Let’s stop saying we “support” women. Let’s stop just “talking” about their businesses. Let’s stop merely “saying” their credentials are good enough. Instead, let’s use our privilege wisely! Let’s buy from them, hire them, and create spaces for their voices to be heard. Let’s make International Women’s Day 2024 a day of action, not just talk, so that International Women’s Day 2025 can be one of celebration instead of once again highlighting a failure to address the inequality that has plagued us for decades. Enough talk. It’s time for action.
An underrated skill that sets leaders apart is the ability to find little moments of peace in a chaotic schedule. You will have impossibly busy days. You will work late. You will end up throwing your schedule out the window. If you can find time to relax in spite of it, burn out is going to seriously struggle to touch you. #leadership #ceolife #balance
Every leader should have at least a basic understanding of how their product or service works. I may not be a nutritionist, but I’m intimately familiar with the inner workings of Vitabiotics as a company, a process and a product, having worked my way through every department of the business. I’m by no means an expert, and I couldn’t take over in one of our labs, but it means that if we have an issue, I don’t have to waste time learning how things are supposed to work before we can start fixing it. #vitabiotics #ceolife #growth
Caution is often wise, but opportunities move fast. If you can’t think of a serious reason to not take a chance, go for it before someone else takes advantage of your delaying. #opportunities #leadership #ceolife
Do it. Do it. Do it. #perserverance #determination #business
When measuring productivity, looking at time spent vs. what was produced only tells you so much. Instead, analyse the circumstances. What was it about your super-productive day that made it so productive? What was it about an unproductive day that made it such a challenge? Is it mindset? Is it how much sleep you get? Is it environment? Is it working under time pressure? Productivity is personal, and boosting it is too. Take the time, and find the ingredients for the most productive ‘you’. #productivity #busy #balance
Life can, at times, feel like a current pulling you along. Sometimes, this is great, and riding the waves feels like you’re hurtling towards success. But at the times when you feel yourself getting dragged in the wrong direction, take some time to remove yourself and re-asses. It doesn’t need to be a holiday – just take a few hours to yourself and mentally start from the top. #leadership #selfcare #ceolife
I encounter a lot of people whose end goal is wealth and success. In my opinion, that is not a goal. A goal needs to be reachable. Achievable. Doable. ‘More money’ is a finish line that moves two steps away for every step you take. Yes, success is important and should be valued. Wealth is a powerful tool in order to achieve that success and grow it by orders of magnitude. But your end goal, your North Star, should be happiness. Contentment. Fulfilment. Peace. I have known far too many successful entrepreneurs who achieved all their wildest dreams and more…and it was never enough. Because you cannot have ‘more’. In the same way, it cannot be ‘tomorrow’. Take some time. Consider yourself. Work out what will be enough. Never lose sight of it.
As I approach 50, I’ve been reflecting on my journey to this point, and it’s shifted my perspective on youth. As a young man, youth felt like an opportunity. It felt like a period where I was on the clock, time was ticking down, and I had to rush to achieve as much as I could before I ran out of my ‘youngness’. In reality, youth is more of an attitude. If you look after your body and mind, invest in your health, and follow the things that spark passion inside you – the numbers matter very little. I’m thankful that my younger self understood this enough to know the importance of staying healthy – and thankful that my passions have not gone anywhere as I’ve aged. I may be older and wiser – but I’m still just as excited for the future.
The first step to self-awareness is being honest with yourself. #clarity #honesty #selfawareness #business
We all make mistakes – that’s inevitable. It’s how we respond to them that sets us apart. If you have to be told before you try to put something right, you’ve got work to do. #selfreminder #selfgrowth #business
Business does not naturally lend itself to physical health. Many of us spend much of the day sat still at a desk, staring at a screen, probably with pretty terrible posture (guilty). I’m not saying you need to be hitting the gym every lunchtime – but remember to do something to get your blood pumping and your muscles moving every day. Whether it’s walking a portion of your commute, taking calls on your feet, or heading to a local park at lunch instead of eating at your desk – it doesn’t have to be a full body workout. Just keep it moving. #ceo #business #selfcare
Promotions and progression are vital tools for retaining talent and rewarding hard work – but you can’t throw them around constantly. That doesn’t mean, however, that your employees stop being talented and worthy of praise in the ‘cooldown’ periods between financial rewards. Never forget the other tool in your belt – a sincere thank you. Just because you can’t hand out another payrise right now, it doesn’t mean your employee doesn’t deserve recognition and praise for their work. #leadership #gratitude #employeeretention
Harsh truths are not always pleasant to hear. Because, in my experience, we usually already know them. We just haven’t yet admitted them to ourselves. If you want to take yourself up a (or several!) level, take the initiative and be the voice that holds you to account before someone else needs to. A faster, more accountable and more focused you awaits. #selfcare #selfgrowth #business
Don’t wait for someone else to do you a good turn. Appreciate the generosity of others, but never rely on it. Plans can change, people’s lives can get complicated, and support can waver. But you can always do something for yourself. Whether it’s something as big as a wise investment, or something as small as remembering to prepare a lunch for tomorrow. Have your own back, and you’ll never face a day alone. #growthmindset #future #business
I love to travel, because it forces me to challenge preconceptions and consider alternate ways of thinking. But that experience does not need to be forced in order to happen. Humans are very good at settling into their opinions and views as fact, and it can mean you end up with tunnel vision and really struggle to adapt when you hit a hurdle. Keep your mind open, and be ready to embrace new solutions when you encounter a better one. #travel #worklifebalance #business
When I first started at @vitabiotics, I was seen as young and inexperienced – and in retrospect, I was. I didn’t know the ins and outs of running a business. I didn’t know what it took to manage people. I didn’t know how to manage people effectively. I didn’t know what the business was doing effectively, and where there were areas for improvement. So – I decided to get stuck in, and learn. I worked my way through nearly every department – even operating forklifts for a while. I got to know the everyday requirements, team culture, and operational side of the business inside and out, eventually becoming COO before taking over the role of CEO. Is this the conventional route to leadership? Probably not. But was it the one that allowed me to gain the greatest understanding of what the business needs to continue running successfully? Absolutely. And I am forever grateful for it.
Hello. How is everyone doing today? #ceo #leadership #worklife
When it comes to productivity, your environment is as important as your mindset. In fact, it goes a long way towards shaping your attitude and motivation in the moment. Wherever you happen to work, take steps to make the space your own, or find a spot or routine that acts as a mental and emotional touchstone to ease your mind and centre yourself.
Remember to breathe. Whatever your situation, whatever stressors and challenges you face, taking a moment to bring air in, and push air out cannot do anything but help. Stay calm, realign, continue. #worklifebalance #growth #calm
Delegation is a superpower – you cannot successfully run a large (or even medium-size) business without it. But it’s important to remember that, as a leader, you are still the face of the company. Delegating is not about taking your hands off the wheel, it’s about freeing up time to dedicate towards the jobs where specifically you will have the most impact. Getting out there, shaking hands, and making customers and clients feel listened to.
If you aim for what you need to achieve, falling short poses a real problem. When you aim to overachieve, even a suboptimal outcome is likely to net you good results. #achievements #resillience #leadership
Work-life balance is important, but it assumes an ability to mentally separate work from life. In reality, this is not always easy. Work bleeds into life, and asserting those boundaries becomes difficult or even impossible. For me, in times of real stress that follows me home, I look for a change of scenery. A weekend away, or a day trip to somewhere new just to walk and soak up the environment. When work follows you home, get out home. Take a break, and come back refreshed. #worklife #worklifebalance #boundaries
