Summertime and the living is easy

This is my last article before my summer break. I am looking forward to a family holiday in Cornwall. It got me thinking of the difference between how I used to expend energy and use my time pre-holiday.

Normally I would be frantically working right up until the last minute making sure I gave 100% until the very last moment. The result was always the same - I was exhausted for the first few days of holidays.

I recall many years ago, when I was a head-hunter and my now-wife Kate and I were on holiday in France. I arrived completely exhausted. I was playing catch-up on my sleep so much so that she woke me one day and I said, “Have I missed breakfast?” She replied, “You have missed breakfast, lunch and we are about to join other guests for a barbeque!” I had slept for over 16 hours…

So, this year I am taking a different approach. Of course I will continue to service clients and respond to enquiries in a professional manner, yet will be starting the holiday earlier, so I am ready to actually enjoy the holiday with the family. To be fully present so I can listen to my children’s stories, catch up with them on their thoughts, fears, aspirations, dreams and challenges.

I am also going to use this time for self-reflection. I know that when I see the sea, my heart rate drops and being by the coast is good for my spirit. I have started the process of a practice I use with my clients that I too get involved in, called a “Personal Branding” exercise.?

This is a series of questions that are simple to respond to, yet not easy to answer. A question such as?“What have been your most successful projects in your career?” reminds me of my recent achievements over lockdown. “What one skill would most accelerate your career?” leads to an acceptance of some of my weakness, yet opens up the opportunity for building new skills. I am excited to be investing in my education by going back to school – Henley Business School - part-time in late September.?

The exercise allows me to re-confirm my values, re-ignite my passion for the work I do and clarifies my purpose – to positively impact 20,000 careers during my lifetime. It leads to a soul-searching question, “Are you living these values and behaviours each and every day?”

The most difficult question during the exercise is “What do you want said at your funeral tribute?”

This is such a hard one because it means we have to face our own mortality. I struggled with this question and actually have never made it part of the exercise, as I could not give a response myself. As part of my integrity, I don’t ask my clients to undertake challenges I have not at least attempted myself. I had the honour of writing and then delivering my mum’s funeral tribute. Whilst this was a very difficult process for me because of the grief I was experiencing, celebrating mum’s life was simple because her values and character shone through - her decency, fairness, and kindness. I was fortunate enough to be the one chosen to acknowledge and share her contribution to the world.?

Such reflection can bring a sharp focus from a career perspective on the dreaded word, “retirement”; the concept of either playing golf each day, travelling the world non-stop or worrying about your finances or most likely somewhere in between.

I was recently introduced to an insightful book called Twenty Good Summers. The author, Martin Hawes, is an Independent Financial Advisor, who is a very active hiker, climber, and mountaineer with a huge love of the outdoors. He realised, aged 50, that he had “Twenty Good Summers” left and a lot of mountains left to climb.

So, he decided to plan to ensure his finances and lifestyle were shaped toward this goal. He says, “So little time – so much to do! This got me thinking maybe I only have twenty good summers left – just twenty good summers to enjoy the mountains and do the other things I love.”??

Naturally, finances are a critical element, and there are many advisors who can provide direction and much of society who are focused on driving hard to get this part in an optimal state. After much reflection and discussion with my key mentors, I believe this is only one part of the triangle.

The two other parts are: what activities will you undertake to keep you mentally and physically fit, and what impact and legacy would you like to leave?

My invite to you is to go on a journey of discovery and ask these questions. Why not live your life to secure these outcomes right now?

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