🔊CEOInterviews

Michele Simonato on work-life balance

From The importance of inner space | Michele Simonato | TEDxHimi · · TEDxTalks

“"Do I really want to spend 18 hours a day working? Basically, living on an airplane and having time for the people I love and for what I love to do once a month?"”

Michele Simonato
Cofounder, Empatica
work-life balancetime allocationcareer

On , Michele Simonato, Cofounder at Empatica, spoke about work-life balance during The importance of inner space | Michele Simonato | TEDxHimi on TEDxTalks.

The importance of inner space | Michele Simonato | TEDxHimi
Watch on YouTube at 2:12
The importance of inner space | Michele Simonato | TEDxHimi
TEDxTalks
Watch on YouTube at 2:12
What is important in life? Working very hard, Michele realizes that he had spent most of his life working. Even if you are making a lot of money, can you say that you are living a successful life when you don’t have enough time to spend with yourself and your family? He meets Zen and comes to understand what he is lacking. What he found was something that was important in life as a whole. Entrepreneur, life-hacker, wingsuiter, Michele is a curious mind who believes in personal evolution through self-challenge. In Japan he became a monk and walked the Shikoku pilgrimage experimenting on the power of mindfulness and self-reliance This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx
Michele Simonato

About Michele Simonato

Cofounder · Empatica

In a 2016 TEDx talk, Michele Simonato, cofounder of Empatica, discussed his decision to step away from a demanding career as a CEO and professor to create "space" in his life. He described realizing that his work schedule would have left him with only 4.5 years for personal pursuits over a 50-year period, and questioned whether spending more time on social media than on passions was worthwhile. Simonato recounted becoming a monk in Japan and walking the Shikoku pilgrimage, stating that by working "smarter instead of harder," his results improved both financially and in productivity. Simonato argued that "the system that is imposing a standard time-cake for everybody doesn't make any sense" and that individuals should find their own balance. He emphasized that "we are our time" and that time is the only resource that cannot be bought back. He attributed his perspective to advice from his grandmother and mother, who told him to "stay true to yourself, and never, ever allow your fears to become stronger than your dreams."

Profile compiled from Michele Simonato's verified public interviews and appearances. See all quotes & transcripts →

More from Michele Simonato Full Transcript Explore All Executives