By Debra W. Gould, MS Balancing work and personal demands is more challenging today than ever. Organizations are constantly focusing on how to improve production, profits and performance, while at the same time working to maintain a high level of morale. With no definitive parameters for measuring balance, perhaps the real goal should be personal and professional separation-as we explain in this blog.
Why separation is so important: As technology has revolutionized the business landscape, many professionals no longer just leave their work at the office. This causes many people to feel they spend all their time working or on call, regardless of location. At the same time, many parents are prioritizing attendance at their kids' events and family dinners using the same technology within the time frames of "normal business hours." As a result, many people are doing two things at once-and doing neither very well. How many times have you been at a restaurant with your family and all attention is devoted to your smartphone? When your personal and professional lives overlap in this manner, both of them suffer. The Facts: At the office: Jobs frequently require people to work late, to put in extra hours and spend days on the road away from the family. This is because the job needs to get done, and a true professional understands they may have to miss a child's event or be away from home at inopportune times. To be great in business a person must make sacrifices. At home: Most professionals today work to provide for their family, and feel their family or personal life is the most important thing to them. Moms want to be moms, dads want to be dads, and people want to be who they are other than what their business card states. So how do you do both? Be present at work: When a person is at work they need to be at work, no matter their family dynamics or problems-they must learn to leave them at home. The one thing that can make any family problem even more difficult is for that person to lose their job because their personal issues are affecting their performance. Be present at home: When a person is home with their family they need to be present there. They should leave their phone and suit jacket at the door. Just like the company that pays that employee deserves the employee's very best, their families deserve their very best too. ============ Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576 email: djgould@gouldassoc.com and website: www:gouldassoc.com
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by Nancy J. Lewis, MS, SHRM-CP, PHR, RCC Today more than ever before we have to determine life as an exclamation point and not a period and making the most of everyday. This begins with understanding the triple "P" effect.
The first "P" begins with having a Passion for life and for things that bring you joy. Passion causes you to wake up in the morning excited about the day ahead as you have an expectancy about what God will do in your life. Passion is the fuel that leads to the second "P" which is your Purpose. Purpose is the thing you do that you are willing to do for free. Do not misunderstand that I stated you are willing to do it for free; but, you must use wisdom about when and how often you do it for free. Purpose allows you to go forward regardless of what you might face. Purpose creates the pathway for you to walk in your destiny. Purpose is getting up excited everyday because you are fulfilling your calling in life. The last "P" is about Positioning. When your passion and purpose connect; it provides the gateway for you to position yourself for success because you have all the necessary elements to propel you to greatness. By Nancy J. Lewis, MS, PHR, RCC Living an intentional life is about being purposeful, deliberate and focused with what you desire to achieve. It means you stop making excuses and start taking steps to achieve the things that matter most to you. It requires you deciding that failure is not final but merely a detour of learning on your journey to success.
This year my personal commitment is to live an intentional life. I have been doing daily intentional quotes on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter to keep me on track and to help others. Living intentional has caused me to be swift to hear and slow to speak and making sure the words I say are positive and creating the world I desire. Living an intentional life requires saying no to the things that are not moving you closer to your spiritual, personal and professional goals. It is okay to say no and not feel guilty when you really are determined to live intentionally. A few keys for living an intentional life:
I challenge you to make 2015 a year of living an intentional life. |
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