So-called work life balance isn't all it's cracked up to be

I’ve been told by people I love and respect that sometimes I work too hard. I need more ‘work/life balance’ it seems.

This gave me pause for thought.

I thought about being 12 years old, working in a Christchurch café for eight-hour shifts. Growing up in a family where every cent counted, weekend work was a fact of life. And I remember thinking, “If I’m going to be here for the next eight hours, I need to make these the best eight hours possible.”

Years later, nothing has changed. If you know me well, you’ll know I throw myself into everything I do with huge enthusiasm. 

Mountain biking. 

Candle making.

Bee keeping.

And yes, mortgage broking.

The point being that we need to be fully engaged in how we spend our time – including the hours we spend working – otherwise what’s the point? The satisfaction you get from mountain biking (or gardening, or playing the piano, or doing your job) is proportional to the energy you put into it.

So what is it about being a mortgage adviser that fuels my passion? 

During lockdown, I couldn’t see clients face to face. Instead, I was fully occupied talking and Zooming with clients from home. It was exhausting but I loved it.

This showed me that the point of work isn’t to be in an office. It’s about helping people. And I suspect I’m not alone in this. When you ask young people what they want to do with their lives, you often hear something like, “I love helping people.” Because it’s a fundamental drive.

Tony Robbins is right – we all have six basic needs. These are: Variety, Love/Connection, Growth, Certainty, Contribution, and Significance. Working with you, I’ve got all six covered.

So thank you for all the chats we’ve had, all the loans we’ve set up, and all the referrals you have sent me. They have kept me wedded to this profession, and I’ve got a lot out of it. Now it’s time to give back.

Five prizes for five first-time buyers.

During lockdown I wanted to support New Zealand enterprises doing it tough. Long story short, I bought five eco cleaning packs worth $33.95 each, from the amazing Will & Able.

I would like to give away a pack each to the first five first-time buyers who draw down a loan arranged by us. So if you, or someone close to you, is thinking about stepping onto the first rung of the property ladder, we’d love to hear from you.

Just give me a call, send me a message, or use the diary booking link below. And we can take things from there.

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