Jordi Hays

Jordi is the Co-Founder & CEO of Likewise. Recently launched out of beta, Likewise is a work platform that connects high-growth brands to world-class designers, developers, copywriters, photographers, and more.

Prior to Likewise, Jordi founded Branded Native — a creator ad network used by leading DTC brands that has paid out millions to creators.

On the first hour of his day.

I’m up around 6.30 regardless of how much sleep I get. 

I’ll take the first hour to get a little bit of movement in my loft and get much LA sunlight exposure as possible. From there, I’ll hop in a cold shower and have a breakfast of 6 eggs and some fruit along with some coffee to help start the day. 

I’ve also gotten really into pre-recorded morning affirmations to help me subtly start to reprogram my thoughts and subconscious mind.

They’re a ridiculously powerful way to start the day.

On morning affirmations.

I started using meditation apps a long time ago and would often listen to pre-recorded affirmations from other people, but I found that everyone is different. 

Everyone has their own anxieties, demons, and things they want to focus on, but nothing can come close to you sitting down and thinking intentionally about what thoughts you want to cultivate during your day.

On a related note, I’ve completely stopped listening to any kind of sad or low energy music as I’ve become pretty aware of how it holds me back from feeling my best and having that internal fire I want throughout my day.

On investing his energy.

This is really the first year where I’ve started to make a conscious effort around where I’m investing my energy, especially when it comes to what people I spend time with.

I love talking to people, finding out what they are working on, and jamming on different things, but there is obviously a finite amount of time in a day.

That being said, relationships nowadays are deeply tied to social media which can get super chaotic and hard to keep track of.

I recently started mind-mapping which has been massive for me, where I map out my physical health, mental health, company health, and close friendships in my life using Figma. Right now, there are probably around 10 people who have had a dramatic impact on my life and visualizing these relationships helps me invest my energy in the right places.

These are the people I want to invest as much time with as possible, and keep putting in the extra energy to deepen those relationships over an extended time period.

On cultivating connection.

Whenever I’m jamming with someone new, it’s not really a conscious effort to get to know them. It just requires a genuine interest in what the other person is doing, that’s how I connect.

The most important things I’ve learned this year haven’t come from people who are more connected, experienced, or successful, but rather from people who have incredible insights to offer from their own personal experiences. 

The reason I like connecting with so many founders and founding teams is that company building is an art form for me. No matter the industry or the vertical, you can always appreciate the craft of building a company from the ground up.

On mentors and peers.

I think the first hurdle for anybody that wants to break into this space and to become a peer versus a mentee is to learn the language. 

I spent close to 3 years listening to hundreds of hours of podcasts to the point where if I even had a fraction of the knowledge that somebody in their 30s or 40s had, we were almost on the same playing field because I knew the language. 

Every time you level up as a founder, you realize how little you truly know and how much depth there is to this game.

It’s extremely humbling to know that there is never going to be a stage where we know everything, and that keeps things interesting. 

That’s why it’s fun.

On his evening routine.

Sadly, my 5.30 workout is never the end of the workday. 

I’ll usually end up stacking calls on the way to the gym or on the way home. I like to use that time to catch up with friends that are also in my world.

After a workout and quick dinner, I’ll dive back into tying up loose ends for the day and running through email. I try to switch to as little light as possible, usually using candlelight and lamps. It helps me slow down, relax, and prep for bed.

I’ll usually cap off the day by taking a quick hot tub on the roof followed by a cold shower. Then, it’s back to the evening affirmations and reading until I knock out around 11.