I’ve always been fascinated by the routines of highly successful people. CEOs of major companies manage massive teams and make decisions worth billions. How do they get it all done? Their days must be packed with secret productivity hacks that unlock some next-level efficiency. I decided to put this theory to the test. I researched the most talked-about productivity methods from top executives and committed to trying five of them for a week. My goal was to see what was genuinely effective and what was corporate hype. 

The Two-Pizza Rule (Jeff Bezos)

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, famously implemented the "Two-Pizza Rule" for meetings. The concept is simple: never have a meeting where two pizzas couldn't feed the entire group. This isn't about catering, but keeping teams small and efficient. Smaller groups are believed to lead to more productive discussions and less groupthink.

My Experience:

I applied this principle to my own collaborative work for a week. Instead of inviting the entire team to every brainstorming session, I limited a project update meeting to three key people. The difference was immediate. With fewer voices, everyone had a chance to speak and contribute meaningfully. We got to the core of the issues faster without getting sidetracked by too many opinions. It felt more like a focused conversation than a formal, unproductive gathering.

The Verdict: It Works (with a catch).

This is a fantastic rule for decision-making and creative sessions. However, it's not practical for company-wide announcements or informational meetings where the goal is to disseminate information to a large audience.

  • What helped: Forced me to think critically about who really needed to be in a meeting.
  • The outcome: Shorter, more focused meetings that produced clear action items.
  • Best for: Problem-solving, brainstorming, and any meeting where a decision needs to be made.

Time Blocking (Elon Musk)

Elon Musk reportedly plans his entire day in five-minute blocks. Every task, from answering emails to holding meetings, gets a dedicated slot on his calendar. This method, known as time blocking, is designed to help you be more intentional with your time and prevent multitasking. By assigning a job to every minute of your day, you leave no room for wasted time.

My Experience:

This was the most intense hack I tried. I sat down on Sunday night and planned my entire week, blocking out time for specific projects, emails, lunch, and even short breaks. The first day was a struggle. An unexpected phone call threw my whole schedule off, and I felt stressed trying to catch up. By the third day, however, I found a rhythm. I learned to block in "buffer time" for unexpected tasks. The biggest benefit was a huge reduction in decision fatigue. I didn't have to wonder what to work on next; my calendar told me exactly what to do.

The Verdict: Incredibly Effective, But Requires Flexibility.

The five-minute increment is extreme for most people, but the core principle of time blocking is a game-changer.

  • What helped: It eliminated the "what should I do now?" limbo, keeping me on task.
  • The outcome: I accomplished significantly more deep work because I had dedicated, uninterrupted time for it.
  • How to make it work: Start with larger 30- or 60-minute blocks and include buffer time for unexpected interruptions.

The Five-Hour Rule (Bill Gates & Warren Buffett)

The Five-Hour Rule is a concept popularized by many top performers, including Bill Gates. It involves setting aside at least five hours a week (or one hour each workday) for deliberate learning. This isn't directly related to your current tasks but is focused on acquiring new knowledge or skills. This can involve reading books, taking online courses, or experimenting with new ideas. The goal is to invest in your long-term growth.

My Experience:

I dedicated the first hour of my workday, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., to learning. I chose to read a book about user experience design, a topic related to my field but not part of my immediate projects. At first, it felt selfish. Shouldn't I be answering emails or getting a head start on my to-do list? But after a few days, I noticed a shift. I started the rest of my day feeling inspired and with a fresh perspective. The ideas I was reading about began to bleed into my other work, helping me come up with more creative solutions.

The Verdict: A Must-Do for Long-Term Growth.

This hack doesn't offer an immediate productivity boost in terms of tasks checked off a list, but its long-term value is immense.

  • What helped: It protected time for personal and professional development, which is often the first thing to go when you get busy.
  • The outcome: I felt more creative and less prone to burnout. It was like a mental warm-up for the day.
  • How to start: Block 30 minutes in your calendar each day to read an industry article, watch a tutorial, or listen to an educational podcast.

Uniform Dressing (Mark Zuckerberg)

Mark Zuckerberg is well-known for his signature grey t-shirt and jeans. This isn't a fashion statement; it's a productivity strategy. The idea is to eliminate small, trivial decisions from your morning routine to conserve mental energy for more important choices later in the day. This concept is called reducing decision fatigue.

My Experience:

I didn't go out and buy five identical outfits, but I did plan my clothes for the entire week on Sunday. Each morning, I grabbed the outfit I had already picked out. The effect was subtle but noticeable. My mornings felt calmer and less rushed. It was one less thing to think about when my brain was still waking up. Even though I didn't suddenly solve major world problems, I did start my day with a clearer mind.

The Verdict: Surprisingly Helpful.

You don't need to wear the same thing every day. The real hack is about simplifying your morning routine to preserve brainpower.

  • What helped: It removed a small but daily point of friction from my morning.
  • The outcome: I felt less frazzled and more focused as I started my workday.
  • Easy to implement: Take 10 minutes on Sunday to plan your outfits for the week.

The "No" Mindset (Steve Jobs)

Steve Jobs once said, "People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are." This productivity hack is about being fiercely protective of your time and energy by declining requests that don't align with your primary goals.

My Experience:

This was the most difficult hack to implement emotionally, but it had the biggest impact. I made a list of my top three priorities for the week. For every new request or "opportunity" that came my way, I asked myself if it directly contributed to one of those three goals. I said "no" to joining a new optional committee at work, "no" to a coffee meeting that didn't have a clear purpose, and "no" to a side project that sounded interesting but would distract me. It was uncomfortable, but it freed up an incredible amount of time and mental space.

The Verdict: The Ultimate Productivity Hack.

Saying no is a superpower. It guarantees that you are spending your most valuable resource—your attention—on the things that truly matter.

  • What helped: It provided a clear filter for making decisions about my time.
  • The outcome: I made significant progress on my most important projects because I wasn't being pulled in a dozen different directions.
  • How to do it politely: Try phrases like, "Thank you for thinking of me, but I can't commit to that right now as I'm focused on other priorities."

My Final Takeaway

After a week of living like a CEO, I realized that productivity isn't about finding one magic trick. It's about building a system of intentional habits. Time blocking and a "no" mindset had the most direct impact on my output, while the Five-Hour Rule and uniform dressing improved my focus and reduced my stress. The Two-Pizza Rule proved invaluable for making my collaborative work more effective. You don't have to be a tech billionaire to use these strategies. Start by picking one that resonates with you and see how it transforms your own workflow.