To be more than a 1x programmer, you have to work on things that are not the most immediate goal all the time. This isn't necessarily more effort, it's just different effort, and will not have immediate positive outcome for your company.

All the biggest and most important productivity and outcome enhancing things I've done at work have been done without management knowledge or approval.

Not at all. To be a 10x programmer you need to be lazy. Automate everything, brutally eliminate complexity, and focus 100% on what makes sense from a business point of view.

Sure, but putting more effort doesn't necessarily means working more hours. "Work smarter not harder" also applies to improving and applying yourself.