Time stamps

04:38 The Impact of Early Life Experiences on Riges Career

07:15 Challenges and Strategies in Building Innovative Companies

10:10 Recognizing and Dealing with Stress and Burnout

13:04 The Importance of Self-Care and Mindfulness

20:38 Practical Tips for Mindfulness and Meditation

23:56 The Role of Journaling in Self-Care

26:57 Conclusion: It's Okay Not to Be Okay

About Riges Younan 

Riges Younan is the Global Leader of Strategic Accounts at Gloat, an AI-powered Talent Marketplace. His career journey is one of hard work, pursuing big goals, failing, and getting up every single time to get better. He has built SaaS companies in the APAC like Avature, Workday and Gloat and is known for delivering outstanding results.

Balancing High-Performance with Self-Care for High Performance Sales Leaders

Sales leaders face immense pressure to excel in their careers while maintaining their mental health and family life. This blog post explores the inspiring story of Riges Younan, a high-performance leader building Gloat in APAC, an AI-powered talent marketplace.

Join us as we dive into his journey and learn valuable insights on how to manage stress, find work-life balance, and prioritise self-care as a high-performance executive.

A Journey into Leadership 

Riges Younan's journey into leadership is anything but linear. Starting as a recruiter, Riges developed a strong interest in leveraging technology for recruitment early on in his career. As the managing director of a recruiting business, he set out to make a mark in the technology industry. In 2006, he founded Australia's first social recruiting platform, a revolutionary concept leveraging social networks for talent acquisition. Riges's determination to make a difference in the technology space has paved the way for his inspiring career in the SaaS industry.

The Challenges of Building Innovative Companies

As a sales leader, Riges has faced numerous challenges throughout his career, particularly when working with innovative companies. These challenges include identifying innovators with a high appetite for risk, building trust, and solving unique problems. Riges believes that being a pioneer in new categories or problem-solving approaches requires resilience, focus, and the ability to paint a clear picture of the future. Balancing these challenges while fostering a purpose-driven mindset is crucial to succeed in the world of scale-up SaaS companies.

Recognising the Signs of Burnout and Stress

Even high-performance executives like Riges are not immune to the toll that stress can take on both their personal and professional lives. In his personal journey, Riges experienced signs of burnout, such as irritability, difficulty sleeping, and impulsive decision-making. Recognising these signs and proactively taking steps to address them is vital to maintaining overall well-being and preventing further stress-related issues. His experience serves as a reminder that acknowledging and prioritising mental health is essential for long-term success.

Strategies for Maintaining Self-Care

Riges emphasises the importance of self-care and recognises that it directly impacts one's ability to perform at their best. He shares several strategies that have worked for him, including focusing on health and fitness, incorporating regular exercise into daily routines, and practicing mindfulness through activities like yoga and meditation. He believes that taking care of oneself physically and mentally translates into better interactions with team members, customers, and loved ones.

The Power of Journaling and Reflection

Another practice that has made a significant impact on Riges's journey is journaling. By reflecting on daily experiences, expressing gratitude, and documenting lessons learned, Riges gains clarity and direction. Journaling allows individuals to process emotions, overcome challenges, and celebrate achievements. It is a useful tool for self-reflection and growth.

Getting Started with the Journey to Mindfulness

For those seeking to incorporate mindfulness and meditation into their lives, Riges suggests utilising guided meditation apps such as Headspace to get started. These apps provide step-by-step instructions and help individuals establish a consistent practice. He finds morning meditation and yoga to be particularly beneficial, allowing him to start his day with a clear, focused mind. Developing a routine and finding a time that works best for individual schedules are key to creating a sustainable mindfulness practice.

Small Steps Towards Continuous Improvement

Riges's approach to self-care and personal growth revolves around taking small, incremental steps each day. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by lofty goals, he recommends focusing on the process and celebrating incremental progress. By investing in regular exercise, healthy nutrition, mindfulness practices, and continuous learning, individuals can consistently improve their well-being and overall performance. Riges believes that prioritising self-care ultimately benefits everyone around them, making them more empathetic, patient, and focused leaders.

Conclusion

Riges Younan's journey as a high-performance sales leader is a testament to the importance of finding balance, prioritising self-care, and recognising the signs of burnout. Building innovative companies and leading teams come with immense challenges, but with a focus on personal well-being and a purpose-driven mindset, success is within reach. 

By adopting strategies such as regular exercise, mindfulness practices, journaling, and continuous improvement, high-performance executives can navigate the demands of their careers while maintaining their mental health, family life, and overall well-being. Remember, it's okay not to be okay, and by fostering transparent conversations and prioritising self-care, we can create a better impact in our lives and the world around us.

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