First, we read about the secrets behind mindful eating and weight loss. Next: mindful actions and success. “You can really improve your life just by being conscious of your decisions,” author Laura Vanderkam told me in a recent interview, “asking ‘Is this moving me forward toward the life I want?’”

That question is what propels What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, Vanderkam’s compact new e-book, which explains how, why, and when to focus on your relationships, health, career, and creativity. According to Vanderkam, people at the top of their game tend to have the most control of their days before the rest of the world is up, and she offers examples and anecdotes of how these ambitious professionals get ahead during that time—even if it’s at 5 a.m.

For a daily time-management fix, Vanderkam blogs regularly at lauravanderkam.com.