The Surprising Productivity Hacks You Have To Try Ep 550

In this episode, the host discusses his strategies for achieving a $100 million net worth by age 31, focusing on productivity and leverage. He emphasizes the importance of eliminating distractions and inefficiencies to maximize work output and quality. The host shares his daily routine, including a consistent sleep schedule, a simplified wardrobe, and the absence of a morning ritual, to maintain focus. He also discusses his approach to exercise, diet, and stimulant use, all designed to reduce decision fatigue and increase productivity. The host's overarching theme is creating an environment that minimizes effort on trivial choices, allowing for more energy to be dedicated to impactful work.

• Speaker A emphasizes the importance of eliminating inefficiencies to maximize attention towards productive work.
• The goal is to allocate as much attention as possible to work, improving both quantity and quality.
• Speaker A applies this principle across various aspects of life.

"And so I just try and smooth out these little inefficiencies on as many parts of my life as I can so that as much of my attention gets allocated to working and doing more work and doing better work."

Explanation: Speaker A is discussing the importance of reducing inefficiencies in daily life to enhance focus and productivity at work.

• The podcast's theme is about selling more products, reaching more customers, and building valuable businesses.
• Speaker A mentions the aspiration to build a billion-dollar enterprise with acquisition.com.
• Speaker A expresses a desire to document the entrepreneurial journey, something they wished icons like Bezos, Musk, and Buffett had done.

"I'm trying to build a billion dollar thing with acquisition.com. I always wish Bezos, musk, and Buffett had documented their journey. So I'm doing it for the rest of us."

Explanation: Speaker A is sharing their ambition to grow a significant business and the intention to document the process for educational and inspirational purposes.

• Speaker A shares their personal financial growth, reaching $100 million in net worth by age 31.
• The speaker stresses that wealth accumulation came from being more efficient rather than simply working faster.
• The discussion is poised to cover Speaker A's productivity strategies, despite their general skepticism about the productivity industry.

"From December of 2016 until December of 2021, I went from zero to $100 million in net worth at age 31. And that kind of, quote, speed of wealth accumulation didn't come from necessarily doing things faster, but getting more from the work I did."

Explanation: Speaker A is providing background on their financial success and setting the stage to discuss the productivity strategies that contributed to this success.

• Productivity is defined as output per unit of time.
• Speaker A equates productivity to leverage, where leverage amplifies the output from given inputs.
• The formula described is: volume of inputs times leverage equals output.
• The focus of the talk is on removing distractions to work more efficiently.

"Now, let's define productivity right off the bat. Productivity is output per unit of time, all right? So if you're more productive, it means you get more for the output."

Explanation: Speaker A is defining productivity in terms of efficiency and introduces the concept of leverage as a way to increase output without necessarily increasing the amount of work.

• Speaker A emphasizes the necessity of having uninterrupted time for deep work.
• They share their own experience of waking up early to find quiet work time and how this has been a constant practice throughout their entrepreneurial career.
• The speaker references a billionaire friend who works from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., highlighting that the specific time of day is less important than having dedicated work time.

"So when I really think about the things that have contributed to the outsized returns we've gotten, I think this is probably one of the biggest ones, which is why I want to kick this off with this."

Explanation: Speaker A is emphasizing the significance of having dedicated, uninterrupted work time as a key factor in their success.

• Speaker A maintains the same sleep and wake times on both weekdays and weekends.
• They stress the importance of a consistent rhythm and not breaking it for social events.
• Speaker A briefly mentions optimizing the sleep environment with common advice like a dark, cool room and proper bedding.

"The next thing is how I can facilitate that simple schedule is by always having the same sleep and wake time. So weekends and weekdays I treat the same way."

Explanation: Speaker A is discussing the value of a consistent sleep schedule as a way to support a productive work routine.

• Speaker A has a minimal morning routine, starting with coffee and immediately beginning work.
• They point out that because their projects are large and ongoing, the routine remains consistent.

"So next piece I'll talk about is morning routine. So I basically don't have one. I wake up and I have coffee with Layla, and then I work. And that's literally it."

Explanation: Speaker A describes their straightforward morning routine, which involves minimal activities before starting work, suggesting that simplicity can aid productivity.

• Prioritize tasks that will make the most money first.
• Many entrepreneurs fail to focus on the most profitable tasks initially.

Do the ones that make you the most money first.

This quote emphasizes the importance of prioritizing tasks based on their potential financial return, suggesting that the most profitable tasks should be tackled before others.

• The speaker has a meticulous process for choosing clothing, buying multiple versions to find the best option.
• Outfits are chosen for temperature regulation and versatility across various settings.
• The goal is to make a single, optimal decision and avoid repeating the decision-making process.

Each article of clothing that you have seen me wear, I have tried on and bought, usually between 51 hundred of that exact thing.

This quote illustrates the speaker's thorough approach to selecting clothing, indicating a preference for making a decision once and replicating it to avoid future decision fatigue.

• The speaker selects clothes based on comfort, temperature control, and adaptability to different environments.
• The speaker's wardrobe is designed to work in various settings, from restaurants to the gym.
• The clothing choices are also aimed at enhancing the speaker's appearance.

I've tried to maximize the outfit that I have so that I can only have one outfit that I wear every day, all the time.

The quote reveals the speaker's strategy to have a universal outfit that is suitable for all daily activities, which simplifies the daily routine and reduces the need for multiple outfits.

• Finding the right footwear was a challenging and lengthy process.
• The speaker wanted shoes that were versatile, odor-resistant, waterproof, and suitable for both exercise and dining out.
• A team assisted in the process of selecting and returning shoes that did not meet the criteria.

Finding footwear was probably the hardest of all the things that I've done because I wanted it to.

This quote conveys the difficulty and complexity of finding the perfect pair of shoes that met all the speaker's specific requirements.

• The speaker aims to eliminate inefficiencies in life to allocate more attention to work.
• A systematic approach to daily routines, such as clothing choice, helps maintain focus on productive work.
• The speaker feels great and doesn't have to think about outfit choices due to the optimization process.

I just try and smooth out these little inefficiencies on as many parts of my life as I can so that as much of my attention gets allocated to working and doing more work and doing better work.

This quote describes the speaker's goal of streamlining life's small inefficiencies to enhance focus and productivity at work.

• Changing conditions is easier than changing oneself for habit formation.
• The speaker uses visual cues at frequent locations to encourage new habits without relying on willpower.
• Key locations include the kitchen table, work desk, and bedside table, where habitual actions like taking supplements are encouraged.

It's much easier to change your conditions than it is to change yourself.

The quote summarizes the speaker's philosophy on habit formation, suggesting that altering one's environment is more effective than attempting to muster the discipline to change personal habits.

• Teaching consistent supplement use was a focus when the speaker was a gym owner.
• The system for integrating new habits is considered more important than the benefits of the supplements themselves.
• Many people fail to take supplements regularly due to poor systems for habit integration.

I would focus the vast majority of my time with them not on what the supplements did, but on how they would be able to take them consistently.

This quote highlights the speaker's belief that the regularity of taking supplements is more crucial than understanding their specific benefits.

• The speaker does not run ads or sell products and relies on viewers to spread the word.
• The goal is to help more entrepreneurs succeed and improve their quality of life.

The only ask that I can ever have of you guys is that you help me spread the word so we can help more entrepreneurs make more money, feed their families, make better products, and have better experiences.

This quote serves as a direct request to the audience to share the speaker's content, aiming to support and empower the entrepreneurial community.

• The speaker emphasizes the value of leaving a review for the podcast.
• Reviews are seen as a way to not only support the podcast but also potentially impact others positively.

"And the only way we do that is if you can rate and review and share this podcast. So the single thing that I ask you to do is you can just leave a review."

This quote highlights the speaker's request to the listeners to actively engage with the podcast by leaving a review, which they believe is crucial for the show's success and outreach.

• The speaker shares personal strategies for remembering important tasks, such as placing items in visible locations associated with daily routines.
• The speaker used to advise gym clients to keep workout supplements in their cars or bags to ensure they are always prepared for the gym.

"For me, if I have morning things, I put it at my kitchen table because that's where I go, and I have my coffee with Layla." "I want you to keep your pre workout, your intra workout, and your post workout in your car, since your car is always going to be with you."

These quotes illustrate the speaker's approach to habit formation by associating tasks with specific, routine parts of the day, ensuring consistency and reducing the need to remember each task actively.

• The speaker buys overpriced post-workout drinks from gyms to support small businesses and to provide an immediate reward for exercising.
• They believe that immediate rewards help reinforce the habit of working out.

"I actually buy the cold ones that they have in the fridge that are overpriced... because I like to support gyms... And I actually think psychologically, you reinforce working out because you get this treat at the end of working out."

The quote explains the speaker's rationale for purchasing expensive gym products as a means of supporting the industry that helped them succeed and as a psychological trick to reinforce their workout routine.

• The speaker has a specific nighttime routine involving skincare and sleep aids placed on their bedside table.
• They mention using a product called sleep multiplier from Prestige Labs.

"I put my nose trip on, I put mouth tape on so I don't snore... And if I have, like, vitamins or melatonin or anything like that, that I want to take at night... I put it there."

This quote details the speaker's nightly regimen and how they ensure they do not forget to take care of themselves before bed, which involves strategically placing items where they will be used.

• The speaker briefly cautions about the use of stimulants, linking it to the broader topic of productivity and work efficiency.

"And that probably leads pretty naturally into a quick caveat here, which is stimulants."

The quote introduces a cautionary note on stimulants without delving into details, suggesting it is an important consideration in the context of productivity and health.

• The speaker eats the same breakfast and lunch daily, with a mostly consistent dinner routine.
• They opt for prepackaged meals and delivery to save time and avoid the smell of cooking in the house.
• The speaker's wife, Layla, was relieved from cooking duties to be more productive in the business.

"I eat the same meals more or less every day... And I just get my lunches delivered and my mornings are prepackaged." "Leila and I had a conversation where I asked her to stop making me food every day... And we got 2 hours plus productive back for her time, which was great."

These quotes indicate the speaker's strategy for meal planning, which involves consistency and convenience to save time and increase productivity. They also touch on the decision to relieve Layla from cooking to better utilize her time.

• The speaker does not adhere to strict training schedules or periodization.
• They combine cardio and weights in a single workout by minimizing rest, aiming to work every muscle group daily.
• Business priorities take precedence over workout routines.

"So rather than following any kind of strict periodization for the training that I do, I try and get cardio and weights together by minimizing my rest when I work out. And I try and hit every muscle group every day."

This quote describes the speaker's flexible approach to fitness, which is designed to accommodate their busy schedule while still maintaining a level of physical activity that targets all muscle groups.

• The individual has been working out for 20 years and values flexibility in their routine.
• Full body workouts are preferred to ensure every muscle group is stimulated, regardless of workout frequency.
• The approach is designed to minimize daily decision-making, allowing more time for work-related productivity.
• Cardio is incorporated into workouts for additional benefits.

"Being flexible has worked for me. And so whether I work out every other day, every day, or twice in a week, I don't have to worry about the fact that I haven't done legs because I missed leg day is Thursday, and if it's not Thursday, then I skip it and I do back again. No, I hit full body every day."

This quote emphasizes the importance of adaptability in exercise routines, suggesting that a flexible approach has been successful for the speaker over a long period of consistent workouts.

• The speaker is a proponent of using stimulants but stresses the importance of cycling them to prevent dependency.
• Mentioned stimulants include tiacrene, nicotine, caffeine, and prescription stimulants (not detailed).
• The strategy is to use stimulants sparingly, about two days a week, to maximize their effectiveness and productivity.

"I think the key is cycling them in and out, because if you take one thing every day, eventually become dependent on it rather than getting a boost from it."

The quote highlights the speaker's belief in the benefits of cycling stimulants to maintain their efficacy and avoid dependence, which is part of a broader strategy to enhance work output.

• The speaker has a specific and practical approach to clothing, choosing items based on convenience, comfort, and situational appropriateness.
• Preference for certain colors and materials is based on practical considerations such as visibility of stains and comfort.
• Clothing is also chosen to represent personal branding and the speaker's companies.
• The speaker mentions a dislike of adding unnecessary layers like underwear, socks, or t-shirts, aiming for simplicity and functionality.
• A significant amount of time was invested in testing different clothing options to find the perfect fit and functionality for their lifestyle.

"I've tried 100 plus pairs of shorts on, and I wear these dark, because if I'm washing my hands and I get, like, water on these, a, it rolls right off, but b, even if it does, you can't see it as much."

This quote reflects the meticulous process the speaker underwent to select clothing that meets their criteria for practicality, such as the ability to repel water and hide stains, which aligns with their overall approach to minimizing daily decisions.

• The speaker consistently wears their own company logos as a form of personal branding.
• Clothing choices are influenced by the desire to promote and support their own businesses.
• The speaker's history of company affiliation can be traced through the logos worn in past photos.

"Because at the end of the day, if somebody's going to be a free walking billboard, it might as well be me."

This quote conveys the speaker's belief in self-promotion and the strategic use of personal attire as a marketing tool for their businesses.

• The speaker places personal comfort and feeling over fashion trends or societal expectations.
• There is an acknowledgment that attire can influence how others perceive and treat you.
• The speaker admits to deriving some satisfaction from being underestimated based on their clothing choices.
• The underlying message is to dress in a way that aligns with personal values and preferences, whether that means prioritizing fashion or comfort.

"I truly only care about how I feel in the clothes, and that's it."

This quote encapsulates the speaker's philosophy on clothing, emphasizing the importance of personal comfort and dismissing the need to conform to fashion norms or societal judgments based on appearance.