As the cohost of the Stay Paid podcast, I get to have some awesome conversations with top producers from fields like real estate, financial services, and insurance.

While no two paths to the top are identical, one thing a lot of these people have in common is discipline. They all have certain approaches and habits that have served them well, and they commit to doing those things over and over.

Another thing that’s common to a lot of top producers is having a daily routine. In fact, it’s one of the questions I try to ask just about every guest we have on the podcast: “Which routines have driven success for you?”

Recently, one of my employees turned this question around on me. He asked me, “Luke, what are the things you do every day without fail?”

So, today, I’m going to answer that question. Here’s what a typical day in the life of Luke Acree looks like.

Wake up early.

When I say early, I mean really early. I set my first alarm for 4:15 a.m., and I’m generally pretty good at not hitting the snooze button.

Get moving.

Once I’m up and dressed, I head straight to the gym. On a good day, I’ll get there at about 4:30–4:45 (maybe 5:00, if I’m running late).

Going to the gym is really important to me. It physically wakes me up and gets me ready to start my day. It’s also a measure of my commitment to my fitness goals.

After that, I’m back home by 6. I’ll jump in the shower, then feed my two dogs (Bilbo and Nora) and let them outside.

Maximize my commute.

Traffic in the morning can be a little bit of a nightmare. I don’t let it get to me, though. I try to make the most of that time in my car by getting my mind in the right place.

Most of the time, I’ll listen to podcasts. One of my favorites right now is Sales Influence podcast, hosted by Victor Antonio.

Other times, I’ll listen to a playlist of Christian music, which gets me in the right mind-set. It’s meditative and inspirational. Right now, I’m enjoying a lot of Elevation Worship and Vertical Worship.

Find out what’s going on.

When I get to work, I check the news sites to see what’s happening. One of the biggest industries we service is real estate, so one of the first places I check is Inman.

Catching up on industry news lets me know what’s affecting my customers, and it inspires me to think more about the big picture. I’d recommend that everyone does this with the industries that relate to their job.

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Next, I’ll review what’s on my calendar for the day. From there, I’m ready to tackle anything that comes at me.

Wind down.

I tend to work long days. Most of the time, I don’t get home until about 8 or 9 p.m. Once I’m home, I’ll spend some time with my wife and ask about her day.

Right before I go to bed, I check my calendar for the next day. My assistant gives me a handout every day that lets me know what I have in store for the following day. I spend some time thinking about what’s on deck.

Sometimes I’ll read a little bit before bed, or I’ll spend a few minutes on social media.

And that’s really it. Lather, rinse, repeat.

The takeaway

I’ve structured my day in a way that I’ve found keeps me productive, healthy, and happy. The routines I have might not suit your lifestyle—and that’s okay. The important thing is that you strive to create habits that drive success for you.

When you learn to practice discipline in your day-to-day life, you’ll figure out what works and what doesn’t. From there, you can build the life (and career) that you really want.