According to ACNielson, a global provider of marketing research information services, 56% of people around the world made New Year’s resolutions for 2007.
Of that fifty-six percent, 51% were seeking a better work and life balance (second only to those who wanted to exercise more at 62%).
That means that a full 28% of people around the world are aspiring to lead a more balanced life.
Astonishing, isn’t it?
Courtney E. Martin has an interesting article over at The American Prospect titled “Fighting Apart for Time Together: Why is all the activism for work/life balance split along gender lines?”
Ms. Martin takes the very complicated issue of work-family balance activism and makes it understandable. Here is how the discussion shakes out:
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:
One of the things I learned some time ago was that to achieve balance, I need to take action.
Toward that end, I set up a simple system of daily conventions: some simple habits and routines to practice every day to help me achieve the goals that I had prioritized.
One thing that I do every day is to phone a friend.
There’s something about this time of the year that make things very intense, and I don’t mean the wonderful excitement surrounding the NCAA’s college basketball tournament.
Is is just me, or does it seem that most everyone is stretched at this time of the year? Maybe it has something to do with tax time for individuals and businesses.
Possibly it concerns the sheer number of conventions and trade shows that occur between now and the middle of May. Maybe it’s related to the earlier daylight savings time change, spring breaks, the upcoming Easter holiday, and spring fever in general. Maybe it’s simply a cycle of the year in the world in which I operate.
I think the bigger concern we all have is that, because the world now operates at the speed of technology, is that the access we now enjoy to the outside world means that we’re within easy reach of those who wish to contact us no matter where we are and what we’re doing.
I came across a post today that I had read a few months ago on Michelle Medley’s blog at Motto Magazine.
In her post, Ms. Medley shares her thoughts on the classic 1938 Oscar-winning film “You Can’t Take it With You” staring Lionel Barrymore.
There’s a scene in the movie where Barrymore walks into a bustling office, and, intrigued by a worker repeatedly pulling the arm of an adding machine, asks him what he’s doing.
The worker replies that he’s doing his job.
Barrymore asks if he likes what he’s doing.
The worker simply replies “no.”
* Be passionate
* Stay committed
* Find a mentor
* Do not be afraid to seek help
* Get started – what are you waiting for?
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.
