Nicole Edine

Georgia firefighter Jeff Lord always wanted to be a musician. When he was 12 years old, he attempted to learn to play the guitar without success -- but his love of the blues never left him. Years later, his passion for music would help him turn a few cigar boxes and scraps of wood into a lasting business and a fulfilling career.

While it's true that everyone works differently, the world's most successful leaders often have one thing in common: Their days are marked by certain rituals. After all, even Mark Zuckerberg needs a little bit of structure: That's why his resolution for 2014 was to write handwritten thank-you notes every single day of the year.

How you deal with the initial 10 minutes of the workday largely can determine how effective and productive you will be the remainder of the day. Below is a list of 10 things the most successful individuals do within the initial 10 minutes of the workday: Accomplishing your top goals will require you to reflect upon where you have been, where you are, as well as where you are going. Successful individuals build quiet time in and use solitude to do this first thing in the morning.