We explore the revolutionary idea of designing your work life by starting with what matters most—your life. Zoë shares updates on her Australian Alpine walking track adventure, her latest developments with the Power Play game based on her book Power Games, and her new home for content on Substack. Then, we welcome Tim Duggan—award-winning author, media entrepreneur, and columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

Tim shares thoughtful insights from his latest book Work Backwards, which challenges conventional notions of success and offers a practical framework for aligning your life, money, and work. He explores emerging work trends including “coffee badging” and “conscious unbossing,” and reflects on how a personal turning point reshaped his entire approach to life and leadership. This conversation is an invitation to pause, reconsider what matters, and take deliberate action toward a more meaningful way of working.

 

SHOWNOTES are here:

https://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/designing-work-and-money 

 

My new Substack: https://substack.com/@zoerouth 

Power Games: https://www.zoerouth.com/power-games

 

Planet Human:

DARPA, the U.S. Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency, has turned its attention to space manufacturing—with plans to build 500-metre-long infrastructure in orbit using synthetic biology.

https://singularityhub.com/2025/03/10/darpa-wants-to-grow-enormous-living-structures-in-space/ 

 

Key Quotes:

1.  “Our systems of work are built on our values and beliefs. If we want new systems, we must start there.” – Zoë Routh

2. “If we don't answer the question of what is enough, we’ll never get there.” – Tim Duggan

3. “The future of work is personal, messy, and already here.” – Tim Duggan

 

Questions Asked:

1. What does it mean to “work backwards” and how can we apply it to our lives?

2. How are Gen Z’s values reshaping the workforce?

3. What can leaders do to foster trust, meaning, and motivation in the workplace?

4. How do we define “enough” when it comes to money, time, and success?

 

Take Action:

1. Reflect on your MAP: Meaning, Anchors (your core values), and Priorities.

2. Create a backwards budget: How much money do you actually need to live well?

3. Redefine success: Is it still about more—or is it about enough? Start the conversation in your team.

 

Tip of the Week:

Define your own “enough.” Take time this week to clarify what a well-lived life looks like for you. Then, make one small shift in your work or life to support that vision.

 

Join the community here:

https://www.zoerouth.com/podcast-news

You’ll get 40 book summaries and recommendations on Leading Strategy and Performance, along with a special secret audio from my award-winning book, People Stuff.

 

Join the Power Games advance notice here:

https://www.zoerouth.com/power-games

 

Key Moments

00:00 Introduction and Weekly Theme

00:23 Planet Human: DARPA's Space Ambitions

01:37 Planet Zoe: Alpine Adventure

02:36 Planet Zoe: Power Games and Substack

04:55 Exploring Life and Work on Our Own Terms

06:47 Interview with Tim Duggan: A Journey of Entrepreneurship

13:46 Tim Duggan's Insights on Modern Work Culture

24:20 Understanding Core Values and Priorities

24:52 Mapping Life and Money

26:05 Defining 'Enough' and Personal Fulfillment

29:46 Balancing Work, Mind, Body, and Relationships

31:37 The Future of Work and Its Challenges

33:27 Global Response to Work Backwards

37:19 Leadership Insights and Personal Tips

41:13 Conclusion and Final Thoughts