If the first month of the year had to be a window of what the rest of the year will bring, I will need to take some corrective measures to adjust the rhythm. To my surprise, work and life in January have nicely disrupted the balance I aspired to achieve at the beginning of the year. Nonetheless when I look back at the month I am reminded of at least three instances which I wish to carry with me for the rest of 2020. 

One table which turned into a Flour Shop

At the end of the month we visited Anu and Laura from Flour Shop, previously One Table Sydney. The founders of this shop met in the corporate world and they both left their successful job to follow a dream, first separately, and eventually together, across two continents. We are lucky enough to have followed the team behind this new bakery for the past two years. Visiting them as they were putting their last finishing touches to the new store was surely a good reminder that as hard as it was, being bold enough to follow your instinct pays off. I am sure they had doubts, and I can see that this journey has taken them out of their comfort zone, however they persevered. They have only been open for two weeks now, and from what I hear they are doing great!

Two music acts which set me dreaming 

Last month I was lucky enough to watch two very different artists live. I watched the great Ludovico Einaudi at the majestic Sydney Opera House with my wife and our six-month old. Apart from being happy about having survived the two-hour concert without being kicked out of the venue, I’d like to remind myself how the concert made me feel – pondering on how deep man is, and how alienated busyness can make us. 

Earlier in the month I got to watch Of Monsters and Men, a band from Finland which I have been following for a while. Even though you might not think that you can reflect deeply during a rock concert, well you can! I felt that the band’s approach to the live act fits very well with Australia’s culture – not much drama, just a great act and a sense of young and free – two words which feature in Australia’s anthem. 

Probably the only way to be genuinely young – in how excited and curious you are about life – and free to embrace the adventure and give up your own false expectations, is to really get to know yourself in a deep way. 

Some pages I returned to

In this context it is not surprising that a book I returned to in January has been ‘It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work’ by David Heinemeier Hansson and Jason Fried. Thankfully I bought this book on Kindle and hence have the convenience of carrying it around with me on my phone. The book is special because it reminds us of the basic priorities on which we should never compromise but which we unfortunately do – being focused at work, not giving up sleep or exercise, holding less meetings and making them count by being present, not answering emails at any opportunity…and many more.   

There should be a time for everything. When it is not crazy (at work or life in general), you have time to journey deep within yourself, and discover what makes you young and free to follow your passion and your calling – making it meaningful and unique. As crazy as some periods I am sure will be, it is this perspective to which I wish to aspire for the rest of the year. Take two, starts in February!