When Peter Lewis spotted Business Insider’s call for remote work-life stories, he recognized it as a chance to highlight the unique path he’s taken as a father and entrepreneur.
Raised in Kansas, and living part-time in Chile, Peter isn’t one to do things by the book. His daily life involves leading a consulting agency with his wife—who holds growth and marketing roles in tech and finance—all while homeschooling his son and finding ways to mix business with family time.
Balancing Business and Family: More Than Just a “To-Do” List
Peter told Business Insider that for him, the key to blending family and work lies in making “intentional choices about what gets [his] attention and when.”
Waking up at 4 a.m., he starts his day with a solid block of work hours, knocking out critical tasks and decisions before his son even wakes up.
“If I can knock out key decisions and remove roadblocks early, it frees up the rest of my day to focus on strategy, creative work, and—most importantly—my family,”
By prioritizing his morning focus time, he can be present in the moments that matter. That means taking his son to school, picking him up, and being there to hear about his day over breakfast or while they’re driving home together.
Making Work Events Family-Friendly Adventures
Peter’s journey to blending work with fatherhood didn’t start with a playbook; it started with seizing opportunities, even when they didn’t fit the mold. His story, as captured in Business Insider, reveals how he turned even the most challenging work events into meaningful experiences for his son.
Take a pivotal conference in Tacoma, Washington—a can’t-miss speaking engagement that happened to coincide with his wife’s annual month-long trip. Rather than skip the opportunity, Peter embraced it as a family adventure. He brought his son along, packing books, snacks, and timers so his son would know exactly when dad would be finished on stage.
“Instead of making it a quick trip, I turned it into a mini-adventure,” Peter said. After the event, they hit the road for a memorable father-son trip, camping through Oregon and building a connection that went beyond work and travel.
For Peter, these experiences aren’t just about making memories—they’re foundational lessons in entrepreneurship, resilience, and finding balance. His approach, as he shared with Business Insider, shows how work events, career moves, and even obstacles can be family-friendly adventures when done with intention and flexibility.
Turning Business Challenges into Life Lessons
For Peter, balancing a marketing consultants, managing growth at WebStreet, and leading at Clearpol is more than a daily juggling act. It’s also an opportunity to bring his son into the fold, giving him an early education in business.
“Instead of feeling guilty for working around my son, I’ve turned it into an opportunity to teach him about entrepreneurship and leadership”
These lessons are casual and natural—discussing budgets, strategy sessions, and project updates in simple, relatable terms.
His son might not yet understand the intricacies of ad campaigns or P&L reports, but he’s getting a foundational understanding of what it means to solve problems, lead with empathy, and make thoughtful choices. For the wider picture, see our guide to winning earned media. To learn more about the author, read about the team behind Strategic Pete.
What CEOs Can Learn from a Life on the Move
Peter’s life isn’t just about blending work and family; it’s about turning traditional ideas on their heads. Born and raised in a Kansas town of just 2,000, he later launched his first businesses in Chile, including the adventure TV show Aqui Te Las Traigo Peter, which brought him face-to-face with incredible individuals and stories across Latin America.
Today, he splits his time between Wichita, Kansas, and Santiago, Chile, balancing board meetings with camping trips, strategy calls with family dinners, and investor pitches with homeschooling.
So, what can leaders learn from a lifestyle like Peter’s?
- Define your own work-life balance: Success isn’t about rigid schedules; it’s about defining what balance means for you and your family. Think about what you can prioritize to bring greater meaning to your day-to-day.
- Find teachable moments in your challenges: Peter’s approach to blending work and family is all about finding lessons in everyday moments. Whether it’s a strategy session or a client pitch, there’s often an opportunity to share a bit of that knowledge with those around you—your team, your family, even yourself.
- Embrace flexibility, not just for you but your team: If flexibility allows you to show up as a leader, it can work the same for your team. Encourage your people to find their own unique blend of work and life, empowering them to bring their best selves to the job.
- Build a meaningful routine that works for you: Early mornings work for Peter, but for someone else, it might be afternoons or even late nights. Building a meaningful routine means finding a rhythm that supports you both professionally and personally, ensuring that when you are present—whether in the boardroom or at the breakfast table—you’re truly present.
Bringing the World Into His Office
Peter’s story, as Business Insider illustrates, is a reminder to CEOs, entrepreneurs, and even remote workers to redefine success, build flexibility into their routines, and most importantly, bring intention into every part of their lives.
For those inspired by Peter’s story, stay tuned for more on his latest projects: the acclaimed healthcare documentary, People Worth Caring About, created with the Nebraska Health Care Association, and new episodes of his Chilean TV show, Aqui Te Las Traigo Peter, both dedicated to celebrating the lives of ordinary people who lead with passion and resilience.
So, what does balance look like to you?
Read the full article on Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/entrepreneur-tech-executive-blends-family-work-finds-balance-2024-10
