioff also advocates taking frequent breaks from devices as well. That is why more than half of Salesforce’s offices have “mindfulness zones.” These areas require employees to put their phones away and think clearly without distractions.

“Innovation is a core value at Salesforce. It is deeply embedded in our culture. This starts in the mindset of every person in the company — you must cultivate a beginner’s mind,” explained Benioff in a Harvard Business Review Analytic Services (HBRAS) report. “A beginner’s mind is the practice of looking at the world with fresh, unencumbered eyes, and avoiding inside-out or homogenous thinking that can lead to blind spots and missed opportunities. To encourage this mindset, we have ‘mindfulness zones’ on every floor of our office buildings where employees can put their phones into a basket and clear their minds.”