Fortune, my favorite magazine, has a very interesting cover story this month. Entitled, “How I Work,” the magazine looks at the daily schedule of ten top executives. All of the executives had one thing in common: they work hard. But, within their successful careers, they all have different methodologies. Some come into the office late and workout at lunch; others work non-stop all day, plus weekends, answering up to 800 emails per day.
Bill Gross, the Chief Investment Officer of PIMCO, follows this schedule:
“I get up about 4:30 A.M. and check out the markets. I have a Bloomberg and a Telerate and some other machines downstairs. Bloomberg is the most important: You can get a review of the most recent New York play or you can get a 50-year currency history of the Brazilian real. It’s amazing what you can access.”
Marissa Mayer, a VP with Google, follows this schedule: “I have an assistant, Patty, who handles calls from the outside, answers e-mails, letters, and requests. She does a great job with scheduling. In an average week I’m getting scheduled into about 70 meetings, probably ten or 11 hours a day. On Friday, Patty lets me out early — around 6, and I go up to San Francisco and do something interesting.”
TheStateOf my workday has changed over the years. At present, I wake up at 6:30 and come into work about 8 A.M. The first thing I do is get a cup of coffee (smile). Next, I fire up the computer and check to see if there are any emergency emails pending. I get upwards of 100 work-related emails per day. While I’m drinking my coffee, I read the copies of news clips my assistant prepares for me every morning. Next, I log onto TheStateOf–of course–and other blogs. From there, I usually have one morning meeting, a business lunch, and a series of meetings in the afternoon. Between meetings, I write letters, respond to emails and phone calls, blog and put out fires that pop up around work. I’m constantly moving at work, walking from office to office, sometimes making cell phone calls in between. I try to stay upbeat and I consider myself somewhat of a cheerleader. When things get too hectic, I close my door, close my eyes, and meditate for a few minutes. I usually leave the office around 6 p.m. After work, I do yoga for an hour and 1/2–my favorite part of the day–and then I head home. I usually go to sleep around 11pm. How do you work?
Filed under: Uncategorized
