I’ve just come back from a week in Greece. Well, that was true when I did the majority draft of this blog post. But then… life happened, as it does. And although it has been sat here for a number of weeks, I made one of my weekly goals to ensure I got back to a completed a blog post; selfishly, for me. So here goes, a few touch up’s and I’ll hit publish. Hope you all had a wonderful festive break if you celebrate, and I wish you a healthy 2026.
Greece was wonderful. No alarms. No calendar alerts. No deadlines. Just great food, sun, a good book, and my kids and their cousins laughing on their bikes. I am smiling as I type this as it is currently -8d! A great reflection on a Monday afternoon.
For once, I wasn’t thinking about what’s next – I was just there. And that’s rare for me. I’m usually scanning the horizon, planning the next project, or mentally optimising my time. All of which I have been doing over the weekend before the kids are back to school and I am back to a normal routine of running the business.
But somewhere between the morning coffee and the sea breeze, something clicked:
Maybe the real goal isn’t to reach the destination faster – it’s to actually enjoy the process of getting there.
The Trap of Future-Focused Living
I’ve always been future-focused – setting goals, tracking progress, building systems. It’s useful… until it quietly becomes your default mode.
You start chasing “next” without ever landing in “now”.
It’s the subtle side effect of ambition: you get so addicted to progress that you forget the point of it.
The truth is, I’ve ticked plenty of boxes that I barely took time to celebrate because my mind was already moving on to the next one.
That’s not productivity. That’s a moving finish line.
What Slowing Down Really Reveals
When you slow down – truly slow down – you start to notice things you’ve been too efficient to see:
- The taste of food when you’re not rushing through it.
- The way your kids’ laughter sounds different when you’re actually listening.
- How a quiet morning with no alarms can reset your entire mood.
It’s humbling. Because all the things I label as “time off” are actually life on.
The Wealth Money Can’t Buy
I took Robin Sharma’s The Wealth Money Can’t Buy with me, expecting another motivational read.
What I got instead was a gentle punch in the ribs – a reminder that wealth isn’t just financial.
Sharma breaks it down into four core areas of wealth:
- Growth – learning, evolving, becoming better.
- Health – the energy and vitality to live fully.
- Family – love, connection, shared experiences.
- Craft – the joy in meaningful work.
And it hit me: money fuels some of these, but not all.
The week in Greece cost money, sure. But the real wealth was free – presence, laughter, health, time with loved ones.
Enjoying the Process
Coming home, I realised Im don’t need to escape to Greece to find that state again. It’s not about escaping the work – it’s about changing my relationship with it.
Enjoying the process means:
Taking pride in the work, not just the result. Letting progress feel good now, not someday. Giving permission to enjoy what I’ve already built.
Because when you’re always chasing the next outcome, you miss the richness of what’s right in front on you.
“The journey is the reward” isn’t cliche – it’s the antidote to burnout.
My Post-Holiday Reminder
This week, I’m trying to carry some of that Greek calm into my routine. Despite the impending snowfall!
To enjoy the coffee before the call.
To pause between tasks, not sprint through them.
To remember that life’s wealth isn’t measured in output, but in awareness.
The process is the point. The work matters – but so does the person doing it.
Final Thought
Greece reminded me that success isn’t speed. It’s alignment. And maybe the ultimate form of productivity isn’t doing more – it’s being more present while you do it.
Because the wealth that really matters can’t be counted – only experienced.
So here’s to less chasing, more living.
Have a great week.
Smarter Goals. Sharper Mind. Fewer Excuses 
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