5 Secrets Of Successful Leaders In The Business World

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Producer’s note: Someone on Quora asked: What are the best-kept secrets of successful business people? Here is one of the best answers that’s been pulled from the thread.

Successful leaders work hard. Fortune 500 CEOs like Mark Zuckerberg didn’t get to be where they are today by sitting on the sofa all weekend binge watching their favorite shows on Netflix.

I know you work hard all week. I do too. For many years I believed the lie that a hard week meant that I could take Saturdays off. Now I wish that I hadn’t wasted so many years following the wrong crowd. Every Saturday I wake up early, check on my website, and exercise at least one hour.

Great leaders all have something in common. They maximize each and every day, including Saturday. Do you know what makes them special

Here’s 5 secrets successful leaders follow to maximize their Saturday.

1. They get up early

Some leaders like the CEO of Disney claim to wake up around 4:30 every morning. Successful leaders do not sleep in until 1 p.m. on a Saturday, or even 10 a.m. Studies show that we are the most focused in the mornings. If you are up early on a Saturday you have a head start on everyone else.

2. They have a plan

What great thing are you going to do today? Successful leaders know the importance of having a plan and sticking to it. They set daily goals, and yes that includes Saturday. Slack off on the weekend is the best way to roll into Monday morning tired and unproductive.

3. They stay active

Work hard and play hard. Keeping your mind in shape has as much to do with your body as anything else. Some executives play sports or exercise for more than 2 hours each day. Big thinkers like Richard Branson loves to surf and there are even billionaires like Warren Buffet who say they still exercise every day even at 84 years of age.

4. They take time to reflect

It’s more important sometimes to look back at your success rather than look toward an uncertain future. Daily reflecting should be a part of our daily job as leader. It helps guide us in the midst of an ever changing future. Saturday can be chaotic to say the least, that’s what makes taking a moment to pause even more critical. Think about the lessons you learned during the previous week and ponder how you can get better the next week.

5. They give back

Great leaders don’t just hoard their wealth, they share it. Whether you are giving back in the form of money or your time, successful people agree that nobody has ever gotten poor from giving. By focusing your mind on problems like health and poverty, you can energize your mind in other areas.

More than 70% of wealthy people volunteer for at least 5 hours each month. Taking an hour on a Saturday is the least you can do to give back.

This answer originally appeared at Quora: The best answer to any question. Ask a question, get a great answer. Learn from experts and get insider knowledge.