Jimmy Dean Sausage Biscuits and orange juice are the two components boosting my mornings forward during the work week … can you tell I’m southern? Believe it or not, I’ve never had a cup of coffee, but we’ll see how long that lasts as I near my 30s. That biscuit tasted so good that I decided to chat with a few industry leaders to find out how they kick off their mornings.

Erik Devash’s Morning

Tint Wiz founder and new WINDOW FILM magazine blogger Erik Devash starts his morning off with coffee.

“My day? It kicks off with a combo of Groundworks Black Magic Espresso and Oatly Barista,” says Tint Wiz founder and new WINDOW FILM magazine blogger Erik Devash. “I usually make it iced, but sometimes I switch it up with a hot cup. That, alongside the sunrise, is my fuel for the day. If I’m away from home base, Starbucks does the trick.”

Patric Franko’s Morning

Patric Fransko, president of Eye Magnet Management and founder of industry resource Window Film Pros, has a set routine for each morning. “I wake up at 6 a.m. and get started with some morning prayer time followed by some Bible reading,” he says. “I follow that with one or two espressos. I have been trying to not eat until lunch time and limit eating into a window from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. I have also been trying to get in some exercise and then I’m off to work.”

David Kratz’s Morning

I also caught up with David Kratz, CEO of Autobahn, Hüper Optik and Edge, to discuss how he spends his mornings. He says that having a consistent morning routine sets the tone for the rest of his day and helps him be more productive. According to The Headspace Group, 93% of people think breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

“I have always been an early riser,” he says. “There’s something about waking up before the rest of the world that makes me feel like I have an Edge (shameless brand plug). That’s why I start my day at 4 a.m. I first head to a local Starbucks for a turkey bacon egg white sandwich and coffee. It’s my go-to breakfast and fuels me for the day ahead. After breakfast, I spend 15 minutes in my car reflecting on the previous day and mentally preparing myself for the day ahead.”

Kratz continues:

• “Around 4:45 a.m., I walk through the warehouse and production department to ensure everything is in place for the day and look for potential vulnerabilities or pain points that need to be addressed with the team.

• By 5 a.m., I’m at my desk and ready to focus on creative projects. I find that my mind is clearest, and my energy levels are highest early in the morning. That’s why I spend the first hour to an hour and a half each day focusing on the creative. I also believe that starting the day with creative tasks empowers a solution-based mindset for the rest of my day.

• Around 6:15 a.m., I shift my focus to emails and daily task lists. I’m a big fan of Coke Zero, and I usually crack open my first of many for the day at this point.

• Music is also essential during my morning routine. My morning playlist includes a mix of System of a Down, Mozart, Bach, Macklemore, NF, Imagine Dragons, Pitbull, Queen, and Rage Against the Machine.”

Jordan ‘Shady Jay’ Jernigan’s Morning 

Jordan ‘Shady Jay’ Jernigan, main installer and shop manager at Luxury Window Tinting in Greenbrier, Ark., also chimed in with his morning routine:

• “My alarm goes off at 6 a.m. I roll out of bed, grab a water and take a shower. After a nice hot shower, I like to blast the cold water for about 30 seconds to really get my mind and body ready for the day ahead.

• Next, I make a pot coffee and load a cup full of ice and pour that roasted goodness over it with no additional ingredients. Iced black coffee is the best. I don’t eat anything due to the fact I have been doing a fast for the past two weeks and I’ve been feeling great during the day. I don’t even eat until 3 p.m.

• Usually on the way to work I listen to one of the books I’ve downloaded on Audible. This week it’s Go Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann. Really gets me focused on something I don’t already know or some areas where I can improve myself.

• Once I get to the shop, I get to work if we have appointments or I do office stuff while listening to my mix of music or something on Pandora. My next goal is to workout in the mornings.”

Editor’s Note: I would enjoy hearing how you power your window film work weeks. Please reach out to me at ccollier@glass.com to share your morning routines!