JPMorgan CEO Dimon Advises Avoiding Big Decisions on Fridays

Dimon says making important choices when tired at the end of the week often leads to poor outcomes.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:07pm

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JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has learned over his decades-long Wall Street career that it's best to avoid making big decisions on Fridays when he's tired from a long work week. Dimon says anger and fatigue can cloud judgment, leading to poor choices. Other business leaders like Airbnb's Brian Chesky and Southwest's Bob Jordan have also implemented rules to protect their schedules and energy levels, showing that even top executives need to set boundaries to stay productive and focused.

Why it matters

Dimon's advice highlights the importance of self-awareness and setting boundaries, even for the most successful leaders. Fatigue and stress can impair decision-making at all levels, so establishing routines and habits to avoid making critical choices when mentally drained is crucial for maintaining business performance and personal well-being.

The details

Dimon has spent over 40 years in finance, from working at American Express to leading JPMorgan through the financial crisis. He says he's learned that 'making big decisions on a Friday when you're tired is a really bad idea.' Dimon admits he still sometimes falls into that trap, but tries to avoid it. Other CEOs like Airbnb's Brian Chesky and Southwest's Bob Jordan have also implemented rules to protect their schedules, such as banning early meetings or setting aside meeting-free afternoons.

  • Dimon shared this advice during a recent interview with NPR.

The players

Jamie Dimon

The CEO of JPMorgan Chase, one of the largest banks in the world.

Brian Chesky

The co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, the $78 billion short-term rental company.

Bob Jordan

The CEO of Southwest Airlines, a major U.S. airline.

Marc Randolph

The co-founder of Netflix, the popular streaming service.

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What they’re saying

“I've learned some stuff like when I was 30, like anger doesn't help. Making big decisions on a Friday when you're tired is a really bad idea.”

— Jamie Dimon, CEO, JPMorgan Chase

“Don't apologize for how you want to run your company. [Emailing] was the thing about my job that I hated the most before the pandemic.”

— Brian Chesky, CEO, Airbnb

“It's so that you can work on things you need to work on. You can think about what's important right now. You can call people you need to talk to.”

— Bob Jordan, CEO, Southwest Airlines

“For over 30 years, I had a hard cutoff on Tuesdays. Rain or shine, I left at exactly 5 p.m. and spent the evening with my best friend. Those Tuesday nights kept me sane, and they put the rest of my work in perspective.”

— Marc Randolph, Co-founder, Netflix

The takeaway

Dimon's advice highlights the importance of self-awareness and setting boundaries, even for the most successful leaders. Fatigue and stress can impair decision-making at all levels, so establishing routines and habits to avoid making critical choices when mentally drained is crucial for maintaining business performance and personal well-being.