Andrew Duncan is the co-founder & CEO of Sorted Services, Australia’s first digital platform streamlining the property management lifecycle into one seamless customer experience.

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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?

I joined the energy industry as a product manager in 1993, just as the Victorian Government was creating the market for privatisation of the energy industry. This incredible period of change required businesses to build themselves from scratch including their technology, products and services.

I started my first business, Serviceworks, in 1999, the first private technology and services business in the retail energy sector. Serviceworks grew rapidly and was sold to Computershare in 2011. I stayed with the business until 2015.

After leaving Serviceworks, I started a technology and business incubator called ‘SleevesUp’ in 2016. This was created as a way to nurture numerous businesses, including ‘Sorted Services’ where I am currently the founder and Managing Director.  

2) What does a day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?

I start most of my days at 5.45am with a swim or a run followed by breakfast with my family. By 7.30am, I often check on any incoming activity overnight and plan my day. I try my best to be present at home to help with getting my kids going for school and I start interacting with my team and clients from 8.30am. 

My typical day consists of a blend of partner and client discussions, planning and team interaction. I try to have a break around dinner time, and depending on what is on, will do any outstanding work from 7.30pm.

3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?

Yes, my role and all of my team’s roles allow for flexibility and can be done remotely. Like most people I think I have improved due to necessity with COVID-19, and we will continue to adopt certain practices in the long term once things return to the new “normal”.  

4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?

I very much enjoy what I do, so the concept of “work-life” balance is an interesting one. I do try to maintain activities away from business such as fitness, reading, learning and time for my family. That said, there is a blend between work and life that I don’t mind, as one of my key interests is creating things and developing businesses and people.

5) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?

My entire way of working has been challenged and in certain areas I think I have become more productive. I also believe that the way I work from now on will forever be different from the way I was working pre-pandemic.  

This will mean less time spent in the office, and more time dedicated to my family. These changes will still be combined with in-person interaction to ensure there is adequate relationship building and connectivity.  With the right blend I think our productivity is greater and we will have happier, more engaged people.     

6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?

Absolutely, here are some favourites.

Books:

• Good to Great by Jim Collins
• The Best Service is No Service by Bill Price & David Jaffe
• The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
• Mindset by Dr Carol Dweck
• A World Without Email by Cal Newport

Podcasts:

• The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway
• The Tim Ferriss Show
• All-In Podcast

7) Are there any products, gadgets or apps that you can’t live without?

I like using Slack and WhatsApp, but I could definitely live without them. No phone would take some getting used to, although I’m sure I would live.  

8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?

Gary Vaynerchuk or Tim Ferriss.  

9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?

Try for a balance that makes you and those close to you happy, and no one can tell you what that is except you. It’s a good idea to put things into perspective so that you don’t define yourself by your work or results alone and be kind to yourself along the way.   

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