Striking Gold: How Clint Williams Finds Fulfilment in Family and Career
Parenthood is a transformative journey that reshapes our perspectives, priorities, and approaches to life and work.
I recently had a chat with Clint Williams, a Dad who's approach to balancing his professional hustle with the joys of parenting offers a valuable blueprint for others seeking to achieve a healthy balance and fulfilment in their lives.
Setting Priorities: The Game Changer
Clint's secret sauce? Prioritisation. He's all about knowing what truly matters and making a game plan around it.
"Know what's most important to you and plan accordingly."
At work, he sets clear goals and is relentless with his focus on them, tuning out the distractions and extraneous noise. Similarly, at home, Clint consciously swapped out those late-night hangouts for quality time with his kids. Basketball and soccer sessions are his go-to for some healthy fun. Oh, and he's not afraid to say 'adios' to FOMO and focus on what's right in front of him.
In this fast-paced world, Clint emphasises the significance of being present in the moment and cultivating a mindset of gratitude.
"It's a mental game! It’s important to appreciate being in the moment, being present and cherishing the precious moments with loved ones.”
He's a big advocate for not wishing time away. While it's tempting to focus on challenges and pressures, Clint's approach centres on acknowledging the past and expressing gratitude to his partner and children. He underscores the value of setting realistic expectations and refraining from the trap of constant comparison, which is too easy to do in today’s social media world.
The Power of a Support Network
Clint recognises that no journey is navigated alone and with an astute understanding of what truly matters, he strategically invests where he’ll yield the greatest impact. In Clint's case, investing in a nanny has been a game-changing decision, alleviating stress and enabling him and his partner to channel their focus where it's most needed.
He acknowledges that not everyone has the luxury of a nanny, but as he said “we had to compromise and make sacrifices in other areas to have our Nanny. But this was seen as an important investment when we looked at what we were wanting to achieve.”
Crafting Precious Moments
When it comes to quality family time, parental leave is his jam! Clint encourages all Dad’s to take full advantage of the parental leave on offer and has some sound advice:
"A lot of Dad’s are still in the mindset of ‘it's going to impact my career.’
My advice: You have to own it! I took the reins, presented my ideal set up to my leadership team - this is how my three days are going to work, set the goals I wanted to achieve and planned out how it’d get done. I was clear on my delivery and I’ve held myself responsible."
Clint made the most of the 12-week Parental Leave deal offered by his company, Lion. He adeptly utilised his leave, part-time over an extended period, to foster a strong bond with his children while staying engaged with his work.
Clint's dedication to fatherhood exemplifies his belief that, as a parent, one must seize opportunities and proactively design a balance that suits both personal and professional aspirations.
Life Lesson Takeaway for us all!
Parenthood has been a journey that's shaping Clint's approach to everything.
Living in the moment, appreciating the now, and not letting time slip through his fingers – Clint's all about it.
Becoming a parent has emphasised the most precious commodity we have - time, and he's making every second count.
A Catalyst for Change and a Vision for the Future
Clint's got big dreams for the future – a future where dads are right there in the parenting trenches, sharing responsibilities like champs. A firm believer in men taking substantial parental leave, he’s not only led by example at Lion, but has been instrumental in showcasing the benefits of Dads taking parental leave and he wants to make sure more companies see the light too.
And Clint’s final words of wisdom:
"Don't expect your company or leader to make it work for you."
Don't sit around waiting for the world to cater to you.
Be the driver of your own journey.
Present your solutions, set those goals, and hold everyone accountable.
Clint did it when his kids were born, and you can do it too!
By presenting well-thought-out plans, setting achievable goals, and holding all parties accountable, Clint advocates for a harmonious coexistence of professional success and family fulfilment.
Thank you Clint, you’re a modern-day parenting maestro, showing us how to rock the professional world while keeping family at the heart of it all. It's a wild ride!
