We have all read that the most successful people are early risers. It generally has to do with discipline and getting quiet time to think. It may be true for some people, but not for everyone. In the spirit of full disclosure, I’m not an early riser. On average, I get up at around 7:30 AM. I check email, eat breakfast, and try to get in a work out. I’m a late night person. People who work with me have to deal with the annoyance of regularly receiving emails or text messages at midnight or later. I must admit that I don’t follow any structured success formulas, but I am really good at a few things. Each day, I spend 2-3 hours on intensive, proactive work. This includes outgoing calls to key relationships, strategic planning, drafting proposals, and creative writing. I am also good at prioritization; I am clear on the few tasks each day that are most important and I do those first. Most importantly, I find daily time for reflection and deep thinking – something very few people do on a regular basis. Make no mistake, there aren’t any silver bullets. The lesson here is that there are many paths to success, so find what works best for you and forget what others say. Other late risers include: Bill Clinton, Mark Zuckerberg, Pharrell Williams, and Bill de Blasio
Author: Gary Acosta
Gary Acosta is an entrepreneur, public policy advocate, investor, and thought leader passionate about advancing prosperity for Latinos and other underserved communities.