Danielle Morton is the CEO & Founder of Zondii, a company helping farmers know the fineness of their wool in real time to help them improve the performance of their farms.
Let’s start with your background! Can you share with us your career journey and what you’re currently up to?
With a technology implementation background in banking, I’m excited to be applying these process improvement and technology skills to help farmers improve the outcomes for their farms. Zondii is helping farmers know the fineness of their wool in real time to help them improve the performance of their farms.
We’d love to know what a typical day is like for you. Could you describe a recent workday?
Early starts – it is when my brain is sharpest – even if it means a 3am start with a nap between 5-6am. Then kid time before work 7:30 am all the way to 5pm full of meetings and focussed work time. Home in time for kids reading and bedtime.
Can you define work-life balance for yourself and share with us your approach to maintaining it?
Being present on the weekends for the kids and allocating recovery time for me – I work hard, long hours during the week to allow me to (mostly) protect my time with the kids.
Years ago I was told about ‘Rest’ time for the whole family 1-3pm every weekend day or school holiday day. It has transformed our family – the time is used as quiet play time in rooms or outside, reading time or sleep. Each person gets to choose what gives them the recharge they need before we come back together as a family. With little to no screen time in our kids’ weekend schedule it is really important that everyone gets the break to focus on themselves.
Change is constant, and it’s essential for growth. Have you made any lifestyle changes in the past year to improve your work-life balance?
It has been an effort with my business coach to move my work to 100% Monday – Friday, so now I have achieved it I am very protective of it. It does mean Mondays are a little harder – but it’s worth it so I don’t completely miss out on this time when the kids want to be with me.
We’re always on the lookout for new resources! Can you recommend any books, podcasts, or newsletters that have helped you in your journey towards balance?
Audiobook: Michael Singer – The Surrender Experiment. It really helped me get out of my head.
One-on-one sessions with Emer from the Sunrise collection to set up a home calendar – transformed my home organisation which has eased the risk of burnout.
Before we wrap up, do you have any final words of wisdom or insights on work, life, or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
Work will always be there – but time with the kids is precious. I push back on people now as everyone is trying to get you to be available when it suits them.
I am never on my phone when I am around the kids unless they choose to come into my workspace. It was not always that way – so I know more than most what a juggle it is to change that mindset.
