I’ve made several posts to this blog opining about the work-life discussion as it relates to corporations and employees. The way the debate is being shaped today, there are two conflicting formulas at work here:
For the company, Work-Life Balance boils down to this: Company = Good, Family = Bad For the employee, it looks like this: Family and Personal Time = Good, Company = Bad.
Tom Peters, management ‘guru’ and author of In Search of Excellence has this message for us:
“Life-work balance is pretty much an illusion if you want to make an impact in today’s economy.”
Speaking on a panel at a Leadership Forum at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, Peters pointed out that executives at General Electric “arrive at the office every day at 6:15 a.m.”
According to a recent survey of worldwide senior executives conducted by the Association of Executive Search Consultants, “87 percent felt that work-life balance considerations were critical in their decision whether to join, or remain with, an employer.”
Aileen Taylor, AESC member and Managing Director of Eric Salmon & Partners Limited, observed: “For the first time in twenty plus years in the personal care market place, I am seeing candidates prepared to down-size both their salaries and their prospects within large organizations in favor of quality of life.”
Well, it’s snowing here. I find it extremely ironic that the Cleveland Indians are in town playing ball at Miller Park due to the snow storm in Ohio and because our stadium offers the protection from the elements in the form of its retractable – and close-able – roof.
I’m taking advantage of a canceled appointment or two and some snow closings to share with you some photos I snapped a few moments ago, as well as to let you all know that my life balance/ work-life balance/ work family balance doesn’t consist only of work!
Looking to land that new job or brand your company? Get blogging.
That’s Debbie Weil’s advice. You’ll find her over at BlogWrite for CEOs She was quoted in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal in an article titled “How Blogging Can Help You Get a New Job.”
Work-life balance ranks high on our lists of deciding factors when looking for companies to work for.
What should you look for in a company when Work-Life Balance is at or near the top of your list?
Determine if work-life balance is supported by attitudes and corporate culture at all levels of the organization or is simply a Human Resources department directive.
Working Mother magazine has published its list of 100 Best Companies – The Family-Friendliest Companies in America. The list measured 7 areas of the companies’ work-life programs:
I came across an interesting report written recently by Lori Herz and Arnie Herz over at Legal Sanity titled “BEYOND BALANCE: How to Cultivate Work-Life Synergy in the Law.”
The report is written about the legal profession, but please feel free to insert your chosen profession where you read the words ‘law’, lawyer’, and/or ‘legal.’ I believe their observations ring true for many of us.
The Work-Life discussion rages hot-and-heavy. From National associations to corporate HR departments to non-profit organizations to think tanks to university work-life centers and foundations – everyone is getting involved in advancing the work-life debate.
But are all interested in achieving the true goal of work-life balance? That is,are all parties dedicated to, as the Third Path Institute rightly defines it, “assisting individuals, families, and organizations in finding new ways to redesign work to create more time for family, community and other life passions?”
Evan Carmichael wrote in a recent Youngentrepreneur blog post titled “How To Find Your Calling” and posed the following question: “So how do you find your calling and get into something you stick with?”
Evan referenced a Fast Company article that suggested three steps:
The Winter 2007 edition of Business Week magazine’s Small Business edition features women who have fled flourishing corporate careers to pursue opportunities as entrepreneurs.
This Time It’s Mine: Why high-powered women are leaving Corporate America to become entrepreneurs profiles 18 corporate women and draws a picture for us of them “then and now.”
My wife and I became empty-nesters last August when our youngest went off to college, and we’ve been adjusting our balance ever since.
Not being one to always want to have to reinvent the wheel, I asked several friends who had been through this chapter in their lives to share with me what it was like for them and what they had learned. Although the range of experiences was huge, I did garner two consensus opinions: First, that things were strange for a while. Second, that it was a wonderful time for all.
Intuit Inc. has released a report authored by the Institute for the Future that examines the future of small businesses and entrepreneurs over the next 10 years.
There is good news for us striving not only for work-life balance, but also for those of us who know that we must take ownership of the entire work-life balance discussion (see my post of March 6th in this blog).
Corporations are attempting and succeeding in framing the work-life discussion in a way that is most favorable to them.
The solutions that they provide generally don’t benefit their employees or enhance their life balance. In addition, the playing field being established doesn’t translate into our entrepreneurial world.
The e-book is now available at the very reasonable price of $37. This 73 page e-book comes as a printable PDF workbook, and as soon
Well, after much time and effort, I just finished my first e-book. It truly was a “labor of love.”
The title, “Your Life In Balance: A Breakthrough Guide for Creating the Life You Desire”, speaks for itself I think. It will be available on my Web site within the next few days at http://www.livellifeandsucceed.com
Not knowing what protocol is with regard to dedicating an e-book (as I’ve purchased several of them yet never read one with a dedication), but not being one to conform, I’ve determined that I would include my dedication in this blog. Here goes:
I live in southeastern Wisconsin, but I’m available to speak with entrepreneurs, small business owners, self-employed individuals, and freelance professionals from all areas – nationally and internationally.
Get your copies of the special reports Lifestyles in the Balance: Is Living a Balanced Life Possible in Today’s World? and Life Balance for Entrepreneurs.
