Found on www.247Advisor.com
Work Less, Live More
By Ellen Thompson
Oct 5, 2006, 11:49
Last week, I attended a breakfast for Founders and CEOs of fast growth companies. Before the program began, I started a conversation with the fellow next to me. After a short and typical “networking” exchange, covering topics such as the traffic on the way to the event and what business our respective companies are in, we got to the question of how early we had to wake up to arrive on time. On this particular morning, I got up extra early so I could take my father-in-law downtown for a continuing education course. My neighbor mentioned that he had already put an hour in at the office.
Minutes later, the program began and the organizer of the breakfast was extolling the entrepreneurial work ethic – you know the one - where the leader of the company arrives at work first, leaves last, and puts in a minimum of 60 hours a week. From the general reaction of the audience, I got the feeling that this described the typical work week of most of the people in the room.
I am an exception to this particular entrepreneurial credo. My company was probably the smallest one represented at the event, and maybe this has something to do with my 40-45 hour work weeks.
We would certainly be a bigger, stronger and faster company if we made slaving away 24/7 a part of our corporate culture. Instead, we made the conscious decision to stop working as much, and start living more. Our company is not as big or strong as it could be, and we’re OK with it. We’re spending the extra 20 hours a week raising children, spending time with friends and family and helping others.
This has been a hard year for my company’s employees. Though we are all physically well, many of our family members are struggling with newly diagnosed medical conditions. Many of us have buried family and friends that were dear to us, including one person in his early 30’s whose life was cut short by cancer.
These hardships have served to remind us of the importance of our work/life balance and affirm the decisions we have made in this regard. We work hard, but not to the detriment of the things that really matter: our family and dearest friends.
Sure, I used to brag about my big fancy office and pat myself on the back for putting in very long hours, but not today. My priorities have changed. I now find myself bragging about the fact that I can work from home, wake up my 7 year old and take the time to snuggle with him in the morning. I can take a break in the middle of the day to meet a friend, or have a cup of coffee with my husband. Most days, I’m home in time to walk my child to our house from the bus stop.
Oh, and I also brag that we’ve grown organically by over 85% a year for the past two years despite being the entrepreneurial equivalent of slackers.
Most importantly, I want you to know that you can be an entrepreneur and still live life well. You can have your cake and eat it, too.
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