Agnes wanted to be an actress, but her dad wanted her to go into business and economics so she did. After a short and very successful run in a stock/banking oriented field, she realized that she needed to put quality of life first and pursue a different path. She’s never looked back.
Agnes is originally from Hungary but today lives in Brussels and is the co-founder of the Worklife HUB in which she focuses on research and consulting that help individuals and organizations create workplaces in which employees can thrive.
She’s discovered that helping others is a defining characteristic of good work-life. She discovered this when she worked as a counselor in a High Scope Education and Research organization held in Ypsilanti, Michigan. What is more important than money or ‘success’ in a traditional sense is a focus on purpose, and in particular, the purpose of helping others.
At a personal level, Agnes is a mum of two boys who are 5 and 10. She says that she works hard to juggle schedules and make choices so the boys don’t have to be in daycare. Without grandparents nearby, this is no mean feat but it’s worth it. Agnes says that one of the gifts she gives her boys is the opportunity to see her enjoying the work she does. She does a lot of professional work, but she also does a lot of volunteering and community organizing. This engagement is what she wants her boys to experience so they can create engaging lives for themselves someday as well.
Agnes learns from her children. They are able to start each day fresh and she seeks to do the same. She focuses on spending time with her family reading books, joking around, and playing games. Sometimes this translates into having a messy house but she has happy children which is so much more important.
Her motto is that ‘time flies when you love what you do’. “Do something that has meaning,” she says, “and you forget you’re doing work.” She says that she frames her thinking this way, about everything from her job to her housework. She seeks joy in washing and cleaning and cooking. When she is able to find the meaning in even the most tedious tasks, she finds that her life is rife with happiness and satisfaction. More than a tactic, her deeply held world view is to take time and enjoy the simple things, like her cappuccino while on holiday in Italy. For her it is ‘the opposite of drinking lots of bad coffee during meetings on work days’. Slowing down to enjoy every moment provides space for the best ideas to come – and the greatest work-life satisfaction.
In addition to totally disconnecting when she is on a holiday, Agnes also ensures that she does her best at everything she pursues. When you see the reason you’re doing something, it’s easy to put in the effort. “Nurture your passions and your talents and use them as key resources in your work and life,” she says.
Words to live by!
Would you like to tell your story? If so, let me know by emailing me at tbrower108@gmail.com. Why? One of the foundations of Bringing Work to Life is abundance: the idea that it is possible to find fulfillment, have it all, and avoid the trade-offs between work and life. After all, work and life aren’t separate things to be placed in containers, but part of an integrated whole of a satisfying life. Another foundation of Bringing Work to Life is the idea of multiple right answers. As we’re all seeking ways to bring work to life – and bring life to work – we can learn from each other’s unique solutions and stories. I’d love to learn about your story!
Tracy Brower is the author of Bring Work to Life by Bringing Life to Work: A Guide for Leaders and Organizations.