Patrick Page is the co-founder of two of Australia’s leading mental health and careers training companies, Mentally Well Workplaces and the Career Development Centre.
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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?
My career until recently, has mostly been focussed on digital marketing and sales. I worked in recruitment early on and then from 2012 onwards I worked in the digital marketing industry with two Global digital agencies, before eventually setting up my own digital consulting business.
Whilst running my company I was completing some work for a training organisation when the owner of that organisation approached me to help her set up a new business offering career and mental health training for the corporate sector. What started off as a contract role quickly ended up with me buying shares into and helping launch the business.
Two years later I sold my digital business and I am now a Co-founder and Director of one of Australia’s busiest mental health training organisations, the Career Development Centre and our e-learning business, Mentally Well Workplaces.
2) What does a day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?
I generally wake up at around 5.00am and take my dog for a walk or do some gym. When I return I will start preparing my 3 kids to either get ready for school or for their day ahead.
I try and be in the office prior to 8am and I tend to clear out a few important tasks whilst the office is quiet, and then prepare for a busy day of managing our e-learning courses, meeting clients, marketing our two businesses and looking at ways that we can grow our businesses both Nationally and Internationally.
I tend to make it home prior to 5pm so I can help out with the kids activities, and then tidy up any loose emails or tasks a little later on in the evening
3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?
Our organisations promote a healthy work-life balance, and we afford all our staff the ability to work flexibly, leave for family commitments if required, take regular holidays or work at home as needed. We all firm believers that family comes first and that all employees need breaks from work to help avoid burnout and fatigue.
4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?
Work-life balance is essential to a positive mind set and productive employees. Numerous studies have shown employees who are overworked, stressed and who don’t get enough sleep are at risk of developing a mental illness.
Like all business owners, we get fairly busy running our companies and I think we have a good system in place we all look out for each other, check in regularly and try and take the load off each other if one person seems to be under the pump more than the others.
In summary, you need a team looking out for each other to help reinforce work-life balance.
5) What do you think are some of the best habits or routines that you’ve developed over the years to help you achieve success in your life?
I believe waking up early and drinking a huge glass of water so you are hydrated, and then getting in an activity before you have breakfast is a great way to start the day.
The other habit is to treat people in business how you would like to be treated. So many people want to win a deal or project that is heavily one sided in their favour, where the better long term solution would be to have two winners in every deal, for continual long term relationships.
6) Are there any books that have helped you improve over the years?
I’m not a huge reader, probably due to kid and work commitments. I enjoy books that give you quick tips or short anecdotes, therefore the only large book I have finished over the last few years and still look back to, is Tim Ferriss’ Tools Of Titans.
7) What is the number one thing you do to make sure you get the most out of your day?
Wake early, get something accomplished before breakfast (walk the dog / run / gym) and then knock off the hardest thing on your to do list before you settle into a normal work routine.
8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?
This may be left field, however every business owner should read @Naval tweet’s in regards to what is really important both in business and in life.
In terms of interviews, Ariana Huffington is putting out some great discussions in relation to her business, Thrive Global (I strongly recommend checking out this website for tips on avoiding burnout, fatigue and getting some sleep).
9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
Employees need sleep in order to be more productive, and leaders need sleep to be more inspiring. A lot of poor decisions are made from tired people, and therefore all employees should be afforded a way to get more breaks, enjoy flexibility in their hours and locations and be more rested.
Grinding away long hours repetitively is the new stupid way to work.
If you’d like to have a conversation with us about how you balance the grind, get in touch with us!
