BY : John Brandon

Make your Monday morning count by following a set ritual.

Shared: From your friends TechAutoCareers.com® the online resource for the Automotive Sales Consultant

You know how the song goes, right?

"Monday morning, you sure look fine..."

Ah, not true for most of us. Mondays are like a cold slap to the face. We flop out of bed and look down the long, dark tunnel of the week and try to figure out how we will survive. "Get it done" becomes "just one more bagel" pretty easily when you have a heavy workload. Fortunately, these tech CEOs are here to help. They've provided details about how they handle the Monday Morning Blues (aka, MMB), a well-known ailment for entrepreneurs.

1. Take a cold shower

"After waking up, I blast a playlist of pump up jams and write down three things I am grateful for and three things that would make the day great in my 5-Minute Journal. I follow with 50 pushups, 50 squats, and take a cold shower (on the coldest setting) for at least 2 minutes. Cold showers put my body into a pre-hypothermic state and this increases my metabolism for the whole day. I follow with a breakfast consisting of eggs and bullet proof coffee (Coffee mixed with butter). I love to ride my road bike and will ride into the office every morning. On my ride, I focus on enjoying myself and will take sharp turns to unlock an adrenalin boost to kick off the beginning of the workday." Christian Smith, the Co-Founder of TrackR

2. Talk through your priority list

"I've found the best way to collect my thoughts and prepare for the week ahead is to meet with my team leaders first thing Monday morning (after getting a cup of coffee and browsing Reddit, of course!). We talk through our priorities for the week and put together a strategy on how best to tackle these initiatives. Having all the key departmental leaders on the same page from the outset really helps us keep the lines of communication open and ensures that no silos are being constructed." Mark Rowan, the President of Griffin Technology

3. Hold a team breakfast

"If you don't trust your Monday morning routine, you'll spend the weekend keeping your work in your head instead of in your calendar. As any athlete will tell you, rest is a requirement for productivity and to serve your company best your mind should be at ease over the weekend. This is the routine I have confidence in: First in my calendar every Monday morning is breakfast with the team. Right after I invest in productivity by going through the calendar for the week to get a clear picture of what it holds. I also take the opportunity to confirm one on one meetings with the people in our management team. Then I launch into actual work. Monday mornings are the starting blocks for the work week." Martin Kallstrom, the CEO of Narrative

4. Take it slow and steady

"Monday mornings, I take my time rather than rushing into the week. I go for an hour and a half run to clear my head and then sit down with my time manager to go through the week's schedule to make sure there are no conflicts, enough slack in between commitments, and quality time set aside every day for family." Sonny Vu, the CEO of Misfit Wearables

5. Early morning strategy session

"If business is war then it could be said Monday is the front of the battlefield, so very early in the morning I start with strategy and planning. To ensure I'm dialed in on my week I review the actions and tasks I've outline over the weekend. Like all competitors, I believe that health of body and mind are intrinsically connected, so after planning I head out on my bike and pedal hard for as long as time allows. To stay balanced it's important to unplug, and for me, being healthy and active isn't just therapeutic, it jump-starts my creativity and sets a positive tone for the week. Having an outlet that helps clear my head is key to maintaining a high level of efficiency, focus and productivity. After exercise it's a healthy breakfast, catching up on headlines, emails, and coffee. Battles cannot be won without lots of coffee." Michael Bartholomeusz, the CEO of HZO, Inc

6. Early morning run with a trusted advisor

"My Monday mornings kick off at 6 A.M. with a run alongside my biggest advisor, our dog Bode. This routine enables me to reset and get focused after a busy weekend with my three young kids so I can concentrate on what we need to accomplish that week. Post-run, I review all the major projects on our plate. It's absolutely vital to adjust priorities often to ensure we are continually evolving and staying ahead of competition. During my executive team's morning staff meeting we discuss weekly and long term goals and assign ownership so that everyone knows the top projects for the week that will keep us innovating and focused on maximum growth." Michael Fordyce, the CEO of NinthDecimal

7. Blast through your e-mail

"I truly see Monday morning as a new beginning. A fresh start, not only to the week, but to whatever may lie ahead. As such, I clear my desk and start all over again. The first thing I do is blast through the FYI email. I generally stay on top of email and take whatever direct action is required. FYI emails are the various reports, notifications, updates, newsletters, etc., that do not require any direct action. I grab my to-do, follow up and idea lists from the prior week and add, re-write, revise or re-prioritize as needed. It is amazing how clear things can seem with fresh eyes. Then I start to get things done." David Stubenvoll, the CEO of Wowza Media Systems

8. Get up unusually early

"I start by getting up around 5 A.M.--except when I am on the West Coast--then I happen to wake up even earlier. If it's possible, I try and get myself to the gym. Afterwards, I'm in fighting form for whatever comes next. Sometimes due to my hectic travel schedule, getting to the gym becomes a challenge. By the time I've showered and read through my morning e-mails, I feel pretty good and ready for a great start to a strong day and week. Before I start my morning commute to the office, which for me is a nice long walk, I normally finalize my last preparations for any upcoming meetings. Then off I go!" Morten Brgger, the CEO of Huddle

9. Make a top five list

"I believe a productive start on Monday morning is critical to set a good momentum for the rest of the week. Like most of us, it involves a healthy dose of emails for me, though I must admit, I keep peeking at them through the weekend too! When working on my emails and weekly plans, I like to follow Paul Allen's advice of Do, Delegate, Defer or Drop for every activity. Of those that are on my 'Do-list', I prioritize the list of top 5 that need to be accomplished. To be effective, I make a person-wise list of actions from the team. Finally, I save some time for afternoon and late evening calls since we work in a highly global setup, and there are usually start-of-week meetings or video conferences with clients, partners and team based out of Europe and USA as they start their Monday." Krishnakumar Natarajan, the CEO of Mindtree

10. Have the tough conversations right away

"I reserve Sunday afternoons to strategize and prepare for the coming week, so come Monday I'm ready to hit the ground running and begin executing. One of the things I try to do typically on Mondays, is have any tough conversations that are part and parcel of being a CEO, such as giving tough feedback to my team. I've found that sharing constructive criticism and performance feedback earlier in the week gives them time to internalize and circle back with me as needed, versus if I did this at the end of the week, it would fester over the weekend and become harder to manage. Also, Mondays I come into the office a little later, as traffic can be a bit of a bear. There you have it- some of the ways I set myself up for a productive week." Manav Mital, the CEO of Instart Logic

11. Read interesting articles

"Preparation is my key to having a productive week. I usually have a handful of inspiring or interesting articles that I have read over the weekend ready to send to my team Monday morning. I like to do it early so they know that I am already awake and thinking about them. These articles range from motivational pieces and business stories to lighter items focused on their personal interests. It's really a mix of "I'm thinking about business and I'm thinking about you" and "you are just as important to me as my business." Preparing these articles take time, but it shows them that their personal interests and professional growth are important to me. In addition, these articles create talking points throughout the week, gives them a glimpse of what I have in mind, and builds team harmony by setting the mood." Andy Fathollahi, the CEO of Braven

12. Set yourself up for success

"I make a concerted effort to 'down tools' [an Australian expression for stopping work] over the weekend to let my head regroup and spend solid time with the family. The mind has an amazing ability to problem solve and get creative when it's relaxed, so rest is mandatory. Sunday night is when I start to re-focus on the week ahead. I try not to dwell on issues, but more jot down ideas and objectives for the coming week. "Things" is my favorite app for getting ideas out of my head quickly so they don't disrupt my sleep. By Monday morning I'm usually pretty focused on what I've got to achieve that week. Breakfast with the kids is super important, so everyone feels connected and ready to have a great week. I hit the office reasonably early for roadblock and goal setting meetings with my key staff. Monday is about setting the week up for success!" Dave Thompson, the CEO of Audiofly

13. Treat Monday with respect

"I treat Monday morning with full respect. It sets my tone for day and allows me to work through my priorities and my critical objectives. It is also a time for me to have a bit of personal time so that I am not bitter if the activity of the day takes away other such opportunities or plans. My day starts around 5:00 A.M. with the first half hour spent doing a routine of Yoga and stretches to wake my body and my mind. I then spend 10 minutes sorting through and establishing the days 'musts' and setting other goals that include personal objectives as well." Robert Allison, the CEO of PEAR Sports

What do you think? Is this something you can benefit from or do you have a few tricks up your sleeve that are just as powerful? Make your voice heard by leaving a comment below. Don’t forget to hit the share button if you know others who will find this post useful.

I.C. Collins ~ Author, Educator, Trainer and President: Has One Simple Goal: I believe it is my mission and purpose to remind you, that you are meant to have the best life possible! You were created with intention and purpose and I am here to simply help guide you through your life’s journey.

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