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A few years ago, during a family vacation, my wife and I took a cooking class. I enjoy cooking, but I’m a beginner at best and the recipe, French macarons, was no walk in the park. Luckily for us, the chef-instructor was there to guide us every step of the way.
I learned many things that day: how to whip egg whites until they form soft peaks; the importance of sifting the flour; how to pipe the batter. I also learned how much work goes into a macaron, which translates into the price we pay at the bakery. I walked away with a new appreciation for those little cookies.
As CEO of Jotform, I spend a lot of my time managing and leading others. It’s nice to pass hats (or rather, hats) every now and then and let someone else teach me. It’s humbling to realize how complicated something as seemingly simple as mixing ingredients can be, and it helps me maintain a “beginner’s mind” mindset, staying open to learning new ideas and topics. That’s why, even when I’m not on vacation, I try to dedicate time to my hobbies, such as cooking, writing and listening to old records. It turns out I’m not alone. Many leaders spend time pursuing their own interests in their free time, and research shows that this is good for business.