The 4 A.M. Club: How to "Succeed" Without a Personal Chef or Nanny.

You’ve seen the advice: “Wake up at 4 a.m., and you too can be a billionaire!” It sounds simple, right? Just set your alarm for an ungodly hour and you’re on your way to becoming the next Tim Cook, Oprah Winfrey, or Dwayne Johnson.

Sure, these icons are up before sunrise, tackling their to-do lists, and probably bench pressing a small car before breakfast. But here’s what the articles often leave out—and what I’m curious about (even though I already know the answer): Are they doing it alone?

When Tim Cook wakes up at 3:45 a.m., he’s not also packing school lunches, doing laundry, and negotiating with a toddler about why cereal cannot, in fact, be eaten in the living room. When Oprah meditates at sunrise, she’s not worrying about squeezing in a grocery run between meetings. And when Dwayne Johnson hits the gym at 4 a.m., he’s probably not thinking about cleaning the bathroom.

For most of us, waking up at 4 a.m. doesn’t make us billionaires—it just makes us zombies. Many of us are just trying to get eight hours of sleep between work, family, and the occasional Netflix binge.

The Illusion

Then there are the influencers. They post photos of their perfect 5 a.m. breakfasts with hashtags like #RiseAndGrind, making you feel like you’re missing out. But let’s be honest, they’re often selling an image, not reality. Their success isn’t just about waking up early; it’s about building a brand around the idea that early rising is the secret to their success.

Real People, Real Routines

Meanwhile, there’s a whole world of people out there—people you know—who are getting things done without the fanfare. They wake up early not to meditate or read business books, but because their kids need breakfast and a ride to school. They’re the night shift workers who don’t have the luxury of a morning routine, yet still manage to care for their families and communities. They’re the volunteers who rise at dawn, not for a jog, but to serve meals at the local shelter.

These people don’t have time to post about their routines on social media because they’re too busy living their lives—lives filled with responsibilities that can’t be outsourced or neatly scheduled into a morning block. They might not have a million followers or billions in the bank, but they’re making a real impact, one small, often unrecognized act at a time.

Finding Your Own Rhythm

Success isn’t about the hour you wake up, the number of emails you send before breakfast, or how many followers you have on Instagram. It’s about finding a routine that works for you—one that fits your life, your responsibilities, and your goals. Maybe you’re most productive after the kids are in bed, or maybe you hit your stride mid-morning after a solid breakfast and a cup of coffee. Success is personal, and it’s okay if your path doesn’t look like the carefully curated routines of billionaires or influencers. In the end, it’s about what you do with your time, not the hour you wake up.

And sometimes, hitting snooze is exactly what you need.

Author's Note: The content above reflects my personal reflections and observations. It’s meant to offer a different perspective on role models and the nature of success. I understand the irony of posting about the hype of waking up early while you’re reading this at... well, any time of day. So, feel free to hit snooze and come back to it later!