What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast by Laura Vanderkam

Summary

What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast by Laura Vanderkam explores the strategies high-achievers use to maximize their mornings. Vanderkam emphasizes that mornings are a crucial window for productivity, reflection, and self-improvement before the day's demands begin. The book provides actionable advice on building powerful habits and routines that set the tone for the entire day. Readers learn how to prioritize personal goals, invest in themselves, and create more meaningful mornings.

Life-Changing Lessons

  1. Investing in yourself first thing in the morning boosts productivity and personal growth.

  2. Creating consistent morning routines leads to long-term success by automating good habits.

  3. Using mornings for activities like exercise, planning, and personal projects can transform your entire day.

Publishing year and rating

The book was published in: 2012

AI Rating (from 0 to 100): 82

Practical Examples

  1. Exercise before work

    Vanderkam suggests making exercise a non-negotiable morning priority. Successful people often schedule workouts early before distractions arise, ensuring they consistently reap health and energy benefits throughout the day.

  2. Strategic planning time

    Allocating morning time for focused planning allows individuals to set clear intentions and prioritize tasks for the day. Vanderkam highlights how some executives use mornings for mapping out objectives, which leads to better decision-making.

  3. Personal projects first

    Working on creative or personal projects in the morning taps into fresh mental energy. Authors and entrepreneurs, Vanderkam argues, often devote early hours to writing, brainstorming, or advancing side ventures—before emails and meetings consume their attention.

  4. Quality family time

    Some successful people dedicate mornings for connecting with their families, such as shared breakfasts or conversations. Vanderkam observes this time strengthens relationships and grounds individuals ahead of busy days.

  5. Meditation or reflection

    Practicing mindfulness, prayer, or journaling in the morning can accelerate personal development. Vanderkam showcases leaders who prioritize reflection, gaining clarity and resilience before heading into work.

  6. Reading and learning

    Reading nonfiction, industry news, or educational material early primes the mind for growth. Vanderkam notes that gathering new information in the morning builds confidence and keeps skills sharp.

  7. Limiting technology use

    Vanderkam recommends avoiding emails and social media first thing. By reclaiming this time for intentional activities, individuals prevent outside demands from dictating their mornings.

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