CEO QA

How do you cope with stress?

If it’s “good” stress, like when we have business opportunities that require quick thinking and definitive actions in a timely manner, I use the stress to bring focus and action to what’s at hand. It keeps the pressure on me to act and that is helpful. For the nagging, unhealthy stress, I definitely let the steam off with exercise. For me, that is running or hiking. We live near many great desert trails and mountains. I especially like mountain hiking to get the elevation gain. When I’m not hiking, I’ll do stretches, crunches and push-ups combined with breathing exercises.

David Karsten
Owner, Karsten’s Ace Hardware

Two things. Exercising daily is a great stress reliever. Getting any sort of cardio helps take your mind off of worries. But, even better is having a pet. No matter what kind of day you have had, you are greeted at the door with unconditional love. I am definitely not the most important person in the world, but my dog Chewy sure thinks I am.

John Schurz
President & General Manager
Orbitel Communication

I prioritize self-care by ensuring I get regular exercise with rowing, which not only keeps me fit but also clears my mind. I also practice mindfulness and make sure to schedule downtime to recharge, just like we advise our clients.

Kristina Donnay, DNP, FNP-C
Medical Director/Owner
Maricopa Wellness Center

I really enjoy reading for pleasure, so in as much, I use reading as a method of coping with stress as well as regular exercise.

Jackie Elliot, ED
President/CEO, Central Arizona College

Not well. But I find the fresh air and solitude of long hikes in the McDowell Mountains helps. In lieu of fretting over bad decisions people in my life are making, myself included, my perspective changes and I am able to focus on solutions to those problems. In addition to specific action items, I inevitably have a much better mindset at the conclusion of my hike than the start.

Scott Bartle
Publisher, InMaricopa

What is your key(s) for effective time management?

Time management is certainly more challenging now than ever. Our constant “on” lifestyles and networks work against our ability to prioritize and manage the important stuff while not being distracted by the less important stuff. One win that we have found in our organization is a platform called Basecamp. We have moved most of our internal communications, project management and task management onto this platform and off email. Email is reserved for outside communications most of the time. This keeps our most important items neatly organized in a great tool. Additionally, I literally schedule almost everything – phone calls, meetings, to-do’s, personal appointments, dinners, leisure activities and on and on. My team has access to my calendar so they can see my availability, easily avoiding conflicts. Organizing my time also helps me cope with stress.

David Karsten
Owner, Karsten’s Ace Hardware

Life/Work balance is important. Do not overschedule in either area. Set aside time for family, work and self. And, when filling out your calendar for the day, leave space for those unexpected items that will inevitably pop up without notice. In addition, as my parents always reminded me, never put off to tomorrow what you can accomplish today.

John Schurz
President & General Manager
Orbitel Communication

Effective time management for me revolves around strict prioritization and delegation. I start each day by identifying my top three must-do tasks and focus on those before anything else. Also, trusting my team to handle certain responsibilities helps me not to spread myself too thin.

Kristina Donnay, DNP, FNP-C
Medical Director/Owner
Maricopa Wellness Center

Adhering to a schedule that includes set-aside time for working on projects and for thinking. I typically block off specific time each week on my calendar to work on key items, and I block off time for reading about trends in higher education, and time to think and reflect on the future direction of the College.

Jackie Elliot, ED
President/CEO, Central Arizona College

I’m still trying to crack the code on this. To compensate for my inability to be effective with my time, I default to trying to “create” more of it by not spending it on social media or TV. But, I think a key is being proactive, not reactive; know what is important to you and where you want to invest your time and don’t get sucked into the infinite “squirrels” trying to distract you from it.

Scott Bartle
Publisher, InMaricopa

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