The definition of balance is “a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.”It is something that is easy to understand but almost impossible to achieve.
I have been challenged with a personality that struggles to find balance in almost everything I do. Whether it is committing to a diet, researching business leads or spending time at home, I have always wrestled with finding that equilibrium. I tend to quickly jump from obsessively committed to totally uninterested without any point in the middle. As I talk to successful people, this has been a consistent trait that shows up in nearly every conversation. They are financially successful because of their obsessive compulsive work ethic. But that same work ethic often causes them to be challenged personally because of lack of available time and focus.
So is balance possible?
Highly successful entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk recently spoke about his addiction to work. As he gets older and balance becomes more important, Vaynerchuk has been forced to find new ways to make time for his personal life while producing a tremendous amount of quality work.
One of the ways that Vaynerchuk balances his workaholic behavior is by working 8 a.m. until midnight Monday through Friday then shutting off work completely on the weekends so he can be present with his friends and family. By committing this massive amount of time to work, he is also able to take up to seven weeks of a vacation a year to enjoy quality family time away from the office.
Often, balance is described as the ideal 9-5 Monday through Friday. But in reality, there is no such thing as having all things perfectly balanced at all times. For me, I think balance is in the eye of the beholder. It’s important to set goals, both personally and professional and strive to reach those. As you do, remember the compound effect. If you make a daily commitment to make a slight adjustment to improve balance, you will eventually find what you are searching for. Investing just five minutes a day is 18,250 minutes of investment after 10 years. You could accomplish a lot with that significant of a commitment.
