WHAT’S YOUR MORNING ROUTINE?
Six go-getters reveal the way they start their day
By Arianne Cohen
COURTESY THE SUBJECT
BRIAN TYLER
Composer, Iron Man 3 41, Los Angeles
Bedtime: 3:00 a.m.
3:00 a.m.
I’m usually on vampire hours. This is when I leave my music studio to get some sleep.
9:00 a.m.
Nap over. Grab some eggs and toast.
9:30 a.m.
Try—emphasize try—to hit the gym, which is attached to the studio.
10:45 a.m.
Sit down at the piano and compose. There’s no excuse, since that piano works even in a power outage.
MARTHA STEWART
Founder and chairman, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia 71, Bedford, N.Y.
Bedtime: 12:00 a.m.
5:00 a.m.
Wake up with the sun.
5:15 a.m.
Work out with a trainer.
6:15 a.m.
Shower.
6:30 a.m.
Feed myriad animals.
7:00 a.m.
Drink green juice while checking e-mails and blogs.
7:30 a.m.
Get in the car to New York with one cappuccino. Read the New York Times and do the crossword.
8:15 a.m.
Arrive at desk.
DANIELLE FORSYTH
Chief executive officer, Thetus 53, Portland, Ore.
Bedtime: 10:00 p.m.
5:30 a.m.
Wake up, put on my running clothes, and jump on my computer to make sure there were no overnight emergencies.
5:45 a.m.
Leash up my golden retriever, Hobbes, put on my GPS watch, and do a 3- to 5-mile run.
6:30 a.m.
Shower.
6:45 a.m.
Work from home. I always try to get one project done in the morning, like a presentation or product plan review.
8:00 a.m.
Juice and a yogurt.
8:10 a.m.
Walk a mile to work.
8:30 a.m.
Arrive at the office ready to go.
BRIAN BEITLER
Executive vice president and chief marketing officer, David’s Bridal 40, Chester Springs, Pa.
Bedtime: 12:15 a.m.
5:45 a.m.
Start the day with personal scripture study.
6:00 a.m.
A 10-minute strength-training routine of push-ups, curls, and crunches.
6:45 a.m.
Shower. Use the Pulse iPad app to get an overview from the papers and trade publications.
7:00 a.m.
Quick breakfast of cold cereal and fruit while I look at David’s Bridal’s daily sales results and review competitors’ e-mail offers.
7:30 a.m.
I have a 30-minute drive in. I collect my thoughts from the morning’s research and mentally plan the day.
8:00 a.m.
At my desk.
KIRSTEN GAREN
Chief information officer, Bank of the West 51, San Francisco
Bedtime: 11:00 p.m.
6:00 a.m.
I check the headlines and any urgent e-mails.
6:45 a.m.
Dressed and sipping coffee.
7:20 a.m.
My teens and I sync up our schedules for the day and plan for dinner together.
7:30 a.m.
I use my 40-minute commute to enjoy my favorite music, like the Black Eyed Peas, in between conference calls, voice mails, and a few bites of yogurt.
7:45 a.m.
I have to admit it: I am energized as the sun rises over San Francisco Bay.
8:10 a.m.
Reach the office, eager to get going.
CHARLES MOCHI
Founder and chief executive officer, Xvolve 28, San Francisco
Bedtime: 10:00 p.m.
6:00 a.m.
I always wake up early. It gives me time to get ready for the day.
6:30 a.m.
Drink five or six cups of loose-leaf green tea and eat several pieces of fruit with some bread and peanut butter.
7:00 a.m.
See what’s going on in Japan on Facebook and read what my employees there are up to—most of their posts are business-related.
7:30 a.m.
Meditate about where I’m at, my vision, and how I can work toward that.
8:00 a.m.
Shower and get dressed.
9:00 a.m.
Bike to work.
10:00 a.m.
Start the day in the office with energy and purpose.