Meetings should earn their seat

Codie Sanchez questions whether every person in a meeting actually needs to be there. She sees meetings as a scarce resource that wastes time if people attend who don't need to.

“Meetings should only be for people who need to be in them, because nobody wants more meetings than you need.”

Anyone can leave anytime

At Sanchez's company, employees can exit any meeting if they feel they're not needed there. It's not rude; it's maximizing efficiency so people can focus on their actual work.

Cut agenda items without apology

Sanchez will push back on meeting topics by asking if they really need discussion or should be sidelined. She sees this directness as saving time, not being rude.

“So it's more important to be efficient than sugar coat it and be nice.”

No meetings before 10 a.m.

Sanchez protects her mornings for deep thinking work when her brain is sharpest. By evening, decision fatigue sets in, making her less effective at complex problem-solving.

“My brain's smarter in the morning than it is in the evening.”

Good decisions beat hard work

Sanchez credits most of her career success to making good decisions, not grinding harder. She follows Elon Musk's approach of avoiding status meetings to focus on solving big problems.

Optimize everything, including yourself

Sanchez uses a virtual assistant for calendar reminders, a red light to stay alert, and a treadmill for calls. She sets timers to maintain focus, treating her own productivity like a business process.