The true meaning of work-life balance

Business models and value propositions, what we do for whom and why. How that transforms over time, lifecycles of those very models. Models for software, IT, strategy. We spent a lot of time discussing, working, implementing the consequences of lifecycle changes. Changes that come with a lot of uncertainty. Hard to connect the dots going forward. Best guesses, trying to work with people you trust. And all done in a setting where we spent the most time: work.

This week gave me a lot of opportunity to think about work. Yesterday I had the privilege to support 4 students. Support them with the last step, the final thesis of their study at the university. Young men, nervous, the last slide deck to present here. Their family in the room, proud parents to listen to the story, the work. The last step before they start that big journey into the unknown. I am privileged to help them make that final step at the university and the first step to work. Support them in the content part of the writing; and gain enough trust with them to help them grow as human beings as well. Make them see that not all people with grey hair are wrong. Show them that relations are sometimes more important than being right. The start of their career, still so many dots to connect.

Today my wife and I were sitting in this large room. Looking over the purple heather of Hilversum. In front of us, the white coffin. The foto with the familiar face we have known for so long. Listening to music, listening to the stories of the family, friends, and work. The story of a life well-lived, cut short at 55. This kind soul that always took care of others, always putting herself in the second place. She went to work on Tuesday for the last time, did not feel well on Wednesday, died on Sunday. As the tears filled my eyes, and my wife holds my hand, I remembered all the valuable lessons she taught us. All the kind suggestions that helped us further in our personal life. Helped us further in our work. Yvonne van Schijndel, was important to us. We celebrate her life today. We will use her lessons going forward. Use her lessons to help us connect the dots. May she find the rest she deserves.

The start of a career and the end of one. We think we can only connect the dots of one’s career looking back. Today I sense we can connect the dots into the future as well by connecting the dots of all those personal relations that start at work. The lifecycle of work, the means to an end. The means is the work we do, the end is the relations it gives us. Balancing the 2 is what we learn over time. Finding that balance is the true goal in the work lifecycle: the true meaning of work-life balance.