⚡ Why Sam Altman gets 10x more done than you
Struggling with focus and slow career growth? Learn how Sam Altman's productivity strategies help software engineers work with clarity and get ahead faster.
Most productivity advice for engineers is tactical. Use Notion. Use shortcuts. Use the Pomodoro technique. But Sam Altman’s edge isn’t in hacks. It’s in philosophy.
He thinks at a different altitude. He works on bigger problems and gets more done without burning out. This post breaks down how he does it and how I’ve started applying his principles to move faster without breaking down.
⭐ In this post, you'll learn
Why working on the wrong thing kills your output
How to build momentum even when you're not motivated
Systems Altman uses to protect energy and clarity
Tactics I use to stay focused when things get messy
How to think long-term without losing speed today
🏆 #1 Pick the right problem or nothing else matters
Speed doesn’t matter if you’re heading in the wrong direction. Altman’s productivity starts with choosing what to work on. He doesn't aim for small optimizations. He targets massive outcomes. He says most people fail because they work on low-leverage ideas for too long.
This forces a reflection habit. I’ve learned that I need time to think about where I’m going. When I skip it, I default to reacting. When I do it weekly, I move with more clarity. I write, review goals, and ask whether my work is still aligned. This is boring but essential.
If you’re not sure where your energy is going, you’re probably wasting most of it. One of the most productive questions I ask now is: "What should I stop working on?" The answer usually makes the next month better. Most of us are already at peak capacity. You can't add something new without removing something else.
🔥 #2 Relentless focus: How to build massive output without burnout
Sam doesn’t do more. He does less but better. He works on fewer things and commits hard. That gives him leverage. Most engineers spread themselves thin with meetings, side projects, or shallow work. Altman blocks time and protects it.
I’ve learned to use artificial deadlines. I don’t tell anyone about them. I might work late to hit a goal for the day, even if no one expects it. That lets me start the next day with momentum instead of catching up. I used to feel "late" every day. Now I feel ahead most days.
Motivation is unreliable. Momentum is not. End each day with a clear next step and start with focus. I build short lists tied to long-term goals. I rewrite them often. That’s how I avoid losing track of what matters.
⚙️ #3 Use yourself like a system: Energy, discipline, and automation
Sam Altman treats his body like infrastructure. He protects sleep, lifts weights, eats well, and avoids burnout. This isn’t wellness advice. It’s uptime management. If your brain is your engine, energy is the throughput. Neglect it, and everything slows down.
I keep a document I read when I feel off. It always reminds me of the basics: sleep, exercise, food, and journaling. These are my fallback routines. They fix 90 percent of my fog. This system works better than pretending I can just push through.
Discipline is fragile. I prefer safeguards. That’s why I create constraints like silent deadlines or recurring blocks for deep work. When I feel overwhelmed, it’s usually because I broke my own system. The fix is rarely working harder. It’s fixing the pipeline.
🧱 #4 Productive environment ≠ fancy setup: It’s what you don’t allow
Altman designs his environment to reduce friction. That doesn’t mean he has the best setup. It means he removes everything that breaks his flow. Distractions, shallow people, unnecessary meetings. He defaults to no. That gives him space to think.
I’ve learned to protect my mornings. Mute slack Slack, try to avoid meetings, reduce distractions. I work on what matters when my brain is sharp. I leave low-energy tasks for the afternoon. I used to say yes too often. Now I say no by default and yes by exception.
The people you work with matter. Altman surrounded himself with ambitious people at YC and OpenAI. Energy compounds when people around you care. If you spend your days in back-to-back status calls with low-agency teammates, you’ll start thinking small. Say no and find better environments.
🎯 Conclusion
Sam Altman's system is simple. Pick the right work. Focus deeply. Protect your energy. Use systems that make high output automatic.
I’m not trying to copy him. I’m applying the principles in my own way. Weekly reflection. Energy-promoting activities. Deadlines that create momentum.
Productivity is not about working harder. It’s about making fewer decisions that matter more. This is how I’m building a career that compounds.
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Fran.
Well done Sam. You dehumanised yourself to the extent that you have 'uptime'. And now we get to feel bad because we're holding onto our humanity in an ever more impersonal, dehumanised world and still not working later into the evening. If you work for someone else, this is not good to get ahead.
This is not his own special philosophy, he's just read Mark Mansion, Atomic Habits and Essentialism
"Altman’s productivity starts with choosing what to work on" - I wish I could also say to my manager that I choose not to work on this stupid task that has no meaning whatsoever...lol :)
Jokes side, this is a great post and shows how successful folks are so careful and deliberate with their time.