How BLK & Bold cofounder Rod Johnston starts his day

• Just don't expect him to also stay up late: "I'm a strong advocate of getting a full night's rest," he says.

Here's how Johnson starts his day:

⏰ Wake up: 5am. Out of bed by 5:30am.

🍳 Breakfast: A banana, kiwi or some piece of fruit.

• He doesn't drink coffee first thing, citing studies showing it's better to let your body wake itself up before ingesting caffeine.
• When it's time to brew himself a cup, Johnson's favorite is BLK & Bold's medium roast.

📚 What he's reading: Emails first.

• He also uses the app Headway, which summarizes non-fiction books like "The 5AM Club" and "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People."

💡 Pro tip: For other Black Iowans interested in becoming entrepreneurs, "Don't be deterred by the haters," Johnson says.

• Imposter syndrome is a natural feeling that can be detrimental, he says. "I recommend people bet on themselves and get out of their own way."