Navigating the Daily Hustle with Sally Branson, an Authority on Crisis Management and Public Image

Interview with Powerhouse Public Affairs Strategist, Sally Branson

Prepare yourself to dive into the world of Sally Branson, a dynamic and accomplished public affairs strategist. With over two decades of experience under her belt, she's worked in diplomacy, military, government, not-for-profit, and corporate sectors, even advising high-profile individuals on reputation management.

Let's take a trip down memory lane and dive into your career journey! Can you share with us your incredible journey and what you're currently up to?

From politics to community development, the military, and beyond, I've been a busy bee! I've spent my fair share of time juggling priorities while enjoying my morning coffee. I've been fortunate enough to work with top Australian politicians, American military officials, and even an Australian Prime Minister.

Although diplomacy adventures are a thing of the past, these days, I'm more focused on helping people elevate their reputations and managing crises with the Sally Branson Consulting Group. Our talented team is dedicated to bringing our A-game to every project, working tirelessly to help our clients in their darkest moments.

I'm not only mastering the art of reputation management, but I'm also balancing raising two young children, running an admin business, sitting on two national Boards, keeping my family happy, and being the best wife I can be. It's a busy life, but with our family motto being "doing it with ease," I’ve managed to make it work.

Now, let's get into the nitty-gritty - what's a typical day like for you?

A typical day for me is as elusive as a unicorn sighting. In our line of work, crises and issues come and go, ebb and flow, and time pressures shift depending on my clients' needs. I have one foot in the office, the other at home, and the other somewhere in between, always keeping up with my fast-paced and high-stress lifestyle.

Recently, I had an exciting day off to accompany a group of 80 six-year-olds on a science museum trip. Believe me, it was just as hectic as managing a geopolitical crisis, but it was an important experience that I wouldn’t miss for the world.

A typical day starts early for me, with my feet hitting the floor around 4-5 AM, ready to tackle the day and leave no stone unturned. After a quiet morning of work, I transition into parent mode, making lunches, school drop-offs, and then returning to my office for a few hours of meetings. I prioritize parenting when my children are home and value the importance of spending quality time together.

After school, it's all about reconnecting with my family, making time for my mum, and enjoying life's simple pleasures, such as beach play, dinner, reading, and bedtime rituals. Although the boys don't sleep like angels, I cherish those precious moments that I'll look back on fondly in years to come.

What does work-life balance mean to you, and how do you maintain it?

I firmly believe that everyone's definition of work-life balance will be unique to them, depending on their life stage and priorities. For me, it's all about finding joy, satisfaction, and an absence of anxiety, even when things get a little chaotic.

Over the years, I've learned that I can't hinge work-life balance on what I "should" be doing based on articles I've read. Instead, I've taken a self-help approach to discovering what works for me, from daily meditation to pilates classes and focusing on my family's needs.

While it's essential to strive for the perfect balance, I know it's impossible to maintain all the time. So, I make an effort to prioritize my mental health and find moments of joy in my daily life, knowing that I'll have good days and bad days.

Change is crucial for growth, and you've made some interesting lifestyle changes in the past year to improve your work-life balance. Can you share some of those changes with us?

This year has brought some significant changes, such as our youngest starting school, which opened up new opportunities for me to increase my work hours. However, I've become clear about my priorities, focusing on my family and my work, as these are the pillars that make up my life.

Before I became a mom, I ran a tight ship, but since becoming a mom, I embraced the need to flow with the day and never over-schedule. Now, eight years later, I'm finding myself drawn to structure again and am color-coding and time-blocking to help manage my priorities.

I've also made a commitment to regular family mini-breaks, booking into motels and enjoying adventures together. These little vacations are perfect reminders that we're all in this journey together and that family bonding is crucial.

In your quest for balance, do you have any recommended resources, like books, podcasts, or newsletters, to share with our readers?

While I haven't found any specific resources from Sally Branson personally, I'd like to recommend "Spiritually Loose" by Susan Pearse, which encourages readers to find their own path to balance and spiritual enlightenment. I also highly recommend the calmness app, Insight Timer, as it offers a range of meditation practices that can fit into even the busiest schedule.

Finally, do you have any words of wisdom or insights on work, life, or balance that you'd like to share with our readers?

Remember, we can't be everything to everyone all of the time, and sometimes, there will be moments when we fall short of our balance and self-care goals. It's essential to practice self-compassion and refrain from beating ourselves up over it. Focus instead on seeking out those "glimmers of joy" in your life, as they're what truly matter.

[1] https://www.lsdglobal.com.au/living-deloitte-ellen-wilkinson-interview/[2] https://www.lsdglobal.com.au/living-archer-hayden-hughes-interview/[3] https://www.wowisthebest.org/podcast/s1e9-aaron-marcum-founder-burnout/[4] Book: Spiritually Loose by Susan Pearse[5] Podcast: Wow is the Best Podcast, Episode 1: Aaron Marcum on Founder Burnout

Sally Branson, in her pursuit of work-life balance, recommends the book "Spiritually Loose" by Susan Pearse, encouraging readers to discover their unique path to balance and spiritual enlightenment.
In addition to the book, Sally highly recommends the calmness app, Insight Timer, offering a range of meditation practices that can be integrated into even the busiest schedule.
Sally Branson, in her role as a family-oriented public affairs strategist, manages to balance her professional life with parenting, running a business, and maintaining healthy relationships, all while adhering to the family motto: "doing it with ease." Such busy lifestyle extends to her personal interests, which include making family trips to the science museum, home-and-garden adventures, and nurturing her relationships with her loved ones.