Most CEOs will tell you their day begins at 5 a.m., powered by David Goggins-level discipline and the latest biohacking trend. For Devon Price, co-founder and CEO of Kenetik, that’s just the starting point. His mornings often begin before sunrise, bouncing from investor calls to design reviews, with a quick detour to drop off his son’s forgotten homework.
Devon is the kind of leader who can operate at the highest level and still make space for the people who matter most. What makes him stand out are the habits he leans on to create this balance. Simple, steady anchors that keep him sharp in business and steady in life.
Here are the habits that guide him—and what any leader can learn from them.
Devon is the kind of leader who can operate at the highest level and still make space for the people who matter most. What makes him stand out are the habits he leans on to create this balance. Simple, steady anchors that keep him sharp in business and steady in life.
Here are the habits that guide him—and what any leader can learn from them.
1. Start the Day With Connection
For years, Devon’s mornings began on autopilot: wake up, brush teeth, then open laptop. The day started quickly, but not intentionally.
Now, he begins with a moment of connection with his partner and kids. Even five minutes of conversation or affection sets a stronger tone for the day ahead.
“It’s easy to wake up with a running list of things I need to do,” he says. “But pausing for connection shifts the tone completely. A hug seems simple, but it’s powerful.”
Research supports this: positive social interaction reduces stress and strengthens resilience. For leaders, it’s a reminder that presence often matters more than productivity first thing in the morning.
2. Anchor Your Focus
Leadership brings a flood of decisions, which can quickly lead to fatigue and cause vital work to get lost in the noise.
To stay sharp, Devon identifies a few “big rocks”—the priorities that matter most—while he drinks a Kenetik each morning. This ensures they get attention while his energy is highest. It’s a simple filter that helps him focus on tasks that truly drive progress.
“It’s not a rigid system,” he says. “But by naming the big rocks upfront, I can quickly filter out the little distractions that inevitably arise and stay focused on what matters.”
This simple filter conserves mental bandwidth, aligning with research showing performance declines as decision fatigue sets in.
3. Protect Keystone Habits
Like many founders and CEOS, Devon is driven in everything he does. He sees this intensity as both a gift and a risk. “My ability to focus deeply is my superpower,” he says. “But it can also become my downfall if I don’t protect myself from burnout.”
That’s where his non-negotiable keystone habits come in:
- Exercise: resets mental energy midday.
- Sunday meal prep: eliminates decision fatigue.
- Reading before bed: signals transition out of work and protects sleep quality.
These habits may sound ordinary, but their power lies in consistency. By automating the basics, Devon saves energy for the high-stakes choices that help him lead effectively.
4. Evolve With New Habits
Devon knows that habits evolve with the demands of leadership. Recently, he has been working on communicating his vision for Kenetik more consistently on social media.
“I have so many thoughts about where Kenetik — and ketones in general — are headed,” he says. “I want to build a rhythm of sharing that vision with our broader community.”
To make it stick, Devon applies principles from behavioral science: stack the habit onto an existing anchor (like meal prep or morning routines), reduce friction, and let repetition build momentum.
Habits That Scale With You
For Devon, habits are about building structure. They preserve clarity, sharpen focus, and keep him connected to the people who matter most.
For leaders and professionals alike, the takeaways are clear:
- Begin with presence. A few minutes of intentional connection can reset your mindset for the entire day.
- Anchor your focus. Identify the “big rocks” that matter most to stay locked in and filter out the noise of little distractions that inevitably arise.
- Protect the basics. Keystone habits like sleep, movement, and nutrition aren’t optional—they’re the foundation that keeps you performing under pressure.
- Let habits evolve. As your responsibilities grow, so should your systems. Adapt them to match the demands of your role and stage of life.
No matter how busy the day gets, strong habits create the structure that keeps your priorities clear. To learn more about habit stacking, check out The Neuroscience of Habit Stacking: How to Rewire Your Brain.
