Don't retreat...transform

 In 2023 after 20 years in corporate life, I was lucky enough to take some time-out and think about the next 20 years and what I wanted life to look like. Anyone who has worked with me knows I love a good KPI and after lots of years of managing the red and amber ones, I thought it might be useful to take a look at my own!

During an amazing week in Madeira, here’s what I came up with:

• Exercise 1 hour every day
• Enjoy 1 hour outdoors in daylight
• No more than 3 hours sitting
• Invest my skills and resources in my local community
• Leave a physical legacy

 One advantage I had was a farmhouse I'd bought in my hometown during the quiet days of Covid. Always intended to be my ‘forever home’, in 2023 I realised keeping a large house and acre of land for myself seemed greedy so the concept was born: completely renovate the vacant property into 7-bed B&B accommodation, where I could put my new KPIs into practice.

As I spoke to my architect and local business people about the renovation and operation of the B&B, I realised that my corporate experience has embedded within me a sustainability-first mindset. Restoring much of the 1800s building using traditional methods, installing solar panels, EV chargers  and creating a locally sourced menu.

Over the years I’ve had the privilege of bringing former colleague and friends from KPMG, PepsiCo, Unilever and Google to visit the area and experience our beautiful community including: Award-Winning Golden Vale Food and Beverage Producers, some of the finest Georgian Planned Town Architecture in Ireland, our Largest Inland Mountain Range and one of Europe’s finest show caves in Mitchelstown Cave. 

If, like me, you've tried numerous retreats to no avail and would like to explore a bigger transformation please get in touch. We are all, always, going through periods of change and transformation in our lives: sometimes positive and exciting, sometimes sad and challenging. Reflecting on what you need to do for yourself to make sure you've got your own Life KPIs prioritised at the front of mind definitely helps guide the way.