Viking Accountability: Prioritizing Work and Finding Time for Rest (feat. Ben Catley-Richardson)
Jakub "Kuba" Grajcar
is the Content Marketing Manager at ZenPilot. His obsessions include interviewing smart people; productivity methods; project management; and playing bass in a progressive metal band.
Ben Catley-Richardson is the "Accountability Viking" for agencies, helping owners of 3-5 year old agencies grow beyond their own capabilities.
With a background in video game journalism and a passion for Norse mythology, Ben brings a unique perspective to agency growth and accountability.
In this episode of Agency Journey, Ben shares insights on the importance of rest and reflection in the growth cycle, the power of creating personas, and how to prioritize effectively in an overstimulated world.
He emphasizes the value of disconnecting and the science behind why rest is crucial for sustainable business growth.
Whether you're looking to scale your agency, improve your work-life balance, or foster a culture of intentional growth, this episode is packed with actionable advice and fascinating perspectives on Viking culture and modern business practices.
Episode Insights:
💡 Rest and reflection are crucial parts of the growth cycle. Taking time off isn't "doing nothing"—it's driving you forward and making sustainable business growth possible.
💡 Creating a persona (like Ben's Viking persona) can give you permission to stand out and motivate you to live up to that image.
💡 Digital agency owners are often overstimulated. Constantly being "plugged in" can hinder growth and learning.
💡 Sleep is crucial for health and growth. Most people need more than 6 hours of sleep per night.
💡 Focus on having a single priority rather than multiple "priorities." This makes decision-making easier and reduces procrastination.
💡 To find your priority, identify the main blocker preventing you from achieving your goals. Your priority should be removing that blocker.
💡 Create an environment that supports your priority (e.g. removing distractions).
💡 Make the right sacrifices by prioritizing what truly matters. Don't sacrifice your life enjoyment for unnecessary work.
💡 Aim to finish each week satisfied with your progress towards your priority. This makes it easier to truly unplug and enjoy life outside of work.
💡 Celebrate your wins, no matter how small. Ben uses a handbell to mark achievements.
💡 Ben's 5-gate system for growth and learning:
🏛️ Awareness: Recognize the problem or opportunity
🏛️ Agitation: Find motivation to take action
🏛️ Attention: Focus without distractions
🏛️ Reward: Reflect on progress and build momentum
🏛️ Process: Rest and "bank" your gains
Resources Mentioned:
(☝️ check it out to sign up for Ben’s weekly “Thor’s Day” accountability emails + get a free 20-minute accountability MOT session!)
📚 "The Alter Ego Effect" by Todd Herman
📚 "Why We Sleep" by Dr. Matt Walker
📚 "Atomic Habits" by James Clear
📚 "Thinking Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman
🏛️ The Norwegian Rune Poem
⚒️ Mjolnir (Thor's hammer) as a symbol of accountability
Check out the video recording of the conversation here:
Or go here to listen to the episode on your favorite podcast platforms.
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