Parham Shariat
Parham Shariat is a seasoned entrepreneur who has built businesses across multiple countries and industries. As a founder who has experienced both the highs and lows of partnerships and solo ventures, he brings hard-earned wisdom about what it really takes to succeed in business. His daily habits and morning routines reflect the discipline and continuous learning mindset that have shaped his entrepreneurial journey.
Hi Parham, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. Let's start with the basics—what time do you wake up every morning, and what's the very first thing you do before anything else?
What time do you wake up every morning, and what is the very first thing you do before anything else?
I'm an early riser. My body clock is set for 5 a.m., every day. The first thing I do is two or three minutes of stretching to get the body moving, then personal hygiene, then straight to coffee. I avoid social media in the morning. It's the worst way to start a day. Instead, I put on a couple of podcasts on YouTube, usually international news and the latest in AI. I'm out of the house by 7, and I keep the podcasts going in the car. That's the morning.
That's a disciplined routine! How many hours do you sleep each night, and what made you settle on that number?
Everyone says you need eight hours. I do well on six, as long as I'm not waking up in the middle of the night. What matters more to me is the room temperature. I keep it around 65 degrees. That's the real key to a good night's sleep.
Interesting perspective on sleep quality versus quantity. Speaking of daily habits, what is one habit you practice every single day that you believe has had the biggest impact on your success?
My best habit is learning something new every day. One piece of information that teaches me to do something different, or exposes me to something I wouldn't come across in a normal day. I am always looking for something to learn.
That continuous learning mindset is really powerful. Thanks for sharing that. Before we wrap up, if you could go back and give your 20-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be and why?
I have been fortunate to live in many countries, work for small and large companies, and start several businesses. So I have a lot to offer my 20-year-old self. The most important thing a young entrepreneur needs to know is that you can start and run your own business on your own. You do not always need a partner. A bad partner is toxic and can set you back years. I have had great partners and a few bad ones. If I had done more research on the bad ones up front, I probably would not have picked them. So my advice is simple: have the confidence to start and run your own business.
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Parham.