CEO Constraints
By: Michael Beiter
One of my tenured clients is a gal not much older than me who is being groomed to take over one of the largest car dealerships in the Des Moines Metro. Her grandfather started the business, her dad ran it, and she is next in line.
She has entrepreneur’s blood and is a go-getter. Before she joined the family business, she owned a salon where she rented out chairs to stylists twice her age. Her third child is about to turn one; she has been nursing for a year, waiting to wean so she can focus on getting her prenatal state back. She has patiently sacrificed her body for the betterment of her daughter but is itching to get back to where she feels her best.
I call her Wonder Woman because if I had to do half of what she does, I’d curl up into a fetal position and weep.
We talked today, and she shared some things she did that were firsts for her.
1.) She took her first week off since having kids in six years. It’s coming in Q1 2023.
2.) She is notifying everyone that she will no longer respond to emails on Saturday or Sunday.
I was blown away and exclaimed that these were huge wins for her.
She agreed tentatively and said, “I have three kids, work full time, keep house, and manage my marriage, all while watching my food and working out five times per week. People around me complain that they don’t have time, and I can’t stand it. If I can do it, they can.”
Then we drew the analog from her setting boundaries at work with the limits she sets with her food via calories and macros.
“With so much practice hitting my macros, I’m better at chunking my time and working similarly. It’s all math and adjustments. Now, how could I get our employees to prioritize their wellness as I do.”
We couldn’t find a good answer and parted until after the New Year. It’s interesting to see how people manage their time and food. I have worked with laborers to top executives and have no shortage of examples of people that can flat-out get stuff done. The best of them are besieged by boundaries they set to protect themselves.
I enjoyed the beautiful sunny view with my new 22BB slides during this conversation. The shoe drip game is real.
