India, May 13 -- For Kevin Hochman, the day begins long before most people are awake. The president and CEO of Brinker International, which owns Chili's, told Business Insider that he typically wakes up between 5 and 6 am, and some of his best ideas come to him during his early morning run.

"I usually start between 5 and 6 am," Hochman said.

Before heading to the office, he spends the early hours checking emails, going for a 3.25-mile

(roughly 5 km) run, and later taking his dog out for a walk. But for Hochman, the routine serves a bigger purpose than simply staying active.

Hochman said many of his strongest business ideas emerge during those quiet hours outdoors, when he has uninterrupted time to think about the company and its direc...