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