Good morning. How are those New Year’s resolutions coming? In talking to hundreds of leaders every year, one thing I’ve been struck by is how disciplined they are about making time to take care of themselves.
Recently I asked members of the Fortune CEO Initiative to share their approach to staying in fighting shape. Two common themes among these high performers? Almost all of them mentioned an athletic component to leadership that wasn’t discussed in earlier generations, and there’s clearly more awareness of the links between mental health and job performance, too. A small sample of responses:
Amy Howe, CEO, FanDuel
My job is to focus on the things only the CEO can do—setting direction, making the toughest decisions, and allocating time and attention deliberately. That means being disciplined with my schedule and carving out space to think.
Milan Shetti, CEO, Rocket Software
Chess helps me stay sharp and reminds me that sustained success comes from purpose-driven moves, not quick wins. For me, that translates to modernizing with intention and staying committed to a growth mindset by continuously learning, taking on new challenges, and surrounding myself with people who elevate my thinking. I treat leadership like a high-performance sport.
Tony Bates, chairman and CEO, Genesys
I prioritize recovery and clarity just as much as intensity; both are essential when the pace never slows down. The job moves fast, but being fully present—physically, mentally, and emotionally—is what allows you to sustain performance over the long term.
Leagh Turner, CEO, Coupa
When I’m at work, I’m all in. When I’m with my family, they get my full attention. I’ve learned that when I’m fully focused—whether at work, with family, or with friends—I’m more productive and more energized.
Tom McInerney, CEO, Genworth Financial
I golf and ski regularly, and I’ve done both since childhood. They continue to shape how I think about leadership. Golf teaches discipline, humility, and focus—you can’t rush it, and you have to adapt to the conditions in front of you. Skiing demands preparation and decisiveness, reinforcing the importance of trust, momentum, and resilience.
Himanshu Palsule, CEO, Cornerstone
The job as a CEO, especially in the midst of market transformations, is an endurance sport. It’s a marathon that often requires running fast sprints. I stay in top condition by prioritizing the balance; playing weekend sports, shutting out noise, and striving for seven hours of sleep.
Roy Jakobs, CEO, Philips
I’m always moving. I play soccer and run every week—and I prioritize spending time with family and friends. That time is locked in. The combination keeps me grounded, energized and able to show up at my best.
Nigel Vaz, CEO, Publicis Sapient
Continuous learning—I spend a significant amount of time with clients across industries, discussing their business transformation goals because that is where you see the future unfolding in real time. Finally, I focus on energy management in addition to time management. Leading through a once-in-a-generation technological shift requires stamina—intellectual, emotional and creative.
Nelson Chai, CEO, DailyPay
On the work front, I focus on the strength of the team and the power that comes from it. On the personal front, my priorities are family, health, and staying active. My kids are all in the working world and live in New York, so my wife and I really value the time we get to spend with them and with our close friends.
Contact CEO Daily via Diane Brady at [email protected]
Top news
Iran shuts off internet
Iran has shut off its internet in an effort to tamp down the biggest anti-government protests since 2022. The two-week long demonstrations have hit Iran’s oil sector, where workers are striking. Trump has vowed to “hit [Iran] very hard” if it “starts killing people.”
ICE shooting fallout
Demonstrations over the ICE killing of a Minneapolis woman continued Thursday as federal officials reportedly blocked the state from investigating the shooting. Gov. Tim Walz activated the state’s national guard as a precaution. Meanwhile, administration officials defended the shooting, with Vice President JD Vance accusing the woman killed of “interfer[ing] with a legitimate law enforcement operation.”
SCOTUS tariff watch
Today is the first day the U.S. Supreme Court could rule on whether President Donald Trump’s global tariffs. A ruling against the president would upend his signature economic policy that he says will fund multiple ventures, including his newly proposed military budget. The justices seemed skeptical that Trump could impose the tariffs unilaterally; about 1,000 companies have asked the court to overturn them.
China probes Meta-Manus deal
China said it is investigating Meta’s $2 billion purchase of Singapore-based AI startup Manus to see if the deal complies with Beijing’s export control laws. Manus, known for its AI agents, started as a China-based product called Butterfly Effect or Monica.Im but later relocated to Singapore.
Apple’s next CEO?
Apple has reportedly stepped up its succession planning in the event CEO Tim Cook steps down. One contender who’s quietly shot to the front of the pack is John Ternum, Apple’s head of hardware engineers, who keeps a relatively low profile.
Debt implications of Trump’s new military budget
This week, President Donald Trump proposed increasing the defense budget of the U.S. to $1.5 trillion, up from the $1 trillion he initially proposed. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget says that would increase the national debt by $5.8 trillion over the next decade, including interest costs.
Amazon asks employees to list accomplishments
Documents reviewed by Business Insider and sources familiar with the matter reveal that Amazon is asking employees to list three to five instances of their best work and the areas they plan to improve. Employees say the task is more personal than prior performance reviews.
The markets
S&P 500 futures were up 0.1% this morning. The last session closed flat. STOXX Europe 600 was up 0.43% in early trading. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 was up 0.4% in early trading. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was up 1.61%. China’s CSI 300 was up o.45%. The South Korea KOSPI was up 0.75%. India’s NIFTY 50 was down 0.75%. Bitcoin was down to $90K.
Around the watercooler
Michael Bloomberg and Warren Buffett agree on advice to Gen Z: Choose vibes over money in your job search by Sydney Lake
Founder of $30 billion defense tech company Anduril embraces Trump’s threat to crack down: It’s ‘good to scare people sometimes’ by Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Google billionaire Larry Page copies the Jeff Bezos playbook, buying a $173 million Miami compound that will save him millions in taxes by Nick Lichtenberg
Verizon chief talent officer says Gen Z grads shouldn’t snub retail or hospitality jobs in the current economy: ‘Just start somewhere’ by Orianna Rosa Royle
CEO Daily is compiled and edited by Joey Abrams, Claire Zillman and Lee Clifford.
