Balance in all the important areas of life is something most of us struggle with. Thoughts on the subject from an entrepreneur …
Balance: Now and Later
Balance is the key to getting the right mix when living out today’s reality and tomorrow’s opportunity for our life. A healthy balance includes maintaining meaningful work and relationships today while at the same time investing in each of these areas of life for the future.
I like to break my life down into three major categories.
- Relationships – family, friends, community, emotional health
- Activities – rest, recreation, hobbies, growth and learning
- Work – Providing life’s essentials, giving back to society with dollars & service
I find that being an entrepreneur, I often get to mix my work with the rest of my life. The leadership, decision making skills and experience at work help when planning my time with family and friends. I also get to support organizations that reflect my world view and my interests in life through my business.
For many of us, especially us business owners, work is the area where we struggle. Too much work or too little work and we find life is just not happening as well as it could. Do I have this all figured out so that my relationships, activities and work life are always in perfect balance? No, that’s just not true. I can say that I give it thought, and continue to desire and work toward that balance in my life. I also wish it for you.
Testing the Balance
Developing a servant mindset has been a key to keeping a balance between my work and the rest of my life. There is a fine line between being a true servant and a workaholic.
The way I test myself is to ask “Is my business for the purpose of acquiring more stuff or helping others?”. “Am I looking for recognition or anonymity?”
I daily find myself desiring more stuff and/or wanting recognition for accomplishments or acts of generosity. This realization helps me examine my motives. I know there will be times when I will be recognized and financially rewarded for my work, and there is nothing wrong with this. But if the lack of recognition or reward reduces my passion and effectiveness, then I likely may be out of balance.
The Reward
When there is a deeper reason than acquiring stuff or propping up my ego, that is when work no longer feels like work. The correct balance means the people closest to me don’t feel nearly as neglected when duty calls me away. They may even step in and help me. Balance and a servant attitude helps us all to enjoy the blessing of being a part of something bigger than ourselves.
