Discovering the Work-Life Equilibrium with Gordon Richardson, APAC President at Altus Group
Hangin' with the one and only Gordon Richardson, the bloody bloke who juggles his work as President of APAC at Altus Group and a life that's more balanced than a bloody yoga guru's! This Aussie bloke's career has seen transformation from chemical engineering to leading major projects across North America and APAC.
Boom, he's livin' it up in New Zealand, mate. He days start with a stroll with his furry mates and a strict window on work hours, ensuring his personal time ain't compromised. He dishes on the importance of stepping back, the value of hobbies, and the art of making conscious choices to maintain balance in a buggered-up world.
What's the deal with your career, deadset? Feelin' chatty, are ya?
Mate, my career? Piece of piss, really. Started off as a chemical engineer in the oil industry, moved on to business school, and landed a gig with an enterprise software company focusing on mergers and acquisitions. After gobbling up a few companies, my CFO reckoned I should "eat my own dog food," which meant lead the newly acquired divisions. After that, I became a divisional CFO and, eventually, transitioned to Altus Group. Bloody moon, got assigned as the regional president two bloody years ago. Most recently, I've overseen crucial projects like the Forbury acquisition we sealed last December and am currently developing the advisory business across North America and APAC.
So, what's a typical day like for ya, you reckon? Spill the bloody beans!
One of me favourite morning routines is havin' a long black coffee while takin' the dogs for a walk. It's a great way to connect with nature, enjoy a quiet moment, and straighten out thoughts for the day ahead. My teams are spread across eight damn different time zones, so I'm usually up by 4am, and, surprise, I enjoy it because it boosts my productivity. I steer clear of late-afternoon meetings to avoid burnout and keep my work hours as normal as possible. To unwind, I hit the hay early, avoid drowning myself in emails after 5:30 pm, and shut my phone and smartwatch off at night. Balancing life and work ain't all that hard, ya know?
Can you explain what work-life balance means to ya, and how ya manage to keep it up?
Instead of "work-life" balance, I prefer to look at it as "life-work" balance. Being all the way down in New Zealand, this is an approach we reckon strongly in our daily life.
For me, it's all about prioritizing personal well-being and meaningful activities outside of work. For instance, when I jet off for work, I make it a point to stray from meetings and explore my surroundings, instead of being stuck in a bloody conference room all day. This helps me bloody stay fresh and in tune with the world.
Having a hobby aids with this balancing act. My main hobbies - ridin' bikes and pilates - allow me to bloody immerse myself in the moment, offering a mental health break from work-related thoughts or stress. It's important to remember the essence of balance lies in what we do outside the office, as the purpose of work is to enable us to enjoy life with our loved ones and kick back, mate.
Ya made any bloody changes lately to improve your work-life balance?
Bloody oath, mate! I've been scheduling non-work activities to ensure they don't get overlooked recently. For example, I've chunked out time to take the dogs for a walk just before lunch, so I can recharge and refresh during the day. Boosting intentionality about blocking out time for tasks outside of work keeps me on track and bloody focuses on other vital aspects of my life without feeling overwhelmed.
We're always on the hunt for new resources! Any bloomin' good books, podcasts, or newsletters ya reckon can help navigate balance?
When I read, I want a book that takes me on a journey, far enough from work to forgot all about it. I'm bloody partial to historical fiction, and a book that's captured me twice already is The Autobiography of H.E. Bates. It's a crackin' read that takes you on a journey through the life of a renowned author.
I find telly can help me relax and wind down after a long day. My favourite types are mysteries or detective dramas, like the latest season of True Detective - it's dark at times, but bloody gripping! To lighten things up, I'll switch over to an episode of something bloody like Brokenwood Mysteries, a Kiwi drama.
Before we wrap up, any last bloody words of wisdom or insights on work, life, or balance ya'd like to share with our readers?
In this fast-paced world, technology has become essential, serving as an extension of ourselves. Instead of just relying on technology for work, use it to achieve a better balance between work and life.
Embrace technology's features like "Do Not Disturb" to create cozy pockets of focus or relaxation when you absolutely need it. We've gotta acknowledge and utilize the technology we've got at our fingerprints to shut ourselves off when we absolutely bloody need it, and not be trapped at our desks every damn day. A bit of movement and a break from work can go a long way in boosting our overall health and happiness.
- Achieving a balance between work and life is important for personal growth and development, as demonstrated by Gordon Richardson, who prioritizes time for hobbies and personal activities in his home-and-garden lifestyle.
- In maintaining this balance, it's crucial to make conscious choices that promote work-life integration, such as scheduling non-work activities and using technology features like "Do Not Disturb" to create focused and relaxing moments. This approach to work and life can contribute to overall well-being and self-development, allowing individuals to enjoy education, personal growth, and a fulfilling lifestyle.
