Work-Life-Balance - exactly how does that work?
One of the reasons that people turn to wedding planning as a career is because they are in search of that elusive Work-Life-Balance scenario that is talked about so much everywhere these days. It is quite normal now for employers to talk about how their organisation operates a flexible workplace with great child care options and family friendly HR policies. Another growing area is the Virtual Workforce which is now being embraced by allot of the larger companies out there. They have realised that many jobs can be done virtually by using all the modern technology we have at our finger tips. They know that without offering these options they are cutting out a large percentage of the highly employable, as more and more people need or want a balance between family and work life.
So what exactly is Work-Life-Balance? Is it a term that has been invented by someone to make us feel even more guilty than we already do about our hectic schedules? Or is it simply a term that makes us really think about the choices we make in our personal and business lives? I am not sure that any of us can say we truly have the perfect balance in our life - I’ve always thought that was a bit like the ‘Holy Grail’ - impossible to find. However, we do have more options available to us now than we did even 20 years ago.
I know that when I made the decision to start my own company in the event planning industry many years ago in London, part of my decision was made because I knew it would allow me to spend more time at home with my daughter as I grew my business. I was 5 months pregnant when I started my business and it was the one thing that kept me sane through my pregnancy and for all those months after she was born. It allowed me to maintain my corporate life without the pressures of having to be up at the crack of dawn and out the house by 7.30am. For the first 6 months it was easy to fit things in around my life, as I was really only going thorugh the launching stage and doing more marketing than anything else. Once things picked up and I had my first couple of events to plan I made the decision to send my daughter to day care two mornings and two afternoons a week. It was a good balance for me as I was able to get all my phone calls and meetings done whilst she was in day care, and the rest I fitted in around her naps etc. Was it perfect? No, but it worked for me and was definately better than the alternative. I was in charge of my own day and was earning a good living without having to rejoin the rat race. My daughter is nearly 12 now and I love the fact that I can attend her school sports days, and run her to after school activities without it affecting my business life or income.
What you need to remember about this type of work is that what works for some won’t work for others. Working virtually can be a challenge sometimes and you need to be able to work happily on your own without getting lonely. Mix it up a bit. If you have a quiet week coming up where you won’t be seeing many people then grab your laptop and head for the nearest Gloria Jeans and work from there for a while. People watching can really spark creativity too, so you are killing two birds with one stone. Breaking the boredom of being on your own and hopefully filling your head with ideas at the same time.
I recently came across a great blog for small businesses that had a fabulous article called Work Life Balance and Small Business. Have a read through it and let me know what you think. To quote Albert Einstein “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.”
I am Kylie’s sidekick and like her, I work from my Home Office. I have been working this way since 2000 and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t appreciate the ability to be able to work from home in my own business.
The idea of ‘work/life’ balance first occurred to me when I was managing a team of women in the National Bank. I was much younger than most of my team and through them I learnt a lot about the sacrifices mothers who work outside the home make. Many of the women I worked with were barely covering the cost of child-care with their wages and most of them were tired and stressed. I know not all women who work outside the home feel this way but I knew that I would; that the pull of being home with my children would make going to work each day a grind.
I chose to move out of that career for a number of reasons, but the main reason I chose to find a way to be my own boss and work from home was because I knew I needed a life that was far more flexible than the one my team were living. Lots of people I meet tell me I am lucky…and I am lucky to have met those women who taught me a lot…but as Kylie says…working for yourself, from home does present challenges. You do have to be disciplined and very motivated….so it does not suit everyone and hard work has more to do with where I am than luck.
My advice to anyone who feels that don’t have work/life balance is to listen to your heart, identify what it is you want and then find a way to have that without it causing stress in your life, or that of your family’s life. Being able to enjoy both life and work without that feeling stressful or difficult is work/life balance for me.