At Home with Les Watson

INTERVIEW AND PHOTOS: JAMES TAYLOR

Les Watson is probably the most organised person you’ll ever meet.

Les is a familiar face to small businesses across Geelong and the Surf Coast through his long involvement with business groups such as Torquay Commerce and Tourism, Entrepreneurs Geelong, and Technology Geelong.

He has worked extensively throughout Australia and South East Asia running dynamic training programs that have produced measurable results for large corporations, small businesses and individuals. His depth of knowledge and skill come from more than 30 years’ experience as a trainer, speaker and facilitator in self-management, motivation and communication techniques, earning him the nickname

“Time Lord”. He now runs a business called Get More Time.

My Coastal Home visited Les at his home in Armstrong Creek.

Born

I was born in Launceston, Tasmania. I grew up in a hotel, the Tamar Hotel, opposite the Boags brewery. People often ask me “Was it great growing up in a hotel?” and I always say “No, it’s not the life for a child to be growing up in a pub”. I left Tasmania and went via Bendigo to Sydney, where I spent 30 years.

Family

I met my wife, Merry – the bonus was she came with a two-year-old, Micaela (now 31). We had Nicholas (now 23), left Sydney and settled in Torquay because Merry’s mum lives here.

Being an author

Between us we have now written three books. Merry’s first was a book on relationships, which we are about to rewrite, together. The third was mine but the second was Antonio’s Seed, by Merry, which, after winning some literary awards, is to be made into a film later this year. Get Back An Hour In Every Day It took me about 18 months to write. There are more than 162 tips on how to be more productive. It’s the A to Z of being productive. Most people struggle with time – we don’t come across a lot of people who say “I’ve got heaps of time; take some of mine”. It’s normally “I’ve got too much to do, full stop”, “there’s not enough time in the day, I don’t know where to start”, “I’m drowning in paperwork”, “I don’t have time for…” I can give you back one hour a day. If you’re breathing, you need time management. Put simply, if you are not in control of your time, it will affect your enjoyment of life.

Diary

I can’t live without my diary system. I’ve had one for 33 years, and never lost one. They have changed covers over the years but the underlying diary principles remain the same.

Cycling

Growing up in a hotel in an industrial part of town, there was not a lot to do. So my bike was my escape. I’ve had a bike all my life. There is nothing better than an hour or two of being on the bike. I love it. Yes, lycra, because it’s easier. The best time to ride would have to be between four and five in the morning in the dark – not a lot of traffic, and I get to watch the world come alive.

Relaxing with Merry

How do I relax? With Merry, watching TV. Not just any TV but a good series like Rake, Suits, Designated Survivor, House of Cards, The IT Crowd or Lano and Woodley. And on a Saturday morning, buying the papers, reading them and completing the Sudoku and crossword puzzles.

Work

I’m a publican’s son, so the mindset is “how can I help? Come and have fun, come and let’s get together over something”. In Torquay (with Torquay Commerce and Tourism), it was breakfasts – “this event is the best thing since sliced bread” and the majority of them have been – so I’m going “come on, you’ve got to get involved!” so it’s connecting people, it’s having a good time. It’s just what I do; I connect people.