Balancing Health and Career: What Should Mr. Victor Do About His Workload and Well-being?

Mr. Victor is the marketing manager looking after two sensitive products - Max and Priya (both luxury soaps) - produced by Hindustan Trading Company. After fifteen years of service, Mr. Victor now holds the second position in the marketing department of his company.

Recently, the company introduced a new soap for the elite class of customers. It was launched in all the major cities of India under the overall supervision of Mr. Victor. He now travels twenty days a month and works for fourteen hours a day. His dedication to work is well appreciated by the chairman of the company, who rewarded him with three direct increments.

As a result of these new developments, Mr. Victor now oversees all three sensitive soaps. Impressed by his dynamic marketing approach, the company's chairman is considering giving him the additional responsibility of an 'international launch' of these products.

Unfortunately, Mr. Victor is currently suffering from high blood pressure and is undergoing medical treatment. Although he is on leave now, he has to resume his duties within a week. According to the doctor's advice, Mr. Victor was supposed to take one month's rest.

Mr. Victor's wife works in a government department, and they have two school-going sons.

Question: What advice would you give to Mr. Victor?

Hi,

1. My advice to him is to strike a balance in work and life. He has been working hard for 15 years, which has led to his current position. Additionally, he has a successful wife, likely a result of his career success. I do not know whether she would have married him without his success.

Meanwhile, he cannot disregard the rewards of 15 years of hard work and allow someone else to step into his shoes and reap the benefits of his success.

I advise him to reduce his daily work hours to 8-10 hours, minimize travel, start regular exercise, spend more time with family, delegate the responsibility of an 'international launch' to someone else, and learn to appreciate his current accomplishments. Let him focus on improving his health and personal life for a while before taking on new challenges.

2. Mr. Victor should remember that high blood pressure is a consequence of his strenuous physical and mental work. He is not alone; he has a wife and children who rely on him as the head of the family. His support and guidance are crucial aspects of his life. Furthermore, if he were to lose his job, his blood pressure would likely increase even more. Therefore, he needs to prioritize his health by resting adequately to counterbalance his hard work.

'Health is wealth.' While wealth is important, it should not come at the expense of health.

3. He should not quit. Instead, after a week, he should discuss with the chairman that one person cannot handle everything due to physical limitations. If he desires to remain fit for the job, he needs to delegate some less critical tasks to subordinates. By doing so, he can focus on essential tasks such as strategy development, decision-making, and coordinating with all involved parties.

4. My recommendation is for him to continue working unless he has accumulated enough savings to retire. Even if he undergoes treatment, he may encounter the same health issues upon returning to work. Therefore, he should consider practices like yoga and lifestyle changes to maintain his well-being. Ignoring work is not an option as the company requires his expertise. If he takes a break and someone else excels in his role, Victor may end up permanently retiring.

Let me know if you need further assistance.