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High-flying business owner, Mr Clive Jackson, discusses the details as to why he finds mornings the most productive time of day…
Name: Clive Jackson
Location: Victor Offices, Chelsea, London
Profession: CEO and Founder of leading on-demand private jet charter marketplace Victor
What time do you get up in a morning?
I wake at 5.50am.
The first thing you do when you wake up?
Usually within 15 mins of waking up I stretch.
Discuss the rest of your morning routine.
After stretching I do a short high intensity cardio workout on a cross trainer or occasionally laps in the pool. I am fortunate to have a small gym at home with a combination of free weights, machines and the all-important sit-up bench. The location is perfect – a quiet area in the pool complex overlooking the river. After my early workout, for breakfast I alternate between black coffee and my homemade granola – a mixture of brazil nuts, pecans and almonds, dried fruits, oats and seeds slow-roasted in maple syrup; all with Greek yoghurt and blueberries. Half an hour later I’m into my home office planning without the distraction of calls and emails, which I save for my journey into our London office. Early mornings are my most creative, productive part of the day.
What do you do to wake yourself up in the morning?
It sounds a bit masochistic, but to really get myself going I start with a quick cold shower – even in the dead of winter which is especially hard! As the cold water hits you and your nerve ends jangle, there’s no question that it’s the best wake-up call. Ultimately, if I can put myself through this painful but voluntary decision every morning, without backing away, then I can cope with anything the day has to throw at me.
How do you dress on an average day at work?
Ralph Lauren is my tailor of choice for a suit, which I wear with a fitted white Eton shirt. For shoes I wear Crockett & Jones, and I always make sure my shoes are clean and beautifully polished. I wear my vintage Breitling Navitimer watch every day.
How do you travel to work?
I am picked up from my home in the country, outside of London, just before 9am. The drive into London has me at the Victor office for 10am.
What is your morning routine at work?
When I arrive at work, I hold various meetings with my department heads – across different time zones – to review the performance and initiatives of the business before a light lunch in our communal café space. We moved to fantastic new, open-plan offices in Chelsea just over a year ago, which keeps the team incredibly connected and visible to everything going on at Victor. It’s brilliant for spontaneous brainstorming.
Do you have any tips on how to wake up easier?
I have been using a sleep app for just over a year now. Firstly, it makes me feel better about the actual sleep I am getting, rather than worrying it’s not enough. Of course, it’s not enough but at least I know what consistency looks like. There are lots of great statistics too to help you get the most from your sleep routine. The app’s big plus is its wake-up mode. It detects when you’re at your most optimal state to be woken before kicking in with the sound of lapping waves. You never get that rude awakening from a very deep sleep – I save that for the cold shower…
What makes you wake up in the morning with a positive attitude?
I don’t think of work as work in the traditional sense. I don’t see work as something that most people perceive is necessary to balance with the more pleasurable things in life. No matter what sort of tasks I have to accomplish, they’re stepping stones towards achieving my goals. Once I complete any tasks efficiently, I always find pleasure in setting time aside to do the other stuff around family and friends, healthy recreation and experiencing new things.
Whether he’s working at his Chelsea office or flying around the world for meetings, Mr Jackson opts for premium quality in his leather cases to complement his professional status.
