Moderator John Sullivan, head of commercial at Advantage, asked panelists to rank on a scale of 1 to 10 how well they were achieving the balance that had eluded them for years.
Beagley said the pandemic served as a “reset button” to bring people back to their families. “Right now, I'm surrounded by people who inspire others,” he said, adding that these include his children who have entered the industry.
Stirrup said he always strived for a 10, but gave himself a 9. “She's not going to spend it all day in and day out,” she said. “I've become much kinder to myself…but there's always room for improvement.”
In contrast, Bouldin gave himself a score of 6, acknowledging that the nature of his job necessitates frequent travel, but stressed that he feels the experience has matured him as a person.
pandemic reset
All three panelists talked about the personal boundaries they've set for themselves since then. Beagley said he and fellow director Karen Beagley have a 50/50 rule when it comes to kindness.
“We have to go 100%,” he explained, emphasizing that on days when one side is tougher than the other, the split could be 60:40 or 70:30.If you can't do that [make 100%], we have to figure out how to get through the day and be kind to each other. ”
Stirrup cited the celebrity's policy of not texting after 1pm on Fridays, and said that if she chose to work weekends on her own terms, she would pressure co-workers to respond after hours. He added that he had never been discouraged. “You can't pour from an empty cup,” she added.
Meanwhile, Bouldin stopped participating in conference calls after 9 p.m. this week and advised participants never to do work they don't enjoy. He added that the pandemic has reset expectations within company cultures to some extent, allowing them to focus more on switching off during meaningful weekends.
