On Wednesday we witnessed the coming of the end of an era. Sir Alex Ferguson announced his intention to retire as Manager of Manchester United after 26 years. Ferguson out-lasted prime ministers, popes and dictators while combining the charisma, drive and zeal of all three.
People will however forget that it took him five and a half years to secure a precious first league title, an indulgence that few managers today could expect. In December 1989, after six defeats in eight games and an infamous 5-1 thrashing from arch-rivals City, execution was stayed when many managers would have been for the chop. Credit to then United Chairman Martin Edwards for that. Critically, Ferguson used the time to overhaul the entire ethos and culture of the club and to develop a youth system that came to bear unprecedented fruit.
But success doesn't come easily and has to be worked at. For Ferguson it became an all-consuming passion that mirrors the man and his desire to succeed. Football management is no nine to five job. There is not just your own club to worry about (training, preparing and mentoring and much, much more), but other club games to watch and internationals too. Add in travel to European games and further afield too and you have a work lifestyle that would floor most of us.
Although we all complain at one time or another about our work life balance. I doubt if many of us have worked away from home and family as much as Sir Alex over the last 26 years (if you are that old of course). But most of us have a desire to work less and see our families more. One man who does know what it can be like at the top of a large organisation is past Director of Hewlett Packard Paul Valler. Facing the strains of long working hours, travel, and ever-evolving gadgets connecting us to an always-on world, he was left drained of energy and tired like many others in that a similar position.
Based on firsthand experience of a pressurized life Paul digs deep to uncover the root cause of our symptoms and shows how gaining a strong identity and clear purpose enables us to make winning choices. Take a look at Get a Life and buy it now for just £6.30 a 30% discount until 14th May. If ordering online use code life1005.
Dean is the Sales Manager at The Good Book Company. He engages with churches, organizations and individuals to provide them with useful resources for their varying ministries. Dean attends St John's Church in Woking, where he lives with his family.
