10 Lessons I Learned In 2023
Here are 10 lessons I learned in 2023 that have helped me level up as CEO at work, husband to my wife, father to my 6 children and athlete:
1. Protect Family Time At All Costs
I wasn’t good at this for a while. Sure family is our number one priority but what happens when the business needs us? There are always fires to fight, processes to streamline and emails to answer. But, if you don’t protect family time like you would a board meeting, you got your priorities wrong.
2. Create Space For Calm
The time to slow down is exactly when you feel like you can’t take your foot off the gas. Being busy is not effective. And stress is a silent killer for both your physical as well as mental wellbeing. Daily moments of calm, even if it is just slowing down for a minute to appreciate the view from your window, are essential for your health and performance.
3. Explore As Much As You Can
Last year we fulfilled a life-long dream and travelled the world with our kids to Hawaii. Organising such a trip was intense and the 30-hour travel certainly presented its challenges. However, adventures like this enrich your life with memories that will last a lifetime. And the change in perspective you get from it allows you often to see clearly what areas in your life need an overhaul.
4. Don’t Shy Away From Hard Work
Seeking the easy route is built into our DNA. But when we can teach our kids that hard work is essential to both find fulfilment in a task and also to excel in whatever field we apply ourselves, it can change the course of their lives. Working on a farm was certainly an eye-opener last year.
5. Appreciate History More
We are spoilt here in Scotland. There’s a castle around every corner (well nearly). But like our family history, it is often easy to dismiss what has come before us and the effort, blood and sweat past generations put in to enable our prosperity. Reconnecting with history this year helped foster gratitude in all of us.
6. Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone
I was terrified of speaking to a camera. A non-native speaker, no training and who am I to create videos? But I also knew that there might be learning in this both for myself and potentially for others listening to my journey. Now I feel a much stronger connection with the people I engage with online and I’m glad I got out of my comfort zone.
7. Forge Memories Together
A trip around the world is magical, but memories can be forged anywhere & anytime. We made a conscious effort to get outside, climb mountains, grow as individuals, as a family and also with my teams at work. And now we are left as stronger units that can face challenges with confidence as our relationships are stronger.
8. Appreciate Your Team Every Day
Sure we work hard for our successes, but I know I would not have achieved anything in life without those around me. On top of that list is my amazing wife who is the rock of our family and who helps me become my best self. Also, it is important to recognise the people at work who enable us to achieve our goals. Daily Gratitude is key.
9. Make Yourself Proud
It’s easy to talk yourself down. To make yourself believe you are not worthy, you can’t achieve your dreams. To counter these negative voices in your head, you need to set goals that scare you and then crush them. Running an Ultramarathon over the UK’s highest mountain made me proud of myself.
10. Build A Tribe That Holds You To A Higher Standard
Not only do you need a team around you that will help you excel, but also one that shows you what is possible. I was fortunate enough to join an elite team of athletes who challenged me every day and called me out on my limiting self-talk. I can’t wait to see what they will help me achieve and how I might help them in 2024.
