Work-Life Integration

I had a call from a potential client on Monday – ‘Could I help them with Work Life balance?’

It seems that they had bought into the bogus idea that you should have an even balance between your work & non-work lives. And why not - we hear about balance so often why wouldn’t they seek it out?

I call BS on this. I’ve never understood this notion that you should strive to put all aspects of your life into a magical balance. I believe in Work-Life Integration – there are only our lives & where we choose to put our focus & energy at any one time. To get the results you want as a Business Owner, Executive or Entrepreneur requires focusing your attention & time on the task at hand. This means that you can’t create extraordinary business, health, family & social lives all at the same time.

Those balls won’t juggle.

You have to choose what is the most important thing NOW & give it the energy it needs. And opportunity cost is involved as time spent on one thing cannot be spent on another. This alone makes ‘balance’ impossible.

The things that make a successful life are those to which we attach meaning, significance & purpose. Striving to find & do these things means our lives will forever be out of the mythical balance. The balancing act lies in living a full life by giving time to what actually matters as we pursue our priorities.

For me, happiness & fulfillment lies in being relentlessly curious, in being of service to my clients & community; loving & being with my family, in staying active. This to me is an integrated life – no 50/50 balance required...

How about you?