Sam Almaliki is the founder of Regional Angel Investor Network and is an accomplished business leader, board director and expert advisor with a proven track record in multiple industries.
Let’s start with your background! Can you share with us your career journey and what you’re currently up to?
My career journey has taken me through various industries and roles, including community engagement, diversity, and now business. I Co-founded Settle Easy, a leading online conveyancer, and I was the Head of Commercial at Acusensus, an ASX-listed road safety technology company.
I’m now the Founder of the Regional Angel Investor Network and of Almaliki & Co, which provides cross-industry solutions to businesses and governments. I remain involved with Settle Easy as Chairperson.
In addition to my passion for business, I have an active interest in community affairs and public policy, serving as Chairperson of the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust and Treasurer of the John Curtin Research Centre.
We’d love to know what a typical day is like for you. Could you describe a recent workday?
A typical day for me starts early with picking out my suit, checking the news and emails, grabbing a magic or chai and getting into some exercise (usually walking). Then, I usually spend the morning supercharging my day and handling emails, phone calls, and meetings.
I make it a priority to stay connected with my team and to be available to support them whenever they need me. I finish the day with a combination of fitness training and a walk to decompress. Notwithstanding the consistency of activity namely meetings, phone calls and walking, no day is the same as I enjoy working across teams, enterprises and opportunities.
Can you define work-life balance for yourself and share with us your approach in maintaining it?
As a founder who works with other startup founders, work-life balance means finding harmony between my professional and personal commitments. I love what I do and it’s really a passion.
I try to stay organised and prioritise my time effectively, so that I can be present and focused both at work and at home. It’s also important to take care of my physical and mental health, so I make time for exercise, reading, relaxation, cooking and spending time with loved ones.
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?
In 2023, I’ve been focused on reverting back to my pre-pandemic mode of operation and being more deliberate about how I spend my time and who I am with. To help with this, I’ve adopted stricter routines that maximise each day professionally and personally – starting with a consistent sleeping regime.
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?
As far as resources go, I highly recommend Marginal Revolution as a blog and one of my favourite and most formative books, Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive by Harvey Mackay.
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 am always careful to offer advice even when it’s solicited, however for the benefit of your readers the best I can do is to share my lifelong approach: stay focused on your goals and your values, and to prioritise your well-being and the well-being of those around you. Professional success is important, but it’s not everything – balance and perspective are just as crucial for a happy and fulfilling life.
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