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, Rimini Street’s CFO, Michael Perica, shares his morning routine.
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Rimini Street
- A global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support and innovation solutions and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software.
- Year founded: 2005
- Number of employees: Over 2,000
- Revenue: $ 400M+
MORNING ROUTINE
Weekday wake-up time: My daily wake-up time is 6:30 a.m.
Morning beverage choice: I am a fan of simple black coffee in the morning to get my day going.
Non-work-related morning activities: I am very fortunate to be able to get my daughter ready and take her to elementary school most mornings. My daughter is a big “Swiftie.” Not only do we go to Taylor Swift concerts together, but every morning that I drive my daughter to school, we sing along to her songs too. It’s a wonderful morning when we can listen to Taylor Swift’s music together, and an even better morning when we just chat.
Workday start time: I like to begin my day between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. Depending on whether I have school drop-off duty.
How I usually spend the first hour of my day: I start my day by reviewing all the emails that came in overnight. Most of my company’s business is international, so it’s my priority to review the 30 or 40 emails that came in from our partners and customers across the globe.
When I send out my first email: I like to send my emails out late in the evening, versus starting off the day sending them. I prefer to have my emails in the recipient’s inbox before they log in the next day. This is a global strategy for me.
Best advice for writing an effective email: Brevity and summary. An email’s primary function is to share data. You’re better off discussing and reviewing that data in person or on a call.
First dashboard I review: I first look at how we’re trending on new bookings.
How I structure my morning meetings: I prefer to use minimal PowerPoint slides that include sets of data. I like to have my meetings structured around a pre-set list of key discussion points and tackle those with my teammates. Of course, making sure my camera and everyone else’s is on to increase engagement.
Mid-morning snack of choice: I enjoy a banana mid-morning. They fill me up and keep me energized.
Tell us about a recent morning that didn’t go as planned and how you adjusted: If your mornings are going exactly as planned, something’s not right. Having a morning go as planned is a rare blessing. Throughout my career, I’ve learned the importance of adaptability and the ability to adjust. To do that effectively, I need to prioritize. New priorities can emerge overnight, so being able to prioritize is essential for staying on top of the most important tasks.
INSPIRATION AND LEADERSHIP
Favorite quote or mantra: I have an acronym — DOTI. This means, don’t overthink it. I sometimes have team members who get on the phone with me and ask me, “Is this a DOTI situation?” And most often it is.
Favorite leadership lesson: Most effective leaders have humility, they can motivate and they are persistent. In my career, I’ve found those traits present in the most effective leaders that I have worked with.
Something important to know about me that you wouldn’t know from my business bio: I am a Formula 1 junkie, and I enjoy skiing with my daughter. My wife doesn’t ski, so it’s special for me and my daughter. It’s our thing. Or, one of our things, aside from our Taylor Swift sing-along sessions.
Favorite number: 1057. This is the time my daughter was born. Ten fifty-seven a.m. to be exact. Not many people know what time they were born, and this is how I remember it for her.
Most noteworthy items in my workspace: My chair. I had back surgery back in the day, and a chair is the most important item for those who sit during the day. I have tried all the high-end chairs, but the most comfortable chair I found and still use is a chair from IKEA. That’s another lesson I’ve learned over the years: just because it costs a lot doesn’t mean it’s great.
Do you have a pet? I do not. My wife and I travel frequently for work, and we also travel a lot as a family. But it may be a possibility in the future.
Favorite app on my phone that is not related to business: The F1 app, where I can watch F1 with Sam Collins. This app really lets me dive into my lifelong hobby of cars and my fascination with car racing.
The year, make and model of your first car: A 1992 Mustang GT convertible. A switch-up from my current car, which is a Mercedes 4-door. It is still a sports car, but safe and comfortable for my daughter and wife.
Most influential person you’ve ever met: That would be the first individual I worked for. His name was Ernie Olde. He’s passed now, but he was a stand-up man. He gave me wonderful career advice while I was working on my undergrad. There’s actually a podcast where I discussed The Billionaire’s Apprentice, and it was written about my relationship with Ernie. He, very early in my career in capital markets, opened my eyes to the opportunity. I was fortunate to learn from the captains of industry in the C-suite, and this changed my direction as a professional from that point forward.
Most inspirational person in your life: My father. He left Yugoslavia post-World War II to join the U.S. military and make it to the U.S. It was illegal to leave that country during that time, and he took a big risk. I am where I am because of his bravery. He had to leave his family in his late teens and truly build a new, better life for himself.
