First and foremost a Happy New Year to you. I hope all is well.
For many business owners and directors, the holiday period is a welcome distraction and respite from the demands of running a business, unless of course you are in catering, hospitality, retail etc. In which case you may well be looking forward to a rest in the coming weeks!
Christmas means all sorts of things to people, but one thing most of us can agree upon is that it is a time when we eat too much and drink too much. I myself am guilty as charged. The problem is, with age, it’s taking me longer to recover!
We can regale in the stories that caused a few laughs when we were ‘in the moment’, having a good time but what about when we are not in the moment. What then? What damage are we doing?
According to the Harvard School of Public Health, the benefits and risks of moderate drinking change over a lifetime. Note the emphasis here on moderate drinking. In general, they state that risks exceed benefits (yes, there are some medicinal benefits) until middle age when cardiovascular disease begins to account for an increasingly large share of the burden of disease and death.
I know what you are thinking… Gary’s a happy soul isn’t he? A Happy New Year to you too Gary!
The problem is most business owners and directors are ‘middle aged’. We look after the company, we build and manage a team, we control risks every day of our working life, yet rarely do we focus as much effort and gusto on ourselves.
The stark reason for writing this blog is that over Christmas, a business owner I know died of a heart attack and another had a real scare.
In business, we try to prevent risk, but when risks occur we have to manage them. As a business owner or director, let me ask you how you are managing your risk of adverse health and the impact that this could have on your business?
When I write these blogs, I am often asked if I’m practising what I preach. Can I demonstrate a level of credibility about what I’m writing? Well, I can. I’m off to see a heart specialist on Friday. Not because anything is wrong, but because I owe it to myself and everyone around me to make sure I’m ‘fit for purpose’. Thank you Nigel Butler for your prompting.
At Blue Sky we focus very much on enhancing well-being. Enabling our clients to live the life they want. Without our health though, everything else becomes secondary. Yet, so many of us appear to be in denial. We get our car serviced regularly, but what about ourselves?
You might think that I would use this opportunity to promote buying insurance. I’m afraid I am just assuming you have some, just like when insuring your vehicle. The key though is not to have an accident in the first place.
It’ll be so easy to get back to the grindstone and repeat the same old behaviours this January. So, we are going to lay down a challenge for you and provide an incentive:
Any business owner or director who commits to undertaking Comprehensive Financial Planning (sorting all your finances out) with Blue Sky, in the month of January, will benefit from an ECG and a Consultation with a heart specialist at our expense*.
Your choice… but don’t delay, do something today.
Gary Neild B.Sc.Hons. DipIP PFA
Managing Director
*Subject to terms and conditions
To book your Comprehensive Financial Planning meeting and take up this offer, please email Gary’s PA, Louise Scott on louise.scott@blueskyfp.co.uk. Or call the office today.
