When FUBU founder and CEO Daymond John, star of ABC’s Shark Tank, sat down to write his latest book Rise and Grind: Outperform, Outwork and Outhustle Your Way to a More Successful and Rewarding Life, he tackled a simple question that not many entrepreneurs take the time to fully explore: how and why are some people more successful and productive than others given that everyone has the same 24 hours in a day to work with? Everyone has their own routine, their own rituals and personal pathway to success but the question is if there’s any similarities or rules that everyone can follow?
Anyone who works in the tobacco industry knows it takes a certain mindset and personality to truly excel and find success. There’s but so much shelf space to compete for, so many hours in a day to truly hustle and make moves, so much one person can do to push the needle in their favor. While what happens in a day matters, true greatness and progress actually starts in the morning.
Thriving tobacco industry entrepreneurs know the power of mornings–a time where there may be less demands, more time for productivity and can serve as the foundation of what’s to come for the rest of the day. We asked several tobacco industry entrepreneurs about their morning routines, finding each had a completely different approach to the most vital time of the day to any and professional. Here’s how they’re spending their mornings and how you can turn those early hours of the day into your most productive and successful of the whole day.
1. Wake Up Early
Did you know there’s a correlation between waking up early, success and how much money a person makes? In a study conducted by Sleep Junkie, those who woke up early often benefited in many ways, from feeling more content with their jobs to even having a higher salary.
“I love routines and I don’t like winging it,” says Sean Knutsen, CEO of Boveda, Inc. “It’s hard to get up early but I force myself to do it because it’s just right and more productive. I start my day early. I get up at 5 a.m. on a daily basis. I try to workout 2 or 3 days a week from 5:30 a.m.-6:30 a.m. That puts me in the office at 7 a.m. every day.”
Not a morning person? The best way to ease into this habit is to simply set an alarm and force yourself not to hit the snooze button. Take a cue from your mother and make your bed once you get up. This will reduce the temptation to get back into bed once you are up.
2. Make Time for the Family
Several of the tobacco entrepreneurs we spoke to mentioned how spending time in the morning with their family was an important part of their daily routine. “If I am not on the road – caffeine, time with my son, skate, then I dig in,” says Matt Booth, founder of Room101, when asked about his own morning routine.
Business and work demands can often conflict and clash with family time but successful entrepreneurs know the importance of making time for both. While the benefits of family time for children are numerous, so are the benefits for older adults. A study conducted by NCBI found that being isolated and disconnected can lead to poor physical and mental health. Want to be more effective at work? Make family time part of your morning routine and reap the benefits.
