I was meant to be in Qatar this week attending the World Innovation Summit for Education but ended up staying in Ireland. While planning to be away I asked some people if they wanted to do a guest blog post here. People who don’t blog themselves or haven’t blogged in a while. John Peavoy has volunteered this post:
Work, work, work
The recent videoblog from Chris Brogan really struck a chord with me, and not all in a positive way. It is certainly our choice, but entrepeneurs and “career persons” frequently spend many days and nights far away from home and our families. One of my first bosses – a man of 30+ years in the sales business often wondered aloud if this was the main reason his first marriage failed.
So what am I trying to say here? Is balance possible where workaholics are concerned? Well, I’m a 110% dedicated individual – don’t do things in half measures, and sometimes that can be difficult to control. Work can get all-consuming and if I don’t do it, then no-one will… Many of us know that feeling… Is being a workaholic a personal trait, or is it cultural? I think it’s a combination of both.
20 hour days where necessary; weekend working; early mornings and/or late nights; stress; always striving…. I’m sure many of you see yourselves in this model, no matter what your business. And it’s even more pronounced when you’re self employed and/or a business owner, and don’t have the regular monthly corporate salary.
So balance is difficult.
What’s the cost? Less time with our families and friends; health concerns; stress; less time to enrich our lives with reading, culture etc.
Sometimes we need to stand back and evaluate.
Sometimes those 3 hour lunches (thanks @loic & @arrington) are needed. And shock/horror, you may even develop a strong business relationship out of it.
Sometimes you just need to say “No” to work.
Sometimes you need to make a choice and put yourself and/or your family first.
Sometimes we need to smell the roses…..
Life is short enough.
Great post John. Trying to strike that balance is a constant struggle for many I’m sure.
Wise man once said that nobody on their death bed ever rued not having spent more time in the office (or words to that effect).
Excellent John, really enjoyed that – its weird, I spent years in big law firms learning to try and keep a division between personal and work, and now I work for myself and that cannot be done in the same way as I have (and enjoy it) more then one hat to wear now.
Essentially, it is that “middle ground” that one needs to find, between giving work what you must but also giving yourself and your family what you must, and both are better then because of it .. Dave
Well now, John, you won’t like this but there is a group of fine people who have got the balance right. Unfortunately, all they get in return is vilification from the neurotic ones who do not understand that life is for living and sick leave is for Ireland matches 🙂
Well done John, well put
Hi John,
Great post. Apart from lunches with @arrington its all very familiar.
The Guest Post idea is great too, looking forward to seeing others.
I think i’ve come to the conclusion that it depends on one’s definition of ‘wealth’, the acknowledgement that no one is indespensible, and the realisation that riches come in many forms – the bank balance being a smaller part of a bigger picture.
My advice, if you’re a ‘not for turning’ workaholic you might as well go at it till the age of about 45-55 max, get rid of the mortgage and other financial weights, move somewhere nice and relaxed, and add a few years to your life!
Seems a bit of waste to get into those later years and only then realise the system was running you, and not the other way round!
“Well, I’m a 110% dedicated individual – don’t do things in half measures,”
Is your problem not that you’re a dedicated individual but that you set priorities in a way that could be classed as wrong? You put work above the people who care about you? Would you be here writing this if you were 110% dedicated to your family?
The point is they do get half measure. Possibly even less if you’re giving something else – say work or business – full measure.
Thanks to all for the comments.
Always tricky to find the balance.
Work pressures are more than ever in the current environment.
But Wiggles on TV, playing with Lego this morning too 😉