Some people think that the key to success lies within their daily routine. Do you agree with this, and if so, what is your daily routine?
I 100% agree! When you become intentional with your day you can accomplish almost anything.
I’m not always perfectly consistent with my ideal daily routine, but the one thing you couldn’t pay me not to do is get out of bed in the morning before I meditate. For me it is like brushing my teeth. I love the way it feels, I get clear about my intention for the day and it is my secret to feeling calm, focused, productive and energized. When I don’t do it, I become impatient and highly distracted. When I do, I am at my best.
My perfect morning routine looks like this:
6am Wake up – meditate in bed with the unplug app
6:30 – Workout ( 20 min yoga with Matthew Reyas or 15 minute workout with Cara Metz (also available on the unplug app)
7 am – Green Smoothie (spinach, banana, lemon , ginger – I love it or I will have a shakeology.)
Take my son to the bus stop
7:30 – at my desk (before anyone gets in – that is when I do my best work.
If I can master my morning I will master my day and myself.
Looking back at your teenage years, did you have any entrepreneurial interests?
Zero – But I spent a lot of time fantasizing about what I wanted to be, who I wanted to marry and how many kids I would have. I dreamt of being a world famous fashion designer and living in NYC married with 3 kids.
I ended up becoming a fashion editor on all the major TV and News channels like GMA, Today, Oprah etc living in NYC married with three kids.. They say you have to see it to be it and I say they are right even if it is an alternative version. When I moved with my family to LA my whole world changed. I ended up leaving fashion after learning how to meditate and having an AHA moment that the entire planet needed to be doing this. I genuinely believe that the more people meditating the better the world will be. I opened Unplug, the world’s first drop in meditation studio, in 2014.
Is there a specific time of day where you feel most productive?
The morning – Earlier the better.
Do you think there is one character trait/skill that is important to have in order to become a successful entrepreneur in todays world?
We are all so different ,so who am I to say, but the one trait that I see in all successful entrepreneurs is Belief. The belief that the world needs what you have to offer and that you are the one that can bring it to them.
Has being a woman in the business world affected you positively or negatively, how so?
Positively for sure. This is the best time to be a woman and sometimes I feel as if we get special treatment. As a mother of three boys I think about that. An example of this is that we were invited to join Apple Entrepreneur Camp in Cupertino for a 9 day bootcamp at Apple so that the underrepresented (females in this instance) could play on an even playing field with all the male coders. It is one of the best things that ever happened to me and of course the Unplug app.
6. What is one major goal that you wish to achieve by 2030?
My biggest goal is to continue to spread meditation globally. We have the Unplug Meditation Teacher Training Program and have already trained people from 19 different countries to ripple it out. I would love meditation to be as popular as brushing your teeth. Everyone can meditate and it is so great for your brain and health.
Who is your biggest influence and why?
There are so many people who inspire me that I could never pick just one.
If you could pick one female entrepreneur, who would you say is your biggest inspiration?
There are so many but Arianna Huffington is one of my all time favorites – she is such an incredible speaker and I could listen to her all day long – it’s one brilliant soundbite after the next- I love her! .
What has been the most formative advice you have received and why?
When Oliva Rosewood told me when I opened Unplug that I should meditate every single day because. “You have to walk the walk if you are going to talk the talk. “ Not only was it great advice but being a consistent meditator is my superpower.
What has been the most impressive / memorable question anyone has ever asked you?
I would say my most memorable question was when I was interviewing for Vogue at age 22 and Anna Wintour asked me what I did when I wasn’t working. I was not expecting that, especially because at the time I was always working. But you have to have a life beyond what you do and surround yourself with interesting people. When you are passionate about what you do you will want to work all the time and it doesn’t feel like work but it is important to learn new things if you want to continue to grow as a human.
If you have siblings are they also entrepreneurs?
My brother is the CEO of Tanger Outlets and my sister is a Law Professor at Pace University.
Do you think the drive to become an entrepreneur is born with or is learned?
It can be either. All it takes is a choice – the choice to pursue your ideas and dreams. Anyone can do this. I never thought of myself as a business person but I have learned everything as I went along, much of it on YouTube (not joking) . You figure it out as you go. Unplug, the studio, app, teacher training, book and corporate program 9 years ago didn’t exist and now it is a global brand that has helped millions of people find calm in the chaos, myself included. Never be afraid to ask people for advice and help – it will be the smartest thing you can do for your business.
CONTACT INFORMATION & SOCIAL MEDIA CEO, Unplug Meditation Location: Los Angeles, CA Website: www.unplug.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suze-yalof-schwartz-62788152 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unplugmeditation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unplugmeditation/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/unplugmeditati Podcast/Interviews: Unplug's press page - https://www.unplug.com/press-2 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnplugMeditation