10 Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs (That Might Make You Look a Little Crazy—but Totally Work)

By: The Self Start Team

Because normal jobs are overrated.

🚨 First Things First:

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🧠 Now… Let’s talk habits.

Ever met someone who wakes up at 4:30 AM on purpose? Someone who schedules bathroom breaks or talks to themselves in the mirror like they’re prepping for battle? Weird? Yes.
But these are often the people running the businesses, hiring teams, sipping coffee on balconies, and making their own rules.

So, what exactly do successful entrepreneurs do differently?

Grab your coffee (or second energy drink), and let’s dive in.

1. They Wake Up Before the Sun Does

⏰ Example: Tim Cook (Apple CEO)
Tim Cook is famous for waking up at 3:45 AM to read emails and hit the gym before most of us have hit snooze. It’s not about sleep deprivation—it’s about uninterrupted clarity.

How to try it:
Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier every few days. Don’t go full rooster overnight—you’ll cry.

2. They’re Obsessed With To-Do Lists

📋 Example: Richard Branson (Virgin Group)
Branson swears by writing everything down in a physical notebook, even in the age of apps. If it’s not written, it doesn’t exist.

How to try it:
Start with a 3-task limit per day. Overachieving? Great. But finish the 3 first.

3. They Learn More Than They Flex

📚 Example: Warren Buffett
Buffett spends 5-6 hours a day reading. No, seriously. He once told someone, “Read 500 pages like this every day… That’s how knowledge builds up.”

How to try it:
Replace 15 minutes of scrolling with a podcast or book about business, money, or mindset.

4. They Say “No” a Lot

🚫 Example: Steve Jobs (Apple)
Jobs famously said, “Focusing is about saying no.” Apple’s minimalist product line wasn’t an accident—it was his obsession with focus.

How to try it:
Say no to one thing this week that drains your energy. Watch your productivity grow.

5. They Move Their Bodies

🏃 Example: Kevin Hart (Comedian & Business Mogul)
Kevin’s not just funny—he’s fit. He hits the gym daily before starting work. Why? Because a strong body = a strong mindset.

How to try it:
Walk around the block. Do squats while your coffee brews. Something > nothing.

6. They Talk to Themselves. A Lot.

🗣 Example: Serena Williams (Athlete & Investor)
She’s known for pep-talking herself mid-match. Now also a venture capitalist, Serena’s mental strength is part of her brand.

How to try it:
Start by writing one positive thing you did today. Say it out loud like you mean it.

7. They Treat Their Calendar Like a Weapon

📅 Example: Elon Musk (Tesla & SpaceX)
Elon breaks his days into 5-minute blocks. Yes. Every. Five. Minutes. Chaos requires structure, and he thrives on it.

How to try it:
Set a timer and do focused work for 25 minutes (Pomodoro technique). Then take a short break. Repeat.

8. They Hang Around Other Weirdos

👥 Example: Sara Blakely (Founder of Spanx)
Blakely built a billion-dollar brand from her apartment and kept her circle small. She often credits mastermind groups and mentors for pushing her forward.

How to try it:
Join a course, community, or follow entrepreneurs who energize you (like us 👋).

9. They Fail Loudly (Then Keep Going)

🔥 Example: Daymond John (FUBU & Shark Tank)
Daymond’s first attempts flopped. He had to work at Red Lobster while hustling FUBU on the side. Now? Multi-millionaire and mentor.

How to try it:
Reframe every flop as data. Every “L” teaches you how to win next time.

10. They Take Action. Even When It’s Ugly.

🚀 Example: Melanie Perkins (Canva Co-founder)
Melanie pitched Canva over 100 times before getting funding. Her first platform was clunky. But she launched anyway—and today, over 100 million people use it.

How to try it:
Pick one thing you’ve been putting off. Do a messy version today. Progress > perfection.

💥 Final Thought

You don’t need to be Elon Musk.
You don’t need a 4-year degree, a $100,000 loan, or a business partner with a yacht.
You need habits that work, action that sticks, and just enough crazy to believe you can build something great.

🎓 Ready to go from daydream to doing?

Check out our business starter courses—real training from real entrepreneurs who’ve done it themselves.
Whether you’re building a food truck, starting a service business, or launching your side hustle empire, we’ve got your back.

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Want help picking the right course or building your idea from scratch? Drop us a message. We’re not bots (yet).

Stay hungry,
The Self Start Team