Pausing and Reprioritizing

It changed my life…

by Mark Linsz, Co-Founder and Senior Managing Partner, MyNextSeason

In mid-2012, I reflected on the past five years. At the time, I was Treasurer of Bank of America and thought back on the financial crisis: the summer and fall of 2008, the Lehman and Merrill weekend, the bank downgrades, and capital raises. Our family had moved twice, from London to New York and from New York to Charlotte. Due to my daughters’ school schedules, I was forced to commute for seven months with each move. My days were long and adrenaline-filled, and my nights were often sleepless as I mentally prepared for the next day or worried about what was next in the crisis.

While taking stock of my life and events of the prior years, I asked my wife Becky some questions. (With full disclosure, I feared hearing her answers.) I asked her: How have I been doing as a husband and father? Am I spending enough time with you and our three girls? Am I around enough?

I had trepidation about how she might answer these questions, but never expected the response she gave me. Becky confided that her concern for me was that I seemed to focus only on work and our family. She went on to say that she observed my having given up time with our friends and our extended family, and this concerned her. Seeing my work permeate my mind and mood, she felt strongly that I needed a hobby or something else to engage my heart, my mind, and my time.

That conversation with Becky was a wake-up call and a gift. I found myself unable to shake her words as I prepared to retire from Bank of America and co-found MyNextSeason. I knew Becky was right, but how could I fit more into my schedule? It felt nearly impossible.

I felt as though I always valued relationships. But in truth, I had taken no time in the preceding five years to build new relationships or to deepen old ones. I quickly recognized that was a part of my life I had to change.

I started by prioritizing time to establish and deepen relationships with several friends. It required my being intentional on scheduling an early breakfast, a coffee, or a drink in the evening. I had to make the time to spend time with people I cared about.

Shortly after that conversation with Becky, a friend that I reconnected with invited me to a golfing weekend. My gut reaction was swift: I did not have the time for golfing with friends. I had a full plate: the girls’ schedules were full of things I needed to be present for, the to-do list at home was long, and frankly, I was a horrible golfer.

Thankfully, I consulted my best personal advisor (Becky) on the matter before responding to my friend. She strongly encouraged my going—and after much agonizing, I decided to say yes. I realized it was an opportunity to strengthen several relationships of importance to me and possibly build new ones.

The weekend was a blast. The relationships that formed that weekend are among my closest today. As a bonus, I realized that the challenging, invigorating sport of golf clears my mind as it helps me build relationships. (And I have gotten better, by the way!)

As I began to think about retiring, those friends helped me think through what I needed to add back into my life and to dream about my future again. In addition to an occasional round of golf, I joined a couple of not-for-profit boards and began mentoring a group of young business professionals on business and faith.

It has been three years since I retired, and I am so grateful to those friends who cared enough to help me through the transition and encourage me to pursue passions outside of work. My friends were there to help me think about finishing my job well and to help me process my own Next Season. And they continued to be there for me, to brainstorm and bounce ideas as I started MyNextSeason and as we grow it.

We’ve shared ideas, advice, challenges…not to mention lots of great food…and none of that would have happened, had I not paused to take stock of my life, be open to observations and coaching from someone who knew me well and loved me, and be open to reordering my life’s priorities.

I still remember the feeling in my stomach as I asked those questions of Becky. I never thought her answer and encouragement would have such a profound impact on my future.