✅ Sam Altman’s Power Move


Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, said something recently that really got me thinking:

“I think people overcomplicate, and those people never seem to be the ones who really move the world forward. I think any system, as long as it keeps you disciplined and gets done what you say you’re going to get done, is fine. And I think the simple ones really work.”

For most people who run businesses themselves, it’s true, too many of them waste time perfecting productivity systems instead of just getting things done.

Here’s the truth:

Those fancy apps and colorful calendars might feel like they’re helping, but they often just make you tired of making decisions and lead to putting things off.

When you think about it - if your system gets too complicated, you end up spending more energy keeping track of your tasks than actually doing them.

The simpler your approach, the less time you waste organizing everything.

Otherwise, you’ll find yourself busy with lots of “urgent” tasks that don’t really matter in the big picture.

The brutally simple solution?

Write down your tasks. A simple list keeps you focused and clears mental clutter.

Circle the most important task. Not the easiest or most urgent, the one that actually moves you forward.

Do that task first. No excuses. No distractions. Just execute.

This works because when you write things down, you can see what matters and remember it better.

It helps clear your mind, so you don’t waste time juggling priorities in your head, and it trains you to focus on what really moves your life forward.

Just a notebook and pen is all you need.

But we are living in the Digital Age, so even with simplicity, a little tech can help.

I’ve tried many apps, but Todoist is a great alternative to keep your tasks simple, clear and actionable.

That’s the one I’m still using for now, over 4 years.

If you're curious, here's how it works.

Whatever it is, the pen and paper, or Todoist, either way, keep it simple!

So Sam Altman got it right.

When we try to make things too fancy, we end up doing less. The people who actually finish things? They keep it simple.

Cheers,

Minosh.

TalkBitz Newsletter

Business and marketing insights from smart founders, researched and handed to you every Thursday.

Read more from TalkBitz Newsletter

Every business advice article says the same thing. Run a discount. Offer a freebie. Set up a referral bonus. Get people in the door. And I get why it feels right. When you’re just at the starting phase of your business, you need customers, and you figure a little reward will push people over the line. It’s what you see big brands do. So you copy it. Here’s the thing, though. There’s actual science behind why this backfires, and not a small thing either. It’s called the overjustification...

There’s a grey metal box sitting outside millions of American homes right now. It keeps the house cool. It also looks terrible, stuck right in the middle of a patio someone just spent $4,000 renovating. People search “how to hide AC unit outside” and end up with a rabbit hole of ugly $20 plastic covers that somehow look worse than the unit itself. That search, right there, is the business. Here’s the thing. A lot of people hear “sell decorative AC covers” and think it sounds too simple, or...

There’s a guy on Reddit who built a scraper that watches Craigslist for used cars priced way below market. The moment one shows up, he gets an alert. He started flipping cars on the side and eventually turned the scraper into a paid tool. Cool story. But most of us have no idea how to build one. So I started thinking, what’s the version of this idea that doesn’t need any code? And I think I found it. Flipping stuff from Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist is a real side hustle. People make a...