A Day within the Lifetime of Benefit Options CEO Dave Peacock

• Dave Peacock, the CEO of Benefit Options, has a really structured every day routine.
• Peacock’s profession spans roles at Anheuser-Busch, in retail, and at Continental Grain Firm.
• He emphasizes routine, empowerment, and work-life steadiness for efficient management.

This as-told-to essay relies on a dialog with Dave Peacock, the 56-year-old CEO of Benefit Options in St. Louis. It has been edited for size and readability.

Earlier than changing into the CEO of Benefit Options, I spent 20 years at Anheuser-Busch, the place I held a number of roles and served as president for 4 years.

I then pivoted into retail for about 4 and a half years, the place I discovered the significance of frontline personnel and main with goal, and I did so by means of the pandemic.

After that, I moved to New York and spent a 12 months and a half with Continental Grain Firm. I lived in St. Louis my entire life, so this was a special expertise.

A good friend and mentor, Jim Kilts, the chairman of Benefit Options, reached out to see if the corporate is perhaps a superb match for me. I stated sure to the CEO position and was thrilled for the chance to work with greater than 60,000 teammates and lead a multinational group.

I began in February 2023 and moved from New York again to St. Louis for the position. Here is what a typical and structured day in my life appears to be like like.

I get up between 6 and 6:30 a.m.

Till I used to be 30 years outdated, I used to be very a lot an evening particular person. Then, being within the beer enterprise, which begins with early days, I turned extra of a morning particular person.

I begin my day between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. by going by means of emails for about 10 minutes. I then learn a biblical devotional each morning.

To get my head proper, I additionally do deep respiratory and self-affirmations. My govt coach and I’ve mentioned how deep respiratory and psychological and cognitive calm are nice methods to arrange for the day. Over time, I’ve discovered to start out my day balanced mentally, spiritually, and bodily.

I then learn key articles from varied enterprise publications for about 20 minutes.

I will then make breakfast

I make the identical breakfast each morning, which incorporates some protein, usually sausage, and blueberries, my favourite fruit.

As I am getting breakfast prepared, I bounce into some emails. I will name and textual content totally different departments to inspect issues and speak to our Chief Business Officer or CFO. In between, I will watch some information to grasp what’s taking place.

I work out a bit each morning with a coach or on the elliptical whereas watching ESPN or CNBC. I will bathe, after which I will hit the bottom operating.

Relying on visitors, I go away house and get to the workplace between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

We’ve an workplace in St. Louis and across the nation. I like being in an workplace and round individuals, as I am an auditory learner. I thrive on the power and the various numbers of individuals — I work higher in an workplace.

Through the pandemic, I discovered that working from house with a home filled with youngsters was not supreme. I noticed I wanted a separate workspace to do as a lot actual work as attainable.

After I get to the workplace, I am booked all day with an occasional 15 min hole

Whenever you’re a CEO or C-suite govt, your schedule, rhythm, and routines are month-to-month or quarterly, as no two days are alike.

I’ve a month-to-month routine round efficiency critiques with my groups. Then, I’ve quarterly routines round board conferences, earnings, and investor communications. Yearly, there is a rhythm with business occasions and exhibits.

I am a giant routine man — I believe having routines is supercritical. My assistant and I began engaged on my 2025 calendar final June, and by October, we might been greater than two-thirds locked and dedicated. I imagine in making an attempt to have 70% of a plan with 30% time adjustable as wanted.

I do not go away the workplace or take a lunch break

I’ve a protein bar at 10 a.m. and a banana at 11 a.m., and I deliver deli meat, lettuce, blueberries, and protein shakes to the workplace to snack on all through the day. I am tough to work with if I’ve gone two hours or extra with out protein.

My day consists of conferences and hands-on work with the group. I strive to not over-mange our group; I let nice individuals do what they’re able to, however I wish to be up to the mark and never be stunned. I believe the extra you micromanage, the extra you lose the flexibility to adapt. It’s essential to have a robust, empowered group.

I work slightly on weekends — often fast calls with my group, reviewing pre-reads, and at all times devoting time to studying enterprise media for articles to share with the group.

My evenings differ, however they’re fairly boring as an empty nester

It is now simply my spouse and I, as our children have left house for his or her grownup lives. I construct in nights out and defend holidays relentlessly, and I do the identical with my group. I put my group members’ holidays in my calendar as all-day occasions to make sure I do not name, textual content, or e mail them. Time without work to recharge drives efficiency.

I am doing one thing client-related, resembling dinner conferences, a number of nights every week. I am additionally a part of a civic group and a number of other charity boards — we now have occasions a number of nights every week. On the nights I am not going out, I am additionally going by means of some emails and pre-reads for the following day’s conferences.

I generally may have an IPA, ideally a Logboat Snapper, a terrific Missouri model. I often drink nonalcoholic beer.

I attempt to throttle down round 8:30 or 9 p.m. I watch a streaming collection, sports activities, or learn. We stream so much, as I am a large fan of most genres (excluding horror). Sports activities documentaries are a few of my favorites, however I additionally like “Shrinking,” “The Diplomat,” and outdated comedies like “New Lady.”

I sleep, get up, and do it over again.