How Eli Broad Works 24/7--And Still Gets 8 Hours Of Sleep Every Night

Lessons from Eli Broad,  the philanthropist and founder of KB Home.  Broad featured his expertise in this Fast Company piece.

• I try to be in control of all of my time--from the first hours after I wake, to the slower hours before bed, to all those little minutes that get eaten up by idle chatter during meetings. Being stingy with your time is the key to working 24/7 but still getting 8 hours of sleep, as I do almost every night. The best way to take control of your time is to know what you must do.
• I also know I’m happiest when my work and my life feel like one and the same, not like two opposites to be balanced. I am a workaholic because I consider everything I do part of my work. It’s one reason I put our family name on buildings. I’m proud of what I do in the office and outside it.
• Anyone in any job can narrow his or her task list to the one that really matters. That’s the job that should get your greatest--in fact, undivided--attention. It’s the decision you want to make at your most alert moments. It’s the task that earns you your salary, pays for your free time, determines the success of your company, and--when you do it right--makes you feel the most capable and proud.

• Without adequate rest, it’s hard to take a disciplined approach to using your time or to setting priorities, which is what makes effective use of your time possible.
• Prioritizing isn’t just about making a list and checking off the boxes. It is something you should be doing constantly. Circumstances change throughout the day--emergency meetings are called, colleagues dream up new initiatives, a sudden inspiration comes to you at the coffeemaker--and your priorities can’t stay rigid. Be flexible but also keep in mind what’s most important.
• Find the best people to whom you can delegate, and know their strengths and weaknesses. If you think you can do it better, delegate anyway and try as hard as you can to close that gap by giving your colleague or employee the right feedback. Then recognize and accept that just because someone does something a little differently than you would, that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. What counts is that your goals get accomplished at a sufficient level of quality.
• As much as I value my time, I value everyone else’s too. A lot of executives act like their time is worth more than anyone else’s. But I always respect an employee who guards his or her time, even from me. I start meetings punctually, and if I don’t, I apologize. When I say, “Let’s move on”--and you should try saying it a lot more--I’m protecting my time and yours.