Tips from the productivity playbook of top tech founders and CEOs

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, said at a 2018 event that he prioritises eight hours of sleep. Although he wakes up early—without specifying the exact time—he enjoys a slow morning routine. He likes to putter around, such as making breakfast and getting coffee. His partner, Lauren Sánchez, also told People magazine that he avoids checking his phone in the morning. A routine that allows Bezos to recharge enables him to make higher-quality decisions later in the day.

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One of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s most valuable career lessons is the importance of prioritising time by focusing on what truly matters. Speaking at a commencement ceremony at the California Institute of Technology, Huang recounted an encounter with a gardener during a family trip to Kyoto, Japan.

Amid the heat, Huang observed the gardener meticulously tending a vast garden with just a bamboo tweezer and basket. Curious, Huang asked how such a large space could be maintained with such simple tools. The gardener replied, “I have cared for my garden for 25 years. I have plenty of time.”

Huang reflected on this experience, noting, “This gardener has dedicated himself to his craft and doing his life’s work. And when you do that, you have plenty of time.”

Every morning, Huang tackles his highest priorities first, then dedicates the rest of his day to helping his employees grow and develop. This approach is also evident in his management style; Nvidia employees are reported to outline their top priorities in emails, allowing their managers to improve their focus and productivity. 

In an event organised by the Chinese American Semiconductor Professional Association, Huang shared an interesting fact about himself: he doesn’t wear a watch. “The reason I don’t wear one is that [the present moment] is the most important time. Just dedicate yourself to now.”

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Feeling stuck with your current tasks? It might be time to get up from your desk and stroll like many tech leaders often do. The late Apple CEO Steve Jobs practised a “10-minute rule”: he would go for a walk if he couldn’t crack a problem within 10 minutes. He often held brainstorming sessions on the move with his chief designer, Jony Ive.

Similarly, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter (now known as X), are fans of walking meetings. Google CEO Sundar Pichai has also said that he likes to pace, as it helps him think.

A study by Stanford researchers found that walking can boost a person’s creative output by as much as 60 per cent. This increase in creativity holds true no matter where you walk, whether on a treadmill or in a scenic park. However, this method might be less effective for tasks requiring pinpointing a correct answer, like solving a math problem.

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After working as tech billionaire Bill Gates’ speechwriter from 1997 to 1999, Chris Capossela, Microsoft’s former chief marketing officer, shared with US financial news channel CNBC the two time-management techniques he learned from Gates. Gates is known to be meticulous about schedule planning.

Although Gates might not be aware of every project in the pipeline, he planned as much and early as possible. Knowing when major events and vacations happen helped him allocate and manage tasks more efficiently.

He also categorised his time into different buckets, which allowed him to see how much time he spent on each area and make adjustments. One bucket could represent a pillar of one’s work, such as company strategy or production development.

While planning is essential, it’s crucial to choose your tasks wisely. In a 2017 interview, the philanthropist, who stepped down as CEO of Microsoft in 2000, told US journalist Charlie Rose that although he used to fill every second of his time, taking moments to sit and think may be more important than meeting everyone’s demands. 

This realisation came after he saw the schedule of Warren Buffett, his long-time friend and the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett, who oversees a conglomerate with a market capitalisation exceeding US$950 billion, plans only a few entries each week. “You control your time,” Gates says. “It’s not a proxy of your seriousness that you fill every minute in your schedule.”

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