Why successful people wake up early. 5 business leaders who start their day before 6am
- Team Gridmoves
- Nov 23, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 17, 2025
There is something powerful about being awake when the world is still. Between 3 am and 6 am, the noise has not begun, the emails have not started, and the pace of the day has not taken over. These hours are a mental head start. A quiet advantage. A space where clarity settles before distraction rises.
Many of the world’s most successful leaders and thinkers rely on these early hours. Not for workouts or trends, but for focused thought, strategic planning, and mental steadiness. Below are five business-minded early risers who use the quiet hours to strengthen their mind before the day begins.
1. Bob Iger
Wake-up time: around 4.30 am
Former CEO of The Walt Disney Company
Bob Iger uses the early morning for quiet productivity. He has described this window as a time when he can work without interruption and get ahead before his schedule becomes intense.
What he says:
“It is a time of day when I can be very productive without too much interruption.”
2. Sallie Krawcheck
Wake-up time: around 4.00 am
Co-founder of Ellevest
For Sallie Krawcheck, 4 am is peak clarity. She chooses these hours to do her best thinking, make decisions, and focus without noise or demands on her attention.
What she says:
“I am never more productive than I am at 4 a.m.”
3. Kara Goldin
Wake-up time: around 5.30 am
Founder of Hint Water
Kara Goldin gets up at 5.30 am every day to look ahead. She checks her calendar, reviews emails, and prepares her mind for what is coming.
What she says:
“I am up at 5:30 a.m. on the dot… to look over my calendar, catch up on unread emails.”
4. Ted Leonsis
Wake-up time: around 5.00 am
Entrepreneur and investor
Ted Leonsis believes that earlier equals clearer. He uses the morning for planning, thinking, and setting the tone for how he will lead that day.
What he says:
“The earlier I get up, the more productive I become.”
5. Evan Spiegel
Wake-up time: around 5.00 am
Co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc.
For Evan Spiegel, early mornings are sacred. They are the only time where he gets a quiet mind and personal space to think about his vision, his ideas, and his next moves.
What he says:
“I get up really early, because that is the only time that is Evan time for me, when people are not really awake yet. I get a couple hours to do whatever I want to do.”
5 reasons why these successful people wake up early
Many people wonder why successful people wake up early, and the truth is that clarity and discipline often begin in the quiet hours.
✅ 1. Clarity before noise
They use these hours to think without interruptions, distractions, or demands from others.
✅ 2. Early mental advantage
They get a head start on decision-making and strategy before their schedule becomes intense.
✅ 3. Focused productivity
Tasks that need concentration are easier when the world is still asleep.
✅ 4. Personal space to reflect
It gives them time to review their goals, plans, and priorities without external pressure.
✅ 5. Control over their day
Starting early helps them lead their day instead of reacting to it.
Why even one early morning a week can give you a mental advantage
The meaning behind early hours
You do not have to wake up at 4 am every day to clear your mind. That is not the point. The point is what these early hours represent. Silence. Intention. Direction before distraction. A moment where your mind belongs to you and not to the world. Even once a week, or once a month, these early hours can help you think clearly, organise your thoughts, plan your next steps, and build a more intentional life.
A discipline that shapes your day
If you rise between 3 am and 6 am, you are already operating with a rare level of discipline. You are placing your mental clarity first. You are building your day from the inside out and that alone puts you ahead.
The problem most people face in the morning
The desire for a better morning
Many people want a stronger morning routine. They want to wake up earlier, feel calmer, feel clearer, and start the day with intention. But when the morning actually comes, they do not know what to do. This is the real problem.
The need for structure
Most people want a system they can wake up to. Something structured. Something practical. Something that tells their mind where to focus instead of letting their thoughts scatter in every direction. Meditation does not work for everyone. Affirmations do not always connect. And scrolling pulls the mind into noise before it has even settled.
When the morning has no plan
Without a clear structure, the morning can feel empty, chaotic, or wasted. You wake up, but you do not feel grounded. You have time, but you do not feel focused. You want a better start, but you do not have a plan that supports it.
How Grid Society can help you enhance your morning mindset routine
ONLINE WORKSHOP
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Use it to expand your existing morning routine or start a new morning routine. Perfect for daily morning resets, or for weekend mornings when you slow down, do the inner work and give yourself a thorough reset.
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✔A system that makes you look forward to waking up
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