Unashamedly I have been a believer in the work-life balance movement. However just when I think that my life is in balance - disaster strikes. One aspect of my balanced wheel suddenly takes on my undivided attention to the detriment of all others and throws everything out of balance. And so the quest to get my life in balance starts again.
Recently, I started looking at the lives of people who have made a difference in this world and from what I can see, very few of them had their lives in balance. Most, if not all of them, were consumed by one burning passion; one burning drive that seemed to take over all other 'balanced' aspects of their lives. So, my question is this - does this whole work-life balance thing strip us of our ability to make a huge difference in this world?
How does it apply to strategy? I am in two minds. First, we have seen in organizations that people try to balance what is required in their day-to-day jobs with what they are required to do in executing strategy - they try to get the balance right; but in the majority of cases, they fail and strategy execution takes a back seat to what they are comfortable with, namely what they have been doing daily. Secondly, perhaps one of the most exciting times that I have had is when I worked for a small advertising agency and we were pitching for the business of potential clients. The passion and energy in the agency was electric. We were 100% consumed in getting the business. As a result, some of the day-to-day activities took a back seat.
The task is to know what is important and what to give up and then have the support that allows you to do so. What are your thoughts?
Yours in execution.
ian
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