'Severance' and the Power of 10: Why Completely Separating Work from Life Isn't the Answer

One of my favorite recent TV obsessions is the Apple TV+ series Severance. If you haven't seen it yet, it’s a compelling (and disturbing) take on the ultimate work-life balance—employees undergo surgery to completely separate their work and personal lives. On the surface, it sounds like a perfect solution: no work stress at home, no personal distractions at work. But is total separation really the answer, or does it lead us further from true happiness?

What Severance Gets Right—and Wrong

The show brilliantly captures our collective frustration with maintaining work-life boundaries. We all feel the pressure of never-ending demands, overflowing inboxes, and juggling family commitments. The idea of shutting off that stress completely is tempting. But the series quickly reveals the dark consequences of this extreme separation—emptiness, loss of purpose, and isolation. What the characters experience is clear: our identities aren't meant to be split into two distinct parts.

Rather than seeking a total division between our professional and personal selves, the key to real fulfillment is intentional integration.

Why Balance Beats Separation

Early in my journey, I struggled with the same questions. Balancing a fast-paced career, a growing family, and maintaining physical and spiritual health often felt impossible. That's when I discovered the Power of 10 strategy—my method for creating meaningful growth and authentic balance in life.

Rather than isolating parts of my life, I committed to giving intentional attention—just 10 minutes each day—to four pillars: Faith, Family, Finances, and Fitness. No drastic measures or painful separations, just consistent, small actions.

The Power of 10 Strategy in Action

Here's how it works practically:

• Faith: Just 10 minutes of prayer or scripture reading provided clarity, grounding my decisions and keeping anxiety at bay.
• Family: Spending 10 intentional minutes of undistracted quality time with my wife and kids deepened my relationships significantly, creating meaningful connections.
• Finances: Taking 10 minutes daily to review spending, investments, or financial planning helped me rebuild after business setbacks and achieve sustainable wealth.
• Fitness: A quick 10-minute workout each day built discipline, improved my health, and gave me the resilience needed to navigate entrepreneurial highs and lows.

Why 10-Minute Habits Work (and How You Can Start Today)

The secret behind why just 10 minutes can have such a profound impact is simple: small, consistent actions compound exponentially. Unlike radical changes or extreme separations, the Power of 10 is sustainable.

The beauty is that everyone has 10 minutes. Start small. Pick one or two pillars that resonate with you today. Commit to just a week. You'll be amazed at how quickly it transforms your mindset, relationships, health, and finances.

Integrate, Don’t Separate

As enticing as the idea behind Severance might be, real-life success isn't about fragmenting ourselves. True success—and deep happiness—comes from integrating who we are at work with who we are at home, building sustainable growth one day at a time.

I'm currently diving deeper into this concept as I write my new book, The Power of 10, exploring how this simple strategy can completely change your life in just 10 minutes a day.

Have you ever tried to completely separate your work life from your personal life? How did it go? I'd love to hear your experiences!

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