Get a Dog:
Don't Work Like One
Think differently about your work-life balance
Jim Banting
Copyright 2010 Jim Banting
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Jim Banting has added a worthwhile contribution to a debate which now has increasing momentum. Make no mistake, the future of work will create all the opportunities he outlines. Keep it in your back pocket. Andy Law, founder of the advertising agency, The Law Firm and author of Open Minds.
At last, a writer who has realised that happiness is situated somewhere between having too much and not having enough. Bob Etherington, sales consultant and author of Cold Calling for Chickens.
Jim Banting's book is, quite simply, inspirational. Beautifully written, it will help you to lead the life you want so that every day leaves you feeling happy, fulfilled and successful. Simon Tupman, business consultant and author of Why Entrepreneurs Should Eat Bananas.
Persistence is a vital quality but so is knowing when to cut your losses and move on. Luke Johnson, Chairman, Channel 4 Television and Risk Capital Partners.
Get a Dog: Don't Work Like One provides a sense of perspective and practical guidance from the people who know best: successful senior executives and leaders. Jim Banting delivers a fascinating, insightful and highly practical read one that will help you succeed in your career in a way that is purposeful, fulfilling and balanced. I urge you to read this book life is too short not to. Jeremy Kourdi, management consultant and author of several business books.
I've been fortunate enough to find balance in my life. I hope others will be inspired to do the same by reading Jim Banting's book. Jim writes in a down-toearth style that perfectly suits his subject: how to enjoy your work but not be ruled by it, and how to be a happier human being. Andy Maslen, founder of Sunfish copywriting agency and author of Write to Sell.
Dedication and Acknowledgements
I would like to dedicate this book to all the people I have met along the way. It's been a great adventure and I wish everyone success and happiness, whatever that means in your world. If this book helps just one person on a single occasion, it will have been worth the long hours of toil.
In writing this book I have made every effort to ensure accuracy but any errors that remain are down to my rather less-than-precise memory of incidents and conversations. I would like to thank all those who have helped me assemble the series of ideas and experiences that form the basis of this book into something that is half legible. What follows constitutes a great amount of my heart and soul, and like most good things in life, could not have been done alone. I won't create a long list of all those who have helped; you know who you are.
Writing something like this does provide a marvellous opportunity to sit back and reflect on what success has, and indeed, still does mean to me. I have come to the conclusion that being honest to my ideals, being myself at all times and trying my utmost, will always be strong pillars of my particular existence.
If you have any comments about your work-life experiences or have something you think I could help with, just email me on .
Good luck with your journey!
Foreword by Luke Johnson
I think the word work has unfortunate connotations. For far too many people this means drudgery. By contrast, those who are able to enjoy their occupation and derive fulfillment through work are the lucky ones. For them, work is much more than earning a living it is about finding a purpose in life, and doing something productive with their time.
I like to believe that most of us have a skill which, if used properly, is a useful contribution to society. In an ideal world we would enjoy employing that skill and it would earn us a wage. Of course things do not always work out like that. Many jobs are boring, and many of us never really discover our true metier. Others find that their real love is a pursuit which can only be practised as a hobby, for it can never generate an income.
Wise people understand themselves well, and get to know where their valuable talents lie. They exploit them to the full, but also pursue the Just Enough philosophy of life. That means they do not overstretch, but rather get work and leisure in proportion. They manage to earn enough to be comfortable in their own terms, and spend quality time on other aspects of existence: family, friends, pastimes, lifelong learning, community, civic involvement and so on.
In busy modern lives, all these competing calls on one's time mean you need to be well organised and disciplined. It means you need to set priorities and use technology. While tools like mobile phones and Blackberry devices can be intrusive, they can also make you more efficient, especially in remote locations.
Few of us get the balance right all the time. There are inevitably periods where we are frantic, and other phases where we feel bored or idle. The goal is to smooth out the peaks and maintain a vital sense of engagement, without exhausting yourself or letting people down. The challenge is to remain captains of our souls.
This book should help you master that task and help you achieve a rational balance of work and play. The author has managed that, and wants to share his experience and knowledge. Good luck in your journey, and I hope Jim's words prove a useful guide.
Luke Johnson,
Chairman, Channel 4 Television and Risk Capital Partners
Introduction: The Need for Change
We can't create change with the same level of thinking that created the problem. Albert Einstein