Categories
Archives
Search
Subscribe to Our Monthly Digest
Success with life Balance: It can be done!
“So be sure when you step, step with care and great tact, and remember that life’s a great balancing act”
– Dr. Seuss: “Oh the Places You Will Go”
“I am just not excited to go to work”.
That is what one of my clients said last week. You may be thinking this person doesn’t like his boss. Nope. He is the boss. How about working too hard? He is actually working fewer hours per week that he has in years. And profit? His company is just finishing up on one of his most profitable years ever. So what is the problem?
When Joe purchased the company 25 years ago, he did much of the work himself. His work involved fabrication, and he enjoyed making things that he was proud of.
As Joe’s business grew and prospered, he needed more help to get the jobs done. He had to delegate and hope that his people would be a natural extension of his values and success principles. He did an excellent job of this, and built a loyal team that became like an adopted family. In doing so, he experienced one of the most difficult parts of business growth – Letting go of what we love.
The growth continued, and in this past year, Joe ended up getting completely out of production so that he could chart the company’s course and drive the vision. There was no extra time for working in production.
So why had Joe lost his enthusiasm? Through our discussion, he discovered that there is a need that he has that must be fulfilled. If it is not, he does not feel complete. As he put it: “I love to make things”. He knew what the missing element of his life was, and what it took to get back in balance. Joe is well on his way to putting the “build” component back in his life.
When I look back at the successful people I know, the ones I admire most are those that have achieved great success, and carry peacefulness in their soul. And virtually all in this category know how to live in balance. I know an orthopedic surgeon who actually owns his own hospital. He is a multimillionaire. When he is off work, he can’t wait to get in his shop and fix up old cars. It is something he has enjoyed since he was young, and he has not abandoned that love. Another person I know owns a successful company that includes a headquarters in the Chicago area and two other branches in Major US cities. He also works on old cars. When I asked him why, his answer was, “Self-preservation”.
I leave you with this thought: If you are not waking up with a high level enthusiasm for the day and what you will accomplish, find out what is missing…than figure out a way to integrate it into your day. It will require some new habits. The payoff can be robust.