In this interview, entrepreneur and author Mike Michalowicz argues that an entrepreneur’s personal physical health is directly linked to the health of their business. He explains that caring for one’s body—through regular cardio, strength training, disciplined sleep habits, and reducing alcohol consumption—creates vitality, energy, clearer thinking, and mental resilience, which translate into disciplined business practices and better outcomes. Mike shares personal anecdotes about his own struggle with exercise, his decision to stop drinking (except in social contexts with his partner), and his commitment to quality sleep, noting how these changes reduced depression and anxiety, improved mood, and boosted daily performance. He frames health habits as necessary, sometimes unjoyful tasks that, when mastered, foster the same discipline needed to run a successful company.
Chapters
What is the biggest determinant of a successful entrepreneur? That's a loaded question. But I said, in my conclusion, I see a correlation between someone caring for their health and the health of the business, a direct correlation. So someone who physically cares for themselves generally has the healthiest business. I said, and the reason I believe this to be true is I don't enjoy exercise. I don't get up and say, oh my God, I can't wait to lift weights today. This is going to be a great day. But my mind says the best thing I can do for myself is elevate my heart and get some strong cardio going today to really stress my muscle, my skeletal system is the best thing I can do. So I do it. I will tell you when I do feel great, it's the second it's done. I'm like, "That was a great workout. Yeah, I really got pumped today," or did whatever. I feel good about myself. And the rest of the day, like today feels great because I worked out this morning. And realize in business, there are certain things we have to do that are necessary, but they're not joyful. Like not everything's fun, but some are necessary. And people who understand that discipline by caring for themselves do the same for their business. But there's always other benefits. Health gives vitality, strength, energy, better thought, all those things. We just are clicking and going, right?
Reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Depression goes away or is reduced. Yeah, that's huge, right? And that's what we're talking about, mental health here. It goes away. I also stopped drinking about 2 years ago, except my rule is if I'm with Krista and she wants to have a bottle of wine or something like that, I will have a cocktail or a drink with her. Or if I'm with some friends and she's present, I'll do it. But otherwise, you've seen before, I got hairy a few times with booze and I didn't like that about myself. It was disrupting your sleep too. Yeah, just one or two beers watching the football game the whole night, I wouldn't sleep well. So I said, you know what, it's gonna stop drinking. Oh my God, I feel so much better. We went on this, uh, this trip though with, with my college buddies and everyone's wives and stuff in there. I'm like, my one friend's making some cocktails. You want something? Absolutely, I'm in. So we have some. It was great. That night, slept like shit. And I'm like, you know what, this is why I don't do it.
This is why I don't do it. Yeah, and sleep is incredibly important to your mental well-being.
I'm so into sleep. I believe this is— again, I ain't no scientist here or a doctor, but I believe there's direct correlation between your health, how you care for your health, and your mental health. So physical workouts, drinking, not doing it, and also sleep. So I'm so into sleep. JJ Virgin, who is a fitness expert, said, uh, if you want to be healthy, lift heavy things, consume lots of protein that builds muscle, and sleep like a baby. And what she meant is when you feel tired, get that sleep whenever you can. Don't push it off. Just fall asleep on the couch, but sleep.
