03/06/2024
In August I turn 56 and reflected a lot on what I believe is important in life and career.
- Finding and living with a partner who supports, challenges, and shares key values.
I was so lucky that I found my wife kirsty Having the right partner for you is probably the biggest advantage you can have in life since you spend so much time together and make so many big decisions as a couple.
- Balancing challenges in your career so you grow without feeling inadequate for long periods.
In your career, you should always challenge yourself and be balancing on the edge of your comfort zone to grow. But that can easily slip over into feeling inadequate. It's okay to feel this way for a while, but if it stays that way, it will dominate your thoughts and affect how you feel. Make a change somehow if this happens. PS: Remember, feeling inadequate isn't always about you. Sometimes colleagues, managers, or business partners can make you feel this way and it's not always fair but you have to deal with it anyway.
- Always be kind, do your best to help others, and be honest with everyone.
Your life and career are marathons, not sprints. It's amazing how people I met 5-10 years ago, who I made a good impression on or helped with something small, are now reaching out to help me while I'm looking for my next opportunity. The principle of treating others as you want to be treated really is true in real life.
- Having hobbies that require focus and break thought patterns.
If you are a high-performing individual, you probably analyze and think a lot about your work or company. Make sure to find hobbies that break thought patterns and force you to focus on something else to get your mind off work. For me that could be lifting heavy or running far, or fishing and renovating a boat
- Taking care of your physical health.
Research over the last decade has shown how much your well-being is connected to getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising regularly. Find your "why" if you have trouble exercising. As you get older, the best way to ensure good health is to build and maintain muscle mass.
- Always having something to look forward to.
I've missed this one a lot when I was younger. Research shows that having things to look forward to, big or small, makes us happier. So, schedule lunch with a former coworker you miss, book a trip for the autumn or text your partner and ask if they want to go walking after work today.
What do you think is important?
Oh yeah - one last thing... Get a dog! Always get a dog if you can. Me and my buddy Max in the pic. 💙
