Euro Differences

By: Michael Beiter

I love talking to my Euro client. She lives close to London.

"Over here, we have a sugar tax. So if you order a Coke from McDonald's, you pay more for full sugar versions than a diet."

"I wish we had similar legislation around food as you guys do," I replied.

Additionally, they don't buy into the cult of the busy like we do.

In America, we have ignored our biological needs for rest and recuperation in favor of market demands. More consumption and production lead us to believe we don't need weekends, vacations, or off hours. We celebrate the busy as if it were a badge of honor. In my eyes, it's a virtue signal of the stupid.

"We don't believe that over here. People take the whole month of July off; once work wraps up on Friday, employees are not expected to be pingable or available again until Monday. Lunches are longer, and it's disrespectful to 'bother' someone with work if they are vacationing." She said.

"I have thrown books and evidence at my clients, trying to convince them to drop their busyness. They nod in agreement and say it's a good idea while their Apple Watch buzzes with a dozen texts within an hour-long meeting; they guzzle caffeinated drinks before sprinting out of the office to their next task. And they wonder why they're exhausted, getting fatter, and watching their health deteriorate yearly." I replied.

We would all be better off adopting the tried and true strategies of the Euros regarding work-life balance and consumption.