Permission to Not Work on Weekends - Granted
By Tana M. Mann Easton, Lead Efficiency Engineer
This week I’m continuing my series of highlighting examples of people who are both successful and have counter-cultural beliefs. These people espouse values that are not what we are typically taught, and they highlight a more relaxed way to move through life.
In the hustle and grind culture that we live in, we’re given the impression that if you want to get ahead you not only have to work late every weeknight, but you should also sacrifice your weekends. But someone who disabused me of this notion was Colin Powell.
In Colin Powell’s book, It Worked For Me, he expressed his distaste for “busy b*******” (rhymes with plastered). He proudly asserted, unless there was a crisis, he didn’t work on weekends. On weekends, he enjoyed fixing old cars. That pastime was fun and relaxing for him, and he knew his downtime was valuable in order for him to be his best self. And as the leader of many high stress groups, he wanted to be an example of what he wanted to see in others. He desired quality work, not quantity. He set the tone and let everyone in his orbit know by his actions that they could and should take time for themselves so they were rested and ready when it was go time.
Are you feeling that you need to put in hours on the weekends in order to get ahead? Maybe the story of Colin Powell will help you to feel differently about your down time. If a 4-star general / US Secretary of State believes that time away from work is necessary for optimal performance, then his advice might be worth considering.
If you or your team would like to sign up for our 2 hour Balance and Productivity training to instantly double your meaningful output and find the feeling of lasting flow and optimized work life balance, please click here and say hello!
Sincerely Yours,
Focus to Evolve Team