Spotlights by Melissa Westphal 5/26
Interview with Michael Chernow
Founder, Kreatures of Habit
What are your non-negotiable daily habits?
Rising before the sun! As long as I get 7 hours sleep - If I have to be up later for events etc. I will give myself the extra time, as SLEEP is integral to success in everything. I will not sacrifice getting sufficient sleep to be up at 5:15am.
Prayers and Push-ups - Every morning for the last 20+ years… no matter where I am.
Skin and oral care routine - I have a 3 step Skincare protocol and a 4 step oral care protocol .
Movement 90 minutes - Type of movement depends on what I am working towards, and on non-training days, I typically get out for a good long walk of ruck.
Kicking my nutrition off daily with MEAL ONE - that always sets me on the right path for making healthy nutritional decisions throughout the rest of the day.
Don't look at my phone for the first hour upon waking.
Shut down my phone and computer daily at 6pm until 8:30pm after my kids are sleeping. If I need to get back to work I do, but most days I don't!
KREATURES SLEEP daily at 8:30pm to help me unwind and prep for bed.
Cozy time with my wife from 8:30 - 9:30.
Sleeping by 9:45pm .
How has your approach to wellness changed over the years?
I am a true creature of habit, when I find a system, product or solution that works for me, I stick to it and have built the discipline to sustain wellness habits a routines for years and years. Here are a few things that have definitely changed.
I listen to my body way more than in the past. I used to push through injuries, illnesses and pain just because I felt I had to get it in.. I'm in my mid forties, if I feel something truly needs a break, I will give my body what it needs. I definitely know the difference between my body needing time to heal and laziness..
I will also say that after years of commitment to habits, I have been able to develop a system and routine that doesn't bog me down, i.e - i don't need to red light, sauna, cold plunge, journal, read etc every morning like I had in the past.. If I get to these things, great and if I don't, no pressure. When I do get a chance to smash all those practices, I really do feel wonderful, though I tend to save them for the weekends giving my mornings during the week a bit more breatjing room.. I don't feel the pressure to hit a super intense morning routine anymore.
If you could go back and give 25-year-old Michael one piece of advice, what would it be?
Don't take things personally.
Ask for as much help as you can, way more than you are comfortable asking for.
Go all in on your natural talents and spend less time trying to get better at the things you suck at. Don't feel shame around not being great at everything.
What inspired you to create Kreatures of Habit, and how does it reflect your personal lifestyle and philosophy?
KOH is the brand extension of my human experience. many years ago, I was lucky enough to learn that the decisions we make on a daily basis, specifically in the beginning of the day, will typically paint a picture of what the rest of the day will look like for us. From the ages of 13-23, I was caught in the grips of addiction to substances, it got very bad and I had overdosed. I needed to make a change, I got sober on August 2nd 2004. This was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I quickly discovered that if I replaced my bad habits with small, controllable wins and stacked them, I was able to stay sober. Those wins for me came in the form of nutrition and fitness. It has been almost 21 years since I made the decision to get sober, and the little wins are what I owe my success in life to today. I was advised to eat oatmeal as the first meal of my day, kinda funny, but it worked.. I have been eating oatmeal as my first meal of the day till this very day… Just A LOT more optimized! The most optimized high protein overnight in the game.
The bottom line… Better Habits Better Life. KOH is a company that helps people on that journey in a simple, convenient and optimal way. My morning oatmeal was a catalyst to building confidence along my journey, so I thought it made sense to share this with the rest of the world.
How do you measure success for Kreatures of Habit beyond just sales?
The true measure of success for KOH is in the confidence, excitement and passion of the team, the community and in the impact we are making. Our team is small but mighty, the community Kreatures is made up of thousands, and if there is one thing I've learned over the years as an entrepreneur is that if your team and community are strong and support each other, sales and financial success follows. Rarely is it the other way around.
