This strong work ethic stood Paul in good stead when it came to getting through college, becoming a navy pilot and later, establishing himself as a top tax lawyer. However, work eventually assumed such a central role in Paul’s life that he simply had to admit it was no longer a matter of survival. It was an obsession. And if he didn’t cut back soon, he would lose everything for which he had been striving.
Motivated by Shame Like a lot of people raised during the depression, Paul’s obsession with work was motivated in part by shame. “I was ashamed of my family, because a lot of my friends had a lot more than we did,” says Paul. “I thought if I could work hard and go to college, I could make a lot of money and everything would be much better than it was growing up.”
Paul’s quest for the good life led him to Harvard Law School where he graduated near the top of his class. Recognizing his competition at work would be even more fierce than at school, Paul fell back on what he knew best: hard work. While this strategy proved beneficial to his career, his home life took a beating. And no wonder: “I’d get to work at 8:30 in the morning and work until 11:00 at night, get home at 11:30, eat supper, go to bed at midnight, and then back at 8:30 the next morning six days a week. I really spent no time at all with my family.”
This went on for ten years. Paul did achieve partnership in the firm, but he still didn’t slow down. Remarkably, his marriage survived this period even though many other marriages in the firm did not. But the strain had to take its toll eventually. And it did, manifesting itself in his teenage daughter. When a counselor advised Paul he simply had to spend more time with her, he started returning home at 6:00 each evening. This really helped him get back in touch with his wife and children.
Creating a successful business is an endeavor that takes more time and more energy than you ever dreamed. Boot camp is probably easier. But along with the rewards of fulfilled dreams and financial security come risks — health-endangering stress, strained relationships and a gnawing feeling that "something" is missing.
You may need to get your life back in balance. For most people, a well-balanced life includes family, personal, spiritual, community and leisure components, in addition to satisfying work. Far too often, entrepreneurs, in their pursuit of success, neglect themselves and their families.
Benefits…
On the other hand, a balanced lifestyle offers numerous benefits, including:
· Greater effectiveness while at work.
· Better overall health.
· Relationships that are more satisfying.
· Greater sense of well being.
Some entrepreneurs feel that to be successful they must devote all of their time to their businesses. In reality, taking time to rejuvenate your mind and body will make you more, not less, productive. Exercise and proper nutrition will improve your concentration, too.
If your life is out of kilter, identify your priorities. Compare those priorities to the ways you actually spend your time. Eliminate or delegate to someone else those activities that do not support your goals, and look for ways to add activities that will bring you more satisfaction. These might include recreational reading, volunteer work, walking the dog or attending a house of worship. An activity such as coaching your child's athletic team doubles as volunteer work and family time.
Let’s look at another case study…
Three years ago Linda Abreu launched Millions of Memories with a single idea: custom-made baby quilts. Today she presides over an online shopping site — www.millionsofmemories.com a manufacturing plant, six full-time employees and numerous consultants. She projects sales of $2 million in 2001.
"This is truly the most difficult thing I've ever done," said Abreu, a former financial consultant in the commercial-lending arena.
In addition to working a minimum of 60 hours a week, Abreu is a wife and mother of two teenagers.
She balances her various roles in numerous ways: For one, she out-sources her payroll, public relations and advertising functions, which preserves both capital and energy. For another, she tries to keep her evenings free for her children and hires them for small tasks around the office when she can. Kids and spouses can do lots of things for the business: clean, sort, help choose office furniture or artwork, stuff envelopes, staple things together, plan the company picnic, pass out freebies at trade shows or hand out fliers.
Abreu also carves time for personal indulgences, whether alone or with her husband. Favorite activities include gardening, walking and taking whirlpool baths. Time spent away from the office keeps her more productive in the long run. "Your first train of thought is that you need to keep working," she says. "But I find that taking time for myself brings out my creativity. Ideas don't come from your work time. They come from your downtime."
In April…I personally, let go of a work contract. I was working on too many projects and contracts and felt I wasn’t as effective to the clients that really mattered. I let go of the work that wasn’t as fulfilling personally, spiritually and financially. So how can you really make time work better for you? How can you bring balance back into your life? These steps might help…
1. Pursue an interest that is not work-related. Make that pursuit something your family can enjoy as well.
2. Talk to your spouse and children about your business concerns and successes. They will feel included, and they might have great ideas to contribute.
3. Find other ways to occasionally include family members. Some suggestions: doing mailings, passing out freebies or flyers at trade shows, planning the company picnic and selecting furniture.
4. Designate an inviolable time period, perhaps bedtime or Sunday night dinner, to spend with your children. Likewise, set aside time for your spouse. To reduce the pressure this can create, accept in advance that this time may indeed need to be postponed occasionally. Never cancel it completely.
5. Schedule your next getaway, even if it is only for a weekend. Though it may be a year away, you'll still have something pleasurable to look forward to.
6. Expect your employees to balance work, self and family — and establish policies that make it possible (such as flexible hours, family-member sick days and days off for personal business). Then seek opportunities to practice those policies in your own life.
7. Plan informal events at work. For example, you might advertise, "Employee Break: Wednesday, May 24, at 9:30 a.m., in the Headquarter Break room. Fruit, breakfast bars, juice and coffee will be served." This can double as an informal meeting time across the organization.
8. Focus on good nutrition. Start by adding healthy habits such as taking vitamins and eating more fruit, rather than trying to get rid of bad habits all at once. Arrange for fruit and health bars in worksite vending machines.
9. Move your body — exercise improves the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. If you can't fit an exercise program into your schedule, walk to the train or take the stairs instead of the elevator. Or do isometrics at your desk.
10. Many simple relaxation techniques can be also be done at your desk, such as meditation, breathing exercises or visualization. For quick relief, take a few minutes to clench and release different muscle groups, rotate your shoulders, or roll your head slowly side to side.
11. Pamper yourself. Get a manicure or a massage. Work the crossword puzzle instead of working on a report while riding the train home. If you drive, treat yourself to an audiotape of a best seller instead of making phone calls.
12. Participate in "Take Your Kids to Work Day" and other similar programs. Initiate a special day of your own.
Happy striving for balance!
Managing time...part two - To learn more about this author, visit David Cohen's Website.
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