Ep 60: Building Mobrium, Part 5: A company office and work-life balance lessons

This episode is sponsored by Mobrium. The original employer reputation platform.

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In this 60th episode of their podcast, Mobrium co-founders, a husband and wife team, Matt and Crista Vance, offered a personal peek into their lives, discussing the universal challenge of balancing work and family life while building a business. They revealed significant company and personal updates since episode 50. On the business front, Mobrium has secured a dedicated office space at a local technical college's new Center for Entrepreneurship in Cache Valley, Utah, which is conveniently located near their development team. Additionally, they've expanded their team by hiring an incredibly talented head of sales, Zac Crane, a veteran whose journey was highlighted in a previous episode. These moves mark a notable period of growth and expansion for the startup.

Beyond company growth, Crista Vance shared a significant personal achievement driven by a creative urge to write. She has authored and released two children's books focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI), a subject central to their work. The first book, Flint's Secret Treasure, uses a dragon story and metaphor to introduce the concept of AI, while the second, ArtiFISHial Intelligence: A Kids Guide to the Technology of Artificial Intelligence, offers a more direct, informative approach. Notably, Crista utilized an AI platform called Midjourney to create the beautiful illustrations for her books. She hopes these resources help children understand how to use AI safely and effectively, in tandem with their own thoughts, as they grow up in an increasingly technological world.

Crista and Matt share how they manage to run a growing business while raising five children. Matt shared a profound analogy given to him by his former church leader: the concept of "spinning plates." This refers to the idea that you can't do multiple things exceptionally at the same time; instead, you must be present and give your full attention to the "plate" you are currently spinning—whether it's work, church, or family—to give it enough momentum before moving to the next. The Vance’s stress that neglecting a plate entirely will cause it to fall, emphasizing the need for consistent rotation and mindfulness as a strategy to reduce anxiety and maintain balance.

Crista further elaborated on her strategy, which involves prioritizing her children's needs first and then focusing on work during dedicated times, often after the kids are asleep. She highlighted the importance of modeling hard work for their children, noting that her oldest daughter was inspired to write her own book after seeing Crista complete hers. Crista also shared her personal framework for defining a successful day, which she calls "Win the Day." This involves ensuring she touches on four main priorities: Spiritual (connecting with God), Social (strengthening relationships, including serving a neighbor), Knowledge (learning one new thing), and Physical (maintaining a healthy body). Checking off these key areas helps her feel accomplished, regardless of whether every item on her daily to-do list is complete.

The crucial role of boundaries and self-discovery in achieving a sustainable work-life integration. Family traditions, such as a non-negotiable family dinner and German pancakes every Saturday morning, are essential boundaries. Matt confessed to needing to "unlearn" the unhealthy stereotype of only being productive between 8 to 5, now prioritizing results-focused work that often means working late when mentally undisturbed.

Define what balance looks like to you—whether it's managing stress, ensuring sleep, or prioritizing quality time—and then establish boundaries to support that definition” (-Crista Vance). This can then allow you to work backward from your desired life outcomes.