Tom Corley, author of the best-selling book Change Your Habits, Change Your Life, surveyed more than 177 self-made millionaires to understand their daily habits. He found a number of traits they had in common, including surrounding themselves with successful people, wasting as little time as possible, reading a lot, and carving time out every day for focused thinking.
He also found that all these successful entrepreneurs ensured they got plenty of sleep, and that 76% of them exercised for at least 30 minutes a day – a statistic that Dr Noluthando Nematswerani, head of the Centre for Clinical Excellence at Discovery Health, finds highly credible.
“Research has shown that regular exercise is associated with improvements in memory, concentration, and mental sharpness,” she says.
“Exercise can give top entrepreneurs the edge over their competitors and keep them on top of their game.”
“It’s absolutely plausible that self-made millionaires exercise regularly,” says Dinesh Govender, CEO of Discovery Vitality.
“We all know two things about exercise: it’s really, really good for you in terms of physical and emotional health benefits, and it’s not as easy to get into as a slab of chocolate. Successful entrepreneurs have proven that they have the dedication to do what others find hard to – sacrifice in the short term to achieve something greater in the long term.”
Of course, simply being disciplined at exercise won’t necessarily make any self-starter rich. But there does seem to be a link. Many high achievers credit the substantial role health and fitness play in their success.
President Cyril Ramaphosa often wakes up early to walk. Other CEOs reported to wake up before 5am to exercise, include founder of the Virgin Group Sir Richard Branson, Apple CEO Tim Cook, PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi and Disney CEO Bob Iger.
Barry Swartzberg, CEO of the Vitality Group, also gets up to exercise first thing in the morning, a habit which he says will “set you up” for the rest of the day.
“My mother was a dance teacher and she ensured that all her children were active. So I have exercised all my life, and I do believe it makes me better at my job. I find that it increases my focus, and makes me feel better about myself and more positive about the future.”
Discovery Health CEO Dr Jonathan Broomberg says: “Exercise makes me better at all aspects of my life, and certainly my job. It offers increased energy which I can sustain over extended periods, as well as increased resilience to stress, at work and outside of work. It also makes me a happier and more relaxed person, which again is good for both work and family life.”
The science backs up their experiences. Research shows that regular exercise improves mood, memory and cognitive skills, as well as helping to manage anxiety. It also increases endurance levels and improves symptoms of fatigue by as much as 65% – valuable benefits for anyone faced with the pressures of owning their own business.
Broomberg adds: “Regular exercise increases physical energy and attention, and also enhances your intellectual ability – particularly when working under stress. It is a very powerful stress reliever and assists in managing the often emotional challenges faced by entrepreneurs. Regular exercise also develops and contributes to discipline.”
This last point touches on the fact that, while the physical and cognitive benefits of exercise are undeniable, the emotional aspects that exercise helps to build – such as determination, resilience and perseverance – are all qualities that successful entrepreneurs possess.