This post is a part of our Keep Your Head High series where we share advice on how to stay motivated through the inevitable ups and downs of startup life. I’m Gabe, head of partnerships and sales at Plain Sight Ventures, and your MC for this rodeo. Feel free to reach out to me at gabe@plainsightventures.co if you want to connect or need advice on how to keep pushing forward when things get tough.
Every day, I wake up and have to be the front-facing person for Plain Sight Ventures and our portfolio of projects. With that comes quite a bit of pressure to maintain a certain level of energy — not unlike most founders. And while it’s tempting to run from the moment your eyes open, I’ve learned this will really get you in the end. So that’s why each day I follow a super simple routine that helps keep my mind clear and my energy high.
And after having hundreds of conversations with successful entrepreneurs, founders, and salespeople, it seems I’m not alone in this. No matter what the business, the ones who sustain success know how to take care of themselves. They know that in order to stay sharp every day, they have to maintain their own wellbeing.
Now there is quite a lot that goes into my morning routine, but for today I wanted to share a few things that anyone can do:
1. Make my bed.
I snagged this one from Navy Seal Admiral William McRaven. I’m pretty sure 99% of what any Navy Seal does each day is a pipe dream for me, but this one… this one we can all do. While it may seem small, completing this one intentional act in the morning has a way of setting the course for the rest of my day. Plus there’s just no excuse not to…
”If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce that the little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you’ll never be able to do the big things right.
If by chance you have a miserable day, you’ll come home to a bed that is made - that you made - and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better. If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” — from Admiral McRaven’s University of Texas commencement speech
2. 10-minute meditation
Every morning, I do this 10 minutes to thrive meditation by Tony Robbins. It’s short and sweet. It’s easily achievable. Bookmark the YouTube video linked and have your headphones nearby to make it as easy as possible to do. This meditation has three steps that help me throughout the day:
- Pick three things that you are grateful for and focus on them for one minute each.
- Pick three things that you want to accomplish in your day & focus on them for one minute each.
- Focus on the abundance that you have in your life and then pick three people and imagine sharing your abundance with them.
3. Morning fuel
I start my metabolism as soon as I wake up in the morning by eating a high protein and fiber breakfast. This includes a protein shake, eggs, avocado and almonds. Much like the previous two activities, they’re quick and simple yet profoundly helpful in making sure I can stay focused throughout the day.
4. Sauna and cold plunge
This one may not be something you can do easily, but it has been life-changing in how I stay clear-headed every day. Every morning, I jump into a cold plunge (38 degrees) for one minute, then jump into an infrared sauna for 20 mins and then finish with a 3-minute cold plunge. This process is known to reduce inflammation, increase circulation , and provide numerous mental benefits.
5. Find your why
It would be so easy for me to wake up and not do any of these things. To put them off until the next day when I am feeling sluggish and tired. We’re all going to have those moments. But what cements all of this is tying it to a deeper vision of where I want to be and who I want to be. Thinking about my team at PSV and the people I care about helps — knowing that when I’m in a better headspace, the more I can support them. So don’t skip this one, it’s the most important.
We all have our own ways of getting motivated for the day — and these are surely nothing new — so tell me… what keeps you chugging along each day?
