When you have the opportunity to ask some of the most interesting people in the world about their lives, sometimes the most fascinating answers come from the simplest questions. The Thrive Questionnaire is an ongoing series that gives an intimate look inside the lives of some of the world’s most successful people.
Thrive Global: What’s the first thing you do when you get out of bed?
Dambisa Moyo: I have a glass of warm water with lemon and stretch
TG: What gives you energy?
DM: An early morning vigorous work out.
TG: What’s your secret life hack?
DM: Writing DAILY to-do lists.
TG: Name a book that changed your life.
DM: The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace.
TG: Tell us about your relationship with your phone. Does it sleep with you?
DM: Sadly, yes.
TG: How do you deal with email?
DM: I aim to respond asap to avoid a backlog.
TG: You unexpectedly find 15 minutes in your day, what do you do with it?
DM: Have a cup of hot water, lemon and ginger and squeeze in a power nap.
TG: When was the last time you felt burned out and why?
DM: A few years ago on an intensive, cross-country book promotion tour. I ended up visiting 15 cities in a month including different time zones.
TG: When was the last time you felt you failed and how did you overcome it?
DM: I missed the goal for my New York marathon time. To overcome it I ran the London marathon 6 months later and shaved my personal best marathon time by 1 hour 18minutes — yay!
TG: Share a quote that you love and that gives you strength or peace.
DM: If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.
Dr. Moyo is a Global Economist and serves as a Board Member for a number of global corporations.
Originally published at journal.thriveglobal.com