The Journey to Harmonizing Your Life and Achieving Success

Welcome back to another episode of #ADDAZERO!

In today's episode, we have an incredible duo joining us, Fintech turned Yoggie Sarah Ratner and her father Jewelry mogul Gerald Ratner , as they share their unique insights and experiences on finding balance, overcoming challenges, and discovering purpose in both work and life.

Sarah is working to transform the growing & restrictive epidemic of burnout culture. She spent the last 9 years working with a truly exceptional team, growing the FinTech team at Lendable from 5 - 350 people. Where she went from a solo-ops agent to leading an operation of 100, as COO.

Sarah now runs ikigai holistic⁠, where she empowers businesses to incorporate mindfulness practices in the workplace, further enhancing well-being and productivity.

Gerald gained significant attention and notoriety for his role as the former CEO of Ratners Group, a once-prominent jewellery retail chain in the United Kingdom. Under his leadership, the company became one of the largest jewellery chains in Britain. That was until a speech he delivered at an Institute of Directors conference in 1991, which led to a dramatic downfall in his business empire.

Despite the setbacks he faced, Gerald Ratner has demonstrated resilience and a sense of humour about the situation over the years. For me, and many others Gerald's journey is a reminder that even amidst setbacks, entrepreneurs can find ways to rebuild, learn, and evolve.

What did they learn from this?

It’s all about the people. How we think about things, rather than what we knew. How we moved quickly and didn’t obsess over perfection. And how we treated each other, the laughter and care that created a family, in turn, created a multi-product, multi-continent, multi-unicorn business.
The most valuable lesson?

How to truly invest in people. To offer meaning, joy and value each day. So work can be fulfilling, transformative, expansive and sustainable. So we can be well. And so Ikigai Flow was born, combining my time as founding team/ COO, and yoga teacher.

Gerald and Sarah invite us into their world, shedding light on the importance of harmonizing various aspects of our lives, whether it's family, social connections, faith, or pursuing our passions.

In this engaging three-way conversation, we explore the significance of work-life harmony (rather than balance) and the joy that can be found in activities outside of work.

Both highlight the importance of physical exercise and mental stimulation, revealing how having a well-rounded life can lead to true happiness.

To the wisdom imparted by my great-grandmother, who lived to be 100 and emphasized daily exercise and continuous learning, to the significance of being self-conscious in order to be selfless, our guests provide valuable advice on achieving fulfilment and supporting others along the way.

They also delve into their own entrepreneurial journeys, sharing Gerald's experiences in the jewellery business and the secret to his success - By going against conventional wisdom and catering to a younger market's desires for affordable and impulse-buy items, they managed to capture a remarkable 50% of the market.

But it hasn't always been smooth sailing for Sarah or Gerald. They both discuss facing obstacles and learning from their mistakes.

Join us as we dive deeper into the inspiring stories and invaluable lessons shared by our incredible guests, and discover how finding balance and purpose can lead to extraordinary success in both work and life.

So grab a notebook and pen, as we dive into #ADDAZERO: The Ratner Duo!