Tina Tower is a high performance business coach working with entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and helping corporates to become more entrepreneurial.
In addition, Tina is also the producer and host of the An Intentional Life podcast as well as the CEO of Laptop Life.
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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?
It’s been wide ranging! I started uni out of school but started a business in my second year so by the time I finished my degree, I was totally hooked on business.
I’ve ran tutoring centres, had an educational toy store, a birthday party centre and licensed and franchised. I sold my tutoring franchise company in 2016 and have been coaching ever since.
What I’m working on now is helping women to package their expertise and thought leadership into speaking, online programs and a personal empire.
2) What does a typical day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?
I don’t work anywhere near as much as I used to. When I ran a National franchise company, I was at my desk at 7am and didn’t leave most days until 7pm. It was unhealthy and no surprise, I burnt out.
Now, life is a lot more well rounded. When my kids wake up they come into our bed and we lay there chatting for about half an hour, then get up and my husband sit on our balcony and have tea and chat for another half an hour and then the day kicks off. It’s a beautiful slow and calm way to start the day.
I travel a bit for work when I speak so every day is quite different. I work from home but have two other team members that come over 2 days a week and then they work from home the rest of the time so that we can all do our thing.
I have two days a week where it’s open for calls, appointments and meetings and then two days where it’s at the computer working on projects and have Friday – Sunday off with my family.
3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?
I put this to the ultimate test last year. We went on a 9 month trip around the world. We travelled to 28 countries with our two sons and I maintained my business coaching clients and online courses while we were on the trip.
The most challenging part was finding quality internet connection! But apart from that, it was wonderful. It really proved to me that you can work from anywhere as long as you’re delivering massive value. I think the old days of measuring peoples work by time spent should be gone.
If the work allows for it, it should be on outcomes and deliverables and then if you’re really productive, you can get in, do your work to a high standard, close the laptop and go off and live a life of massive adventure.
4) Do you have any tips, tricks or shortcuts to help you manage your workload and schedule?
In my new book, One Life, I detail this quite a bit. In a nutshell, I think it comes down to planning. We live in a very chaotic world where distraction is rife.
Most of us are in the privileged position where there’s more opportunity than there is time to actually achieve all the amazing things we want to achieve so it’s working out what’s most important to you.
Then, breaking each project down into tasks, working out how long each takes is going to take, entering it on your calendar and sticking to it. That means needing to turn off your phone, turn off social media and focus on the things you’ve promised yourself you’ll do.
It takes discipline but it means you will get far more done in far less time.
5) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?
I go more for integration than balance. Because I’ve always had my own company, my children have been very involved in what’s going on, come on work trips with me occasionally and are all over the big decisions we need to make.
We’re a team unit and both my husband and I work from home so it’s very much integrated. We ensure that we have enough time working when we need to and also having time to play.
6) What do you think are some of the best habits you’ve developed over the years to help you strive for success and balance?
Being open to change. If something doesn’t feel right or isn’t what you thought it would be then being able to be brave enough to change direction and go in the direction of your dreams. It means that you get to live a life you love and feel like you have control over your day to day.
On a more granular level one of the best habits is switching off. Being able to put the phone down, close the laptop and take adventures with my family and friends and not think about what I need to do later. That habit of compartmentalising allows you to really have a brain break and then come back renewed and energised.
7) Are there any books that have helped you improve over the years?
Oh gosh, so many! I read book or two every month. My all time favourites are:
- One Minute Millionaire by Mark Victor Hansen
- The Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss
- Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*k by Mark Manson
8) What is the number one thing you do to make sure you get the most out of your day?
Take 5 minutes at the start of the day to set my intention, work out my non-negotiables, make any changes and plan the day.
9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
We are in such a beautiful position now where to the most part, we’re only confined by our own rules. Work out how you love your life the most, what balance works best for you and then set about making that your reality. We only have one life and you totally can live it however you choose.
Tina Tower’s full story is detailed in her new book One Life, coming to stores soon.
If you’d like to support Balance the Grind’s mission to promote health work-life balance to a global audience, you can join our Patreon membership for as little as $1 a month.
