I’m always on the lookout for interesting topics to blog about. I’m indebted to the wonderful Rene Shimada Siegel of High Tech Connect for turning me and numerous others on to “Balance Of Work And Life is a Myth” by Stephen Shapiro.
It’s actually taken me a couple of readings of this article to get Mr. Shapiro’s message. Which is: attempting to balance your life and your work is probably not possible. Instead, you should aim for integration, in which you combine work with what really interests you. Mr. Shapiro cites the example of a couple, Gary and Deb, who blend Gary’s passion for travel with Deb’s deep interest in charitable causes. Gary and Deb drive around the country in a huge motor home that serves as a rolling billboard for a charitable foundation while Gary works his job—which he enjoys—in door-to-door sales.
Sounds ideal, doesn’t it? Well, maybe not for us introverts. I still tend to wince when I see a car wrap job zip by, complete with a photo of the business owner. I mean, it doesn’t seem very private, does it? (Well, no, I hear you saying, that’s the point!) On the other hand, I have been known to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
What’s valuable (to me) in what Mr. Shapiro is saying is that people who have successfully achieved work-life integration have refused to wait for retirement to live. Instead, they’ve exerted some creativity, taken some risks, and asked for what they want.
Any integration success stories you’d care to share?
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