I meet with a group of guys every other week as part of a mastermind group. None of us have met in person, only online. All of us have wives, multiple kids, and our families are very important to us. We are also all creating content geared toward helping other families.
Family, Work, Life, Balance…is HARD!
Today, we all discussed the pull on men to spend more time outside of the home working on our careers to ultimately provide for our families. Many people call this family or work life balance, and we all agreed it is hard.
As we talked we realized we aren’t any different than any other man with a family. Most men wholeheartedly accept the responsibility of providing for our families. One way we are trying to be different, and what has brought us together, is we are fighting to not just accept this practice of sacrificing time with our family in pursuit of ways to provide.
Instead we are intentionally fighting against the grain to not sacrifice the time with our family in pursuit of this. It is so easy for us to spend so much time working to provide. All of us battle this thing constantly. I can only speak for myself in saying I fall short in this area a lot. And it is frustrating as all get out!
Frustrated but determined to win
That frustration and my inability to solve that problem is what led me to blogging in the beginning, and keeps me creating content for other husbands, dads, and men like me. I’ve written a book about it, called the Family Leader Manifesto.
In the book I reveal three things that men can do to help them win this battle of “work life balance” and help them love and lead their families in a way that leaves them without regrets. If you haven’t read my book yet, I encourage you to check it out. I’m giving it away free to my blog readers and email subscribers.
I’d love your feedback on the book. I’m planning to start a podcast based on the same challenges. In the podcast I’ll be interviewing other men (and some women) who have had some success in this area. I’d love to know what specific topics you’d like me to discuss here on my blog, and in the future on my podcast.
If there was one area you’d like to improve on when it comes to family, work and life balance what would it be?
I’ve been trying to “batch” my learning lately. Here’s what I mean by that. Most of us understand the idea of “batching” our work. I’ll write five blog post in one morning so that my month’s content is ready. Well, I now try to batch my learning. When i read a leadership book or blog post or a productivity book or blog post I use to ask myself; “Okay, how is this going to help me at work?” Now, I think “how does this apply to leading myself? Leading my family? Leading my team? Leading my community?”
I like that idea, Eric. Thanks for sharing!
Man, you’re so blessed to have a group like that…lol.
Seriously though, this is a challenge and it helps when you have people who are in the fight with you and helping you to stay accountable in not sacrificing your family for a bigger house, TV, car, or boat.
Great article, Jackie. On an important topic, too.
I’ve struggled with the “work-life balance” thing for pretty much my entire adult life. I’ve never accepted that it’s a requirement to sacrifice my relationships with my wife and kids on the altar of career “success,” but sometimes it seems like that’s the way things are going.
When I worked in retail, sometimes I was at the store 20 hours a day, 6 or 7 days a week. As a freelancer, sometimes I spend all day chopping away at the computer keyboard, half oblivious to anything else.
Sustaining family relationships is something you have to be intentional about.
Quick example: I didn’t go to sleep last night so I could work on some important projects. While that’s not a good thing, part of the reason I didn’t get to bed is because I dedicated 2 hours of family time yesterday evening.
I always help get my kids ready in the morning. I almost always welcome them home from school and see how their day went.
Not to brag on myself…I still have plenty of room to grow.
Thank God for the support of likeminded men and leadership from guys like you, Jackie.
P.S. Devin–does this mean Jackie wins?
I believe we can all agree that we have room to grow. We’re human, and we’re men, so that’s two strikes against us (and all the women said, Amen!).
I was thinking the same thing, Donnie. Looks like Jackie won. I have to get back on my game. I will likely post something about it tomorrow.
LOL! “and all the women said, Amen!” LOUDLY…haha
You speak the truth, my friend! Thanks for sharing…that encouraged me.
Jackie wins.
If only there were a prize!
I agree 100!!