About Pat Katepoo, Founder of Time Off Tactics
I love helping people get time freedom and flexibility in their work so they can spend more time on what's important in their lives outside of work. That about sums up my passion and purpose. Let's face it: as interesting and necessary as work is, it sometimes interferes with life. Work-life conflict strains relationships and health. I became a flexible work options advisor in 1993 to help people forge solutions to work-life conflict. Going online in 1997 (WorkOptions.com) made it easier to reach more (lots more) people struggling with this issue. Time Off Tactics and WorkOptions.comthe content, tools and templatesare the main venues for delivering those solutions. Besides the Internet, my advice on alternative work schedules has been featured in Smart Money, Business Week, Employment Review, Parents, Essence, Sales & Marketing Management and Work/Life Today magazines; The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press newspapers; and on National Public Radio and NBC Nightly News. You can see the media listing and some links at the WorkOptions.com site. Working mothers were my main focus in the early days; with Time Off Tactics (2008), baby boomersespecially those who like new adventures through travelare getting more of my attention now. My husband and I are now in the 50+ category so I'm familiar with the current work-life-time-money issues facing my generation. Here's a random list of other things about me. I moved to Honolulu by myself in 1980. I was 23.
I figured Hawaii was the closest thing to living in a foreign country without leaving the USA.
In one of my jobs, my coworkers included health professionals and para-professionals from Burma, the Philippines, Laos, Vietnam, American Samoa and Micronesia.
I love Hawaii and the people of Hawaii.
I became a born-again Christian at age 29.
I met my husband at Honolulu Assembly of God Church.
He is originally from Bangkok, Thailand.
Katepoo is a Thai name.
I remained single until I was 32. I got married in 1989.
I like being a baby boomer, but...
I'm still adjusting to my new identity as someone 50+.
My first career was as a registered dietitian.
I've changed careers more than once.
I was a marketing director for a business law firm in Honolulu.
I never thought working with lawyers would be so much fun.
My gift seems to be using words (written or otherwise) to persuade others to new ideas or ways of doing things.
I think working with lawyers helped my negotiating skills.
I am in the zone when devising strategies for people to negotiate better work terms (e.g., flexibility, time off, more pay).
My favorite food is spaghetti. I can eat a gargantuan portion.
I am an otherwise prudent eater and at a healthy weight.
My husband and I are nuts about our golden retriever, Kaci.
I like to travel.
My husband likes cars.
I like to explore new places and cities.
My husband likes to drive to his travel destinations.
Living on an island (Oahu), this poses a challenge .
Our favorite vacation was a two-week road trip within Alaska.
We flew to get there.
He did all the driving once we got there.
I'm glad my husband can be flexible.
So far, I've visited 25 states, (38, if you count just passing through).
But only three countries.
I'm not counting a layover in Japan.
My wish is for more foreign travel in the second half of my life.
Traveling from Hawaii is expensive in both money and time.
But I've vacationed on Maui, Kauai and the Big Island several times.
So I'm not complaining.
Otherwise, we vacation mainly in the US east coast states so I can see my family, or Western states because they're relatively near.
I am a huge Sound of Music movie fan.
I finally went to Austria for two weeks in 2007.
With my husband's blessing, I took my mother.
She enjoyed it way more than hubby would have.
In 2001, I went Thailand. And would like to go again.
Canada is the third country I've visited, but not since I was a kid.
I'd like to go to Italy. But not because of the spaghetti.
Morocco is also on my short list.
My husband and I occasionally volunteer as hosts for foreign exchange students for short-term stays.
So far we've had students from Japan, China, Thailand and Tajikistan.
My husband is a carpenter but excels as a general foreman for contractors building high-rises or hotels.
He's been in construction since the late 1970's and is weary of it.
He is now on an at-home sabbatical and considering a new career.
I like having a husband who can fix virtually anything.
I was born and raised in Connecticut.
I graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
My Bachelor of Science degree is in Human Nutrition.
I did my dietetic internship at Rush Medical Center in Chicago.
I've been using the Internet regularly (too much, maybe?) since 1994.
My husband and I have never had TV cable service in our home.
That's probably enough for now. Thank you for visiting. If you have any questions, please contact me.
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