Balance Your Managerial Life

We have only one life, but we live in threethat John Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems has
overlapping worlds-our business world,also
our family world, and our other social world.achieved. An interviewer, asked, "What would
Imagine bringing your spouse and kidsyou like to have accomplished and
to a meeting with seven of your salespersonnel.what's next after Cisco?""The most important
Sitting off to your left, Miss Wrightthing to me is my family, and that doesn't change.
asks the question on the minds of all her fellowMy wife of
sales colleagues, "Why did you bring25 years is a perfect balance for me. When I
your family to our meeting today? Will they beget down, which I occasionally do, she
playing any sort of role in ourbrings me up, and on rare occasions if I get a
discussion?" You simply respond, "No, they're justlittle bit too confident she brings me
here so I can tend to their needs."Of course, thisback down to earth too.""I've got two kids I'm
is a highly unlikely scenario. You don't bring yourtremendously proud of and they are my life; so
family into workmy family is
with you every day. However, Heather Howittfirst, second, and third in terms of my priorities.
does. Howitt, the CEO of Oregon ChaiAnd when I'm at home, as my wife
in Portland, Oregon, balances motherhood withreminds me when I walk in the door, I'm not the
her responsibility of running anCEO anymore. So at home, I'm like
eleven million dollar manufacturer of tea lattes.anybody else. Carrying out the garbage, changing
"Our office is a very casual place.the light bulbs, and so on.""And what will I do after
We've got a family element going on here."Livingthis? I will teach when I retire. I think giving back
in the rain soaked city of Portland, 32-year-oldto the
Howitt often arrives at hercommunity is the right thing to do. It'd be terrible
office lightly splattered with mud. She oftento be perhaps the most
spends her lunch break taking her one-successful company in history and not give back.
year-old son, Sawyer, to a nearby park, or toSo I'm not going to go work for
her nanny who takes him home. Onanother company after Cisco. When I retire
other days, she simply places him in his crib infrom Cisco, I'm done with the business
her office.With the growth of her company,world and I will probably go teach. Young people
Howitt hired some key executives including a chiefare so much fun to interface with
.... How do you teach ethics, and how do you
operating officer to manage operations andteach integrity earlier on? To do that
finance. She also delegated the saleswould just be a blast!"7Chambers illustrates how
calls that she used to make herself. "I used toa proper balance between one's executive
come in at 6 a.m. and make callsperformance
nonstop," she explained. "I don't have to do thatand other dimensions of life can contribute to
anymore." Howitt positionedboth personal fulfillment and
herself in a way so that she is no longerbusiness success. An awareness of the need for
personally over-worked or over-challengedbalance has prompted many
by her daily responsibilities at the company. Sheexecutives to make some crucial decisions in
balanced her business and privatetheir day-to-day business and
life. She not only recognized her strategicpersonal life that protected them from failure so
contribution to the success of Oregonthey could just become an
Chai, but she also appreciates her unique role in"enduring survivor."But, no doubt, you want more
the life of her young son.1As an entrepreneur orfrom life than just maintaining a mere survivor
a business executive, you must give your best inlevel.
two entirelyYou want to excel as an executive leader, and
different worlds. The needs of your business andalso thrive, not merely survive, in your
the needs of your family andpersonal life. So beyond the awareness that
friends compete for your time and attention. Andcomes from self-assessment and
both expect the very best fromevaluation of your priorities, there are additional
you. Heather Howitt found one way to do it; yousteps to take in order to reach the
may have another way.To enjoy both thetop level of having all that life can
rewards of business success and family fulfillment,offer.Forty-year-old Mark Holland is the founder of
you need toa thriving company, Ascend HR
constantly work to keep your balance. ToSolutions. At the beginning of every workweek
successfully tackle the challenges of ahe pulls out a message that reads:
fast-growing company, you need all the personal"Wendi is the most important person in my life.
resources that come from aMy family comes before work and
balanced life. "How do you develop a balancedother activities. I live my religion. I provide the
business personality?"Some entrepreneurialfinancial security for my family. Our
executives suffer from dangerous imbalance.home is a retreat from the challenges of the
Others achieveworld. I have a positive attitude,
top excellence in maintaining optimal balance.looking for and developing the strength in others.
"Early in my career, I use to thinkI help people develop and grow,
that entrepreneurship was more an art than aincluding, when appropriate, holding them
science, that it was a gift oraccountable. The outdoors provide a
something," says Cherrill Farnsworth. "I don'tneeded sanctuary and retreat for me."Holland
believe that anymore."2wrote this personal mission statement in 1998
Entrepreneurial leadership is not some automaticfollowing a major crisis in
personality trait or some artistichis business. That year the firm lost $800,000,
talent some people are just born with and otherswhich caused significant problems in
happen to lack. Instead,his partnership. Holland experienced so much
entrepreneurial effectiveness with a balanced lifestress that he lost nearly 20 pounds.Then a
is a dynamic process that youbusiness seminar inspired him to write down his
must constantly work at. If you don't keeplife mission statement.
developing and nurturing yourHolland admits that the seminar gave him "a
entrepreneurial personality, it might just die. Then,good smack upside the head." He
only drastic action might reviveresolved to never again sacrifice his family and
that entrepreneurial spirit.That's exactly whathealth for the sake of his business.Over a
happened to Sam T. Goodner. His softwaretwo-year period, Holland's personal mission
company, thestatement grew into a life plan
Austin-based Catapult Systems Corp., rankedfor himself and his wife. "We asked, 'What are
77th among the fastest growingthe important things? What do we
companies in America while Goodner served aswant to have happen before we die?'" Now they
the founding CEO. At age 33,have a 30-year planned life itinerary
Goodner decided to step down as CEO ofon a spreadsheet that covers college savings,
Catapult to take on the new challenge ofretirement, vacations, exercise
serving as CEO of Inquisite Inc., a Catapultregiments, relating to God and spiritual activities,
subsidiary that sells software over thework goals, personal growth, and
Internet. But Goodner soon found his new digs topersonal relationships.Holland constantly improved
be "harsher, more spartan" thanhimself by regularly pursuing clear, written
what he was accustomed to. "Half of it is actuallypersonal
under ground," he explained,goals and life motto. Writing down your personal
describing his much less attractive new officegoals and a life motto not only
space.But Goodner was not complaining. After all,helps you clarify the kind of balance you want to
it was his own idea to leave theachieve, but also gives you a
comfortable CEO position of Catapult with awritten reference to check week by week. Many
staff of 115, to head Inquisite Inc., withpeople refine their goals and motto
only 20 employees. But now something wasover several year's time.Mark Holland and his
wrong. To be sure, there were plenty ofwife, Wendi take long walks together at least
challenges to attend to. The phone rang for histwice a week
attention, paper kept filling the "in"with their two-year-old daughter on Mark's
box, and email messages steadily came in fromshoulders and their five-month-old son
employees, venders, and customers.snuggled in Wendi's front pack. Once a month, on
Every day, and every hour, urgent decisions hadone of those walks, they discuss
to be made, so much so thatand review their life plan thoroughly. "The plan is
anyone in his shoes could have beendynamic-it changes. It's been
overwhelmed by the "tyranny of the urgent."Butreally good for getting our relationship and our
increasingly, he felt like he was only reacting tolives back to where they needed to
demands and not taking abe," Holland says.8This practice of regularly
visionary proactive role any longer. And tooreviewing their life plan indicates that Holland
often, long hours of work would crowdprogressed
out what he'd prefer to do in his home andto the highest level of functioning under balancing
personal life. Even worse, he realizedones managerial life. At this top
that even if he could experience any gratificationlevel, you constantly implement action plans to
in his personal world, it could notimprove the balance of all five
make up for what was missing in his businessdimensions of your life.Paul N. Howell, CEO of
world."I had none of my entrepreneurial creativityHowell Corporation, named an additional crucial
left," Goodner reflected. "I was fallingcharacteristic of a successfully balanced
back on what was easy. You know that'sentrepreneurial executive: "The willingness
happening when you start just goingand demonstrated ability to conduct him-or
through your email all day long." Recognizing thatherself-on a high moral and ethical
his former entrepreneurial spiritlevel in both business and personal life. Without it,
was gone, he resigned and hired a new CEO tosuccess is uncertain and short
head the company.Perhaps Goodner had alreadylived."9At the highest level, people who interact
achieved financial independence and had otherwith you can see the sterling qualities of
worthyyour servant leadership. Your executive actions
goals to pursue in life. In that case, relinquishingare guided by clear plans that
his CEO position could be the bestcontinually balance and rebalance all the
decision to make. But could there have beendimensions of successful living:
another way to recover his1. Executive Success: Servant leadership,
entrepreneurial spirit with a healthy balance ofmanagement skills, and
attention to work, family, andcareer development.
friends?3Entrepreneurial functioning can range2. Loving Relationships: Serving family, friends,
from the low level, "You are personally overand the needy.
worked and over challenged"-to the most3. Healthy Lifestyle: Regular exercise, good diet,
desirable level, "You regularly implementand regular
action plans to improve every aspect of yourmedical care.
life."The lowest level of functioning leaves your4. Emotional Well-being: Stress management,
company endangered. Top managementrecreation, and
is personally over worked and over challenged.psychological stability.
The unrelenting urgent matters of5. Spiritual Maturity: Ethical character,
your business seem to demand so much of yourcommitment to ultimate
time that you go to work earliervalues, peace with God, and devoting oneself to
and earlier, and stay later and later into thelife's greatest
evening. You are like a runaway tire,spiritual priorities.At this level, you regularly
rolling down a steep hill, turning faster and faster"retreat" from your usual executive responsibilities
and faster until finally, you runto
out of control and then crash.Or, you might thinkrethink your personal mission, vision, and action
of it this way: The underlying foundation of yourplans. You deliberately make a
life at workcontinual concerted effort to maintain the delicate
and at home is built on sand instead of a solidbalance you need for a fulfilling
rock. Even the slightest storm willlife.Through years of identifying the best
plunge you into a danger area, damaging yourpractices of leading companies, 33 Dynamics,
relationships with your businessLLC has identified 33 essential dynamics for
associates and with your family and friends.Youmanagerial excellence. These dynamics
are barely surviving, but you are endangered likeare grouped under 6 major goals which address
a stick of dynamite that hassuch realities as leadership,
been lit; you don't have much time before thingscreating loyal employees, and achieving market
will blow up in your business, or indominance, just to name a few.The staff of 33
your family life, or in both. You must get out asDynamics Consulting is interested in helping people
soon as possible. But how? Youin their given
can't help but think, "There must be a betterprofession to become leaders in commerce by
way." And you are right! There is.An ancientimplementing sound business
Hebrew writing warns, "In vain you rise early andprinciples in these 33 areas of
stay up late, toiling formanagement.There's no need to live from job to
food to eat-for he [the Lord God] grants sleepjob or pay check to pay check. There are ways
to those he loves."4 God, whoto
created our reality, designed us and the worldget from survival mode to success, and the 33
for a better set of options."Over the past threeDynamics team can help you get
years, I've been able to identify gradually whatthere! Whether your company is struggling or
things I can givesolidly performing, the first step to
to my CPA, or to my bookkeeper, or to mymoving up to even higher levels is to rate your
office manager. I read about people whoown company in these 33 areas of
work 60 or 90 hours a week and buildbusiness dynamics. This practical rating tool is
multimillion-dollar businesses at the expenseincluded in our book, There's Room
of their health and family. Those aren't successat the Top, available at or Hammond, a sales
stories in my book. Success isexecutive was once quoted saying, "From where
having a multimillion-dollar business and the otherI stand, the
stuff, too," says 40-year-oldelevator to the top is, has been, and always will
Tom Melaragno, founder of the $7.6-millionbe 'out of order.' In order to get to
Compri Consulting, an IT consultingthe top, you'll have to take the stairs-and you'll
and staffing firm founded in 1992. Although hehave to take them one at a time."Now is the
put in 12-hour days when hetime to consider the steps that will take you to
started the business, today he works just 8 or 9the top of your game!"Balance Your Managerial
hours and makes sure he's there toLife" was excerpted from There's Room at the
watch his two sons' Little League baseball gamesTop: 33
in the summer and coach the olderDynamics for Managerial Excellence, 2004, pages
one's football team in the fall.5Taking a proactive44-51.© Copyright 2004, by Uxbridge
stance means you take control to invest your lifePublishing Ltd. Co. All rights reserved.1 Greco,
wisely. Scott2000, page 106.
Tinley is an extraordinary triathlete who has2 Barker, 2000, page 18.
competed in more than 350 triathlons3 Hyatt, 2000, pages 9-11.
including 19 Hawaii Ironman triathlons. The4 Psalm 127:2.
triathlon is an endurance sport5 Greco, 2000, page 110.
involving swimming, bicycling, and running.6 Inkpen, 2001, pages 76-81.
Amazingly, Tinley has won nearly 1007 Donlon, 2000.
races. "This sport is about a combination of8 Greco, 2000, page 107.
personal challenge, camaraderie, and9 Beatty & Burkholder, 1996, page 41.Matthew
achievement of self-knowledge," TinleyRekers, M.B.A., is the President and CEO of
explains.Tinley is more than just an athlete; he is33Dynamics LLC. He previously
also a successful entrepreneur. He co-served as the President and COO of Rekers and
founded a company that produced athleticCompany LLC. Mr. Rekers earned his
clothing-Tinley Performance Wear. HeB.S. in Business Administration, cum laude, from
and his partners built the business over 8 years,the University of South Carolina
reaching about $10 million in sales.with a major in accounting, and his M.B.A. degree
In 1992, they sold the company to Reebok. Butfrom Winthrop University. He is a
even more than just being abusiness consultant for 33Dynamics Consulting
triathlete and a wealthy businessman, Tinley isLLC. He can be contacted at
also appreciated as a writer, traveler,Visit our website at Rekers, Ph.D., M.B.A., is a
father, and husband. As productive as he is intenured professor at the University of South
many areas of life, he has not lostCarolina, and the Chairman and CEO of InterAct
sight of the balance he needs.Tinley explains theInternational, Inc. Dr. Rekers has 22
work-life balance he maintained over his 20-yearyears of executive experience in leading four
career as ancorporations as President or CEO, and
athlete, husband, father, and entrepreneur: "A lothas served on seven corporate boards. As a
of people have this image of self-Research Fellow at Harvard University,
management, that it means you have to driveDr. Rekers was mentored by Professor David
yourself and force yourself to getMcClelland who is internationally
things done without somebody looking over yourknown for his practical studies of executive and
shoulder. It is actually quite theemployee motivation. Professor
opposite: You have to force yourself to haveRekers has presented hundreds of seminars, and
balance in your life and be efficient inlectures in dozens of countries in
all things you do."6He has recognized theAfrica, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North
importance of what he calls a "precarious balanceAmerica, and the Middle East. He received
betweenhis Ph.D. in human developmental psychology
preparation, competition, professionalism, supportfrom the University of California, Los
systems, and the world ofAngeles. He is the author or editor of ten books
family, friends, and paying the rent." He has notand over 100 academic publications
lost sight of the fact that amongin applied psychology. He is a seminar leader for
the best things in life are family, friends, and aThere's Room at the Top Executive
quiet run in the park.This is the kind of balanceSeminars offered by 33Dynamics LLC.