The core of sustainability in business - self awareness in business
I was reflecting on two conversations with businessmen that I'd had yesterday and how they differed. For one the conversation was an affirmation that his business goals and personal aspirations were aligned. He'd been too busy to recognise that, so the affect of that conversation was calmness.
The second conversation was a phone call. I was ringing to congratulate a gentleman on his promotion. He'd emerged victorious from a gm recruitment process. He'd be general manager in a couple of months.
This is a chap who's skin is often breaking out in a rash. He's always in a hurry to get somewhere, but never on time. He's either full of joy or overwhelmed with stress; hard to pin down in a conversation; often laughing. These are all signs I have come to associate with executive stress.
Yesterday he was full of joy - highly excited. "I must have had 150 people email me. Everyone around here is incredibly supportive" he said. He explained where the company ranked in New Zealand, how many people, the turnover ... "A big job" he said with pride.
When I asked him what his priorities were, he replied, "find a replacement for my old job". He had been the operations manager so off he went, telling me how critical it was to find the right person. He talked about the people on his short list, where he'd met them and why they'd be suitable, or not.
In a previous conversation at a time when he wasn't so filled with joy, I'd raised the issue of his personal health, so I asked where his personal fitness fitted with his new priorities. He acknowledged it was important, but in the same breath he was away again. "If I can't find a good replacement for my old job it'll be all over."
I am guessing he is good for shareholder's returns, but I do wonder what will happen when the shareholders no longer need him.
Score yourself
If you see a little of yourself in this story, take a break. Walk outside, away from your desk and ask yourself; "how well are the parts of my life progressing?" Go through the following personal check list and score yourself 0 to 10 in the following areas of your life.
Fitness - Can I jog for 20 minutes?
Health - If I catch a cold do I get over it in a week?
Family - Do my children enjoy my company?
Major relationship - Does my happiness depend of what my partner does, or doesn't do?
Financial - If my income ceased for a month, could I still feed my family?
Career - Am I respected for the value of my contribution?
Calmness - Do I sleep well at night?
Abundance - Do I have everything I need?
What have these got to do with business, you may ask? Everything. If we are not progressing in the important parts of our life, we feel guilty, tension subversively builds up, our energy leaks away and the quality of our decisions deteriate ... your business is unsustainable.
If you wish to work on any of these areas of your life a good place to start would be with this reflection and planning guide which you can download for free.