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

Length: 1 hr and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

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 but helpful

A great reminder, motivation and inspiration to strive to make improvements and build better habits

Good info

I liked the ideas and it got the intended point across, and it was short and sweet. But it was read so slowly that it drove me a little crazy.

Great tips

What did you like best about this story?

this book was fantastic for practical tips for a crazy morning household. How to tame the day with easy changes to control your mornings and be successful by the time you hit your desk.

Have you listened to any of Laura Vanderkam’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no i have not

What did you learn from What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast that you would use in your daily life?

she gives practical tips to apply to a realy life.

Verd good ideas and information on Mornings

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It is a very good listen to people who say they are not morning people

What about Laura Vanderkam’s performance did you like?

Practical and common sense priciples and ideas

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Not

Make it a Priority

What made the experience of listening to What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast the most enjoyable?

This book was a quick listen and had very actionable ideas.

What was one of the most memorable moments of What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast?

The author mentions looking at your day from a new perspective and figuring out what makes you more productive and happy. You want a family meal but does it have to be dinner? You want to work out, but does it have to be in the morning?

What aspect of Laura Vanderkam’s performance would you have changed?

Her voice was so mellow it almost made me sleepy. A little more pep and enthusiasm might have been well received.

What did you learn from What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast that you would use in your daily life?

I changed my schedule at work so that I could be with my children when they are at their best and I'm at mine -- the mornings. With school-aged children, evenings are hectic and they are tired from a busy day. If I spend extra time with them in the morning they are fresh and it starts all of our day on a positive note. We have breakfast together each day and spend an hour or so just hanging out before I take them to school. It was a simple epiphany.

Solid Advice For A Nice Price

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

The best part was that the author had one point that she stuck to and backed it up with examples and anecdotes. The weakest part might be the delivery, which seemed a little sleepy at times.

What aspect of Laura Vanderkam’s performance would you have changed?

I think a little more energy might have helped.

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

That successful people find time to dedicate to doing the things that are important to them. That the first half hour of work is often wasted by settling in (I am guilty of this and it was good to have it pointed out)

Any additional comments?

For the price, it's not a bad little audiobook. A quick study with some solid, supportive advice.

Information you can get reading 3-4 of her posts

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I am glad I listened to this while multi-tasking because there was absolutely nothing new or inspiring about the information or the way it was packaged.

Has What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast turned you off from other books in this genre?

Not necessarily, but I think 30 minutes on Lifehacker would have been time better spent.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The reading was a little stiff and formal.

Was What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast worth the listening time?

It was worth half the time I actually spent listening.

Eh, Nothing New Here

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

yes

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

I would, but the book should be called "Successful People Workout in The Mornings", Its all she talks about.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Its a short read, good little pick me-up, with some good reminders.

Who do you think would benefit most from listening to What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast?

I know some people that really really need this book, I will be reccomendiig it.

Quick Read

I listened to this book on audible. Laura V has a smooth voice and reads a bit slower than I would've liked. Overall, I agree with many of the reviews that said that the book's title is a misnomer. It's not really a guide but brief accounts on how other people spend their mornings. I felt motivated listening to what other people do in the morning. I guess that's where the guide comes in. I think I would've liked to have this book for free only because it was a lot shorter and I think I would've appreciated more accounts and a step by step process.

Enjoyed it!

helped me know what I was doing right and gave me a few things I could do to do better.