From the Founder, Brian Mazza 11/7
Rise Early. Own the Dawn.
Today I walked into my gym in Pelham, High Performance Lifestyle Training, before my daily session with my Performance Coach, Tommy Pomatico. I overheard a powerful conversation between him and Will Carter.
If you don’t know Will, he’s one of those rare athletes who redefine what’s possible. Physically and mentally gifted. A pain blocking machine. One of those guys you look at and think, man, I wish I could do that, be that, or look like that. He’s also one of those guys who, at first, is so easy to hate, but the moment you talk to him, you can’t help but root for him. He’s the type of guy you want to win.
The conversation was about getting up early and how most people roll out of bed at the last possible second, rushing to a job they usually can’t stand. Will was talking about how he’s been reading the Stoics lately and how they viewed mornings as sacred. That caught my attention, so I went down the rabbit hole myself.
What the Stoics Taught About Mornings
Marcus Aurelius wrote, “At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: I have to go to work as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was brought into the world to do?”
That line hit me. Because that’s what this entire philosophy of performance is about: discipline, purpose, and the refusal to waste time. Seneca talked about waking early, mentally preparing for the challenges of the day, and strengthening the mind through expectation. The Stoics saw early rising as a form of armor, getting ahead of life before life gets ahead of you.
Fifteen Years of Me Time
For the past fifteen years, I’ve been getting up early. Every single day. Those hours before the world wakes up are mine. No noise. No emails. No chaos. Just space to train, write, think, and set the tone for the day.
That quiet window is where I win the day before it begins. It’s where I build clarity, discipline, and confidence. It’s the difference between being in control and being controlled.
The Stoics would call that mastery of the self. I call it nonnegotiable time.
Why It Matters
Getting up early isn’t just about productivity. It’s about identity. It’s the moment you say: I’m different.
You’re not reacting to the world, you’re creating your own.
You’re not racing the clock, you’re dictating the pace.
You’re not working for the day, the day is working for you.
That’s why I protect my mornings like my life depends on it. Because it does. My physical growth, mental clarity, family presence, and business success all begin with that daily discipline.
The Playbook Move
Tomorrow morning, when that alarm hits, remind yourself:
You’re not waking up early, you’re rising to your purpose.
You’re not just starting your day, you’re building your foundation.
You’re not following the world, you’re leading it.
The Stoics didn’t romanticize mornings. They treated them as the proving ground for the mind. The same way we treat the gym, the track, the boardroom, or the home.
The Challenge
Don’t just get up early. Rise early.
Take that hour back. Guard it. Master it. Build your armor there.
Because the world will always demand your attention, but it can only take what you give it.
And when you own the dawn,
You own the day.
You own your life.
