Welcome to The 6 a.m. CFO, where finance chiefs share how they jump-start their days and engage with the tasks that are in front of them.
Today, Hinge’s chief growth and financial officer, Bill Archer, shares his morning routine.
Be sure to check out the entire 6 a.m. CFO series, and if you’d like to be featured in a future post, please email us here.
Hinge
- Dating app
- Year founded: 2012
- Number of employees: Over 349
- Revenue: Grew at a ~35%+ CAGR over the past four years
MORNING ROUTINE
Weekday wake-up time: Around 6 a.m. I like to have a little time to myself to scan the news and catch up on Slack/email, before my two boys (7 years old and 3.5 years old) burst out of their rooms at 6:30 a.m., ready to REALLY start the day.
Morning beverage choice: A Nespresso with a splash of milk while I’m prepping breakfast for the boys.
Non-work-related morning activities: I have school bus drop-off for my oldest at 7:30 a.m., then I usually walk to the office, which is about a healthy 55-minute jaunt. I’ve come to love that time. It’s when I’m able to organize my thoughts, prioritize where to focus my time for the day and call a friend or family member to catch up. It’s a nice period of clarity before the workday begins.
Workday start time: I’m at my desk around 9 a.m., though I’ll usually have triaged a few work-related items before that.
How I usually spend the first hour of my day: Reviewing business trends, reading any analyses that require feedback and spending some time learning new AI tools and features.
Time I send out my first email: We’re more of a Slack culture; I’m typically sending messages in that 6-6:30 a.m. window, responding to anything that came in overnight.
Best advice for writing an effective email: Be clear about your ask. If you’re sending an email, you're likely looking for a response to something. Make sure that the ask is explicit.
First dashboard I review: A core KPIs dashboard that shows results from the prior day versus our forecast. I’ll cut it a few ways (by country, by gender and platform) to make sure nothing requires a deeper dive.
How I structure my morning meetings: I try to keep 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. mostly clear of meetings. That’s when I’m sharpest, so I like to reserve it for focused work.
Mid-morning snack of choice: Two hard-boiled eggs with hot sauce.
Tell us about a recent morning that didn’t go as planned, and how you adjusted: One of my sons caught a 24-hour stomach bug, and we were up most of the night. When that happens, the only real adjustment is being honest with yourself: You’re not going to be at your best. Don’t hold yourself to an unrealistic expectation of productivity when you haven't slept enough.
INSPIRATION AND LEADERSHIP
Favorite quote or mantra: “Be curious, not judgmental,” a quote I heard on “Ted Lasso” that came from Walt Whitman. It’s probably the best scene of a very funny show, and the lesson has always resonated with me. Curiosity is one of the first things I look for when interviewing someone. It demonstrates that someone is going to seek to understand and have a willingness to learn.
Favorite leadership lesson: “Let 80/20 be your friend.” The CFO I replaced at OkCupid gave me this lesson before I started. He said the business will constantly need you to make decisions with imperfect information. But when you’re coming from banking or accounting, you’re wired for 99/1. You don’t have that luxury when you’re running a business. Get comfortable with 80/20, increase your velocity of decision-making and keep moving forward. Many people who transition to operating roles really struggle with this concept, and it’s an incredibly important one.
Something important to know about me that you wouldn’t know from my business bio: If I weren’t working as a CFO, I’d likely be a teacher. I love going in front of our employees and breaking down what may seem like a complicated financial or economic issue into its core components. It’s usually not that these issues are super complicated, but rather that they haven’t been taught or explained in a clear way. I get some of the best feedback and thanks from employees after these sessions.
Favorite number: 2 popped into my head first. My birthday is June 2nd, and Hinge’s whole mission is connecting two people together. I’ll go with 2.
Most noteworthy items in my workspace: My kids' artwork, which is a subtle reminder of why I work so hard.
Favorite app on my phone that is not related to business: WhatsApp or iMessage to keep in touch with family and friends. I try to be a serial communicator with those who are important to me.
The year, make and model of your first car: 1999 Pontiac Grand Am. She was a real beauty (not really.)
Most influential/famous person you’ve ever met: I’ve been fortunate to meet two former presidents, Joe Biden and George W. Bush.
Most inspirational person in your life: My wife, Sam. She’s a senior leader at Publicis, the world’s largest ad agency. She works incredibly hard, both in that role and in supporting our family. She does so much of the invisible, logistical work to keep everything running smoothly. I have the deepest respect for how she juggles everything that she does.
