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Taking time off when we need it - Interview with Alex Kjerulf - Episode 3
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In this episode, we welcome Alex Kjerulf, founder of Woo Hoo Inc and author of ‘Happy Hour Is 9-5’ and ‘Leading With Happiness’. Alex’s biggest passion in life is being happy at work, so much so that he left the successful IT company that he co-founded to pursue his passion full time.
Leaving a company that you co-founded is a huge decision and Alex reflects on how ‘messy’ that time was with tensions causing discomfort for him and his co-workers. What was it that drove him to take that decision to leave, despite not knowing what he was going to do next?
Alex thought he would figure out his next career move within a couple of weeks but ended up having 6 months off to decompress. During this time, he made a conscious decision to not think about work. What were the benefits of taking time off to do exactly what he wanted and needed to do and what did he find challenging during this time?
When he finally struck upon his idea of promoting and supporting happiness at work, there were questions around whether he had what it took to make the idea work. Did he have enough experience? Did he have enough knowledge? Would anyone want these new services that he was creating? But Alex listened to his own inner wisdom that was saying it would be better to try this and fail than to not try it all.
Alex balances a strong sense of self-awareness with a propensity for action. Getting things done helps to counteract the inevitable fears that you experience when stretching your comfort zone. But Alex is also very clear on making sure that he doesn’t force himself to do things unless he wants to. After a number of very successful years in his new business, Alex noticed that he didn’t want to answer e-mails at work or write another blog. Rather than forcing himself and suffering the consequences of detaching himself from his passion, he took more time off. What are his reflections on that experience now?
Alex acknowledges that there is no such thing as perfect happiness. ‘Let us feel sad when we are sad and let us feel happy when we are happy’. Is Alex living life now as his younger self would have designed it?
No outtakes this week - Alex was a one-take wonder ;-)
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