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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Women and The World Economic Forum 2016: A World Far, Far Away

"Hey mister - look up! You're missing the best part..."

While selecting the image that would best capture my perspectives on this year's World Economic Forum, I came across this one showing a man with his head down and a fuzzy image of a woman walking by. That's how it feels sometimes - Women in Leadership are out front moving forward at a rapid pace yet some decision-makers may not see us because they're looking down (or backwards).

The World Economic Forum 2016 (#WEF) is now in the record books and there is much work to be done to continue building the world that a majority of us desire. As in years past I participated remotely, sometimes live streaming and sometimes through playbacks. Either way it was important for me to pay close attention to the state of our world as discussed by the best, the wealthiest, and the brightest through cutting-edge research, deliberate actions, and alarming foresight.

As expected WEF didn't disappoint with its long list of heads - Heads of State, Heads of Companies, Heads of Non-Profit Organizations, Heads of Research, Global Shapers, Young Global Leaders, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Celebrities, and many others totaling 2500 individuals. It was noted many times that the number of women in Davos ticked up only slightly from previous years to 18% this year. WEF organizers ensured that women were represented in sessions, at press conferences, and during panel discussions. Women were everywhere in Davos - except where they weren't in the world far, far away.

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Since 2006, an extra quarter of a billion women have entered the labor force. And yet, the annual pay for women only now equals the amount men were earning TEN YEARS AGO

-World Economic Forum (Global Gender Gap Report 2015)

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Women and The World Economic Forum 2016

By now we recognize familiar stats on Women in Leadership from CEOs to the workforce population at large. Research and resolution initiatives continue to let us know the challenges we face on gender parity and to a large degree the solutions that will help us to close the gaps. The will to transform our world continues to grow. 

So if we know what's happening and we know what to do about it, then...

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Women in Leadership - A Call To Action

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This year one of the most exciting and effective discussions on gender parity occurred on the WEF main stage with Melinda Gates, Sheryl Sandberg, Justin Trudeau, Zhang Xin, and Jonas Prising moderated by Lyse Doucet on Progress Towards Parity. In addition to setting the baseline with stats and historical context, the panelists pivoted to solutions - really great solutions.

Melinda Gates (Co-Founder of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) emphasized the crucial importance of health, planning, and role modeling. Sheryl Sandberg (COO of Facebook, LeanIn.org) delivered insights on the toddler wage gap and cultural expectations. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister of Canada) highlighted women's frequently low expectations of themselves in politics and the need to step forward. Jonas Prising (CEO of Manpower) noted that women are more educated than men, resulting in "sub-optimization on a massive scale" when women aren't leveraged fully. Zhang Xin (Co-Founder and CEO SOHO China) shared reflections on a society where everyone worked and where women are seen as natural entrepreneurs. 

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...goals are only wishes unless you have a plan

-Melinda Gates, Co-Founder of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

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Additionally there were questions from the audience on gender and race, gender and faith, and male engagement. Denise Bradley-Tyson (President of San Francisco Film Commission, Entrepreneur) added context on gender and race where stats are dismal across the board. Defined as "double-jeopardy", gender bias comes with an intense set of expectations that have to be realigned.

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Denise Bradley-Tyson (President of San Francisco Film Commission, Entrepreneur)

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This progressive panel weighed in heavily with 21st century mindsets about ways to change what ails us. Here's a short list of their recommendations to help bring gender parity closer to the here and now:

• [1] Role model new expectations at home and at work
• [2] Redistribute the workload at home and at work
• [3] Secure sponsors versus mentors for career support
• [4] Join support orgs and don't try to go it alone

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So what's my plan?

My mornings often begin with journal entries followed by lots of research, reading, and sharing - lots of reading. Then I share what I've read with my daughter on the way to school. Our commute is quite long so we have lots of time to talk. Though she's still a preteen I want her to have benefit of extensive knowledge - and a plan. 

Sometimes she wishes I would just let the radio play (and I do - occasionally).

I share with her news about what's happening with the The Future of Jobs and how her life and contributions benefit the world. We talk about her vision for school, work, and family. We talk about why it's important for her to know how to code. We talk about STEM careers versus traditional careers - and why she must choose paths that are less traveled. We share tips about music, fashion, pop culture, entrepreneurship, and her friends...all the while I'm helping her to set expectations and plan her future.

We also talk about the UN Sustainable Development Goals and which ones we want to focus on together and separately. It's hard to choose, but it's necessary in order for us to be most effective with our resources. Gender Equality (#5) is my choice and No Poverty (#1) is hers. Our plans are interwoven into our lives through the activities and organizations that we participate in or through the initiatives that we drive.

My plan-in-motion is to first set the example for my daughter and then to role model, support, and sponsor others as they build plans of their own. So far it's working...  

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UN Sustainable Development Goals

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Leaders - what's your plan to help bring gender parity from a world far, far away to right here, right now?

Keep the conversation going with a like, a relevant comment, or a share.

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Let's keep climbing!

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Women's Leadership Continues to Transform Our World

As the 2016 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting approaches during the week of January 20 - 23 in Davos, Switzerland the spotlight will undoubtedly be shown on women's leadership around the world - how far we've come, what's happening now, who's doing what, and how far we have to go to achieve gender parity. This will be my third year of remote "active" participation in sessions that for me have become mandatory. This year's agenda will focus on Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

At WEF some of the world's best minds will showcase the latest research, resources, actions, and innovations while opening pathways for discussions and dissenting opinions. I've read articles from various sources who decry the "closed" nature of the meetings and I simply don't understand their challenges. I have all of the access I need and I don't have to travel to Switzerland in mid-winter to participate - at least not yet. Lead on WEF!

Leading up to WEF Annual Meetings, there are local, regional, and global communities, open forums, and events that one can participate in depending on interests and focus areas such as Civil Society, Academic Networks, Technology Pioneers, Strategic Partners, Women Leaders and Gender Parity, and many more. Detailed reports are posted in wide-ranging categories by year, type, region, and topic. Whatever pieces of knowledge that one has a desire to grasp - it's at your fingertips.

Women's Leadership Around the Globe

While reflecting on women's leadership for this article, I had one of my favorite Beyonce songs playing in the background for extra emphasis. "Who run the world? Girls!" - an empowering message for sure. Since 100% of humans come to the planet via women who were once girls, who can argue with Queen Bey?! 

Yet some still try...

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...we're smart enough to make these millions - strong enough to bear the children then get back to business...

- Beyonce (Run the World (Girls))

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The impact of women's leadership around the globe is undisputed by the facts though statistically speaking numbers are still challenging. Research and ten years of data have made it possible for all to see the situation that we've gotten ourselves into by holding back the capabilities of half of the human population. Highlights from the Global Gender Gap Report 2015 show areas of concern and areas of progress in economy, education, politics, and health.

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Ten years of measuring the global gender gap has helped us understand how lack of progress is damaging global economic growth, and given us insights into how practical measures can support growth and improve the quality of life for women worldwide

- World Economic Forum (Global Gender Gap Report 2015)

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Businesses with more women in leadership positions do better in the marketplace - undisputed. Institutions of higher learning are graduating more women at all levels - undisputed. The rate of households headed by women is increasing - undisputed. Medical breakthroughs for women by women are accelerating - undisputed. Women's entrepreneurship is growing at unprecedented levels - undisputed. 

Who run the world? Girls!

Highlights of women's global leadership must always recognize Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai for her work on girl's and children's education, German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her strong humanitarian leadership, and Melinda Gates for her outstanding contributions to advancements in health for women, girls, and infants. 

Here are a few (very few) worthy highlights on Women's Leadership Around the Globe.

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These women and so many more are moving the dials of progress in positive directions for the common good. All are incredibly impressive and are a few of the most influential people on the planet. Be inspired!

Women leaders around the world - while you're creating some of the coolest innovations or handling some of the most difficult breakthroughs in technology, business, society, or elsewhere -

Keep Calm and Lead On!

Who would you add to the list? Share your insights by commenting, liking, or sharing.

#ILookLikeAnEngineer Helps To Combat Stereotypes in High Tech

#ILookLikeAnEngineer was started this week by Isis Wegner, a self-taught Enterprise Software Engineer with OneLogin. 

In just a few days her hashtag has taken on a life of its own with over 1.2 million hits on Google and over 50,000 retweets and pictures on Twitter. I'm fully on-board with this viral campaign to combat stereotypes in High Tech and I've added the hashtag to my profile pictures on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ - and I'm posting it wherever I can. 

The point is clear - don't judge a woman in Hi-Tech (or anywhere else!) through an outdated lens!

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Here's my story of how #ILookLikeAnEngineer

I decided to become an Electrical Engineer in my teens at a time when nothing seemed hard and everything seemed possible. I was right - it wasn't hard and everything is possible - so I did as I had planned.

Back then we didn't have STEM terminology and I knew nothing about the vast array of challenges that I would face in the world and in the workplace. All I knew was that I wanted to be an Electrical Engineer and I was singularly focused on achieving that goal. Solving difficult intellectual and practical problems made my soul happy (still does).

After graduating from High School, I got an earnest introduction to my first career love when I joined the U.S. Air Force in the Delayed Enlistment Program. I signed up for a role as an Electrician Specialist, departed for boot camp 6 months later, and never looked back. The path that I had chosen was the right one and I thrived on it.

I served our country with a young patriot's heart, eager to do my best as a soldier as my first priority while taking classes in the evenings as my second priority. I was a disciplined soldier and I still live by the same values:

 "Integrity First, Service before Self, Excellence in All We Do" 

I completed my tour after the Gulf War began and then stepped onto the world stage ready to take my place - somewhere.

After completing my Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from the University of Florida at Gainesville, I joined Corporate America where I began to see how segmented the world really was. While in the military or in school I didn't pay too much attention to the pockets of people that would form in lunch rooms, in break rooms, in meeting rooms, at house parties, or at restaurants. I noticed, but I didn't dwell on it.

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Isis Wegner - Self-Taught Enterprise Software Engineer @ OneLogin

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I knew that I was unique. I also knew that I had the mental chops to hang with the smartest of the smart - and that made me proud instead of apprehensive. My friends were as diverse as they came in those days - Black, White, Asian, Indian, Hispanic, Caribbean, Haitian, Canadian, German, Polish, English - tall, short, medium, strange, genius, weird - almost all males. I had a great time with these amazing individuals and I enjoy seeing their updates from time to time on Facebook or on LinkedIn.

Who says 

men and women can't just be friends?

Never mind the comments of Nobel Laureate Tim Hunt. We were friends - the cool kind - and we cared for and supported each other through tough classes, through life transitions, and beyond into our early careers. Life has taken over and many of us have lost touch, but I have no doubt that we will pick up in familiar territory when we meet again. 

We were cool, proud geeks - Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Computer Scientists, Semiconductor Engineers, and a Bio-Medical Engineer - just one in our group. We expected that we would have great technology careers and we were right.

Wait for it...

After spending a couple of decades in the corporate world, I'm still in love with my start as an Electrical Engineer. I've held roles as a Semiconductor Device Engineer, Wireless Data Test Engineer, Wireless Data Network Engineer, Telecom Technical Advisor, and Senior Technical Consultant - all during the first stage of my career. I was ambitious and hard working to say the least.

Over the years my career options expanded with advanced degrees, professional development programs, personal growth engagements, leadership stretch assignments, mentorships, and sponsorships. Each of the opportunities gave me tremendous experience and insight into the inner workings of the C-Suite and Corporate Functions. 

I was often the "only one" selected for various types of leadership programs because as the saying goes "there simply wasn't anyone else available." The landscape in Hi-Tech must continue to change in more ways than gender. I have a daughter who will be in the middle of the fray in a decade or so and I refuse to watch it go down for her the way it's gone for so many others.

I don't want her to face the surprised look on her colleagues' faces when she enters a room simply because of her gender or color. I don't want her to be given a double-take as if she's lost when entering decision-makers' meetings (unless she's actually lost!). I don't want her to experience disrespectful cat calls and other types of "harmless humor" from the males around her.

While these things don't happen all the time, they happen way too much for way too many women - so given the opportunity to change minds about women in Hi-Tech in a collaborative global chorus with something as simple as an impactful hashtag, I'm all in. There's much other work to be done and I'm in there as well.

To professional women in Hi-Tech who are just beginning your careers or who are in mid stride or to those of you who still hold wide-eyed amazement at what's possible in Hi-Tech careers, hang on to your vision! Change is here. 

If the original path that you laid out doesn't pan out as you thought it would, then find new ways to do what you're passionate about. Hi-Tech needs you so don't give up on it. Electrical Engineering is part of my career DNA and I'm proud to support #ILookLikeAnEngineer.