Voyage Magazine is a vibrant online digital magazine focused on bringing you the best of local art, venues, restaurants and services in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Every neighborhood from Phoenix to Scottsdale to Tempe has it’s own vibe and style. They have inspiring people in their collection of stories. Check out my answers to their Shoutout Series.
We had the good fortune of connecting with Margo Crawford and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Margo, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I started my business many years ago, I was living on the East Coast and for fun, learning to surf. I used all the productivity techniques I was teaching clients to maximize my work and minimize working long hours. Leaving work early, I was able to head to the beach to catch waves. In the past, when I thought of work life balance, I thought of being off center on a surf board. If your not balanced, you wipe out. Having worked with clients who have struggled and searched for work life balance I have come to believe that work life balance is unobtainable. When looking at work life balance it means you focus on one while the other is amiss and shaky. Our lives are not defined by two categories. There is so much more–What about volunteering or helping in our communities? Is that work? What about working from home? Is that work or life? It is less about balance and more about integration. Our lives and our work are multi-faceted and flow together. Knowing and being conscious of how work and life integrate along with goals, defining roles and responsibilities helps the integration even more. You know exactly where you stand. What then can we do to get the best out of every aspect of our lives? Having a coach to help you stay focused, organized, and productive in your workday can allow you to also get the best out of the work and life you lead. My own work life integration has not changed over time. When first starting my business, I worked diligently to build the foundation yet still had time to do the things I love. Now after 17 years of being in the organizing industry I am a model for my clients by making sure I carve out time to replenish and relax. That way, when I head into work, I can approach it with energy.
What should our readers know about your business?
Clients are usually under a lot of stress when we first start working together. Stress rules their day and they are reactive to whatever is most urgent. The day runs them, and my clients struggle to stay on top of their work. The important tasks that will bring in revenue, make their customers happy and move their business forward get lost in the daily grind. As a Certified Productivity Coach I make sure that the productivity systems the client and I create fit their unique style and situation. By using a variety of questions, we implement systems that best fit their workload and draw out their natural strengths. In just a few weeks, clients are able to make changes to way they work. I am always proud of my clients and how they become more focused, organized and productive. Within the first few sessions, they begin to shift to a more productive pace. While we work on email, time and information management a sense of control begins to overtake their workday. It starts in people’s offices and at their desks and they have great days at work. Seeing clients take control and become proactive in their work and personal life is amazing. I’m continually awed by the work they do to be better people at work and home, so they are able to live a well-rounded life.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Brunch at Sweetest Season’s Bakery Cafe in Tempe is the best place to start the day. They have an amazing menu and the most perfect waffles. The food is delicious and the service is amazing. With a full bakery case, you can grab some goodies to go. The Desert Botanical Garden is like no other in the world. The sequoia and desert plant life is a sight to see especially at dusk. The sunset on the horizon with the silhouette of the cactus make falling in love with Phoenix easy. Spa days at the Valley Ho with fluffy white robes and relaxing treatments lend to a day to decompress. Even when it’s hot outside their sauna can be a nice way to unwind after a massage. They have a wonderful poolside retreat with cabanas. Found RE has the perfect gallery, a great taste of the art scene in Phoenix without being overwhelming. The variety of art they have in lobby and throughout the hallways is always changing and never disappoints.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Tracy Bullock of Bullock Sales and Training is a huge support to me. Her training’s helped me craft how I speak to potential clients. Taking her sales advice I was able to increase sales by 200% in the first year. Not only knowledgeable about sales, she has guided me in other areas of my work. She has helped me to craft a positive mindset around work and life. With her extensive background in the corporate world and her understanding of what the small business person struggles with, she is the perfect person to help guide you through your sales process to success.
Website: www.waveproductivity.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waveproductivity/
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/margocrawford10
Twitter: @waveproductivit
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/waveproductivity/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs1ZUmwkK4FozDxgoGAVYCw
Other: http://waveproductivity.com/blog
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.