Success Doesn’t Come From Chugging Algae at 4 A.M.

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May 1
4 min read

We’ve all seen the headlines:

“Why All Millionaires Wake Up Before Sunrise.”

“The 17-Step Morning Routine That Will Change Your Life.”

“Drink This Algae Smoothie While Meditating on a Himalayan Rock and Watch Your Net Worth Skyrocket.”

Okay, maybe I made that last one up. But if you spend even five minutes on LinkedIn, YouTube, or productivity TikTok, you’d be forgiven for thinking the key to success lies in waking up at an ungodly hour, running a marathon before your first email, meditating three times a day, and drinking green sludge with a side of affirmations.

Let me offer an alternative perspective: that’s all nonsense.

Now don’t get me wrong — I’m not saying routines aren’t important. I’m not suggesting you should live on Doritos and Red Bull (please don’t). And yes, regular exercise and decent sleep matter — for your health. But when it comes to success? There’s no universal routine that unlocks achievement.

The “Gurus” Are Selling Something

Much of the “morning routine = success” hype comes from people with something to sell: a course, a book, a coaching program. The formula is simple: make you feel like your current habits are the problem, then offer you a fix — for a price.

Even when the advice is well-meaning, it’s often just someone sharing what worked for them. Which is fine, but the problem is when that gets packaged as a one-size-fits-all blueprint. It’s not. You’re not them. And that’s a good thing.

My Routine Would Horrify the LinkedIn Elite

If we’re going by Instagram guru logic, I should be a complete failure.

I’m not a morning person. Never have been. I stay up late — it’s when I get my best thinking done — and I take my time in the morning. No 5 A.M. alarms. No cold plunges. No journaling my dreams while staring into the sun.

And yet, by many people’s definition, I’d be considered successful. I’ve co-founded multiple businesses. I’ve raised capital. I consult for companies across North America. I own real estate. I fly my own plane. None of that required waking up before dawn.

Instead, I built my routine around how I work best. Not what some influencer told me I should be doing.

Unconventional Success Stories

Still not convinced? Let’s look at a few high achievers who thrive outside the productivity-guru playbook:

Tim Ferriss, bestselling author and investor, admits to waking up late, skipping breakfast, and often working in intense afternoon/evening bursts. He’s also spoken openly about using his routines to reduce stress, not amplify intensity.
Barbra Corcoran, real estate mogul and Shark Tank investor, takes a nap in the middle of her workday — sometimes at her desk. Not exactly part of the “grindset” mythology.
Chrissy Teigen, while not your typical tech founder, runs a successful brand empire. Her workday might begin at noon. She unapologetically rejects hustle culture and has said she works best at night.
Richard Branson does wake up early — but not to hustle. He spends his mornings kite surfing or playing tennis. His routine prioritizes enjoyment and energy, not squeezing in more emails before 7 A.M.
Tobias Lütke, CEO of Shopify, once tweeted that “there’s no such thing as a productivity hack — just sleep more.” He’s anti-hustle, pro-autonomy, and doesn’t subscribe to the bro-schedule lifestyle.

None of these people are failures. None of them owe their success to 4 A.M. alarms, 10-step affirmations, or bulletproof butter coffee. They simply figured out what works for them — and stuck with it.

What the Research Actually Says

Let’s ground this in some reality. Studies on productivity show no overwhelming evidence that early risers outperform night owls. In fact, research from the University of Liege found that evening types perform just as well — sometimes better — in mental tasks conducted later in the day compared to early risers.

Chronotypes (whether you’re a morning person or not) are largely biological. Trying to force yourself into a routine that doesn’t align with your natural rhythm can actually backfire, leading to burnout, poor sleep, and lower productivity.

Create Your Version of Success

Maybe you love waking up early, hitting the gym by 6 A.M., and journaling over matcha. Great! Keep doing it. But don’t let someone else’s habits make you feel guilty for living differently.

Maybe your creativity peaks at midnight. Or maybe you work in intense sprints followed by long breaks. Maybe your best ideas come in the shower, or during a long walk, or while half-listening to a podcast.

The point is: whatever works for you, works.

What matters most isn’t when you wake up. It’s whether you’re consistently taking action on your goals. Whether you’re doing work that energizes you. Whether you’re growing, learning, adjusting. Whether you’re making the most of the hours you do have — regardless of when they start.

A Note on Health (Because It Matters)

Before someone misreads this as “sleep until noon and eat Cheetos all day,” let me clarify. Health absolutely plays a role in your ability to sustain success. Sleep, movement, and nutrition are foundational. But again, how you incorporate those into your life is flexible.

You don’t need to train like a Navy SEAL or live on chia seeds to be productive. You just need to stay functional, energized, and mentally sharp enough to do your best work. That can look very different for different people.