The core principle
Compound growth gets discussed as a financial concept, but it works in careers as well, and it is magic.
A small productivity gain, compounded over 50 years, is worth a lot. If you get 10% more done and 1% better every day compared to someone else, the compounded difference is massive.
Direction over speed
It doesn't matter how fast you move if it's in a worthless direction.
Picking the right thing to work on is the most important element of productivity and usually almost ignored. The right goal is to allocate your year optimally, not your day.
I try to prioritize in a way that generates momentum. The more I get done, the better I feel, and then the more I get done.
Lists actually work
I highly recommend using lists. I make lists of what I want to accomplish each year, each month, and each day.
I prefer lists written down on paper. It's easy to add and remove tasks. I can access them during meetings without feeling rude.
Time management
- Be ruthless about saying no to stuff
- Do non-critical things in the quickest way possible
- Most meetings are best scheduled for 15-20 minutes, or 2 hours. The default of 1 hour is usually wrong.
- Avoid meetings and conferences when possible—the time cost is huge
The physical game
Sleep seems to be the most important physical factor in productivity for me. I like a cold, dark, quiet room, and a great mattress.
Exercise is probably the second most important physical factor.
Here's what I like in a workspace: natural light, quiet, knowing that I won't be interrupted if I don't want to be, long blocks of time, and being comfortable and relaxed.
Balance
Don't neglect your family and friends for the sake of productivity.
In general, I think it's good to overcommit a little bit. However, overcommitting a lot is disastrous.
Don't neglect doing things you love or that clear your head either.
My system (simplified)
- Anything under 2-5 mins → Do it right away
- Anything under 10-15 mins → Tasks in Todoist
- Anything around 30 mins → Events in Calendar
- Courses or projects → Page in Notion
- URLs for future → Bookmark in Raindrop
- URLs for frequent use → Snippet in Raycast
The uncomfortable truth
Productivity in the wrong direction is worthless.
You can optimize yourself to death, but if you're climbing the wrong ladder, speed doesn't matter. Focus on what actually moves the needle, not what feels productive.