The Silence Before Dawn

Does success lie in the quieter hours?

There are a couple of events that made me think about writing this particular post.

Firstly, the feature picture, it might look a tad familiar as I posted it on my timeline not that long ago and it received so many comments on and off line.

Secondly, Caroline Walton - Executive Leader tagged me into a recent post, and how amazing is this, dolphins at dawn, life doesn't get much better.

Thirdly, a conversation with Roy Ripper , who a good few years back, I and the team joined as part of a programme and challenge that even Roy said he considered was a 'brutal' initiative!

As you might already know, I have a couple of dogs and every morning after some initial meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, the next thing for me is to take them out, this is typically between 6.30 and 7.30am.

In the darker winter months I am usually back home before, or, as the sun starts to rise but on the above picture day, I had an offsite meeting which meant I left the house a little later than usual and on the way back was met with the most beautiful frosty morning and sunrise.

It got me thinking about the 5am Club, a phenomenon linked to high-achieving individuals who swear by rising before the rest of the world, this list includes famous business leaders, thought leaders and high performers; Tim Cook reportedly wakes up at 3:45 am to get ahead of emails and fit in a workout before work, Richard Branson, starts his day around 5:00 am, beginning with exercise before diving into work, Michelle Obama, is known to wake up at 4:30 am to fit in a workout before the day starts and Oprah Winfrey, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kobe Bryant are other advocates.

Leading Before the World Wakes

It can seem like life becomes ever more demanding and finding time for reflection and strategic thinking is more challenging than ever. Yet, many of the world’s most successful leaders have discovered that those extra hours before dawn can be a game-changer.

The success of the 5am club seems not to lie in the extra hours alone, after all many entrepreneurs and business leaders will not be shy of hard work or, long hours. The 5am, or earlier start seems more about the creation of space for uninterrupted focus. In those early moments, when distractions are minimal and the world is quiet, you have the perfect opportunity to set the tone for the day. Whether it’s planning your agenda, engaging in meditation, or fitting in a workout, you’re not just making time; you’re making a commitment to yourself and your vision.

For leaders, performance and success, clarity and focus are paramount. The calm of the early morning can help clear mental clutter, allowing you to prioritise what truly matters. A simple routine, quiet reflection, movement, and setting key goals can boost productivity and inspire those around you.

Of course, not everyone is built for a 5am start, as Roy said it can be a brutal exercise to start the day, and I have to admit that a few years back when we first did the challenge I would often set my alarm to make the challenge check in, only to go back to bed for a snooze...not the best and I realise I was only cheating myself at the time. Today I tend to rise between 530 and 6am but I am certainly noticing that I enjoy this early time more and more, and am gradually setting a mildly earlier start time as the weeks and months pass by.

What about you, I would love to learn what the average is for the business leaders, C-suite and Directors across my network, what time do you usually wake up?

Please do vote on the poll.

POLL: What time do you wake up? Take the poll click here.

?? Before 5am

? 5-6am

?? 6-7am

?? 7-8am

Do you have any thoughts, or comments, where do you find your most productive hours in the early morning, or does success for you lie elsewhere in the day?

I help CEOs, COOs, HRDs and business leaders improve the diversity, success and retention of their new leadership hires, providing recruitment consultancy and Executive Search services. Helping you deliver a much improved performance and ROI. If you are considering a key strategic , or confidential hire and would like to talk more about your unique challenges and to see if I might be a future resource for you. Book a call today.