As we worked late yesterday, the guy in the office next door started snoring. In the beginning a few people made jokes and it soon became this big office thing and by the time it hit the social networks, I was the one accused of sleeping in the office (thanks Craig). The Work-Sleep-Balance
This made me think about my work-sleep-balance. We effectively work 24/7 and since much of it is creative work I need a break every now and than. On the one hand I should be sleeping more to be fresh and healthy and on the other hand I find myself to do just ‘one more thing’ before I go to bed … and it might be just one of those great moments when you end up two in the morning building a whole new company from scratch. So Stefanie and I came up with a list of ...6 Things that make our Work-life more Fun
Have some fun: Since you´re working 24/7, you have the right to have fun whenever you want. Play some fussball, watch a movie or simply sit outside in the sun and get inspired by the people walking by. Have the chance to get tickets for the Yankees (Stefanie: “or the RedSox”) (Daniel: “or the Cubs”) … take it!
No rules after 6: There are things I love to do and things I have to do. But when I need to work long hours I make sure I only work on the cool stuff. Unless there is a deadline, there is no reason to review the 50 page bylaws at midnight. But you might just love to chat with your overseas friends and work together on your budget and who to hire next. Make sure you end the day with something that is worth the effort.
Enjoy the break: Do you see those people that rush for a sandwich for lunch and scarf it down in no time? Well, that’s not me. I love to go out for lunch and if it is an hour, so be it. Plus, there should always be time for good coffee, maybe even sit outside. Bring your colleagues, so you can chat about stuff that helps you get your job done better.
Work wherever you want: There are times you need to be in the office, to connect with your team to collaborate and then there are times you don’t. Take the early conference call in your pyjamas or build that slide deck in a coffee house. I know this is not for everybody but I enjoy the freedom to work wherever I want.
Go and see things: If you have a job that requires you to go the extra mile, it should be with a company that allows you to see things. I was privileged to work on five continents and countless cities. But even if you’re not a big traveller, make sure you go to the conference in Vegas or meet your colleagues at the other coast. Go and get out!
Dress-up, be yourself: Do you like Suits and Ties? Good for you. If you are more like me you might want to get some shorts. Even I dress up if there is a reason, but you don’t need to wear the grey corporate uniform everyday. I know from personal experience how tough it is to be the only banker without a tie in the office, but at least everybody knows you and if you do a great job, that is not the worst place to be.
Follow Some Basic Rules
Back to the guy snoring in the next office. Being free and do what you want is great but make sure you follow some basic rules.
- Know your place. Yes, I was the only banker in the M&A team without a tie, but all my customers were technology companies and didn’t like ties either.
- Be a team player. Don’t upset your people by snoring loud while they do your job. If there is a deadline, it will be met, period. So you better contribute.
- Get your job done! Only good results will grant you the right to be different. I work with some of the best and hardest working people and they would never mistake freedom and flexibility with laziness.
If you read this and think: how should I do this, my company, my boss, my colleagues would never tolerate this. Go and quit! Life is way to short to spend it with people that make you pull allnighters but don’t trust you to manage your own workload. And if you’re ready to take the next step, you might just have a look at our latest job posting.
