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Finding the Balance
- By Jim Stovall
- Published 09/17/2009
- Work and Life
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Jim Stovall
Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network, as well as a published author of many books including The Ultimate Gift. He is also a columnist and motivational speaker. He may be reached at 5840 South Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK 74145-9082, or by e-mail at Jim@JimStovall.com
View all articles by Jim Stovall
Balance has been a buzzword and popular topic in business circles over the past few years. There are any number of consultants, advisors, and life coaches that purport to help you find balance between your life and your work.
I am somewhat skeptical of this in principle, because part of your life is your work, and your work should be one of the elements that makes your life rich. I do realize that too many people have succumbed to the temptation to confuse activity with productivity with respect to their work. These people somehow assume that more hours spent on the job will result in more productivity. This is quite simply not the case.
There is a point at which your efforts reach a level of diminishing returns. You can become tired, sluggish, and inefficient. At these times, the most productive thing you can do is step away from your work and recharge, refresh, and renew.
Jack Welch, the great author and business icon, recently said, “There is no such thing as work/life balance. There are work/life choices, and they come with consequences.” Welch’s comment started a firestorm of debate and controversy in the media and on the talk shows.
It is true that we simply cannot be in two places at the same time. Quite often, in our attempt to do everything, we end up doing nothing, because we are reacting instead of acting. This comes from being driven by guilt and not living in the moment. People live in guilt when they are at work thinking they should be at the school play, or when they are at the school play thinking about all the tasks piling up back at work. There is a power that comes with the simple task of prioritizing your day and living in the moment.
Time is a finite commodity. You can’t be everything to everyone all the time. If you can review your personal and professional mission statement as you prepare your schedule, you will be able to pick the activities that are most in line with your goals and your destiny. If you don’t undertake budgeting your time with this kind of purposeful intensity, you will find yourself rushing about, driven by other people’s whims and your own guilt.
There are many good things and even great things you could be doing at this moment. You and I will succeed and fail by living our lives one moment at a time, picking the best thing we can for that moment.
As you go through your day today, trust your goals and vision for your life. Make your activities today match that goal and vision.
Today’s the day!
I am somewhat skeptical of this in principle, because part of your life is your work, and your work should be one of the elements that makes your life rich. I do realize that too many people have succumbed to the temptation to confuse activity with productivity with respect to their work. These people somehow assume that more hours spent on the job will result in more productivity. This is quite simply not the case.
There is a point at which your efforts reach a level of diminishing returns. You can become tired, sluggish, and inefficient. At these times, the most productive thing you can do is step away from your work and recharge, refresh, and renew.
Jack Welch, the great author and business icon, recently said, “There is no such thing as work/life balance. There are work/life choices, and they come with consequences.” Welch’s comment started a firestorm of debate and controversy in the media and on the talk shows.
It is true that we simply cannot be in two places at the same time. Quite often, in our attempt to do everything, we end up doing nothing, because we are reacting instead of acting. This comes from being driven by guilt and not living in the moment. People live in guilt when they are at work thinking they should be at the school play, or when they are at the school play thinking about all the tasks piling up back at work. There is a power that comes with the simple task of prioritizing your day and living in the moment.
Time is a finite commodity. You can’t be everything to everyone all the time. If you can review your personal and professional mission statement as you prepare your schedule, you will be able to pick the activities that are most in line with your goals and your destiny. If you don’t undertake budgeting your time with this kind of purposeful intensity, you will find yourself rushing about, driven by other people’s whims and your own guilt.
There are many good things and even great things you could be doing at this moment. You and I will succeed and fail by living our lives one moment at a time, picking the best thing we can for that moment.
As you go through your day today, trust your goals and vision for your life. Make your activities today match that goal and vision.
Today’s the day!