Welcome to Leap Day 2024. FYI it’s also #TBT, a great excuse for me to dip back into the JacoBLOG archives to pull out a popular and/or relevant post from the past. Today’s entry goes back six years to February of 2018.
This is the month where I celebrate the birth of my digital soapbox, better known the JacoBLOG. Next year is its 20th birthday, so I’ll undoubtedly have more self-congratulatory stuff to say about it then. Meantime, this one from 2018 resonated with many of you, generating lots of comments – usually a good sign.
It’s all about the value of rolling out of bed earlier than most. I was never a morning man on the radio IRL, never possessing the talent to be a great one. But one thing I now have in common with great morning shows is that I wake up and start my day around the same time many of them do. I still don’t have that gift of gab or a great benchmark bit, but this blog has served me well.
Enjoy today’s post and WAKE UP!
February 2018
As the 13th anniversary of this blog approaches, I meet people all the time who ask me when do I have the time to write posts every weekday. And the truth is, I don’t have the time; I make the time.
I couldn’t have been so committed to this little project unless I enjoyed it. When Tim Davis came to me back in 2005, and suggested I launch a blog, I had a hard time getting my head around the idea of writing something that it seemed at the time to be “undiscoverable.”
I concluded that if the blog was to have any chance at success, I’d have to write posts with regularity. That’s what I learned as a radio programmer – the benefits of consistency and reliability is what keeps stations successful over the long haul.
And it’s the same with this blog, a podcast, or anything else you do that is designed to reach people with shared interests.
So, JacoBLOG goes “live” every weekday morning at 6:10am ET. And that means, I had to discipline myself a long time ago that unless I chose to burn the midnight oil, I was going to have to wake up pretty damn early to write it or edit it – especially if I’m on the road in an earlier time zone.
Most mornings, whether I’m in a hotel room or at home, my iPhone wakes me in the 4 a.m. hour. And as I’ve learned over the years, there are many upsides to getting out of bed before dawn.
An article in Entrepreneur by Ilya Pozin lists several upsides to early rising that can make your life better. I took his list, and added a few items of my own that will hopefully resonate with media people.
Here are 10 advantages to getting up when most morning teams do:
1. There’s time to work out
This isn’t me, but a lot of people enjoy fitness routines early in the morning. When you wake up early, there’s all kinds of time to get in a workout, while also mentally planning out your day.
2. There’s no traffic
Wherever you’re headed at these ridiculously early hours, chances are good (unless perhaps you’re in L.A. or D.C.), it’ll be a quiet, peaceful drive. Getting to work without commuter anxiety is always a great idea. And yes, it gives you plenty of time to think.
3. There are few distractions
You can clear your email inbox and rest assured you won’t be pinged by any meaningful email in the 5am hour. And with no one else in the office (or the station), it’s amazing how much you can get accomplished in the hours before the rest of the world shows up for work.
4. You’re in good company
Some pretty successful people are early risers. Apple’s Tim Cook gets moving at 3:45am, but that doesn’t beat Fiat Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne who sets the alarm 15 minutes earlier. The CEOs of Starbucks, General Motors, and Virgin – Howard Schultz, Mary Barra, and Richard Branson – are at their desks during the 6am hour. A common trait among over-achievers is being an early riser. I’ll bet you that’s the case with most of radio’s “40 Most Powerful,” too.
5. You’ll hear the first hour of morning shows
I’m always amazed by the way great morning teams and hosts get going. Do they hit the ground running during their first hour, or are they caffeinating and scrambling? I get treated to a lot of great morning radio, whether I’m at home or on the road – when I should be listening to morning radio anyway.
6. You can be the “mayor” of your local Starbucks
You’ve probably noticed it – there’s that same person who somehow shows up at your neighborhood Starbucks right when they open. You could be that person. Actually, walking into a coffee joint when it opens is a nice moment to converse with the baristas and take in some of the great aromas. It’s the best time of day to spend a few minutes in these places before the morning drive deluge begins.
7. You get more done every day
Because you’ve kicked out all that work before the “official” start of your company’s workday, it gives you the opportunity to tackle more meaningful work as the day rolls on. Most morning people will tell you they’re simply more productive because they’re working at a higher more efficient rate – and with a clear mind. Without others hanging around to distract you, it’s amazing what you can get accomplish.
8. You can eat breakfast
They say it’s the most important meal of the day, but who has time to eat it? You do, if you’re an early riser. And you just might rediscover some of those wonderful foods you may have stopped eating years ago – breakfast cereals, toasted bagels, and my new favorite, oatmeal.
9. You’ll set an example for your staff (or the boss)
Whether you’re a manager or you’re being managed, people around you will take note of your early morning routine. And when they ask you “How do you do it?” just give them a smile and a shrug – and get back to work.
10. You’ll be happier and healthier
That’s what the research says, courtesy of a University of Toronto research study conducted a few years ago. They found that most so-called “morning people” don’t get caught up into staying up (or out) too late, causing what they describe as “social jet lag.” And the older you are, the more likely your early rising habits make you feel good.
Of course, some people simply aren’t made to wake up before the sun shines. And if that’s you, I’m sure you stopped reading this post long ago, rolled over, and went back to sleep. But for those of you who are early-waker-uppers or are thinking about readjusting your schedule, I’ll see you at Starbucks.
And know that you’re well on the way to catching those worms.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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One of my small pleasures after walking to work in the wintry dark is reading your column.
Freudian slip from paragraph six? “And as I’ve learned over the years, there are many upsides to getting out of bed before *dark*.”
Much appreciated, John. And thanks for the heads-up on my FS!
I’ve always been an early riser. Always had daytime careers. As a former tool and die maker who stated work at 6:45 am everyday, a career I haven’t engaged in since the 1970’s, I morphed into the construction trades in the very early 1980’s and started work at 8:00 am, I then morphed into real estate sales and still arrived to my office at 8:00 am.
No one was there at that hour so I had zero distractions and to this day my most productive times of day are between 5:00 am and 9:00 am which is when I get most of my daily work completed.
Added plus in radio: overnights (almost non-existent now) and early a.m. drive in radio are the best times to be in a station. Quiet, calm, cool. Thanks for commenting.
For 30 years I worked morning drive time, despite not being a “morning person.” Going to bed at 7 PM and getting up at 3 AM was almost torture, although I loved the work. I went through every morning shift in a fog. There were times when I would deliver a newscast and five minutes later could not tell you what was in it. Eventually it got to the point where I was totally burned out and just couldn’t take it any more. Fortunately I was well-enough-off financially to retire at age 61. I think it saved my life.
Mark, I think it’s challenging for most people, but morning drive is a bridge too far for some people – obviously, like you. I hope you’re sleeping like a baby now.
As the opening credits for Good Morning World suggest, morning-show hosts could also get away with mismatched socks (back in the ’60s, at least)…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxmua0TMmOU
Fun one, Eric!
Having been a Morning Show Host for many years, getting into the habit of waking up early is easy.
And, as you say in your article, there are many benefits of doing so.
Today, being retired, I still get up early to enjoy the mornings and enjoy more time throughout the day.
Old haaits are hard to break, Tito, especially when you enjoy them.
This takes me back to doing mornings–and getting up at 3:30AM. I’ll be honest, that alarm clock (and it was LOUD and it was ACROSS THE ROOM so I couldn’t hit “snooze) was beyond obnoxious! BUT…once you got up and got going, there was simply no better, quieter, more peaceful time of day. And, at least back in the day (I fear this isn’t so true anymore), you had the world–and the freeways–to yourself. I hated that clock. But I loved that time of my life. Thanks for the reminder.
David, thanks for sharing that.
I HAVE to chime in on this as I’ve been a night person since college. I’ve attempted to do mornings during my radio career but it’s always ended in disaster. People have always told me “When you get older, you’ll wake up earlier”. Well, I’ve been “playing the hits” since the early 80’s and I still go to bed at 1-2AM and roll into work at the crack of noon.
* The Gym : 10:30 am ? The gym is all mine
* Traffic : I can listen to 3 songs if traffic is bad
* Getting More Done : 8p – 11p, I’m in my studio working on imaging, or I’m scheduling music and I can take my time to keep us at the top
I don’t drink coffee but I am happy and healthy.
If one of our stations go off at midnight or if a PD forgets to send a music log, guess who comes to the rescue ? lol.
Let’s talk about the advantages of being a night owl :
Peak Performance at Night: Night owls tend to have increased alertness, creativity, and even physical strength in the later hours https://www.thehealthy.com/habits/benefits-of-being-a-night-owl/.
More Time for Deep Thinking: The quiet and focus of the night can be ideal for reflection, strategic planning, and tackling complex problems https://www.mybedframes.co.uk/blog/10-reasons-why-its-great-to-be-a-night-owl/.
Natural Flexibility: Night owls are more adaptable to changing schedules and may find it easier to adjust to late-night work or travel https://www.calendar.com/blog/10-reasons-why-its-ok-to-be-a-night-owl/.
Potential for Stronger Reasoning Skills: Studies suggest night owls might score higher in inductive reasoning, a form of critical thinking valued in many fields https://www.thehealthy.com/habits/benefits-of-being-a-night-owl/.
Thriving Social Life: Night owls can enjoy a richer social life by connecting with friends and colleagues who share their evening preference.
My PD is a morning person so someone is always ‘on’ since there are only two of us running the show. I truley appreciate and admire morning people. I also appreciate and admire doctors… but I’ll never be one.
I do enjoy your blog, but this one hit a nerve 🙂