The Art of Balance: Honouring Fathers in Our Creative Community
This Father’s Day, we did not just celebrate fatherhood, we measured strength in its many forms.
Together with Studio 7, The VI Therapy, we hosted ‘Who has the Strongest Hand Grip at GWS?’ event. A light-hearted but seriously fun competition that brought the community together in a burst of energy, laughter, and healthy rivalry. From artists to designers, dads to non-dads, everyone gave it a squeeze, and we discovered we have got some seriously strong hands (and spirits!) in the building.
Huge thanks to The VI Therapy for making this happen. Your energy, expertise, and creativity brought such a special vibe to the day. Everyone who took part came away smiling, a little sore, and totally uplifted.
But beyond the grip meters and the gains, this week was also about reflecting on what it means to show up at work and at home. We asked some of our studio holders who are also fathers to share their thoughts on balancing the two.
Robert (Richard F Gill & Associates, Studio 111)
It has historically been tricky to balance work life and home life, largely fed by the culture that seemed inherent in the construction industry at the time. This put a burden on my wife in dealing with bringing up the children and gave rise to other regrets regarding missing tangible bonding time with my girls. Whilst this can not be undone, my time with RF Gill has both facilitated, and coincided with, being able to dedicate more time to being at home. Covid obviously exacerbated this but even before this, my work life balance was tipping more towards life with a purchase of a home office in 2019.
Obviously as a business owner, there is a duty of care to your staff and a need to be present, particularly in a smaller company where I am looking to implement growth and change, but I am putting processes in place to empower my staff to be accountable and thus release me to focus more on my goals, business and personal.
With these goals written down, it allows me to ensure everything I am doing, whilst serving the business, ultimately looks to benefit having more time during the week with my girls – dedicated WFH days so I can be there to drop off or pick up if needed and making sure time with them is blocked out in my calendar.
I’m not saying that this solves all problems, and as I mentioned, I cannot change the past but being intentional about my time with them, putting them first in my short term planning and long term goals, ensures they are always the focus. As they always should have been.
Sharif (The VI Therapy, Studio 7)
Being my own boss has given me the freedom to prioritize my two kids in a way I couldn’t when working for someone else. I dedicate my mornings to them, free from distractions like phones, and aim to model the values I want them to learn through my own actions. I schedule clients in the afternoons and keep Wednesdays and weekends work-free to ensure quality family time. A quote from my father always stays with me: “You get 18 summers with them before they fly the nest”. That reminder keeps me focused on being present now, rather than overworking in hopes of a better future because the time we have with them is already precious and very limited.
Dan (MATA Architects, Studio 114)
How do I balance work with fatherhood? The answer to that question keeps changing! Just when I think I’ve figured it out my kids get a bit older and what worked for a while, isn’t really working that well anymore… So half the time I’m catching up. Trial and (a lot of) error…At the moment, I try to be home for dinner together at least 3 out of 5 times in the working week and to cook at least two of those. My daughter joins me for dog walks on the heath, if not every weekend, then at least every other…My son and I are playing a lot of backgammon in the evenings at the moment and, more recently as the days get longer, table tennis in Queens Park…
Thank you to all the incredible dads at GWS who remind us that strength is not just physical, it is in your consistency, your care, and your presence.
Here is to strong hands, open hearts, and showing up where it matters most.
Happy Father’s Day from all of us at GWS.
