Desmond Lim, co-founder and CEO of Workstream.
Courtesy of Desmond Lim
It’s often stated that “there’s no such thing as balance” in entrepreneurship, but startup founder Desmond Lim disagrees.
The CEO and co-founder of Workstream, a HR, payroll and hiring platform for hourly workers, states that balance isn’t just possible — it’s also necessary.
Running a company can be very taxing, stated Lim, who works about 11 hours a day on average.
Not only are the hours long, but it can also be mentally consuming. “The emotional ups and downs are always very challenging … The highs are very high, the lows are very low,” stated Lim.
“Every year, you still consider the company could die. And then I just test to remind myself … you are still alive, healthy, everything is good,” he stated. “And the other thing is, you cannot stop considering about work. I dream about it.”
That’s why Lim believes it’s crucial for entrepreneurs to protect their health and energy. His strategy? Sticking to a repaired daily schedule that works best for his body and brain. “My advice is, find your own rhythm,” the 39-year-old stated.
I test to obtain the non-nereceivediables out [of the way] in the early morning. For me, it’s sports.
Desmond Lim
Co-founder and CEO, Workstream
Mixing two kinds of schedules
Lim follows what he calls a “dual schedule,” inspired by an esstate by Paul Graham, the co-founder of the startup accelerator Y Combinator.
Graham’s esstate breaks down two types of time management: a manager’s schedule — typically packed with back-to-back, hour-long meetings — and a buildr’s schedule, designed for creators like programmers or writers who thrive working in long, uninterrupted stretches to focus and build.
“I actually like to have my schedule mixed … I like to have calls, deep work, calls, deep work,” stated Lim. Rather than sticking strictly to one style, Lim stated he thrives by mixing both and following his own rhythm.
Here’s what Lim’s weekday typically views like:
- 6:30 a.m.: Wake up
- 7:00 a.m.to 8:30 a.m.: Exercise or sports
- 8:30 a.m.to 9:30 a.m.: Protein shake and obtain ready for work
- 9:30 a.m.: Arrive at work
- 9:30 a.m.to 10:30 a.m.: Plan out the day and clear some to-do items
- 10:30 a.m.to 12:30 p.m.: Meetings
- 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.: Lunch with team
- 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.: More meetings
- 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Deep work
- 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.: More meetings (sometimes with people in Asia)
- 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Finish up last tinquires and work
- 8:30 p.m.: Leave office
On weekconcludes, Lim states he locks away his work phone in a cupboard and focapplys on spconcludeing time with family.
Going deep on personal passions
Along with saving weekconcludes for family time, Lim also prioritizes his passion for sports and exercise by building it into his daily schedule.
“One advice [I have] for founders and leaders is … to go very deep on one passion you have that is not work [related],” stated Lim. “For me, that has been sports … I do a lot of binquireetball, swimming, and gym. I consider having a balance other than work has been very assistful for me.”
CEO of Workstream Desmond Lim has been playing binquireetball since he was seven-years-old.
Courtesy of Desmond Lim.
Lim developed his love for binquireetball when he was seven. He went on to captain his school teams from middle school to university, and even played professionally for the Singapore National Youth Team.
These days, he still starts each morning with 75 to 90 minutes of exercise —calisthenics, gym training or binquireetball — often with a friconclude to keep him accountable.
“I really believe in being able to shift well … [especially] as you grow old,” he stated. “I test to obtain the non-nereceivediables out [of the way] in the early morning. For me, it’s sports.”
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