The objectives of the talk are to: \u2018Communicate with Strong and Powerful Feelings; Connect with Others on an Emotional Level and Inspire Others to Think and Act Differently\u2019.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been in several of these \u201cSession 7s\u201d at this point and over and over I hear a similar message. A message I think we all take for granted, unless we\u2019re one of the people who has experienced what these participants talk about. Here\u2019s what they tell us:<\/p>\n
\u201cYou only get one chance at life and it\u2019s short and uncertain. Make sure you remember what\u2019s most important to you and always make that a priority.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n
Let me put this into perspective.<\/p>\n
We heard, in this one class, no less than 5 accounts of people who felt intense guilt because they had made choices about not going to see an important person in their life on one occasion and then, never had the opportunity to do so later. We heard a couple stories of loss within companies and its impact on both the company and the people within it.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve heard people, myself included, talk about how they became so consumed by their career and the aspiration of money and status, that they lost a great deal of time they could have had with their spouses, children, friends and family. Many expressed that their greatest regret was not being there to watch their children grow up.<\/p>\n
So, what does it all mean?<\/p>\n
First let me say, and this is simply my perspective, I don\u2019t believe that there is such thing as Work\/Life Balance. The word itself implies that it\u2019s equal on both sides. Today\u2019s business reality is that we\u2019re being asked to do more, better and faster, with less. Taking this into account and thinking about how much time we spend at work, traveling to\/from work, thinking about work, working at home: I don\u2019t think it\u2019s about balance, but rather a blend.<\/p>\n
I think we should all strive towards something that is achievable \u2013 Work\/Life Blending<\/b><\/p>\n
So, what does that look like?<\/p>\n
The first premise behind this is do what you love<\/b>. Engagement surveys today suggest that upwards of 70% of employees are either fully or partially disengaged. My experience suggests that much of this is because we\u2019re in jobs that we\u2019re really not passionate about and, therefore, not really connected to. Going back to what I started with, life is too short to stay at a job that you\u2019re not happy in. Do yourself, and your employer, a favour: if you\u2019re not happy at work find a place where you will be.<\/p>\n
Next, find an organization that supports your ability to manage your work and home life effectively<\/b>. That means, finding an organization that is supportive of a give and take relationship. If I leave work early today to attend my son’s or daughter’s activity, I\u2019ll come in early or stay late tomorrow to make it up. Or, if I have to work late or take work home, I have the possibility to kick out early on Friday. Again, it\u2019s not about balance, it\u2019s about finding a blend that supports your life.<\/p>\n
And supporting your life means having no regrets<\/b>. I\u2019ve never heard anyone in my life say: \u201cYou know what; I\u2019ve spent too much time with my friends and family.\u201d Unfortunately, I have heard the opposite all too often. While you still can, spend as much time doing the things you love outside of work with the people that are most important in your life. Remember, when it\u2019s all said and done, your legacy will be about those people, not about the fact that you were the guy who stayed at work all hours of the night.<\/p>\n
I close with a quote:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about.\u201d<\/i> \u2013 Charles Kingsley<\/p>\n
My challenge to you is to get enthusiastic about your life and live it to the fullest.<\/p>\n