Work Hard, Play Harder

First Posted June 21, 2010

It always amazes me how hard we work and the odd hours we keep, both planners and suppliers. Even more astounding, arguably, is how well-balanced everyone in the industry is. Here are some fun industry observations as we enter the hot days of summer…

Connected & Free – It’s rare when I meet someone without a BlackBerry or smart phone. Commonly referred to as the ‘office leash,’ it does allow us be truly mobile and stay on top of things. I’m as guilty as the next for never putting it down, but it allows me the freedom to walk away from the office and still be connected.

Counting Hours – For most of us, we are afraid to count the hours/week we work. I’m always a little surprised when I send out a group e-mail after 5:00 p.m. on a Friday and have 50-per-cent or more of the group replying before midnight and the other half Saturday morning. I know we work a lot of hours – and a lot of weird hours – but we do still manage to take time for ourselves, our family and friends and what’s important to us.

Alcoholics Anonymous – At a recent lunch with a colleague, the topic of alcohol in the industry came up. Being in the industry, there is always access to alcohol – and it’s usually free. We were delighted to be in agreement that for the most part, our industry is very responsible when it comes to booze. There are relatively few (obvious) cases of alcoholics or drinking and driving charges. I’d like to think it’s because we don’t rely on alcohol to deal with the stresses of work (at least not entirely!).

The V-word – Vacation…we all talk about it, think about it, dream about it. And in this industry, we all take it. Maybe because we are good at planning ahead or because we’re used to travelling, regardless of the reason, just about everyone I know in the industry takes vacation. Maybe this, and this alone, is the sole reason so many of us can wear as many hats as we do and not implode. If you haven’t booked your 2010 vacation yet, I challenge you to do it before July 1.