Painting With Colour

CAMERA HOUSE GENERAL MANAGER PAUL ROGERS BELIEVES RETAIL IS A CENTRAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY, AND HE’S WELL-EQUIPPED TO SUPPORT THE RETAIL CHAIN AND THE INDUSTRY ITSELF.

- Oliver Featherston

One of the most notable things about Paul Rogers’ career – just a few years before he took on a role as General Manager of retail chain Camera House – is the year he spent in Portugal with his family. Having sold their house, they stayed at a friend’s place there, using it as a base to visit extended family in the UK. Apart from homeschooling his children and doing some work for Australian companies looking to expand to Europe, his career was essentially on hold for this time.

Perhaps it’s not a move one expects from a business leader like Paul, but the time he spent in Portugal reveals two things about him; the first is his pragmatism when it comes to work–life balance. For Paul, his year overseas was about an opportunity to recalibrate, and recognising that from time to time anyone of us could use a break.

“Most people are not capable of operating at full speed 100 per cent of the time,” he says. “I think it’s important that people acknowledge when they’re tired, sick or close to breaking, and take time for themselves, whether it’s a day off, a week off or a more radical period, as was my case. It’s important you recognise that you need to be able to recharge the battery and take some time away from what you’re doing.”

The second revelation around Paul’s character is the value he places on family. The other intent behind the trip was to bring together the next generation of his family, make sure they all knew each other, and maintain a sense of familial cohesion. For Paul, mutual respect is a cornerstone of this relationship, but it’s not limited to family; such values are central to every part of his life.