Kevin O'Leary's 3 Steve Jobs Productivity Hacks That Transformed His Life and Business

Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary credited Apple co-founder Steve Jobs with a productivity mindset that has helped transform his approach to business and life. In a post shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), O'Leary revealed a simple but powerful strategy: focus on three essential tasks each day—and block out everything else.

O'Leary recounted advice from Jobs, who emphasized identifying the 'signal' amid daily distractions. "There are three things you have to get done today, and that's the signal. Everything that stops you from doing that is the noise," he wrote. He added, "There's always somebody reaching out to you, or you wanna watch YouTube… you can't do that. You have to be 80% signal, 20% noise. That changed me forever."

Daily Execution Drives Exponential Growth

O'Leary clarified that these tasks are not vague goals but specific actions that must be completed within 18 to 24 hours to grow the business. "When you know what you gotta get done today and you do it, nothing stops you," he said. "Those three things, when completed daily, create extraordinary outcomes. And when you repeat this, your business goes geometric."

He further explained that this strategy creates a feedback loop of productivity, where each day builds momentum and drives measurable results.

Career Advice: Skip Consulting, Guard Your Wallet

O'Leary also reinforced his broader philosophy on career and financial discipline. He warned students against entering consulting, saying it can stunt entrepreneurial growth. "If you want to drift into hell on Earth, stay 24 months in a consulting firm and you are tainted meat for the rest of your life," he said during a July talk at Harvard, where he serves as an Executive Fellow.

On personal finance, he cautioned against lending money to extended family, advising that money should only be gifted once to avoid long-term complications.