In a world where we’re always available, how do you separate your personal time from your work time?
Richard Brendon: I have an 11-month-old son, Freddie. Since he was born, it’s been the first time since starting my business that I’ve managed to separate work and personal time! When I’m with Freddie I can’t work; I have no choice but to switch off from the office and keep all eyes on him.
What’s one thing you do after the work day to help you unwind?
Food and drink is very important to me. I find cooking dinner during the week really helps me to relax, giving me something to master at the end of the day and look forward to. A good glass of wine alongside is essential.
View Richard Brendon's Walpole member profile here.
What activity do you do in your time away from the office that helps you relax and recentre after a stressful week?
Pre-Freddie, my wife and I would have a list of restaurants we wanted to go to which we’d work our way through on the weekends. Things have changed slightly now, and the weekend is generally dominated with seeing family and friends, and having home-cooked meals. We also try to get out of London fairly often, visiting family in Somerset and Devon.
What’s something you’ve read, listened to or seen in your spare time that’s helped you at work?
I read a lot of self-help books. Probably the best one I’ve read so far is The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod, and for a long time I was following my learnings from this book carefully. This has been more challenging with a small baby, but I still manage to put a lot of the most important teachings into practice.
After home and the office, where’s your favourite third space?
Being out in the countryside, or at the top of a mountain. I’m particularly fond of Somerset, where my father lives, and we’re thinking of moving down there next year.
On Sunday night, how do you prepare yourself for the week ahead?
I don’t. I plan my week ahead on a Friday afternoon and if I don’t manage to do this I do it on Saturday morning. This practice has helped me a lot; it really helps me to relax at the weekend, knowing I already have the following week planned. At the start of each day, I set alarms to go off in advance of my meetings, meaning I usually arrive on time and prepared.
Best reason you've had to turn your Out of Office on recently?
Unfortunately, it’s not been on that recently. The last time was September, so I’m looking forward to Christmas! In September I went to Tuscany with my immediate family and we were staying just inside the Chianti Classico wine region. We explored a lot, eating and drinking as we went. A particular highlight was having lunch at Ristoro Di Lamole, high up in the hills overlooking vineyards as far as the eye could see. I also really enjoyed visiting Castagnoli winery - such a beautiful terraced vineyard and the wine is superb.
Your go-to Out of Office outfit: Chinos, T-shirt, an overshirt or jacket and trainers.
Your happy place anywhere in the world: The mountains. I’m particularly fond of California and Colorado, having worked in ski resorts both sides of university. I particularly love skiing in the trees in total silence when the snow is thumping down.
Your favourite bar or restaurant: I’m notorious for being hard to coax out of Notting Hill. My favourite local restaurant is 7 Saints on All Saints Road. The menu is short and constantly changing, but you know it will always be good! Keeping it local, Core by Clare Smyth is, of course, a knockout. My favourite bar has to be The Connaught Bar, with a martini from the maestro Ago Perrone.
Something you booked recently that you'd recommend: The Ashes at Lords. As far as cricket goes, it doesn’t get any better. Both quintessentially British and a total spectacle!
Something you've listened to or read recently that you'd recommend: The Radical Potter by Tristram Hunt. Josiah Wedgwood was a visionary. He was born a humble potter and died the 25th richest man in England. He was the first person to ever create a modern factory with specialisation in the workforce. We need more people with his vision in the UK today if Britain is going to succeed in a post-Brexit world.
A hobby you'd like to cultivate: I’d like to get back to skiing more!
A luxury that’s actually a necessity: Good wine glasses! Buy some of our Jancis Robinson Wine Glasses and you’ll never be able to use your old clunky glasses ever again.
Best luxury under £25: Jing Tea. It’s really affordable when you think of cost-per-cup; I drink it every night!