Confessions from a COO

#5 Swapping that COO energy for Dad energy this Half Term

Just finished the half term holiday. I’ve got two kids, 11 and 9, so the break between school terms is a (semi) big deal. Especially in February when the weather is naff. But predictably, it’s also the week when everyone gets ill, which is another variable to juggle with.?

But it’s also a good (or bad?) example of something I struggle with. Swapping big COO energy with trying to keep-my-shit-together-in-half-term Dad energy.?

The car crash between the "fix-it-all, no problem is too big" mindset in the office, meets the "count to 10 and don't lose your cool" mindset at home.

More specifically, it’s a personal challenge trying to accept that little humans, especially with huge amounts of hormones in them, aren’t the same as your reasonable work colleagues. You can expect (most) people to dial into a video call on time, but will your son be ready to leave for the joint appointment at the barbers on time? Hell no. Worse still, will his lateness make me look bad?!? Shudder.?

I’m slowly learning to accept that my COO playbook is pointless on my kids;

1. The “make it so easy they chose it” only goes so far…?
2. The “mitigate all the risks” approach is too depressing…?
3. The “throw money at the problem, it’s too risky to fail!” method will bankrupt me…!?

And you know what, that’s ok.?Not everything needs fixing. Little humans will inevitable, work it out.

Jokes aside, shout out to the working parents juggling schedules this week, and remember, if you could do home schooling, you can do a week of half term!?

[Editor’s note - Poss is booking a week’s all inclusive holiday next February]

Weekly moan: See above...

Weekly win (and hypocrite warning, given i’ve just moaned about half term): doing TWO fun things on my day off this week. Firstly, watching Back To The Future in the West End, then hanging out backstage with Cory - Doc Emmett Brown in the show - and trying on some of his costumes!

Then we got to hangout in the Capital Radio studio for the evening show with my brother-in-law Jimmy.

Three things they caught my eye this week:?

The Labour Party’s long-term cross-government strategy for mental health has begun here.

I have been guilty of calling dxw my family at times, netflix suggests here that perhaps I shouldn't.

3 practical and helpful steps here from Paul Clarke for anybody embarking on any change in their lives.