VistaJetThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Thomas Flohr, the 65-year-old founder, chairman, and CEO of VistaJet, based in St. Moritz, Switzerland, about his daily routine. It's been edited for length and clarity.I started my career at a Chicago-based technology firm in 1985 and rose through the ranks. I later acquired most of the company's European operations through my company, Comprendium Investment.My frequent business travel in the early 2000s exposed me to the shortcomings of private aviation. At the time, I found the private jet experience to be inconsistent and underwhelming. The service quality didn't match the level of luxury that clients paying $10,000 to $15,000 an hour expected. I didn't see a good solution in the market and initially thought about paying for fractional jet ownership before deciding against it. Business Insider's Power Hours series gives readers an inside look at how powerful leaders in business structure their workday. Reach out to editor Lauryn Haas to share your daily routine. After exploring all other options, I bought a Learjet 60 in 2003, and that plane became the foundation for starting VistaJet in 2004. Vista is a private aviation subscription service that provides access to over 270 customized business jets for clients in 187 countries.My primary job is building client relationships and setting the company's strategic direction. Here's what a typical day in my life looks like.8 a.m. — Coffee, quiet time, and clearing my inboxOur company is headquartered in Dubai, but I travel frequently and usually work from any of our 25 offices worldwide, including my home office in St. Moritz. I wake up at different times, depending on where I am. If I'm in America, I start earlier to sync with Europe. In the Middle East, I work late into the night to overlap with American and European business hours.In St. Moritz, my mornings start around 8 a.m. I shower, grab coffee, and ease into the day. I don't eat breakfast.I prefer not to reach for my phone right away. About 45 minutes after my coffee, I'll respond to overnight emails and messages before diving into the day's activities.9 a.m. — Home, office, hotel, or en routeI maintain several offices in different locations so my executives can use them when I'm not around. If I'm home, I'll work from my home office. If I'm on the road, I'll work on the plane or at my destination.Sometimes, I work from the hotel in the morning and knock out key business tasks. If I'm in Dubai, London, New York, or a city with a VistaJet office, I'll head there in the afternoon for team and client meetings.I often sit where the action is with the team or join executive committee members in their offices.10 a.m. — Clients, above all elseI prioritize client meetings before internal ones and don't believe internal meetings should take more than 20 to 30 minutes unless there's a compelling reason.When clients call me directly, it's usually because they're about to make a significant decision, like buying a plane or finalizing a global flight plan. I also work on product development, brainstorming new services and product feature updates between calls and meetings.As a founder, I'm still very hands-on, and I'm in constant communication with my finance and operations teams.12:30 p.m. — Light and simple healthy lunchFor lunch, I keep it very light and healthy. I usually eat vegetable soup, a fruit platter, or a light Japanese sashimi dish.If I'm having a client lunch meeting, I prefer to eat at restaurants that use high-quality ingredients. Some of my favorite restaurants include Scott's in Mayfair, London, and Gaia in Dubai. When I eat out, I mostly get grilled seafood and boiled potatoes — nothing fancy.2 p.m. — Creative solutions to global logistics challengesThe afternoon often means syncing with our US and European teams. In our business, there's no shortage of unusual requests that require creative solutions. One memorable request involved helping a client run three marathons on three continents in one week. It was a significant logistical undertaking, but we successfully pulled it off for the client.Another request involved helping a corporate client coordinate the flight of executives from four continents to a board meeting in India, ensuring they all arrived precisely on time and returned home safely afterward.4:30 p.m. — A brief break to rechargeIf there's a gap between meetings, I'll take a 10-15-minute break to walk outside and get some fresh air. I try to prioritize these short breaks to clear my head and reset, but most of the time, the day runs nonstop.6 p.m. — Daily exercise as business preparationBy 6 or 6:30 p.m., I head to the gym and spend an hour training. Once I'm done working out, I hit the steam room for 15 to 20 minutes to relax and recover. Staying fit keeps me sharp.I'm a firm believer in an integrated life. I don't view work and life as separate entities that need to be balanced against eac
Don't miss out on breaking stories and in-depth articles.
