Switching Priorities and Cutting Out Unnecessary Work with Andrew Cook

Andrew Cook and Dawn discuss personal freedom, work-life balance, and entrepreneurship. They reflect on cultural differences in work ethic and productivity, sharing experiences in the military and corporate world. Andrew emphasises tailoring HR solutions to small businesses, while Dawn helps solopreneurs build their side businesses. They agree freedom means spending time and money on what's meaningful.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Andrew critiques the Puritan work ethic's impact on American culture, highlighting a constant need to work at the expense of personal life. He contrasts this with Europe's healthier work-life balance. He attributes this mindset to Puritan values, leading to equating worth with productivity. Andrew critiques societal stigmas and business language, reflecting on his father's experience.
• In his business, Andrew simplifies HR processes for small business clients, aiming to save them time, money, and frustration. He customises solutions to their scale and requirements, eschewing overly complex systems designed for larger corporations. Andrew's mission is to streamline operations, enabling clients to focus on what truly matters for their business' growth and success.
• Andrew values entrepreneurship for the autonomy it provides him over his time and resources. Reflecting on past jobs, where he sacrificed family time to fulfil others' demands, he now cherishes owning his business, affording him the freedom to align work with personal values.
• Freedom to Andrew is having the freedom to spend his resources, his time, money, and energy in ways that are meaningful and impactful in his world. He doesn’t feel obligated to work long hours or chase promotions. He cherishes being able to have lunch with his son daily and spend time with family

 

BEST MOMENTS

‘There was a clear difference between what I was experiencing and what I wanted to experience’

‘My dad was a magnificent example of working hard and having no enjoyment’

‘I value the ability to choose how I spend my time and resources, prioritising meaningful moments with loved ones over work’

‘Owning a business allows me to pick my clients, aligning my work with my values and creating a sense of celebration when clients have positive outcomes’

 

EPISODE RESOURCES

Email: [e-mail]

Phone/Text: 1-740-277-1679

Website: aheadsupport.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/aheadhrsupport

 

ABOUT THE GUEST

Andrew Cook is a human resources and business operations professional with nearly two decades of experience working with government, non-profit, and privately owned businesses. His business, Ahead Business Support, provides HR coaching and consulting services to small business owners who need help untangling their HR knots so they can simplify their HR process to save time, money, and sanity. Andrew is a retired U.S. Navy veteran, having served 20 years in communications and military intelligence. He currently resides in Southeast Ohio with his wife, Darcy, and rescue dog, Tilly.

ABOUT THE HOST

Dawn Morgan, hypnotherapist and business mentor, guides individuals in discovering personal and business freedom amid life's challenges. Having faced trauma, attacks, divorce, and more, she believes in learning and growing from every experience. Life is for living, and Dawn helps uncover the innate qualities within—hope, resilience, compassion, wisdom, and confidence—empowering others to choose growth and find their freedom.

 

CONTACT METHOD

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