Cyber Monday Sale! 50% Off All Access

The Motivating Morning Routines of 4 Successful Sharks We asked the judges on 'Shark Tank' to share how they prep for the day even before that first sip of coffee.

By Jonathan Small

Tara Moore | Getty Images

Even if you're not a "morning person," you should consider adopting a morning routine before you start the grind of your workday. A routine sets the tone for the day because you're beginning each morning getting something accomplished. Morning routines also help you save mental energy by limiting the number of decisions you need to make before breakfast.

Related: 10 Simple Things Successful People Do Every Morning (Infographic)

Morning routines are all the rage with super successful entrepreneurs, including Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Tim Ferriss and many of the Shark Tank judges. Some of them shared their routines with Entrepreneur.

Kevin O’Leary

"Before I go to sleep, I write down three things that I have to get done the next morning before I take a call, write a text or an email or talk to anyone else except my family. And they can be random things, like 'call your daughter at school and ask about whether she's done this or that' or 'close a deal.' What I found was once you get those three things done, the rest of your day becomes amazingly productive."

Barbara Corcoran

"I get up, brush my teeth, feed my little puppy, get my daughter out to school and then I work out for an hour. If I have a little bit of time, I go out and I weed my garden. That's instead of a shrink, because it gets rid of all my problems."

Related: 5 Habits of the Wealthy That Helped Them Get Rich

Daymond John

"In my next book, Rise and Grind, I studied 20 people who are wildly successful to know what they do in the first and last 90 minutes of their day. Some of the things I learned, I still do today.

"For example, I always read my goals when I wake up in the morning. I used to work out in the evening because I wanted to decompress, but after talking to people from my book I started to work out every single morning. I've become hungrier and more driven. I even discovered that working out in the morning shortened my work week because it made me more productive."

Related: How to Manage Time With 10 Tips That Work

Rohan Oza

"Apple cider vinegar, matcha latte and a ONE Bar Almond Bliss protein bar."

Jonathan Small

Entrepreneur Staff

Founder, Strike Fire Productions

Jonathan Small is a bestselling author, journalist, producer, and podcast host. For 25 years, he has worked as a sought-after storyteller for top media companies such as The New York Times, Hearst, Entrepreneur, and Condé Nast. He has held executive roles at Glamour, Fitness, and Entrepreneur and regularly contributes to The New York Times, TV Guide, Cosmo, Details, Maxim, and Good Housekeeping. He is the former “Jake” advice columnist for Glamour magazine and the “Guy Guru” at Cosmo.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Fundraising

They Turned Down an Early Pay Day to Maintain Control of Their Business. And Then Went on to Raise $190 Million.

Jason Yeh, co-founder and General Partner of Patron, explains the early-stage venture firm's creation and future outlook.

Business News

'This Company Has Been My Life': Intel CEO Retires, Reportedly Forced Out

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger has led the company since February 2021 and said his departure is "bittersweet."

Business News

'I Stand By My Decisions': A CEO Is Going Viral For Firing Almost All of the Company's Employees — Here's Why

The Musicians Club CEO Baldvin Oddsson fired 99 workers at once over Slack for missing a morning meeting. But there's a catch.

Real Estate

Why Real Estate Should Be a Key Part of Your Wealth-Building Strategy in 2025 and Beyond

Real estate remains a strong choice for building wealth in 2025 and beyond, from its ability to generate passive income to offering long-term appreciation and acting as a hedge against inflation.

Franchise

Subway's CEO Steps Down Amid a Major Transition for the Sandwich Giant

John Chidsey will step down at the end of 2024, marking the close of a transformative five-year tenure.

Marketing

How to Beat the Post-Holiday Sales Slump and Crush Your Q1 Goals

Overcome the post-holiday sales slump and keep the momentum strong with these key tips.