The meteoric rise of ChatGPT and its creators OpenAI enabled millions to use AI for the first time. Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO, is the public face of OpenAI. In early November 2023, Sam addressed world leaders on the potential benefits and risks of AI. However, two weeks later, he was abruptly fired by OpenAI’s board. In response, over 95% of OpenAI’s employees threatened to resign unless Sam was reinstated. Within a week of his sacking, Sam was back at the helm and three of the four board members involved in his removal had gone. Many believed these events related to internal tensions in OpenAI relating to its commercial objectives and broader mission.
Sam Altman's productivity tips
Life is not a dress rehearsal. Make it count. Time is extremely limited and goes by fast. Do what makes you happy and fulfilled. Few people get remembered hundreds of years after they die anyway. - Sam Altman
Sam Altman is someone I greatly admire and have been following for the last ten years. Sam said, I think I am at least somewhat more productive than average and people sometimes ask me for productivity tips. Here is a summary of Sam Altman’s productivity tips:
What you work on
Focus on compound growth in your career
Choose the right things to work on
Develop strong beliefs and independent thought
Make time to think about what to work on
Work on things you care about and enjoy
Delegate effectively
Consider major job changes if you're consistently unhappy
Believe in your ability to learn and improve quickly
Surround yourself with smart, productive, positive people.
Be prepared to work both smart and hard for important goals
Prioritisation
Use lists to prioritise and focus (yearly, monthly, daily)
Generate momentum by starting and ending days with progress
Be ruthless about saying no to non-critical tasks
Minimise meetings and conferences, but leave room for new connections
Schedule meetings for 15-20 minutes or 2 hours, rarely 1 hour
Identify your most productive hours and protect them
Value your time appropriately
Focus on allocating your year optimally, not just your day
Experiment to find what works best for your body
Prioritise sleep - use a tracker and optimise your sleep environment
Physical aspects
Exercise regularly
Pay attention to nutrition - consider fasting and avoiding sugar
Find your optimal caffeine intake
Use supplements based on blood test results
Other factors
Create an ideal workspace with natural light, quiet and comfort
Type fast and us keyboard shortcuts
Expect and accept occasional periods of low motivation
Slightly overcommit to increase efficiency, but avoid extreme overcommitment
Don't neglect family, friends and activities you love
Other resources
The Future of AI interview with Sam Altman
My Top Five Startup Teachers post by Phil Martin
How to Join the New Rich post by Phil Martin
Sam Altman sums up his approach to productivity as, Work hard on stuff that matters. Don't work on stuff that doesn't matter. (Most people screw up the second part.)
Have fun.
Phil…
Really nice list 👌
Really loved the guy's yc videos. No wonder he succeded.