Mark Dombkins Balances Domestic Life, Education, and Overseeing a Charitable Organization
In an engaging conversation, Mark Dombkins, the founder of Forever Projects and a high school mathematics teacher by profession, shares his captivating journey of resilience, compassion, and relentless commitment to making an enduring impact.
Originally a mathematics and finance scholar, Dombkins taught in high schools across Western Sydney and Wollongong following his diploma of education. In 2010, he relocated to Tanzania with his family, where they worked at an international school on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. While there, they fostered and subsequently adopted three children, which led them to establish Forever Projects in 2015 upon their return to Australia.
Dombkins elaborates on the mission of Forever Projects, stating that the organization empowers women and children across Tanzania by providing funds for locally-led teams to implement programs geared towards promoting lasting change. The community of supporters has sent an impressive $2M to Tanzania and has benefited 1,750 women and 2,250 children across six cities.
Balancing a teaching career and his non-profit leadership role, Dombkins took on a part-time position with Forever Projects in 2020, while maintaining his part-time teaching commitments to keep costs low and sustain his family financially.
Describing a typical day, Dombkins discusses his early morning exercise routine, followed by family breakfast and a combination of remote work and teaching. Juggling multiple roles, Dombkins employs Cal Newport's principles of deep productivity and implements time-blocking, task batching, and recurring project scheduling to optimise his hours and combat overwhelm.
Regarding work-life balance, Dombkins emphasizes the importance of a diverse identity and avoiding an overemphasis on any single role. To achieve this, he sets boundaries that ensure he invests the right amount of time in each facet of his life.
In the last year, Dombkins has worked with an executive coach to better understand and address the saboteur voices in his head that hinder his balance. This newfound self-awareness has enabled him to manage expectations and deliver unique value across his roles in a sustainable manner.
For those seeking resources to aid in their search for balance, Dombkins recommends Brad Stulberg's 'Mastering Change' podcast and Cal Newport's 'Deep Questions' podcast. Overall, Dombkins recommends embracing tension, cultivating humor, and showing self-compassion as keys to achieving balance and long-term success.
Science plays a significant role in Dombkins' life as he was originally a mathematics and finance scholar. His educational background fuels his career in both teaching and non-profit leadership.
Dombkins' workplace wellness and health-and-wellness approach can be seen in his balancing act as he juggles teaching and leading Forever Projects, a testament to his personal growth. He employs productivity principles to manage his time effectively.
Forever Projects, the organization Dombkins founded, focuses on education-and-self-development, empowering women and children in Tanzania, contributing to their careers and overall well-being.
In terms of finance, Dombkins' part-time roles allow him to sustain his family financially while maintaining a lower cost structure for Forever Projects. He advises others to seek resources like podcasts by Brad Stulberg and Cal Newport to aid in their own quest for balance in their careers and personal lives.
