We had the good fortune of connecting with Noa Taieb and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Noa, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
When I decided to quit my corporate job to focus on my own venture as a content creator and independent consultant, I knew my schedule would naturally change. Without established working hours or someone to report to, I was now free to choose what time I’d like to start my day and when to take breaks. I felt an increased sense of freedom and control. On the other hand, this also meant I had to decide how long to work for, and when to stop. My days became longer, and it became increasingly difficult to unplug. Without a set salary and with big goals and aspirations in mind, every hour spent not working felt like wasted time—time that could have been devoted to investing in my business. This often caused feelings of guilt and anxiety.
After a few months, I realized I had to reprioritize and make sure I didn’t forget about myself—sure, reaching my dreams and making rent every month were important, but so are my friendships, hobbies, and my sleep & mental health. I started dedicating time to leisure, booking time off in my own calendar and working to get rid of those feelings of guilt I felt when having “me” time.
Though it’s not the first thing that comes to mind when you’re trying to build a business, I think it’s important for all of us to regularly take a pulse check and make sure our work-life balance is healthy and that we are not leaning too far one way or the other.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Currently, most of my days are spent working as a content creator, focusing on showcasing an aspirational lifestyle that is both healthy and elevated. What started as a hobby with photography and video editing quickly became a professional venture when I realized it would allow me to join the business acumen I acquired in college with my longing for creativity. Every day, I get to share my life and advice with an engaged audience, addressing topics ranging from food and travel recommendations to LGBTQ+ news and social issues. More recently, I have also started taking on projects as an independent consultant specialized in branding and strategy with a focus on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. After being employed in management consulting in financial services for three years, this has allowed to transfer precious skills to different industries and to work on initiatives that are closer to my values and passions. Every day, I find myself utilizing skills I acquired in my corporate life and learning new ones—from negotiating to contract drafting.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I were to take my best friend on the perfect day in Los Angeles, I’d make sure we spend as much time outdoors as possible. We’d start the day by heading to Runyon Canyon for a morning hike, grabbing a smoothie on the way. I like Runyon because though it’s not that challenging, it has some of the best views of the city. After that, we’d grab a quick lunch at Fresh Corn Grill. They have some really simple, healthy plates that taste delicious—and could probably just be home-cooked meals… working on that. In the afternoon, I’d probably take them to some of LA’s landmarks like Rodeo Drive or the Griffith Observatory, making sure we make it to the beach for sunset. I have my favorite little spot to do work, lounge or work out right in the grass in between Santa Monica and Venice. We’d grab my favorite onigiri at Sunny Blue and watch the sun go down while listening to music.
For dinner (and they better be hungry), I would take them to Hillstone, a few minutes away on the Third Street Promenade. Hillstone, which was then called Houston’s, is one of the few places I remember from my first trip to Los Angeles back when I was 9 or 10 years old. I forced my parents to go back 3 or 4 times during our stay, always getting their barbecue pork ribs—and always ending up satisfied.
Finally, I’d probably end up convincing them to head to West Hollywood to bar hop and grab a couple of drinks. I love to work and be serious, but I wouldn’t be fully honest if I didn’t say I like to let go a little bit as well.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This one’s going to sound corny, but I can’t imagine giving a shoutout for the opportunities I have today without dedicating it to my parents. As a child, they taught me the value of investing my time and efforts into my work and my passions. They pushed me to explore my interests and always made me feel supported. When I got the opportunity to leave France to attend UC Berkeley at 17, they supported me both financially and mentally. Though they’d miss me, they knew it was the opportunity for me to get a new perspective and explore paths that would not be available to me at home. Through their teachings and constant encouragement, they gave me the will and tools to build something for myself.
Of course, many of the people in my life have also contributed to my development and path to success— my fiancé Sal for his love and for supporting whatever career path I choose for myself, my best friend Patrick for his mentorship and for always sharing his advice, knowledge and expertise with me, etc.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/noataieb

Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/noataieb

Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@noataieb?lang=en Email: hello@noataieb.com

Image Credits
Vincent Elejorde – Main photo
Jesse Tam – Photo 2, 3 and 4

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