Like many of us, Jensen Huang, the billionaire CEO and co-founder of NVIDIA, was concerned about not having enough time to do everything he wanted.
The Possibility of Taking Control of Our Time
Huang's younger self might disagree with him. Still, he now believes it is possible to accomplish everything you want if you prioritize life, make sacrifices, and do not let tools like Outlook dictate daily activities instead of just doing everything, as he shared during a podcast called Acquired last year.
Huang expects his employees to do the same: NVIDIA staff are reportedly instructed to outline their top priorities in weekly emails sent to their managers and Huang to enhance their concentration and efficiency, as per Business Insider.
The NVIDIA CEO, who propelled his tech behemoth to a nearly two trillion seven hundred billion dollars valuation since its inception in Denny's booth in 1993, has characterized himself as a perfectionist and a demanding leader, admitting that he is "not easy to work for." Thus, it is not entirely unexpected to learn that he grappled with insufficient time in the day. In a 2003 speech at Stanford University, Huang joked about sacrificing sleep, which was always a good option as it creates more time when you do not sleep.
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Your Time Isn't Always Yours
Sleep or not, Huang recognized the significance of managing his time effectively. In 2003, he emphasized the need for CEOs to assert control over their schedules, saying that their time is not always theirs, and so they need to have the discipline to make it theirs. Huang shared that he would frequently instruct his assistant to clear his calendar upon coming to his office to have that time back.
In Huang's case, he commences his days at 4 a.m., allocating time for exercise and family before embarking on what is typically a 14-hour workday, as reported by the Financial Times in 2020. During his work hours, he concentrates on areas where he can make the most significant positive contribution to NVIDIA and its employees, such as product planning, strategy, and soliciting customer feedback.
Huang also prefers to hold meetings while dining in the NVIDIA cafeteria, where he can occasionally engage with employees and fulfill his duty of safeguarding the company's culture.
Mastering The Art of Prioritization
Research indicates that mastering the art of prioritization, whether in professional tasks or personal pursuits, can significantly enhance productivity and cultivate a richer work-life balance.
Huang is not alone in adopting this approach to time management. Mary Callahan Erdoes, CEO of J.P. Morgan's Asset & Wealth Management division, echoed a similar sentiment in CNBC Make It in 2016, emphasizing the necessity of being intensely focused on controlling one's calendar, or it will end up owning you.
