Comments on: In Defense of Work-Life Balance

By: The Book of Wisdom – 101 Posts for the All-Around Balanced Life | Balance In Me

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:54:04 +0000

[...] In defense of work-life balance [...]

By: omar eduardo's blog » Three characteristics you need to become a millionaire or obtain any wealth you desire

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:39:23 +0000

[...] people, but does not have to be the only destination for you. Jeffrey Tang talks about this in this blog entry I particularly liked. Although I signed a contract to start a 9-5 type of job in a couple of months, I think that [...]

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:47:46 +0000

I work a 8:00 – 5:00 Monday – Friday job and feel that I have complete work/life balance. In my field, working from home or other local is not an option (public education). Because I work in a technology department, I have had to deal with employees who think that they should be able to work from home. But the expectation in public education is that you show up, every day, on time, and do your work. Is there anything wrong with that? I don't think so. It is just the way we “do business” and that isn't going to change.

By: Jarred Alexandrov

Jarred Alexandrov — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:24:31 +0000

Jeff…I've been looking for someone to put this as clearly as you have. I especially agree with your point of how having a steady job can give loads of experience and help you develop skill sets that you will need when you are ready to run your own business. Furthermore (and Gary V would second this), if you have your priorities straight there is plenty of time to have a full-time job and work on whatever else you are passionate about during the 7pm and on hours/weekend hours/slow work hours. Thanks for the post and I look forward to a more in-depth exploration of it. – flavors.me/jalexandrov

By: Miche-SerenityHacker

Miche-SerenityHacker — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:48:15 +0000

Great post… yes, work-life balance is important and it seems the recent trend is that it's “over-rated”. Even being self-employed requires balance, especially if one has a family. Dedicating your entire life to your dream work might be fine if you are single, without partners or dependents. But if one has other things they care about, then balance is in order… I know plenty of self-employed people still striving for balance… at times now even more so than they were before. I think the idea that balance isn't a concern once a person discovers how to earn a living from their “dream work” is deceptive. “Balance” isn't alluring in the way “follow your dreams” or “pursue your passions” is… yet it's an important part of the formula if you want to be truly happy.

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:38:05 +0000

I completely agree with this. I got swept away in the lifestyle design work for yourself movement, and left my corporate job to travel full time. I moved about the world, lived on practically nothing, and now am back at my corporate job :) With that said, I wouldn't trade my experience for anything . I appreciate my job more than ever right now, and things just seem more vibrant and better since returning. But rest be assured my appetite is wet for the day when I can permanently set sail, but I'm definitely in no hurry at this point.

I look forward to reading more on this throughout the year!

By: LisaNewton

LisaNewton — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:51:39 +0000

Based on this article, you've got a great work-life balance right now. I'm in a similar boat, keeping the day job while pursuing my dreams, and there is a small part of me that does feel guilty for not being able to break away just yet. But, I have no intention of going broke while my dreams take shape.

My dreams are my passion, and right now, I'm satisfied to practice my passion in my spare time. But, over time, that will change.

I look forward to reading more about your ideas about work-life balance. :)

By: Patty - Why Not Start Now?

Patty - Why Not Start Now? — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 07:24:40 +0000

Jeffrey, I Iove the topic of work-life balance, so I'm glad you're taking it on. Everything you say in this post is right on the money. I did leave the 9-5 and could be location independent if I chose to be, if I wanted to live somewhere else without my husband, but how fun is that? People tend to forget that the partner of an entrepreneur might not have so much freedom. Anyway, my thing did not happen overnight. I'm very skeptical of the overnight success stories or the mantra that everyone can do it. The truth is most successful entrepreneurs stay at their jobs or work p.t. for about five years after starting their businesses. Also, the reality is that the office, like the one you work in, provides a social context and sense of community in our lives that's hard to replace when you're on your own. It's pretty easy to get isolated, and after 10 years in business for myself I do still miss it at times.

By: Omar Eduardo Fernández

Omar Eduardo Fernández — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 03:01:13 +0000

I agree with this post. I want to have a stable job until I can secure my income by other means. If I love my job, however, I can definitely just stick to it until the end. After all, working doesn't have to be bad. I think that I can pursue my goals while still having an “old-fashioned job” that allows me to learn many things I wouldn't learn otherwise. Who knows how my life will be 10 years down the road, but as long as I have a stable income, and have time to pursue my interests and keep my friendships healthy, while learning and using my brain to make an impact in society, I'll be happy with it.

By: LPC

LPC — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:38:03 +0000

Jeffrey, I agree. If only because guilt doesn't usually motivate us to anything positive.