Successful executives are not always able to keep strict nine to five hours. Thriving in the cannabis industry typically requires flexibility and a willingness to go above and beyond, especially with all of the competition out there. Of course, working yourself ragged doesn’t always produce the best results. This is a fun industry to work in and balancing responsibilities in the office with your life outside of work is important. We spoke with two successful executives on how they balance work and life.
Ryan Smith, chief executive officer at Leaflink, a leading cannabis wholesaler, has found a routine that works for him. While free time can be tough to come by, his regimen allows him to maximize his time on the weekends to prepare for the week and avoid overloading himself.
“Friday night is usually more casual, typically getting dinner out with my girlfriend to recap the week,” Smith said. On Saturday Smith is up early playing electronic music and getting a head start on errands and chores. This time also allows him to calmly take care of any outstanding tasks from the work week and even set a little time aside to work out.
“Then I usually get a late brunch with some friends to decompress, making sure I’m still home on the earlier side to get a solid night of sleep,” Smith said.
“Sunday [is] the only day of the week I try to sleep in,” Smith said, noting that is not always possible. Smith then starts checking emails and preparing for the coming week in the late afternoon for a few hours. “I’ll review meeting invites for the coming week and make sure they fit my engineered calendar and then leave my phone charging in another room for the final hour or so before turning in,” Smith said.
Corey Mangold, chief executive officer at Orchid Essentials, a company that produces vape oils and soon will offer tinctures, CBD, and concentrates, has refined his strategy for achieving work-life balance over the years. “As an entrepreneur for twenty years, I always struggled to obtain the right amount of energy for growing my businesses, and also the right amount of energy for being a great father,” Mangold, who has five children said.
Mangold focuses on several key areas to balance his time as an entrepreneur, father, husband, and friend. One area he focuses on is trimming the waste. “The first thing to do is get rid of wasted relationships and relationships that are not a positive influence in your life. Once I did this, I freed up a lot of lost time and energy,” said Mangold. He not only rejected the negative relationships in his life, but also cultivated a truly meaningful one when he got married. “Getting rid of toxic relationships and welcoming healthy relationships is the number one life changer you can do,” Mangold said.
Mangold also believes in taking a vacation when possible but realizes there are financial and time constraints for people. “It doesn’t have to be something elaborate, but I strongly recommend some sort of activity where your family is going to have your undivided attention without iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks,” he said. Mangold also makes it point to be involved with his childrens’ activities whenever possible. “No job is worth the joy and memories you get from being a part of the little things in your kids’ or loved ones’ lives,” Mangold, who is a coach for some of his children’s sports teams said.
Of course, it is important to set aside some time for yourself as well. “Have a hobby,” Mangold said. “Not only does this help your brainpower, but it also boosts your mood, gets you living in the present moment, and makes you an all-around better person to hang out with.”
