Sleep and I have a precarious relationship. On the one hand, it’s a necessity. But the downtime can feel wasted, like I could have been getting more accomplished.

I’ve heard it said that the uninspired sleep late, while those perusing a passion naturally wake up early. I can relate. I relish the quiet hours before the rest of world is awake, to focus and breeze through important tasks that require concentration. It sets the tone of productivity for my entire day. A few arguments for rising early:

• You may not be smarter than the others in your field, but you can outwork them. Waking up early puts you on track.
• Quick replies and early morning notes send a message to customers about your commitment.
• By knocking out a to-do list early, I have time to invest in people later. It may be my family, customers or the community, but I can use the daylight hours to focus on people rather than tasks.

Maybe it’s time to stop setting an alarm, and let your enthusiasm wake you up early. You’ll be amazed at what you gain by using those pre-dawn hours.