John Palmer makes time for all his life's passions
“I’m all about optimising the enjoyment in the little things that you love in life, and making sure there’s room for all of them!” John Palmer is a man with many aspirations, talents and goals. He juggles a successful career as a lawyer with looking after his young son – and still finds time for his passions of rock climbing and photojournalism.
In his own words, John is achievement-driven. “I’m attracted to activities, jobs and goals in which you work towards an outcome. You achieve it and move on to the next goal. It’s a constant process of going through that cycle.” Striving for and reaching these goals make “a very happy existence” for John.
- John combines his loves of rock climbing and photography
Three days a week he works as a legal counsel in the corporate sector, and he has plans to climb the career ladder. However, for now he is happy to put those goals on hold while his wife, Jenny, pursues career ambitions of her own.
“One of my life goals had always been to have a family and I have definitely found it a life-enriching experience. I’m very keen to have strong input into our son’s upbringing.”
Combining his role as part-time, stay-at-home dad with his huge passion for rock climbing, John has created his own “Remuera Mothers' Club” with friend Richard. On Thursdays the pair pack up their climbing gear and children and set off to climb. “The kids play with stones and sand while we climb and take turns at supervising them.”
Along with rock climbing, John has a love of the arts and self-expression. He's an amateur film-maker, a photojournalist and a website designer, and hopes to one day moonlight as a freelance photographer. “Part of the reason I am such a climbing nerd is that it allows me to write about it and take photos.”
The work he creates ends up in a New Zealand climbing magazine, but as he doesn't rely on it “for a crust”, he says he can pursue his hobby in a relaxed and balanced way.
This balance is central to John’s work-life philosophy. “Strive to strike a balance between knowing what you want and being realistic about what you can achieve. I don’t believe you are going to love your job every minute, so it’s a matter of setting up your lifestyle so you have a whole range of things you love happening in your life.”
Judging by the bounce in his stride, it's a philosophy that works for John.
