Finding Balance: Daily Tips from Our Lead Project Manager, Jessie Pinckney

Balancing life and work is a challenge that many people face, but for Jessie Pinckney , Lead Project Manager at Thompson Exterior Services , the key lies in how you approach that balance. Here are some tips from him that can help anyone maintain a healthy equilibrium between their professional and personal lives.

Let’s meet Jessie first!

He used to be a personal trainer and gym manager. This experience taught him valuable lessons, such as how to connect with his team on multiple levels, including cultural empathy, and how to create a healthy work environment where communication is key and everyone feels included. But most importantly, he learned about patience: “Progress takes patience,” he always says.

The Power of Visual Reminders

He still uses a whiteboard for visibility on stats and quotes, finding that constant visual reminders are very motivating. He displays a simple weekly quote that resonates with his team to connect with each co-worker.

Daily Routines: Staying Organized and Focused

Nowadays, his work is completely different. Being a Project Manager for an exterior high-elevation company requires daily routines, all of which start with a checklist on his notepad. He begins by crossing off completed tasks from the day before and then creates two new lists for the day: one for personal to-dos and one for work items. This system helps him stay focused on the present and avoid getting overwhelmed by what lies ahead.

The Importance of Pausing

Managing stress and staying positive is not easy in a business with so many moving parts and people to keep happy. So Jessie’s strategy in these cases is to “Pause... don’t push,” which means don’t immediately jump into something—pause first, let it take its course before forcing it, and avoid overcomplicating things.

An Active Body Leads to an Active Mind

Staying physically active is another great tip from Jessie. However, he suggests being flexible so that you can't stick to a routine, you won’t feel pressured or disappointed. For example, Jessie fits three days of strength training and two days of cycling into his week. Find your perfect way to make it possible!

Balancing Work and Personal Life

A final tip from Jessie for people who are always working and not taking time for themselves is to be fair and flexible. “If it’s okay to do personal tasks during work time, then it’s okay to do work tasks during personal time as well,” he says.

Unfortunately, in our society, people are often defined by what they do for a living, so it’s easy for your career to overpower your life. With that in mind, healthy hobbies that allow you to be creative and express yourself are awesome and highly recommended.

Don’t become your job! Remember, life is a balance, not a race. Embrace each moment, both at work and in your personal life, with purpose and passion. The journey is yours—make it meaningful every step of the way.