Good morning!  There is nothing like cleaning out your email box and phone messages bright and early!
The picture above is of my daughter Casey who wanted to workout with me early Monday morning.  Usually two to three times a week, we will lift and run together.  It has been quite a special time for us and something that I look forward to.  Speaking of Casey, a few months ago we gave a challenge to each other:  She would read one of my books and I would read one of hers.  I gave her the Investment Biker, by hedge fund manager Jim Rogers.  Jim has been quite the influence of my life.  In fact, this book was one of the reasons why I decided to backpack Europe nearly 20 years ago.  Jim loved three things in life – making money, traveling, and motorcycles.  So in his late 30’s, he cashed out of the Quantum Fund with his partner George Soros and took a few years off to ride his motorcycle around the world.  In each country, he would write about his adventures and the business/economic prospects of the country.  After I read the book, I signed up for a study abroad program with my college to the Czech Republic.  It was an exciting time to travel to Central and Eastern Europe.  It had just opened up from communist control and I knew that it would forever change.  So twice a week, I would take classes at the university with our tutor, and the over five days I would hop on a train and enjoy a new adventure.  I remember drinking a coffee at a café in Vienna with local artists, watching the street vendors on the Charles Bridge in Prague, and playing chess with internationals in Geneva.  All the while, talking and hanging out with the local merchants in the cities I would visit.  What fun and I am thrilled that Casey enjoyed the book.  I am looking forward to her sharing her adventures with me. 
The book she picked out for me is Unbroken.  Although I am not yet finished with it, the book has been equally inspiring.  It is about Olympian and World War II bomber pilot Louis Zamperini.  He was shot down over the Pacific, stranded at sea and was taken as a prisoner of war.  So far it has been quite the tale. 
Make it a great day!

Andy

Good morning! So this is what my desk looks like just before 5:00 am.
Late last night I got word that two of my candidates just got placed – the first one is an ER nurse that I have been working with for nearly two years and she wanted to stay in her home state of Arizona for this assignment.  I have a big sense of pride with this nurse. She had been out of the ER for a few years when we started to work together. She came with a mindset that she would work anywhere and any shift so she could get her foot in the travel door.  For her first assignment, we placed her with our government division.  From there, her career has really taken off – working in Level 1 Trauma to holding a nursing director position on an assignment.  Great nurse and pleasure to work with.  Excited to see the progression in her career.  The second is an OR Tech that my colleague helped me place in Seattle.  Beautiful facility and location, I think she will work out great. 
It is now 5:30 in the morning and this is what my schedule for today will look like:
• 4:30 Wake UP
• 5:00 to 6:00 Answer emails and phone messages
• 6:00 to 7:00 Create new  Power Points and answer candidate questions on social media
• 7:00 to 8:00 Review all new jobs that I have from my current clients and write job posts
• 8:00 to 8:30 Engage with my coworkers about new jobs and candidates that we are trying to place
• 8:30 to 9:00 Grab a quick bite to eat
• 9:00 to 9:30/10:00 Work on new contracts for candidates
• 10:00 to 12:00 Market all new and current candidates that I have on assignment
That should take me through lunch.
Andy

Good morning!  It is currently 5:32 AM and I just knocked out all of my emails and voicemails from the weekend. I would be posting this real time, but I left my USB connection for my phone at my house, so I can’t post a few photos that I took real time. I will grab it when I run back up to pick up my daughter for our workout.
So my morning schedule looks like this:
4:30 Wake up
5:00 Office, emails, send job submissions with nurses that I currently work with, listen to voicemails, write a blog
5:45 Leave to pick up Casey (my 15 year old daughter) to workout
6:00 – 7:00 Workout and breakfast
7:00 – 8:00 Admin, job post, power point for jobs
8:00-9:00 Social media
9:00-10:00 Follow up phone calls
10:00-11:00 Marketing my candidates/nurses to hospitals
11:00 – 12:00 Morning wrap up and plan for afternoon.
12:00 Lunch.

After and during lunch, I will plan my afternoon accordingly.

Getting Started

Several months ago I read a blog written by Filipe Castro Matos on what he learned waking up at 4:30 in the morning for 21 days straight.  I felt inspired to do the same.  A few weeks ago I sat down with my wife and we (together) decided to give it a go.
My motivation is several fold:

• Productivity.  I hope to reach a new level of productivity during the day.  The big advantage that I can see is that there will be little to no distractions.
• To view this world from a different lens and perspective.  The world is a very different place at 4:30 am than it is at any time I typically get up, which can range from 6:00 am on the week days to 8:00 am or so on the weekends. 
• Getting up this early will force me to have discipline over my schedule.  Recently I have become frustrated at my lack of focus and discipline throughout the day.  I feel if I wake up this early, I will be forced to have a plan and keep a schedule or else all of my efforts and energy will be lost and wasted.
• Increase my exercise workout routine.  
• And finally to mix it up/change it up.  I have become frustrated with my daily routine.  I feel if I don't do something, anything, I will get complacent.

My start date is on Monday, 9/28/2015.  I will keep you updated daily on challenges and progress.

Andy