with Dr. Alex Soojung-Kim Pang of 4 Day Week Global
Ep. #238 of The Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast
Overwork and burnout – so prevalent in today’s society that over 60% of employees around the globe suffer from workplace stress, creating billions of additional health costs annually. By re-examining how we work and reducing the number of working hours each week, we can greatly reduce this additional stress and financial burden.
Dr. Alex Pang is the Global Programs and Research Manager for 4 Day Week Global, a non-profit community advocating the 4-day work week, and the Founder of the Silicon Valley-based consulting company Strategy and Rest. Alex has written books that illustrate how individuals and organizations can integrate rest, creativity, and focus. His latest book is “Shorter: Work Better, Smarter, and Less–Here’s How.”
In today’s episode, Cory and Alex talk about the idea of restructuring our overwork and burnout work culture into working fewer hours with more focus and discipline. Alex describes how the future of work can be better if we implement one extra day to rest and recharge.
As one of the leading voices in reducing working hours, Alex is optimistic that we can create a future where people can spend more time with family and friends, do healthy activities, discover new hobbies, and ultimately make the world a better place.
The full transcript for this episode and more can be found at SocialEntrepreneurship.FM/238.
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“We need to think about the work that we do and the careers we build as long term things, not short term. We all want to have an impact immediately. We have 30 under 30 lists that celebrate young entrepreneurs or young changemakers. But the reality is, if you love what you do, and particularly if you’re doing a kind of work where the payout and the benefit is not instantaneous, then it is absolutely essential to take a long view, both of the work that you do and of your own investment in it.”
— Dr. Alex Pang, 4 Day Week Global
Watch/Listen:
Links & Resources Mentioned
- Alex Soojung-Kim Pang on Twitter, Instagram
- Strategy and Rest
- 4 Day Week Global
- Institute for the Future
- Strategic Business Insights
- Series A funding information
- Default Mode Network (DMN) information
- Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
- Coach Steve Kerr on Twitter
- Shorter: Work Better, Smarter, and Less–Here’s How by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
- Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
- The Distraction Addiction: Getting the Information You Need and the Communication You Want, Without Enraging Your Family, Annoying Your Colleagues, and Destroying Your Soul by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
- The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again by Catherine Price
- The Flexibility Paradox: Why Flexible Working Leads to (Self-)Exploitation by Heejung Chung
- The Better World Weekly Newsletter
- Become a Sponsor
- Cory Ames on LinkedIn and Twitter
Related & Recommended
If you liked this interview, you might like these articles/interviews as well:
- (Interview) The Antithesis to Hustle Culture: Chill Work, with Rand Fishkin & Amanda Natividad
- (Interview) Redefining What It Means to Work in Tech, with Corey Kohn
- (Article) 10 Impact Business Leaders Using Business as a Force for Good
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About the Host
Cory Ames
Co-Founder & CEO, Grow Ensemble
Cory is the host of The Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast, where he’s interviewed well over 150 leaders in the space of better business, social impact, and innovation. Prior to Grow Ensemble, Cory was the CEO of a digital marketing agency, a position he earned at the age of 22. There, he became an expert on all things digital marketing & SEO.
Cory Co-Founded Grow Ensemble as a vehicle to raise awareness of and inspire action around some of the world’s biggest problems and problem solvers.
He blogs, podcasts, and publishes video on all things leaving the world a better, more just, equitable, and habitable place for all.
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