Calendars reflect how we spend our day, time, and, therefore, our lives. It’s a diary of sorts, really. So, I thought it would be fascinating to study successful people’s calendars to see how they execute their day — and see if we can study the patterns to glean some insight into the archetypes of successful people. I watched (and really enjoyed!) BOB IGER’S MASTERCLASS, where he teaches Business Strategy and Leadership. Here’s what I learned about how he structures his day —
Structuring The Day —
4:15 AM — WORKOUT — It’s the first thing he does. In solitude. In a darkened room. Listening to music. The TV is on, but no sound. He says he uses music to almost meditate in a way. This is when he thinks about things and describes it as his most creative time. One of his cardinal rules is to NOT check email before he workouts — as that can be mood-changing, and he needs this time to be like a cleanse — and to have clarity of thought.
6:30 AM — ARRIVES AT THE OFFICE — He likes to be the first one there — he likes to “turn on the lights and make the coffee.” This way, he can ease into the day and avoid getting bombarded by external forces. He says, while cliche, the early bird really does get the worm. Showing up early – gives him more solitude. He can get to his desk and get organized in his thoughts and agenda creation. It’s also an opportunity to be prepared for the day and, in some cases, more than anyone else because he is putting in the time.
8:00 AM — 4:00 PM — MEETINGS, MEETINGS, MEETINGS
4:30 PM — HEADS HOME EARLY — Getting to work early gives him the opportunity to come home at a reasonable hour. He intentionally takes himself out of work and into the other, but very important, part of his life — his family. He still has a son at home and has raised four children over the years. He likes to be home for dinner and sit down with his family.
8:00 PM —10:00 PM — “HOMEWORK” — After dinner and the evening routine with his family, his kids go to sleep or do their homework, and he puts in a couple more hours of work himself.
10:00 PM — PUTS IT ALL AWAY — He’ll put work away and then read or watch a tv show — to get some distance from his job before he heads to bed.
Bob Iger’s Advice —
- Have a daily routine.
- Prioritize a quiet time every day.
- Make a checklist of tasks.
- Reflect on the things you’ve accomplished.
- Allow time for creativity and creative thinking.
Key Takeaways —
+ I love that Bob Iger gets up EARLY. Like, really early! Most people say they want to be successful, but they don’t want it badly; they just kind of want it. Most people don’t want to be successful as bad as they want to SLEEP.
+ I love that he gets to the office before everyone else — even as the CEO — to enjoy the quiet solitude, get organized, and put in the work. Hard work WORKS. Working really hard is what successful people do. REMEMBER THAT.
+ I love that he leaves at 4:30 PM (!!!!) to be home with his family. It breaks the narrative that you must miss dinner with your kids to succeed. Bob Iger is one of the most successful CEOs in history — if you use your time effectively, make time for focus and, okay, wake up early, you too can hold sacred dinner time with your family.
+ I love that he’s transparent about having to spend a couple of hours at night to finish getting his work done. No excuse. No complaints — he gets it done, but on his timing.
+ I love that he has a nighttime routine — to unwind and get himself in a mental space to get a good night’s sleep. It’s impossible to work up until the minute you go to sleep. He has a healthy evening routine that allows him to get space from his job, take a deep breath, and then get to bed.
How do you structure your day? Did you learn something? If you like the idea of this series? I’d love to know!
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