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What's the Last Thing You Do Every Day?
How do some of the world's busiest entrepreneurs, including Sir Richard Branson, unwind after a tough day and prepare for the next? Whether it's a kiss goodnight or watching History Channel documentaries, the members of our Board of Directors share the details of their nightly routines.
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For all the talk about the carefree lives of entrepreneurs, they tend to be a pretty disciplined bunch. After all, when you're your own boss, not having a set routine can quickly lead to chaos.A few months ago, we asked our Board of Directors a simple, personal question -- "What's the first thing you do every day?" From coffee with their spouses to exercising to 100-mile motorcycle rides, their responses were very telling and offered a window into their personalities and how they approach their lives as business leaders. As it turns out, they all have some kind of regular routine, even if the substance of their individual routines varies greatly. Could the morning habits of these very successful entrepreneurs help others reach their own success, we wondered?
The answer, it seems, is yes. This particular feature struck a chord with you, our readers -- generating dozens and dozens of comments from those eager to weigh in and share their own morning routines.
So, with that in mind, we've decided to revisit the topic, from a slightly different perspective. Now that we know how these busy CEOs get fired up for their busy days, we asked them about the last things they do every day -- how they unwind, relax and prepare for another day in the trenches. As before, we think their answers will intrigue you, and maybe make you laugh. (We're looking at you, Sir Richard!)
Richard Branson
Founder and President, Virgin Group
"I think I drag my wife to bed, still! I can't think of anything better to do at the end of the day."
Rob Dyrdek
President, Dyrdek Enterprises
"I watch the History Channel. That is an actual fact. I really feel like nothing decompresses me more than watching random television. No matter what, I go to bed each night watching something obscure, from catacombs in France -- just the most random shit -- and fall asleep to it every night. I try to go to bed without thinking of any of the madness that I'm involved in."
Eric Ryan
Co-Founder and Chief Brand Architect, Method
"I have two traditions that I typically end my day with and they both involve the iPad. First, I'll check my calendar and to-do list to help put the next day in perspective and hopefully make it a little easier to sleep. I then read The Wall Street Journal on the iPad, which allows me to finally read in the dark without waking up my wife. It reminds me of reading under the covers with a flashlight as a kid, but with a really slick interface instead of a comic book."
Jennifer Hill
Chairwoman, Astia NYC Advisory Board
"Take two minutes to stretch, align my posture and think of the three things that I am grateful for and proud of today. (Yes, I really do this.) It sends me off to sleep peacefully and with positive thoughts."
Bob Parsons
Founder and CEO, The Go Daddy Group
"Actually, I do two things. I give my wife a hug and kiss goodnight, and tell her how much I love her. Then, just before I close my eyes, I think about how I can improve my golf swing."
Warren Brown
Founder, CakeLove and Love Café
"Workday? Check my mobile for any bomb-like e-mails and texts. I don't like to reply to heavy stuff too late in the day. On workdays, I listen to Marketplace on the radio. Weekends are for family if I'm at home and not at the bakery -- only big problems get me moving."
Gary Whitehill
Founder, The Relentless Foundation and New York Entrepreneur Week
"Stream through the days tweets for inspiring stories and quotes to re-tweet, as well as acknowledge the followers who've re-tweeted the content I've streamed throughout the day."
Julie Jumonville
Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, UpSpring Baby
"I make a task list of the things that need to carry over and be accomplished the following day. By making this list, I can go home, cook dinner, put the electronic gadgets down and enjoy my family."
Steve Strauss
Columnist and Author of The Small Business Bible
"The last work thing I do is check on the last few e-mails. The last thing I do is tell my girls goodnight with an old Yiddish saying that my mom used to say to us -- 'Zagezent, Shlufgazent, Stayfgazent.' Roughly translated, it means, 'Sleep well, dream well, be well.'"
Tate Chalk
Founder and CEO, Nfinity
"The last thing I do is make a list of the top six things I am going to get done tomorrow (because five is too few and I will never get to eight), then I set down and pray to God. I thank Him for the wonderful life I have and for wisdom and courage (never patience). Wisdom to know what to do tomorrow and the courage to do it. Then I kiss my wife goodnight and thank her for being so fantastic. And then it's lights out."
Lawrence Gelburd
Lecturer, The Wharton School
"Put out my exercise clothes for the morning."
Phil Town
Investor and Author of Rule #1 and Payback Time
"I read Melissa to sleep. Lately, its been my umpteenth time through Atlas Shrugged. She makes it through about one page a night before my monotone knocks her out cold. It's a gift."
Tom Szaky
Founder, TerraCycle
"Try to put everything into perspective, as that never seems to happen during the day."
Rob Adams
Director, Texas Venture Labs at the University of Texas
"Try to unwind -- read, watch a DVRed TV show, do something artistic -- something to decompress from the day."
Clint Greenleaf
Founder and CEO, Greenleaf Book Group
"It's all about family time. I have to, at some point, put work aside and focus on my wife and daughters."
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Of all of these famous people, only one thanked God....
But they ALL are patting themsevles on their own backs! So, I guess they have thanked God, the only God they really beleive in...themsevles!
INDEED. HE'S WHAT MAKES THE WORLD GO 'ROUND FROM DAY 1. HE PROVIDES EVERYTHING AND THEN LETS YOU CHOOSE. I TALK ABOUT THAT IN MY SITES' FAQ.
PAUL
You guys have to get over the fact that not everyone thanks God for every little thing that happens in their life. If he is responsable for the good, wouldn't he also be responsable for the bad? I don't believe this. I believe that we make our own way. I am where I am today because of MY hard work, my long hours and sacrifice, not Gods.
Wow you holy rollers can be so harsh! You need to ask yourselves, "WWJD"? I doubt he would be smug and assume that they only think of themselves as God. Wouldn't that be judging. ARE YOU NOT SUPPOSED TO JUDGE? HYPOCRITES!!! And you PAULALLEN, way to sneak in a little advertising for yourself. This is why I don't associate with religious nuts!
I just love how christians are the first to judge every time!
Here is what Millionaires sitting on the side lines should invest in; Invest in an Inventor, Designer of new ideas and products. Set an amout you are willing to risk, bring in more investors to spread out the risk for stage one: Development and Protection. You may need a Shop of tools, Raw materials, and a talanted crew eger to get the job done. Picking out an idea/project; I want to be clear, If you would buy one of there ideas if you saw it on a store shelf then that idea / invention is for you. Yes, I am an Inventor / designer of future products and I know if I have a millionaire in my life today, we would be adding jobs to our country and I would become debt free. Yea, I have debt from building working prototypes, of some in my catalog of future products. So, invest in America and do the work to prefect the idea, then, protect it, market test it and produce it... I know it is the next Gold Rush for America. Copy this investment idea, and talk about it with your family. Inventors are everywhere in your town and some have them in there own families. Talk with them, you just might uncover a Gold Mine. Good Luck. CamelotCreations@aol.com
intresting in so much as what the have made it do more intresting would be what thoses who are in the prosess of making it do ?
Let me know how that works out for you. Thank God for the scientist that are going to heal people like your mom someday! I doubt that you will get a miracle, why heal her and not a 3 month old baby with cancer, or a priest with a bad ticker. But eveyday that you get to spend with your mom is a miracle in itself.
There really is no end and no beginning to my days since I am a 24/7, at-home, live-in caregiver to my amazing and beautiful mom who is a stroke survivor. We sleep in the same bedroom so that I am right there near her for whatever she needs; every two hours throughout every night I get up out of bed and reposition her and make sure she is comfortable in her hospital bed. But I do the exact same thing I do before I get into bed at night that I do when I get out of bed for the day...I get on my knees in front of a crucifix we have hanging on a wall in our living room and I bow my head and I thank God for all my blessings and I ask Him to heal my mom and to help me to utilize the gifts He has blessed me with so that I can financially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually provide for all of my mom's needs ~ all the alternative and effective therapy that is not covered by Medicare or her supplemental insurance and all her daily care needs. I ask God to put someone on our life's path who needs to hire a virtual writer so that I can take care of all our bills, get my mom the best therapy possible, help other stroke survivors, and catch my breath. There is no start and no end to my days. My moments are filled with laughter, gratitude, faith, prayer, and love.
We don't know this. But I agree, good employee's don't get thanked enough. Many boss's assume that they are getting paid for what they do but let me tell you as a small business owner, good help is so so hard to find. With common sense almost extinct and the average joe wanting $20 an hour to do nothing all day it's though. I never stop appreciating my good help.
Not one of them gave thanks to the outstanding jobs their employees do on a regular basis keeping the business running. Very telling.
As I put my head on my pillow I thank God for my 94 years of the good and the bad. I ask for Faith to replace doubt, known or unrecognized errors in my relationship with family and associates and finally ask how I may serve, if asked, tomorrow. I go to sleep remembering those who have preceeded me. T. J. Dillon, M.D.
hey robert how's about ENGLISH