5 Ways To Balance Your Work-Life For Good

Beyonce's latest world takeover has many of us talking about her new song and video - what it means and what it doesn't mean. For me the idea of getting in formation gave me a lot to think about. I've been heavily contemplating work-life balance so naturally my mind went there instead of to other implications that have the internet buzzing. 

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...I dream it, I work hard, I grind 'til I own it
...now let's get in formation 

-Beyonce (Formation) 

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...We dream it. We work hard. We grind 'til I own it... That's what I have on my mind - and this post is written with me in mind.

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Work-Life... Unbalanced

One morning while I was on my elliptical machine I was boldly interrupted by a pleasant burst of insight about work-life balance. As a highly intelligent individual I'm not quite sure why I hadn't considered the new fact before - and it came in like a lightning bolt. I love it when that happens - when hard truths introduce new realities. That's what happened for me that morning...

Throughout my career I've worked incredibly hard and I love what I do so it doesn't feel like work. When something starts to feel like work, I find somewhere else to be. I'm a curious and ambitious sort so I go deeper than expected on most things. What became clear several years ago is that my work pace wasn't sustainable - not if I wanted to have a high-quality life. 

As a self-diagnosed "sleepless elite" I require very little sleep. I typically don't need more than 4-5 hours of sleep a night to wake up excited and ready to greet the world. I wake up without an alarm clock sharp and ready to go - and I'm sustained throughout my entire day until my next sleep cycle. I often get questions like "do you ever sleep?" or "what are you doing up at those hours?". My answer is always the same as I explain the pattern which has existed throughout my life. My norm is not the norm.

My early morning time is mostly "me" time - spent on self-reflection, journaling, exercising, and anything else that I want to do for me. Those hours were used for my PhD studies as well. Problems arose when work crept into my sacred early morning time. I've struggled with it for years - until now... It turns out that I was looking at my priorities all wrong.

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Like many highly driven people I have a list of priorities that cover my daily, short-term, and long-term goals. Even when grouped or "chunked" into key categories, my list of priorities would often become unmanageable which led to an unbalanced work-life. I was perpetually missing out on the most important part of why I was working hard in the first place - my family. My priorities were "stacked" against me.

A Familiar Work Place Story

If my story is familiar to you then it's probably because working adults often experience the terrible work-life balance dance until they figure out a new way to live or they accept it as their norm. Recent studies continue to examine the context of work-life balance and I've captured several key findings.

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The pace of work will continue to increase and shift in work's own best interest - so we have to adjust our work-life paradigm in ways that keep us healthy and productive.

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The workday is vast. There really aren't start and end times, and it does have a significant overlap into everyone's personal life in a significant way. You no longer can leave your work behind at the end of the day.

- Ernst & Young (Work-Life Balance Study 2015)

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Work-Life... Balanced!

The flash of insight that came to me was to shift my work-life paradigm from a "stack" of priorities to a "landscape" of priorities. From a landscape paradigm, I can see where I'm spending my energy, where I need to spend my energy, and whether I need to shift priorities in order to make the necessary progress throughout the day. 

What became absolutely clear in my "landscape" paradigm is that I have to be priority number one every single day or the rest of my priority chain falls apart. From a "stack" paradigm, it was easy to move myself to the end of the list - and that's exactly what I did virtually every single day. That's no longer possible with my new work-life paradigm.

This was a simple paradigm shift but for me it has been quite profound. 

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Now that I have a new paradigm for my work-life, I'm free to step up my game in new ways without jeopardizing my health, my family, my work, or my contributions. My work-life equation is "balanced." However, work-life "balanced" doesn't mean static. It's a moving target that requires re-calibration by the minute, by the hour, by the day. Incorporating mindfulness is a necessary practice and so is a commitment to the refinement of how and when I work. 

A FitBit also helps.

I'm grateful for my breakthrough - and it has transformed me in a few weeks where years of studying and implementing different types of self-management systems have failed to give me the results that I wanted. Unlimited possibilities are back in full swing now that I can see my "landscape".

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It's not 'What do I want to do?', it's 
'What kind of life do I want to have?'

-Arianna Huffington (Thrive)

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To Balance Your Work-Life Get In Formation

If your work-life is unbalanced and you want to change it, here are insights from some of the world's greatest minds to help you get in formation:

• [1] Put yourself first every single day!: View my short video below. My approach is not the same as being selfish. YOU are the most important part of your work-life equation. Without YOU there is no equation to balance!
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• [2] Practice mindfulness to break bad habits: Psychiatrist Judson Brewer talks about how mindfulness can help us to break any bad habit in his latest TED talk.
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• [3] Recite your goals twice a day to stay focused and productive Damon John, entrepreneur and 'Shark Tank' investor, provides outstanding insights about how he maintains clarity and focus on his vision and stays incredibly productive.
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• [4] Leverage "Deep Work" for greater productivity: Adam Grant, Wharton School Associate Professor, best-selling author, and researcher shares how "deep work" improves his productivity.
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• [5] Ask "Why" five times to reveal root causes: Michelle McDonald, entrepreneur and writer, highlights ways to get to the root cause of any issue and solve the actual problem instead of cycling through the same issues over and over. 

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You have brains in your head. 
You have feet in your shoes. 
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. 

-Dr. Seuss (Oh, The Places You'll Go!)

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Ultimately your work-life balance is up to YOU! 

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Thanks for dropping by to read my article - which was mostly about me ;-) Move the conversation along with a like, a relevant comment, or a share.

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Let's keep climbing!

Multi-Dimensional Global Careers: You Can Be Anything or Everything

"Life is long. Fill it up!" Mattel (Barbie Vlog #9)

Really? Did I just quote Barbie?! Of course not. She's not a real person. However, I did quote the Mattel brand masters who are morphing Barbie into a cultural phenomenon once again. Barbie is now a Vlogger with over one million subscribers and she has great adult advice to boot. 

I stumbled upon Vlog #9 while searching for info on Mattel's new brand strategy and it's quite a find. In addition to giving young girls a new way to spend their "YouTube" time, the video also provides useful insights about life skills, gender, diversity, and leadership. When I showed the video to my preteen daughter, she giggled because her life is like the one Barbie described. So is mine.

She has always wanted to be many things throughout her life and at her early age she has already experienced naysayers who have tried to tell her that what she wants isn't possible. With a fundamental belief that all things are possible, I will never tell her that she can't be everything that she sets out to become. I would never tell anyone else that either. 

Take a couple minutes and amuse yourself with this video.

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You Can Be Anything - or Everything

In a previous post I mentioned that one-dimensional humans are not possible and promised to take up the subject again. Barbie's video prompted me to do it sooner than I had planned but life is like that - unexpected and interesting.

Research confirms that multi-dimensional global careers are the new norm. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average worker now holds 10 jobs before the age of 40. Going further Forrester Research predicts that today's youngest workers will have between 12 to 15 jobs in their lifetimes. To be clear - the world of work has changed - for better and for good.

Workers in the 21st century are now required to keep pace - unprompted - with required knowledge and skills (including social media management). The necessary knowledge and skills can be acquired via more than 4,200 MOOC courses. Workers may need to interview for new roles about once every two years. They can expect to compete more broadly with global experts in their field as more countries and individuals are brought on line in the most remote parts of the world. Many of the new contenders will have acquired their competitive edge via free Internet services and solar-powered lamps. Success formulas have changed.

Multi-Dimensional Global Careers

If we're to follow Barbie's advice and fill up our lives, then there are unlimited opportunities for exploring interests and passions in addition to careers all the while bulking up on the much contested 10,000 hours of commitment in particular focus areas.

We're at a familiar cross-roads and multi-dimensional global career change is at hand.

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...In the 1860's and 1870's, the American economy went through perhaps the greatest transformation in its history. This was when the railways were built, and when Wall Street emerged. It was when industrial manufacturing started in earnest. It was when all the rules by which the traditional economy functioned were broken and remade.

-Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers - The 10,000 Hour Rule)

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A review of the Futurework Report (1999) published by the US Department of Labor is a fascinating read and shows how dramatic changes have been so far this century. I've listed some of the predictions here:

• [1] In five years almost half of all workers will be employed in industries that produce or are intensive users of Information Technology
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• [2] Young women are enrolling in college at a higher rate (70%) than young men (64%)
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• [3] American workers get only 7 hours of sleep every night...365 hours a year less than recommended
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• [4] Some of the fastest growing occupations for the future are Computer Engineers, Computer Support Specialists, Database Administrators, System Analysts
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• [5] By 2050, the US population is expected to increase by 50%

Life is Long

In addition to so many new career possibilities, we're also living longer - with more time to fill up. According to the CDC, the average life expectancy is now 78.8 years and continues to tick up.

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So what to do with all of that new time? Enjoy it of course! Explore the world around you in new ways and become all of those things that you've always wanted to become. One doesn't have to wait until the end of a career to start living.

Imagine the Possibilities, Reflect on the Past

Today is the start of Black History Month which reminds me of all of the great human beings who against all odds have proven that anything and everything is possible. #GoogleDoodle opened the month with Frederick Douglass who was (and is) one of the most powerful voices in America's history. Celebrate endless possibilities this month with daily reflections on the past, living in the present, and preparing for the future. 

Dr. Mae Jemison is a great place to start.

Life is long. How will you fill yours up?

I appreciate you dropping by ;-) Move the conversation along with a like, a relevant comment, or a share.

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Let's keep climbing!

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On Leadership and Legacies

Writing is part of my legacy. I can't explain it. I'm just compelled to write and I love it. Ask anyone who has ever worked alongside me and they'll tell you that I write - a lot!

When I don't write I feel like I'm missing out on something great. I'm at my keyboard now and it feels natural. I don't know where my writing will ultimately take me but I know that I want to leave behind a very long trail of relevant, exciting, insightful, and sometimes comical information while influencing my readers (I love saying "my readers") to learn something new or to take some new action. Writing is a form of creative and impactful expression that for me is like painting on a canvas.

I'm also a mom - an artist - a researcher - an engineer - a strategist - a veteran - a philanthropist - a board member - a friend - a counselor - a mentor - an entrepreneur - a manager - a 21st century leader... 

I'm lots of "things" and I have many different roles and talents as do most human beings. All of these roles and talents are part of my legacy which continues to be shaped with each passing day. Being a one-dimensional human isn't possible yet I get the feeling that we're expected to operate on a one-dimensional plane when it comes to careers (more on that topic in a future post). For now I'm focused on using my talents and skills to build a legacy that my mom would be proud of. She passed on when I was just 3 years old. 

I am my mother's legacy.

On Legacies...

Late last year I lost one of my closest "sisters" after her three year battle with cancer. Her death and the prospect of mine (eventually) are what make me ponder leadership and legacies. Even as I type the words about her death it doesn't seem real to me. I simply can't process that she's not on the planet anymore. Her legacy is very strong. 

She was the wind beneath my wings during my crucial early years as a first-time mom. Being the super-charged career woman that I was at the time, I don't know what I would have done if it wasn't for her support and guidance. She was such a gift. For me her legacy is the love that we all felt when she doted on us - and her sons, and her husband, and her mom and siblings, and her grandchildren, and someday her future generations. She left us with a lot of love in our hearts. 

A legacy worthy of my sister-mom-friend.

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Everyone must leave something behind when [s]he dies...It doesn't matter what you do so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that's like you after you take your hands away

- Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

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On Leadership...

This past week President Obama delivered his last State of the Union (SOTU) address. For me he made being president seem really cool - beyond the typical "I'm in charge of the world" complexity, seriousness, and reverence that the office warrants. Terms like POTUS, FLOTUS, and SCOTUS (and many others) became part of my dictionary. Perhaps those terms existed before but I wasn't aware of them. 

In the past the office of President of the United States seemed so far away - over there somewhere. While POTUS is still quite an exhaulted position, it now seems reachable via the American dream. A sense of humor, insatiable drive, and uncommon intelligence are just a few of the necessary traits for someone who becomes POTUS.

By the way - what will we call the husband of our first woman president?

First Gentleman of the United States is the official term. FGOTUS doesn't quite have a cool ring to it, but I'm sure we'll adjust.

President Obama's legacy and tenacity will be the stuff of legend as history turns on the spotlight though many people have mixed and highly charged feelings about him today. Future generations will reflect on the transformational nature of his leadership along with all of the monumental shifts that were happening in our world during his time in office. 

So many monumental shifts...

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We live in a time of extraordinary change - change that's reshaping the way we live, the way we work, our planet, our place in the world. It's change that promises amazing medical breakthroughs, but also economic disruptions that strain working families. It promises education for girls in the most remote villages, but also connects terrorists plotting an ocean away. It's change that can broaden opportunity or widen inequality. And whether we like it or not, the pace of this change will only accelerate.

-President Barack Obama, State of the Union 2016

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No one can say with a straight face that they agree with everything that he did as president, but virtually everyone can acknowledge that he had one of the toughest jobs on the planet. I said "one of the toughest jobs" because being a mom is actually THE toughest job on the planet. 

On Leadership and Legacies...

Leadership is a tough job and few have the stamina that it takes to hold up under such extreme pressure. Many people fold when they get a negative critique from a friend or from a boss. Imagine getting critiqued by the entire planet for every move you make - and still being required to do your job. How many of us would simply walk away? It takes a special kind of energy to be POTUS.

He didn't invent climate change, but he took action along with 190 countries at COP21 in Paris. He didn't invent the need for comprehensive healthcare, but he took action to move a new reality forward for millions of uninsured Americans. He didn't invent coding, but he shined the spotlight on the economic necessity of gaining coding skills for 21st century viability. He's not a veteran of the U.S. military, but he is the Commander-in-Chief who helped to refocus the nation's attention on the highest price paid by women and men in uniform. He didn't create unequal pay for equal work, but he helped to redirect the trajectory of pay equity through executive action. The list goes on.

For me President Obama's legacy is about helping people - all kinds of regular and exceptional people.

On Managing Leadership and Legacies...

Shaping legacies of leadership take time and perseverance. Thanks to the Internet, social platforms, and countless tools and innovations, opportunities for documenting legacies is now easier than ever. I've seen several social profiles of friends that I know have passed on and it's comforting to know that there is a living record of their time on earth beyond the memories of family, friends, and colleagues. While most of the random chatter on social platforms doesn't quite rise to the level of "legacy", it is part of the dust that we leave behind so our presence out here should be carefully managed.

At this stage in my life and work, leadership and legacy are my focus - and I'll continue expand and refine my roles and use my talents however possible while building a legacy that my future generations can be proud of.

Leaders - what will be your legacy?

Thanks for dropping by to read my latest article. It's part of my legacy.

If you like this article and want to read more, support it with a like, a comment, or a share.

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Let's keep climbing!

The Oracle's Wisdom and Leadership for The Ages

"In the beginning...", said The Oracle

Last week I took Bill Gates advice and read Warren Buffett's 50th annual letter. Before I read it I reflected on other corporate letters that I had injested in the past which contained oft repeated tales of business cycles with promises of innovation, customer focus, superior performance, and future growth only to show something different in practice.

This letter was different. 

The candid, sharp, and humorous wisdom coming from the pages of Warren Buffett's "best annual letter ever" rightly earned Gates' high praise. Unlike the time many years ago when I attempted to read The Intelligent Investor in order to learn investment strategies directly from Buffett's mentor, I made it through the letter multiple times as if rereading a favorite novel.

As I read the letter I thought about what I might be like when I turn 84 - or 91 in the case of Charlie Munger. What would my legacy be and how would I secure it? My thoughts quickly morphed into a rapid stream of questions and queries about the impact of gender inequality and it's long-term effects on women's wealth and power. I wondered: 

Could Warren Buffett's wealth and power have been gained by a woman?

Of course this is a rhetorical question, but the context and sentiment are real. Based on what we know the answer to this question is 'yes' in theory and 'no' in practice - at least not yet. The artificial, historical, and persistent roadblocks that have stood in the way are moving - or are being moved - by changing times, through diligent effort, and with rapidly accelerating technological innovations.

As more women step forward to take the reigns of wealth and power, odds are increasing that there will be a female "Warren Buffett" at some point in the future - though the jump will be a long one. According to Forbes, Buffett's net worth as a self-made billionaire is $72.3 billion USD. The world's richest woman is Christy Walton whose inherited net worth is $41.7 billion USD (58% of Buffett's net worth).

Source: Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014

NOTE: Making a distinction between inherited and self-made billions makes me slightly uncomfortable as there is an implication that inherited wealth may not be as productive as self-made wealth. Wealth at this level is an accomplishment that few will ever achieve no matter the source.

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As I continued reading and thinking about the future that my daughter will inherit, I knew that I would take the time to review several of Buffett's annual letters with her as she prepares to take the reigns of her own life. 

Like never before the trajectories of wealth, business, and poverty can be altered in unexpected ways by women. The field of dreams is being reconstructed by technology and the knowledge economy so that the gates, ceilings, doors, and portals are wide open for all who want to play.

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The World's Richest Women

The richest women in the world mostly inherited their wealth. However, the ceiling has been shattered by 17% of female billionaires including Elizabeth Holmes, a Millenial who at 31 is the youngest female self-made billionaire ever with a net worth of $4.5 billion USD. 

Each of these women have obtained immense wealth and power to be leveraged to build even more wealth and power throughout the ages - and so the story goes.

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...I believe the chance of any event causing Berkshire to experience financial problems is essentially zero. We will always be prepared for the thousand-year flood; in fact, if it occurs we will be selling life jackets to the unprepared...

Warren Buffett's Annual Letter 2015 [p.34]

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Wealth is wherever one finds it, but the largest share of billionaires have made their fortunes in finance, banking, and investments. According to Wealth-X, the year 2020 will witness a double-digit increase in the billionaire population due to rapid technology innovations and cutting-edge ideas. Currently technology magnates make up only 4% of the world's richest people.

Source: Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014

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Women, Investing, and Poverty

Women are the top earners of college degrees. Women continue to build businesses in record numbers. Women run their households either as the 'head of household' or as the CFO in a partnership. Women out live men. 

So what's up with women when it comes to investing - another of those nagging questions?

It's one thing to break through gender barriers of corporate leadership, but it's yet another to capture and keep the wealth that's earned after having done so. All of this the hard won advantages point to a need for sound financial education and strategies. Research shows that women are apprehensive when it comes to investing.

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You can’t get rich trading a hundred-dollar bill for eight tens (even if your advisor has handed you an expensive “fairness” opinion endorsing that swap)

Warren Buffett's Annual Letter 2015 [p.28]

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Here's what can happen later in life without keeping your mind on your money:

Source: National Women's Law Center

Nope - I'm not a financial advisor (far from it). I'm a mother who is looking out for the well-being of my daughter. I'm teaching her about asset allocation, saving versus investing, entrepreneurship, leadership, management, and business relationships. For her last birthday she received several of Robert Kiyosaki's books along with her first business building kit. 

Periodically I require her to play 'Cash Flow' or 'JA Success Park' on her iPad and sometimes we play together. I'm quite passionate about these topics for her and for me. I don't know where all of this will take her, but I'm certain that if she doesn't have this type of education she will struggle unnecessarily. Junior Achievement is next on the list along with a continuation in STEM engagements. 

She will have on her life jacket when the thousand-year flood comes.

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The Oracle's Wisdom

There are huge gaps between gaining massive wealth on the level of Warren Buffett and poverty. Effective strategies can help to close those gaps over time. Elizabeth Holmes is off to a great start.

From building a strong corporate structure and culture to selecting and empowering the right kind of leaders to sticking with what works, The Oracle's Wisdom is leadership for the ages. Though it was hard to narrow down the list for this post, here are a few of my favorite notes from Buffett's 50th annual letter:

[1] Forget what you know about buying fair businesses at wonderful prices; instead, buy wonderful businesses at fair prices

[2] It’s hard to teach a new dog old tricks

[3] It is entirely predictable that people will occasionally panic, but not at all predictable when this will happen

[4] It is madness to risk losing what you need in pursuing what you simply desire

[5] Character is crucial

[6] My successor will need one other particular strength: the ability to fight off the ABCs of business decay, which are arrogance, bureaucracy and complacency

[7] An incoming CEO should be relatively young, so that he or she can have a long run in the job

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Thanks for reading my latest article. Now for the fun part - what have you learned from reading Warren Buffett's 50th annual letter? Comment, like, or share.

Unconventional Models of 21st Century Leadership

We're well into the 21st century and it's clear that the pace of change is accelerating in every possible way except perhaps our general acceptance of those changes. 

It's almost trite to say how much change there is in technology, in business, and in leadership. Still I'm going to say it - the pace of change is astounding!

Industrial Age models spell death to all who want to hold onto those rules and structures. There's nothing left to do except to tranform into 21st century models of leadership - or die.

A bit melodramatic? Not really. The churn rate and demise of companies that don't transform is accelerating.

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US corporations in the S&P500 in 1958 remained in the index for an average of 61 years. By 1980, the average tenure of an S&P500 firm was 25 years, and by 2011 that average shortened to 18 years based on seven year rolling averages

At current rates 75% of S&P500 will be replaced by 2027

Innosight: Creative Destruction Whips Through Corporate America [i]

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Source: Innosight (2012)

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Out With The Old, In With The Bold

Innovative Apple Inc. is set to replace historic AT&T Inc. as part of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) after the close of trading on Wednesday, March 18th. The implications of the shift are many. While I'm not an expert in financial markets, to me this shift signals a profound change in how we measure the future of our success and which companies get to design that future.

Hold on - this article isn't really about Apple (~39 years old) and AT&T (~130 years old) though the timing of the change couldn't be more perfect...

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...today's leaders face extraordinary new challenges and must learn to think differently about their role and how to fulfill it

McKinsey Quarterly: Leading in the 21st Century [ii]

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The question that I've been looking to answer is "what models of 21st century leadership are emerging as the most effective?" Here are a few examples of sharp contrast between "Old" (20th Century) and "Bold" (21st Century) leadership structures.

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"Old" 20th Century Leadership is often referred to as autocratic. Can we agree that this model has run its course?

Unconventional Leadership Defined

CEO Ricardo Semler is the very definition of unconventional leadership. He recently gave a TED Talk on "How to Run a Company with (Almost) No Rules" where he explained methods that have been in use for 30 years within his company and charities. His vision is as intriguing as Apple's innovations and his results are just as dramatic when it comes to organizational elightenment - or as he would say - organizational wisdom.

Semler has done away with the "boarding school" mentality that requires individuals to check in or check out at specific times. He believes that individuals should be in control of their own time. In fact he doesn't even want to know what office you're working from or which days you'll be there. 

Employees at Semco set their own salaries based on data points provided by the company. They are also permitted to "buy back" their time while they are still fairly young with more time and less money in order to live meaningful lives rather than waiting until they are older with less time and more money. Future subordinates determine their future leaders. Board meetings have a few open seats for whoever decides to show up. Sometimes those extra seats are filled by members of the cleaning crew.


This is Corporate Democracy - and it's working...


Under Semler's vision, Semco has grown through tough times at 27.5% per year for 14 years and continues its growth trajectory. Semler credits the responsive company culture which is able to open and close areas rapidly for their strong growth. 

Netflix and Zappos along with multiple companies in Japan and Holland have implemented variations of the Semco model.

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...leaders that succeed in te 21st century will be the ones capable of managing that paradox of need and want...

...it is not about getting people to do what you want them to do, it is about enabling them to do what they want to do

Morgan Witzel, Centre for Leadership Studies [iii]

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Companies with Two Heads

No - that's not a typo. Some companies such as Oracle, Whole Foods, Deutsche Bank, Samsung, and Chipotle really do operate with two or three CEOs. As with the corporate democracy model of leadership, multi-headed leadership structures are not applicable for every company. 

This type of company structure is designed to increase scope and capacity while ensuring decision-making coverage if one of the CEOs is unavailable. Challenges with these types of leadership models include client confusion, disagreements at the top, and the introduction of inefficiencies into the organizational structure.

It's been said that a house divided against itself can't stand. However, there are companies that are divided at the top and are working well.

21st Century Leadership Mantra 

Whether you're part of a fast moving corporate democracy, in a two-headed behemoth, or atop an autocracy, the 21st century leadership mantra - if there is one - seems to be: 

Move fast. Stay open. Be wise. Switch directions as needed. Globalize. Go social. Be great. Keep climbing!