What’s the first thing you do when you get out of bed?
Every morning I wake up about 5 minutes before my alarm goes off, check the time, congratulate my internal biorhythm, and then fall back asleep until I wake up again to the blaring sounds of the “you are now late” alarm. Within the next 45 minutes, I run into the kitchen, barely able to open my eyes while hurriedly preparing breakfast for my son, packing his lunch, checking his backpack, discussing his homework and walking him downstairs to dad, who does morning school drop off and is usually bright-eyed and bushy tailed – also generally holding some sort of exotic pastry. It’s pure joy #momlife. Then I spend a good hour throwing all kinds of clothes around in my bedroom while responding to emails, drinking coffee, dancing to top 40, and mentally preparing for the meetings of the day.
What gives you energy?
I am energized by the essence of success. If I feel I’m getting close to closing a good deal, or excited about a new project, I find even when running on only a few hours of sleep that I am alert, in step, and ready to work. Of course coffee and iron supplements provide an extra boost on the less enthusiastic days.
What daily habit or practice helps you thrive?
Thriving depends very much on balance and I am constantly balancing the life of a business woman as well as the life of a mom. If I am able to grow old and look back at my life, I will feel most successful if I can not only succeed at achieving my goals in the business world, but also achieve my goals as a mother. It is a delicate dance and while I often do not have any time for a “personal” life, I complete all my tasks in the office and still have time to sit at the dinner table to do homework with my son. Knowing that I can be successful in both realms keeps me healthy, happy, and moving forward.
Name a book that changed your life.
I need to preface this by saying that I am an avid reader. My most precious material possessions are my books and I am known to travel with a heavy carry-on. Here are a few books that have shaped me – “Friendly Advice” by Narayana 600 B.C, “The Prophet” by Khalil Gilbran, “Select Writings” of Paracelsus, “The Secret Teachings of All Ages” by Manly Hall, “Great Expectations” by Dickens, and “Arabian Nights.” I love to read, and make sure I do so everyday.
How do you deal with email?
I respond to all emails within 24 hours and, of course, respond immediately to anything urgent. I hate spam. I have 5 different email addresses. Sometimes it’s like playing roulette.
When was the last time you felt you failed and how did you overcome it?
I find that life is constructed in a pendulum sequence. When I fail, I know that a major success is around the corner. I failed earlier this afternoon by refusing to compromise and refusing to listen. While I often advocate for the importance of open mind and ears, today I hard-lined without consideration. In that moment, it felt it was the right thing to do. That said, I am hoping the pendulum swings back in my direction tomorrow. Today’s failure can be tomorrow’s success, and time heals all wounds. Everything is psychological mathematics and strategy.
You unexpectedly find 15 minutes in your day, what do you do with it?
Our office is very busy. If I have 15 minutes, I work through them. We have a different style of doing business. I have been in other offices which were extremely intense, with a feeling that at any moment someone could have a complete break down. In our office, we tell jokes. We work diligently and we work hard, but we keep the environment witty, funny, and positive at all times. I speak for myself when I say, it is rarely ‘internally’ stressful.
When was the last time you felt burnout and how did you overcome it?
I tend to burn the candle at both ends by waking up early and working late into the night. About once a week, luckily on the weekend, I sleep for 12 hours straight to recharge. Sleep is very important and even though I’m sure my “average” isn’t great, when my body gives the signal, I go to bed.
Share a quote that you love and that gives you strength or peace.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve begun to truly understand the power of words and how the things you write or say greatly influence the surroundings in your universe. I’ve begun to understand the consequences of words, whether good or bad. In this respect, I often think of the one papyrus that has been found and contributed to the writing of Cleopatra, with the only words “Let it be so” in Greek penned on a document granting tax exemption on a shipment of wheat and wine which was leaving Egypt. The words “let it be so” often float through my mind, providing both strength and peace in any given situation.
Tell us a little bit about what you are currently working on.
I am currently working on a plethora of different, yet equally exciting projects. Unfortunately some of the most exciting ones cannot be discussed due to the nature of the entities I am working with, but a few of the more public highlights include: an upcoming boxing match we are developing sponsorship and advertising deals for on behalf of Ron ‘The American Dream’ Johnson and D2D TV, a partnership with SportieCups which is a proprietary souvenir cup, matching agriculture, blockchain, and other investments with HNW and UHNW investors, and connecting a foreign government entity to a well-known entertainment conglomerate based in LA. We are strategy and business development experts, and we provide successful solutions to any funded problem.
For more on Adelheid Waumboldt: https://www.isetagency.com/