Welcome to The 6 a.m. CFO, where finance chiefs share how they jump-start their days and engage with the tasks that are in front of them.
Today, Point CFO’s founder, Jason Hershman, shares his morning routine.
Be sure to check out the entire 6 a.m. CFO series, and if you’d like to be featured in a future post, please email us here.
Point CFO
- Year founded: 2023
- Number of employees: 6
- Growth stat: Doubled revenue every year for three years running. On pace to triple it this year.
MORNING ROUTINE
Weekday wake-up time: 4:15 a.m. On purpose.
Morning beverage choice: Coffee. A few years back, I splurged on an at-home espresso machine and now I’m that guy with the fancy beans and the Americano routine every morning. Worth every dollar.
Non-work-related morning activities: I’m a morning person — embarrassingly so. It’s my favorite part of the day. Here’s what a typical morning looks like:
4:15 a.m.: Wake up, take the dog out and lace up.
5:00 a.m.: 10 to 12-mile run. I am gearing up for a fall marathon, so the mileage is climbing.
7:00 a.m.: Shower, get the kids ready.
8:00 a.m.: School drop-off, or take the dog out to play.
8:40 a.m.: Breakfast and the sports industry newsletters. It’s almost always the same plate: three eggs sunny-side up on sourdough, with spinach and salsa verde.
9:00 a.m.: Americano in hand. Get to work.
Workday start time: 9:00 a.m.
How I usually spend the first hour of my day: I’m most productive early, so I push meetings to the afternoon when I can. The first hour is spent “on the business.” Moving Point CFO forward and not “in the business.” Client work starts a little later, once the day inevitably gets noisier.
Time I send out my first email: No real consistency, but rarely before 9 a.m. I’ll often think through a tricky reply on my run — that version usually ends up being the right one. I try not to fire off anything if I haven’t had time to sit with it.
Best advice for writing an effective email: Here’s what works for me. Feel free to steal it for your AI prompts.
- No filler opens. Nobody actually hopes the recipient is well.
- It should fit on one iPhone screen. If it doesn’t, it’s a phone call.
- Be specific about people and things. Respectful, but specific.
- Keep it to a 10th-grade reading level. Smart people appreciate clarity.
- Re-read it before sending. If you have questions, the recipient will too.
First dashboard I review: I don’t love dashboards. I live in financial models.
How I structure my morning meetings: Since mornings are reserved for working on the business, I only take a morning meeting if it’s a potential new client, a key business relationship, something content or media related (such as a podcast) or something fun and new. Answering these questions first thing Monday morning, for example.
Mid-morning snack of choice: A banana. After breakfast, I keep the workday light on the stomach.
What was a recent morning that didn’t go as planned, and how did you adjust? My son was home sick for a few days last week, so the mornings were shot. The answer is always the same: tell people the truth and offer a solution. “I can’t make it this morning, can we do tomorrow at 10?” Honesty plus a fix. People appreciate both.
INSPIRATION AND LEADERSHIP
Favorite quote or mantra: You can outperform anyone by just being consistent.
Favorite leadership lesson: “Your employees don’t work for you, you work for them.” Something I’ve really come to embrace lately.
Something important to know about me that you wouldn’t know from my business bio: I’m a pretty dedicated endurance athlete. Although the older I get, the more I find myself eyeing tennis and golf. The knees are sending signals.
Favorite number: 8. I’m a die-hard Eagles fan, but growing up, I loved watching the 49ers. Steve Young and Jerry Rice. Steve wore 8, and Rice wore 80, so 8 was the number on every jersey I ever picked.
Most noteworthy items in my workspace: I’m a minimalist. Computer, monitors, wireless mouse, wireless keyboard. That’s the whole setup.
Do you have a pet, and are they with you right now? Cody, a 25-pound mini goldendoodle. She’s asleep next to me right now. She is a whole different, calmer animal if I wear her out in the morning.
Favorite app on my phone that is not related to business: Strava
The year, make and model of your first car: A 1995 Toyota Camry. Manual crank windows. Built to outlast civilization.
Most influential/famous person you’ve ever met: Either Mark Cuban or Eric Schmidt. Both were exactly as advertised.
Most inspirational person in your life: My wife. She was an entrepreneur before I was, and I would never have taken the leap without her belief in me.
