30 Productivity Principles from Sam Altman

Here's what he has said across all his interviews and lectures:

1. Focus on compound growth in your career
2. Choose the right things to work on - it's the most important factor
3. Develop strong beliefs and independent thought
4. Make time to think about what to work on
5. Work on things you care about and enjoy
6. Delegate tasks effectively
7. Consider major job changes if you're consistently unhappy
8. Believe in your ability to learn and improve quickly
9. Surround yourself with smart, productive, positive people
10. Be prepared to work both smart and hard for important goals
11. Use lists to prioritize and focus (yearly, monthly, daily)
12. Generate momentum by starting and ending days with progress
13. Be ruthless about saying no to non-critical tasks
14. Minimize meetings and conferences, but leave room for new connections
15. Schedule meetings for 15-20 minutes or 2 hours, rarely 1 hour
16. Identify your most productive hours and protect them
17. Value your time appropriately
18. Focus on allocating your year optimally, not just your day
19. Experiment to find what works best for your body
20. Prioritize sleep - use a tracker and optimize your sleep environment
21. Exercise regularly - try lifting heavy weights and high-intensity interval training
22. Pay attention to nutrition - consider fasting and avoiding sugar
23. Find your optimal caffeine intake
24. Supplement based on blood test results
25. Create an ideal workspace with natural light, quiet, and comfort
26. Learn keyboard shortcuts and type fast
27. Expect and accept occasional periods of low motivation
28. Slightly overcommit to increase efficiency, but avoid extreme overcommitment
29. Don't neglect family, friends, and activities you love
30. Remember that productivity in the wrong direction is worthless