Know Where To Draw The Line
When Work Becomes A Part Of Our Personal Lives
If you’re going to climb the corporate ladder, and especially if you aspire to the executive ranks, work will infringe on your home life. That’s just par for the course. Even now, as a part-time consultant, Steve Tobak’s mind is on work when it shouldn’t be. “I get some of my best ideas when I’m in the shower, running, or lying in bed half asleep. I like to work at night when my wife is watching TV, or laying out by the pool on the weekend. Hell, I actually enjoy my work. And an occasional business trip gives my wife and me a reason to miss each other.” There’s nothing wrong with the pursuit of money, achievement, or whatever it is you call success. And, in this age of cell phones, BlackBerrys and notebook computers, work is more a part of our personal lives than ever before. It’s only a problem when work, or the pursuit of success, becomes so much a part of your personal life that it impedes your pursuit of happiness.
It’s all about knowing where to draw the line. Only you know when you’re not spending enough time with your family. Or when you’re not working out enough, eating too much fast food, or otherwise neglecting your health and well-being. You know when you’re not getting enough “me” time for you to effectively manage stress, relax and gain some perspective. The irony is that, if you’re a workaholic, you’ll be the last person to notice any of that stuff. The bottom line: Working hard and being driven are good things, especially in terms of climbing the corporate ladder. But you need to be mindful of overdoing it.
