We woke up at 4am to do a billionaire’s morning routine

Key Concepts

• Breath work routine
• Breaking routines/ruts
• Horizontal light and circadian rhythm
• Doing something new every day
• Balance in life (work, family, self)
• Manifestation
• Importance of reflection

1. Morning Routine and Breath Work

• Hayes Barard starts his day with a cold plunge in a lake, accompanied by a breath work routine.
• He invites friends to join him, emphasizing it as a way to start the day positively.
• The speaker, Sean, initially found the breath work uncomfortable but experienced significant benefits after a few days, leading him to adopt it.
• The breath work is described as priming the body and creating a relaxed state.

2. Overcoming Routines and Finding Balance

• Hayes emphasizes the importance of breaking routines ("rhythms that become ruts") and doing something new every day to make each day memorable.
• He is consciously trying to imagine what the next 5-7 years of his life could be like, tapping into his potential beyond his past achievements.
• He acknowledges struggling with balance in his life, feeling he's not a good enough friend, dad, husband, or CEO.
• He's forcing himself to take space and time for himself, recognizing the importance of reflection and dropping in.
• He mentions the "little devil on our shoulder" that makes us feel "not enough."

3. The Lake Experience

• The lake is described as being 2,000 feet deep.
• Hayes highlights the benefits of horizontal light (sunrise and sunset) for circadian rhythm and brain function, citing studies by Humman.
• The group participates in a cold plunge, holding their breath and opening their eyes underwater.
• Hayes discourages starting the day with stimulants like coffee, advocating for natural awakening through activities like the cold plunge.

4. Doing Something New

• The group decides to do something they've never done before: climbing on rocks in the lake.
• Hayes emphasizes the importance of a childlike energy and a "life-changing attitude" of trying new things.

5. Reflection and Appreciation

• Sean and his team present Hayes with a framed picture collage as a thank you gift.
• Hayes is deeply touched by the gesture, emphasizing the importance of looking back and appreciating the good things in life.
• Sean notes that the success of a podcast is determined by how many big ideas are remembered two days later.

6. Business and Personal Life

• After the lake activities, Sean participates in a webinar for a portfolio company, Beehive.
• Hayes gives a tour of a hotel he is rebuilding in Tahoe, sharing the story of how he decided to buy it after seeing it from the lake during his morning routine.
• The hotel was the first licensed casino in the United States.
• The new hotel will feature poker and card games, including potentially Uno and Exploding Kittens.

7. Pickleball and Farewell

• The group plays pickleball. Hayes rates himself as a "seven and a half" (but is likely an eight or nine).
• Sean jokes about his "peak Indian genetics" and math skills being applicable to pickleball.
• Sean departs, promising to bring Hayes pork ribs from Austin on his next visit.

8. Notable Quotes

• Hayes: "Rhythms that become ruts."
• Hayes: "Try to do something every single day that you've never done before."
• Hayes: "When you're a workaholic like me and you grind all the time and you're like addicted to success, you're addicted to productivity, it's hard to just take a moment and watch the sunrise and drop in. And so I'm forcing myself to say it's okay. Like take space. Like it's okay, man. Like it's good for you."

9. Technical Terms and Concepts

• Circadian Rhythm: The natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours.
• Horizontal Light: Sunlight at sunrise and sunset, believed to have positive effects on circadian rhythm and mood.
• Manifestation: The act of making something real or evident.

10. Synthesis/Conclusion

The video documents Sean's experience spending a day with Hayes Barard, focusing on Hayes's unconventional morning routine, his emphasis on breaking routines and trying new things, and his pursuit of balance in life. It highlights the importance of reflection, appreciation, and consciously designing one's life to maximize potential and well-being. The video provides actionable insights into incorporating mindfulness, novelty, and self-care into a busy lifestyle.