⏱️ We Spoke to a CEO About Time Management

1. Introduction: The Hidden Currency of Success

Time.

We all have the same 24 hours, but not everyone uses them the same way.

Some people chase time. Others build it.

And the most successful people? They design it.

We sat down with Jonathan R., a CEO of a high-growth tech company, to understand how he manages his time. Beyond leading a company valued at over $100M, he also finds time to work out daily, read a book a week, mentor young professionals, and prioritize family dinners.

So how does he do it?

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2. “Win the Morning, Win the Day”

Jonathan says:

“Time management starts before your first meeting. Win your morning, and you set the tone for everything else.”

Here’s a snapshot of his weekday morning routine:

• 6:00 AM – Wake up + 5-minute breathing exercise

• 6:10 AM – Write down 3 key goals for the day

• 6:30 AM – 30-minute bodyweight workout or running

• 7:00 AM – High-protein breakfast + listen to a podcast

• 7:30 AM – Head to the office with a clear agenda

No email. No social media. No news.

Just intention and momentum.

“People overestimate motivation and underestimate structure. A good routine beats mood every time.”

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3. The Rule of Focus: Do Fewer Things, Better

When asked how he tackles a never-ending to-do list, Jonathan laughs.

“I don’t. That’s the trick. Most things don’t matter.”

Instead of chasing everything, he chooses three priorities per day.

Only three. No more.

Why?

Because decision fatigue is real. And clarity = power.

He keeps a sticky note on his monitor with this quote:

“If everything is important, nothing is.”

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4. Delegation Is Not a Weakness—It’s a Skill

One of Jonathan’s most game-changing mindset shifts?

Learning to let go.

“Early in my career, I tried to do everything. It made me feel important—but it burned me out.”

Now, his mantra is simple:

“If someone else can do it 80% as well as I can, I delegate it.”

He uses three buckets to manage time:

1. Deep Work – Strategic thinking, product vision, culture

2. Delegated Work – Operations, marketing, hiring

3. Eliminated Work – Meetings without clear purpose, admin clutter

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5. Email Doesn’t Own Him (Anymore)

We had to ask: How do you manage the inbox chaos?

“I don’t live in my inbox. That’s where other people’s priorities live.”

Instead, he checks email:

• Twice a day: once before lunch, once before ending the day

• Uses filters to tag urgent, routine, and archive

• Never starts the day in email—only after 10 AM

“My calendar tells me what I planned. My inbox tells me what others want. I choose me first.”

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6. Time for People, Not Just Projects

Despite his packed schedule, Jonathan blocks time every week for:

• 1:1s with his team

• Mentorship sessions

• Family dinners (minimum 3 per week, non-negotiable)

“Success without connection isn’t success. You don’t want to look back and realize you optimized your calendar but missed your life.”

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7. Weekend Reset: Reflection and Recalibration

On Sundays, Jonathan does a 30-minute “Weekly Reset”:

• Reviews wins and lessons from the past week

• Adjusts priorities for the next one

• Schedules non-work activities first (yes, first!)

• Asks: Did I move toward the life I actually want?

“It’s not about hustle. It’s about alignment.”

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8. His Top 3 Time Management Tools

Jonathan’s not big on fancy productivity hacks, but here’s what he swears by:

1. Notion for daily planning

2. Time-blocked Google Calendar

3. A simple journal for reflection and gratitude

“Tools don’t make you productive. Systems do.”

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9. The One Mistake Most People Make

“They treat every task the same. Not everything is worth your energy.”

He recommends asking:

• Does this move me closer to my long-term goals?

• Is this urgent or just noisy?

• Can someone else do this better?

• What happens if I don’t do this at all?

That alone, he says, filters out 60% of the noise.

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10. Final Words: Time Isn’t a Resource—It’s a Mirror

Jonathan leaves us with this quote:

“Time reveals what you truly value. Don’t say ‘I don’t have time’—say ‘It’s not a priority.’ That’s the truth.”

Because time doesn’t just manage tasks.

It reveals your mindset.

And the people who master time… don’t just get more done.

They live more on purpose.