<p>Oh the horror!</p> <p>We try so hard to create this balance.&nbsp; It's like a mythical creature.&nbsp; Is it really there?&nbsp; Does it really exist?</p> <p>Why bother, really?</p> <p>Take me for example.&nbsp; My office is in the middle of my living room.&nbsp; Ok, to the <em>edge</em> of my living room, but still, it's smack-dab in the midst of my living space.&nbsp; </p> <p>You can look at it two ways I suppose:&nbsp; 1. There is no balance whatsoever because the "office" is right there, so you're always working.</p> <p>2. Exactly the opposite.&nbsp; There's great balance because the office is right there and so you always have the opportunity to get more work done.</p> <p>When I started my business I said, "Ok, I'll work 9-5 then shut off the computer."&nbsp; I was still in the "employee" mindset. &nbsp;<em>Starting</em> your own business and then <em>working</em> your own business, well, we all know it's not a 9-5 job.&nbsp; It's a whatever-it-takes-to-get-it-done job.&nbsp; And that's the joy of it.&nbsp; That's probably why we're small business owners.&nbsp; That entrepreneurial spirit.&nbsp; We didn't' start on this path because we wanted the safety and security of a 9-5'er, that's for sure.&nbsp; We started on this path because there simply was no other choice.&nbsp; It's in our blood!&nbsp; It's who we are!&nbsp;&nbsp; We're entrepreneurs!&nbsp; We can't help it!</p> <p>And so, as much as we may try to keep work<em> work</em> and personal <em>personal,</em> our work goals align with our personal goals.&nbsp; As an entrepreneur, they <em>should</em>.&nbsp; Take a close look at how they can compliment each other.&nbsp; "I'm going to work on X so Y can thrive."&nbsp; That's pretty much goal writing right there, and so it is in this instance too, the only difference is, you're not writing this goal to enhance the bottom line for "the man", but to enhance the bottom line for YOU!&nbsp; For something in your personal life.&nbsp;&nbsp; How rewarding!</p> <p>It can be summed up in one sentence:&nbsp; I started my own business to enhance my personal life.&nbsp; </p> <p>You can try to deny it all you want, but really, there's a very, very fine - almost invisible - line between work life and home life in this biz.&nbsp; Yes, you can shut down the business brain when your spouse or kids get home, or friends come over, but let's face it, in the middle of the night when an exciting idea hits, you'll get out of bed and run to your computer to jot everything down and perhaps even start researching right then and there!&nbsp; Or at least you'll wake up your spouse turning on bedside lamps and frantically writing everything down in that notebook you keep by the bed for just these moments!</p> <p>I actually had to give myself permission to allow work life to bleed into personal life (working through the evenings when my husband wants to rent a flick or friends want to pop in) and vice versa (the gardening at lunch for example).&nbsp; </p> <p>"It's ok," I said to myself, "this is exactly why you started your own business!"</p> <p>So to you I say, enjoy those moments, embrace the lack of balance, and remember just why you started your own business.</p> 2008-08-15T18:13:01Z -19.0617 439 1452 true 5 14745 work-life-balance-the-myth 5 2008-08-15T18:56:04Z 2008-08-15T18:56:04Z

Are you one of those people who continually try to find that elusive work/life balance? Well stop! Right now!

0 2009-02-24T09:45:34Z