[part 1] Pep Guardiola's work/life balance secret is...spaghetti???

Published: Mon, 09/12/22

Note: I’m doing a series of emails this week all about finding balance at work and in life. This is the first one in the series. Hope you like it.

“I love being a manager, otherwise I wouldn’t be here”.

This is a quote from a recent interview with Pep Guardiola.

For Pep, it’s simple.

When he stops loving what he does, he stops doing it.

Based on this logic, he obviously loves managing Man City.

If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have managed the team for the last six years and still be managing them today.

Which begs the question…

If he loves what he does today, what could make him fall out of love with it tomorrow?

And his answer is telling.

For Pep, the biggest thing which could get in the way is doing too much of what he loves.

Sounds counter-intuitive doesn’t it?

How can doing more of something you love make you love it less?

Pep sums it up like this:

“It’s like you are a machine. Prepare a game, win, go home, analyse. Then tomorrow - prepare another one. Another one. Another one. You feel it. Maybe taking a break is good”.

He goes on to say:

“When you play every three days, it’s like eating spaghetti every day. I love spaghetti, but I also want to eat other things”.

What Pep is getting at here all comes down to one word.

And that word is Balance.

Pep’s view is you can have too much of a good thing.

Having too much spaghetti could cause your love of spaghetti to start fading.

And you’re also missing out on other dishes. In other words, things are out of balance.

For Pep, maybe this means time with friends and family.

Or staying fit and healthy.

Or studying new management techniques.

Or spending time on his charity.

Or unwinding on the golf course.

Whatever they are, finding the right balance between different parts of life isn’t always easy.

I know I found it tricky…

And if I’m being honest, I still do.