HBR: What’s the secret to working so quickly and productively?

Starck: ……………, and we stay out of everything. We don’t go to dinners. We don’t go to cocktails. We don’t go to movies. We don’t watch TV. I don’t use my energy on other people. ………………. But from the 15th of June to the 15th of September, I live completely secluded, locked in one of my houses, working from 8 in the morning to 8 at night, or making my own biorhythm: work three hours, sleep 45 minutes, work three hours, sleep 45 minutes, for 24 hours, without eating. …………. 

HBR: What qualities do you look for in your clients?

Starck:………………., I decided that I wouldn’t work for weapons, alcohol, cigarette, tobacco, gambling, or oil companies or religious organizations. That’s a hard position to take, because it’s a big group, and they’re the people with the money to buy you—to buy your virginity. You can’t imagine how much money I’ve lost because of it. But I shall not change. Second, the project has to be good not just for me and the client but also for the final user. When you work for that human profit, you will have success. Third, I have to fall in love with the client. If you want beautiful children, the parents must be in love.………………….. That said, I never have dinner or lunch with them. Today I’m in Indonesia, and we’ve worked all day with three very fine, charming guys, but now it’s 7:30, and I won’t eat with them, because our only relationship is work.

As I didn’t get enough of Philippe, I went on searching for more and found this Ted Talk.Interesting stuff.