Reaching work-life steadiness is like strolling a tightrope. Fortunately, over quite a few many years in enterprise I’ve discovered quite a lot of tips about find out how to discover equilibrium. Having put myself on the entrance and centre of the Virgin Group, the work facet of my life has been well-documented publicly, however what precisely does the life facet of the equation seem like?
I don’t have a look at work as work and play as play; to me they’re the identical factor. If a brand new enterprise alternative or mission doesn’t excite me and if it’s not one thing with which I can have plenty of significantly artistic enjoyable, then I’d relatively move on it and transfer proper alongside. Life’s too quick to waste your time doing issues that don’t gentle your hearth.
With this in thoughts, work for me lately could be very totally different from after I began out with Virgin Data or entered into the airline business with Virgin Atlantic. There are positively fewer boardroom conferences and discussions with bankers (apart from our personal at Virgin Cash!). Right now, I spend my time on issues that I’m enthusiastic about; particularly searching for new alternatives, working with our workers, our model and our non-profit basis, Virgin Unite.
Working for Virgin Unite is one in every of my chief priorities in life. I spend 80 per cent of my time travelling the world elevating consciousness and funds for philanthropic causes — most notably ending the struggle on medicine, abolishing the loss of life penalty, stopping rhino poaching, combatting local weather change, and conserving the ocean. By spending my time on subjects I’m involved in and enthusiastic about, I discover I not often have to unwind, reboot and refocus; as a substitute I really feel energised by my work.
And simply as I like to include enjoyable and fervour into my on a regular basis work, I additionally like to include work into my on a regular basis enjoyable and passions. I’m all the time on the look out for enterprise alternatives, whether or not it’s assembly with fellow kitesurfing lovers or spending downtime with my household. Usually one of the best enterprise concepts spring from sudden locations.
If I do topple off the tightrope, overwhelmed with work, I wish to get my head again within the recreation by going kitesurfing. Secondary to being with my household, I’m most pleased when I’m kitesurfing. Kiting helps me to clear my head. On this state, I can put all the pieces into perspective, and assume up new concepts extra simply. I’ve even managed to show it right into a enterprise alternative – the Virgin Kitesurfing Armada, a singular kitesurfing pageant that brings the group collectively for a improbable weekend of kiting, music, fundraising, and file breaking. Plus, annually MaiTai hosts quite a lot of networking occasions on Necker Island, bringing collectively kitesurfing entrepreneurs from all around the globe to generate and develop enterprise concepts.
After all kiting isn’t for everybody, however everybody can take pleasure in some downtime. I discover that top-of-the-line methods to assist me unwind and refocus is to take a break and have a cup of tea. Alongside the conferences, appointments, and e mail replies, it’s essential to only be. When you decelerate, breathe, and be current within the second you will see that steadiness extra simply. In addition to taking tea breaks, I do that by placing time in my diary to train and spend time with my family members.
By specializing in the issues I’m enthusiastic about, having enjoyable, having fun with some downtime, and prioritising the issues I care about probably the most (my household and my well being), I’ve been in a position to keep away from having a work-life steadiness burnout. I really feel that could be a fairly big accomplishment having been in enterprise for 50 years. My recommendation for you is to do the identical. I assure once you do, you may be a lot happier, engaged and productive in work and in life.
