What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast

A Short Guide to Making Over Your Mornings—and Life

By: Laura Vanderkam

Narrated by: Laura Vanderkam

Mornings are a madcap time for many of us. We wake up in a haze—often after hitting snooze a few times. Then we rush around to get ready and out the door so we can officially start the day. Before we know it, hours have slipped by without us accomplishing anything beyond downing a cup of coffee, dashing off a few emails, and dishing with our coworkers around the water cooler. By the time the workday wraps up, we’re so exhausted and defeated that any motivation to accomplish something in the evening has vanished.

But according to time management expert Laura Vanderkam, mornings hold the key to taking control of our schedules. If we use them wisely, we can build habits that will allow us to lead happier, more productive lives.

Drawing on real-life anecdotes and scientific research that shows why the early hours of the day are so important, Vanderkam reveals how successful people use mornings to help them accomplish things that are often impossible to take care of later in the day. While many of us are still in bed, these folks are scoring daily victories to improve their health, careers, and personal lives without sacrificing their sanity. For instance, former PepsiCo chairman and CEO Steve Reinemund would rise at 5:00 a.m., run four miles, pray, and eat breakfast with his family before heading to work to run a Fortune 500 company.

What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast is a fun, practical guide that will inspire you to rethink your morning routine and jump-start your life before the day has even begun.

©2012 Laura Vanderkam. (P)2012 Gildan Media LLC

Short, informative

Would you listen to What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast again? Why?

Although nothing new in time management, I liked Laura's take on it. I liked her delivery and her humor in it. It was well-written, short enough to not get boring but long enough to get in all the information. I took quite a few ideas from it. Definitely recommend it.

Motivating Book!

Where does What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's up there with Eat to Live

What did you like best about this story?

I liked how clearly the author read and how she delivered her points simply

Which scene was your favorite?

I enjoyed her stories of people who wake up early to accomplish things before breakfast.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!

Any additional comments?

Short read with invaluable information!

Not a bad book but could have been a flyer...

What did you like best about What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast? What did you like least?

Worth it for the current $2.44 price on Audible but not worth it if you spend a full credit to get the book. It's short and has good advice about the benefits of prioritizing key life tasks in the early morning before other life interruptions get in the way. For me the information you get from this book is worth it if you listen to it at 2-3 times speed. I wouldn't want to spend a whole hour and four minutes for that little bit of information as valuable and important as it might be.

It is narrated too slowly

There are some nuggets in the very short book, and the author does a pretty good job with reading to highlight these but the pace of her reading is very annoying.

Not All I'd Hoped For...

At only one hour in length, I'd hoped for a book that really perked me up, motivated me for mornings. But the dry performance left me wanting. And that dry tone is all the more salient when the book is meant to motivate its listener,

The lesson in the book is a good one, and perhaps if you are interested, you should consider the book before the audiobook. Though. it isn't as 'tip' heavy as you might want.

Overall, a mediocre listen with a good message.

Author reads awkwardly

Awkward pauses distracting. Despite a yeoman's effort to offer relevant content, this work appears to be an attempt to create a stay home job to be at home full time. Like similar TED speakers, the most relevant points are obvious to even the most casual students of life.

Great Starting Point

This is a very short broadcast, but full of gems that can be easily applied to your life. This was an easy listen and a spark that has motivated me to not only evaluate my mornings, but my time in general and become more intentional in my tasks.

A healthy snack

Any additional comments?

A quick and concise piece of motivation. Listen to it just before bed to help you jump up excited to start early the next day.

I Would Have Read the Blog Post

Would you try another book from Laura Vanderkam and/or Laura Vanderkam?

I thought about it, but I know that when it comes right down to it, reading a book about time management is just counterproductive unless it's just going to be a few inspirational tidbits to get you going.

Would you recommend What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast to your friends? Why or why not?

Probably not. I mean, I liked it, but it wasn't earth-shattering. It didn't offer any new or original ideas. The gist of it is just that many successful CEOs get up early to exercise or do things that are important to them in solitude.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Laura Vanderkam?

Someone who didn't read as breathy.

What did you take away from What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast that you can apply to your work?

Her point that the morning hours are when you get to focus on things without distraction and the afternoon hours should be spent corresponding with people and having meetings (i.e., dealing with other people) was poignant and helpful.

Any additional comments?

It was short. It was okay. I liked it. But it needs more expansion, otherwise I could have read all of it in a blog post.

Validates that reason for getting up early.

I've been getting up earlier for the last six to eight months anywhere between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. I've been wanting to do the 5 a.m. on the regular and this book has given me many ideas to do with my time in the morning besides just watching YouTube and eating breakfast. I will be walking and listening to more books.