How Asia’s top tech entrepreneurs stay productive

Productivity seems to be the in-thing today, and that’s not very surprising. After all, who doesn’t want to get more high-quality stuff done in a shorter time? When it comes to work routines, though, opinion is divided on whether it is good to have one or not. The word ‘routine’ does indeed have a stigma of mundanity attached to it.

On the other hand, not having a routine might cause one to waste precious time making decisions on what should be done when. Productivity should be about doing the things that matter in the most efficient way possible, as aptly put by Sterling Whitley in an article on Medium. In fact, many of the greatest minds in history swear by certain specific habits in their work routines that propel them to become incredibly productive.

Of course, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and what might work for Benjamin Franklin might not necessarily work for you. Still, it is worth taking notes on the best practices of those who have made it somewhere when putting together your own routine. Who knows – perhaps adding in a heavy breakfast every morning might give you that extra boost needed to do even greater things.

Without further ado, here are the work routines of some of the top tech entrepreneurs across Asia, for your inspiration.

Razmig Hovaghimian, CEO and founder of Viki: Go where the tide takes you

Viki is a Singapore- and San Francisco-based video streaming site that was recently acquired by Rakuten for US$200 million – the biggest known exit for a Singapore web and mobile startup thus far. As the CEO of a startup that is going places, you would expect Razmig to have a packed schedule planned for himself in advance day in, day out.

Turns out, Razmig doesn’t fancy planning for his day in advance. He prefers to go where the tide takes him – and the tide usually finds him in his sleep. “I find that forward momentum helps shapes plans,” he explained. “When it’s dark and I am in bed, ideas just rush to my head – sometimes feels like I am playing a little Tetris in my head – and I usually wake up with a plan in mind.”

Razmig is also a fan of taking short and quick breaks to get the gears running in his head. “I like to take walks outside the office, for 10 to 15 minutes each time, and think through things – quick and focused breaks.”

How does he recharge after work? Razmig opts for a seven-a-side soccer session on a weekly basis, for two hours straight each time. “Two competitive teams, 12 to 14 people, all focused on one ball – everything slows down,” he said.

Razmig is also big on family time, and he claims that coming home helps to recharge his batteries as well. He always remembers to make it up to his family every time he burns midnight oil at work. “Two red-eyes is an extra day with the family,” he explained.

Patrick Grove, CEO and co-founder of Catcha Group: Go hard, or go home

Toru Tokushige, CEO and founder of Terra Motors: Work hard, but don’t forget family

Le Hong Minh, CEO and co-founder of VNG: Focus on what is most important to you right now