How you begin your day sets the stage for everything that follows. The first hour is the rudder of the day. All too often, we start in a state of reactive chaos—jolted awake by an alarm, immediately grabbing our phones, and flooding our minds with the emergencies, demands, and distractions of the outside world. This reactive start puts us on the defensive, leaving us feeling scattered, stressed, and behind before the day has even truly begun.

There is a better way. The world’s most successful and fulfilled individuals, both historical and contemporary, share a common secret: they are masters of their mornings. They understand that by intentionally designing the first hour of their day, they can create a foundation of focus, purpose, and tranquility that carries them through any challenge. This is the power of a morning routine.