Rich Joffe is a serial entrepreneur, who having founded two successful technology companies has now turned his attention to the home insurance industry to create Australia’s first proactive home insurance company.
Let’s start with your background! Can you share with us your career journey and what you’re currently up to?
I started my career as an investment banker and consultant, but I come from a family of entrepreneurial immigrants so I’ve always had a passion for bringing ideas to life. I shifted to founding 2 tech companies in the US over the past 15 years, Park Assist and Stella, which I loved. I’m now building Honey Insurance to create a next generation home insurance company, which is desperately needed
We’d love to know what a typical day is like for you. Could you describe a recent workday?
It starts with calling friends and family back in the US on the drive to the office at 7am. The first 2 hours I’m clearing emails and fighting fires with a double espresso since I fast until noon. I try to minimise meetings, so I’m typically free by 3pm to focus on whatever the most pressing issue is in the company for the week. If I have the kids that day I’m home by 6pm to meet the nanny for the dinner and homework routine, and when I don’t have the kids I hit the gym and head back to the office until 11pm or later.
Can you define work-life balance for yourself and share with us your approach in maintaining it?
I’m very structured with my time otherwise work consumes everything. For example, I plan my holidays 1 year ahead, date night is once a week and 4 workouts a week are in the calendar and treated with the same importance as board meetings
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?
I cut out alcohol for 6 months and now I’m trying to stick with 3 drinks or less per week, which has definitely improved my sleep and energy levels
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?
I’ve been trying to get smarter about sleep so I bought a device called Eight Sleep which was a game changer. I also really enjoyed the book ‘Why We Sleep’ by Matthew Walker which’ which really changed my views about the importance of quality sleep
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?
I’m a big believer you can have it all, just not at the same time. There are times when family, work, health or friends are the top priority. I’ve learned with age that it’s important to be clear about what your north star is at each point in life, otherwise you burnout, or feel you’re constantly failing at everything.
