You’ll usually find Kim Kaupe bright and early at WeWork Empire State during the workweek. “I’m almost always the first person on the fifth floor in the mornings,” she told us. The early-riser and cofounder of ZinePak is busy running a business that creates collectible pieces of memorabilia for superfans of an artist or a brand.
We chatted with Kim for this edition of First Hour — a series that showcases the morning-side of creators. Below, Kim shares how she keeps busy in the early hours of her day.
WeWork Magazine: Are you a morning person?
Kim: Without question! My brain starts to shut down around 6 p.m. so late night brainstorms don’t really work for me.
WWM: What time do you usually get up?
KK: 7:00 a.m. on the dot.
WWM: What gets you up everyday?
KK: The “slow rise” ringtone on my iPhone and the possibility of doing something amazing with my day.
WWM: And what are your first thoughts when you get up?
KK: What did I dream? I try to see if I can remember what I dreamt about the night before. It helps me to get an idea of internal worries, thoughts, or feelings.
WWM: Tell us about your morning routine.
KK: I get up and try to get out of bed immediately (before the thoughts of snoozing creep in). I make the bed, check my Weather app to make sure it’s not an umbrella day, shower, grab something edible, and go!
WWM: What do you eat for breakfast?
KK: On a good day, I’ll make my own green juice or head to Juice Generation to grab an acai bowl on my way in. On my lazy days, I’ll just grab a Fage Yogurt or a GoMacro bar on the way out the door.
WWM: What do you do during your morning commute?
KK: At least two or three times a week I try to disengage completely. I won’t listen to music, check email or talk on the phone while I’m walking to work. During my commute, I’ll try to soak up the city, people watch, and daydream. The sights and sounds of this city inspire me all the time.
WWM: What’s the first thing you do when you arrive at the office?
KK: I usually fill up my mason jar with water. Drinking water helps me to stay focused, and I swear it makes me feel more energized! From 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. I have time to get the work done that requires heavy concentration and focus.
WWM: What’s your secret to not stressing out in the morning?
KK: Know where you do your best work. I do my best when I’m sitting still and concentrating. If I try to shoot off emails while I’m walking, lying in bed, or on the subway, I’m skimming my emails and not paying attention to little details. Basically, it turns into sloppy work for me. I would rather wake up at 7 a.m. get into work at 9 a.m. and start answering emails at my desk.
WWM: What does your ideal day look like?
KK: My ideal day consists of my team scoring big wins, getting excited, and feeling like we accomplished something amazing together. If the day is filled with at least one laugh and a few smiles, then that’s a pretty ideal day to me.
