First Word

Today's topic du jour is about distraction and work-life balance. Since my operations manager position has yet to be filled and won't be until I have complete trust in the person right for the job, I have the details on my plate. As an editor I am generally detail-oriented. These days between operations details, company sales and project work, I find I am driven to distraction. Then I start thinking, "I must be getting old." Well, I did celebrate a birthday yesterday so maybe ... but here are my thoughts on "too many thoughts." First, life is to be enjoyed and not bogged down. I often remind myself of this "detail" as I begin to feel like some invisible pressure from heaven is bearing down on me. I am my boss. Who exactly is going to chastise me? Oh yeah ... me! So, as my boss I give myself permission to be realistic -- there are only so many hours in the day. Don't play at your desk, of course, but don't be so hard on yourself. Second,...

About the 10th time the cat's paw reached up and grabbed my hand on the mouse, I thought, "I'm going to come unglued." Then the paw reached up and scratched me, "That's it! I AM coming unglued." Ever feel that about work and life? Americans are a bunch of unglued workaholics ... well, not all but many. My friend the other day said to me, "You're CEO. You don't get to give your 100 percent; you always have to give your 110 percent every single day." He's right. I know all you CEOs and entrepreneurs out there are nodding. It's not enough to give only a 100 percent and call it a day. The demands of the business, including the ongoing financial demands to keep the framework and walls all in place take a lot of effort. As owner of the company I am responsible for it all. I have to keep the "glue" going. But some days I just feel unglued, especially when the obnoxious cat won't stop clawing my busy typing fingers. BUT ...

You have to make a conscious decision to balance your life. For years, I have been working round the clock in sacrifice of my personal life. In the beginning launching my company 3L Publishing . Launching a new business can be time consuming. Now six years later, I am past the launch phase, but I still find my business consumes my personal time. But I'm ready to have a personal life again. So, you have to look at the whole picture. I have been seeking work-life balance for years. And with a new man in my life who I am serious about, I want to spend time with him. Yet the work still hangs in the balance, so it's up to me to make some changes to get the balance, well, balanced. Here are three things for all you workaholics out there who struggle with life balance, too. Institute some boundaries, meaning put in definite work hours . It's okay if here and there you have to work overtime; but make a real effort to make that the exception not the rule. If your plate is always...