Balancing the Grind with Gus Gilkeson, CEO at Grow Capital

Gus Gilkeson has been working in the Australian corporate and commercial lending space for over 20 years, and is currently the CEO of Grow Capital.

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

I am the CEO of Grow Capital. We find money for Australian businesses from over 80+ business and commercial lenders. I have been in the Australian corporate and commercial lending space for the last 21 years or so.

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

5am start, let my 3 dogs outside, boil the kettle and have a cup of tea or coffee while watching my goals movie followed by brief meditation.

6am Let our chickens out, feed them and take dogs for a walk or do some martial arts or cycling, 7am shower and breakfast. (generally smoothie, fresh juice and/or fresh eggs). 8am drop kids to school

Back at desk by 8.45am and into five interspersed online meetings with clients, team members and deal analysis across the day.

Wrap up around 6pm, dinner with the family, 7.30pm read story to the kids and tuck them into bed, 8pm watch Suits with my wife Georgia, 945pm watch Goals movie and 10pm bedtime.

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

Yes, our company moved primarily online over two years ago. Our team are located all over Australia spread between home offices and corporate offices.

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

Setting the right goals in all areas of life, tracking activities to make sure balance is achieved in all important areas. Specifically I track business goals, personal goals, health, fitness, giving, family goals and downtime / sleep.

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

Juice fasting for longer periods – I recently completed a 7 days fast. Great to re-set the digestion. I also go to bed a lot earlier than I used to – I am for 6 to 7 hours sleep per night now – used to be 3 or 4.

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

I listen to a lot of Audible when I’m driving or travelling particularly. At the moment, anything business or marketing by Jay Abraham and anything biohacking or mindset by Dave Asprey or Ben Greenfield or David Goggins.

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

My Breville Oracle coffee machine. I live on acreage – the nearest cafe is at least 10 mins drive away. Good coffee at home is critical.

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

I’m a big fan of learning and leveraging in business so either David Bayne from 7 Colored Doors or the Dent Global team —  Daniel Priestly or Glen Carlson.

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

Time is the most limited resource in the world. Don’t look around in ten years time and realise all you have done is work, make a concerted effort to balance all areas of your life.

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