Friday, April 01, 2011
We work, work, work, work, work, work, work, work...
My blog was dormant for a long time mainly due to heavy work demands on my time.
The dwarves sang their working song with such joy. I enjoy my work, but I don't live for it. However, being a consultant leads to busy times and slow times. You dread the slow times because consulting is all about utilization (i.e., being busy). You dread the busy times because they usually lead to trade offs in life between long work hours, family time, helping with homework, volunteer activities, etc. For me personally, the trade off is usually met by cutting back on activities that are fun for me personally and sleep.
The key is to remember that this is all a phase. The need to spend time with the kids for homework, volunteer work for their groups, etc. is drawing to a close soon. Bethany will be away from home next Fall leaving us with just 3 people at home. Hayley is just 3 school years behind her. I expect that a few years from now I'll look back at these times fondly and wonder why they are gone. I am saving up a lot of the fun things that I want to do for then when I will have the time to do them. Maybe that will keep me from looking backwards too often.
I have heard an expression that no one ever gets to the end of their life and regrets that they didn't work more hours. Really? I'm sure that there are plenty of people that are miserable at the end of their life because they weren't willing to put in enough work hours. For me, the trick is balance. I need to work enough to provide for my family and hopefully have something left over to retire someday. However, I need to be around my family enough to enjoy and share the fruits of my labor. I hope that I will look back at the end of my life and think that I found a good balance of work, family, and meeting my personal needs.
The dwarves sang their working song with such joy. I enjoy my work, but I don't live for it. However, being a consultant leads to busy times and slow times. You dread the slow times because consulting is all about utilization (i.e., being busy). You dread the busy times because they usually lead to trade offs in life between long work hours, family time, helping with homework, volunteer activities, etc. For me personally, the trade off is usually met by cutting back on activities that are fun for me personally and sleep.
The key is to remember that this is all a phase. The need to spend time with the kids for homework, volunteer work for their groups, etc. is drawing to a close soon. Bethany will be away from home next Fall leaving us with just 3 people at home. Hayley is just 3 school years behind her. I expect that a few years from now I'll look back at these times fondly and wonder why they are gone. I am saving up a lot of the fun things that I want to do for then when I will have the time to do them. Maybe that will keep me from looking backwards too often.
I have heard an expression that no one ever gets to the end of their life and regrets that they didn't work more hours. Really? I'm sure that there are plenty of people that are miserable at the end of their life because they weren't willing to put in enough work hours. For me, the trick is balance. I need to work enough to provide for my family and hopefully have something left over to retire someday. However, I need to be around my family enough to enjoy and share the fruits of my labor. I hope that I will look back at the end of my life and think that I found a good balance of work, family, and meeting my personal needs.
# posted by - Rob @ 11:04 PM 
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I envy your job in that you are not only producing a product, but selling it overseas. It's on your back that all us government employees depend. I hope one day to think of a way to start a productive business.
It's all about balance.
Diana is still trying to figure this out. She tends to overwhelm herself because she has the things she needs to do (school, job) and then the things she wants to do (hang out & draw commissions). She winds up doing the all-nighters for both school and drawings.
I think I have a pretty good balance most of the time, but the housework & yardwork suffer from being the lowest priority - whether I'm delegating or doing it myself.
Oh well - the tall grass in the backyard makes for a fun Easter Egg hunt (and interestingly colorful mowing later!).
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Diana is still trying to figure this out. She tends to overwhelm herself because she has the things she needs to do (school, job) and then the things she wants to do (hang out & draw commissions). She winds up doing the all-nighters for both school and drawings.
I think I have a pretty good balance most of the time, but the housework & yardwork suffer from being the lowest priority - whether I'm delegating or doing it myself.
Oh well - the tall grass in the backyard makes for a fun Easter Egg hunt (and interestingly colorful mowing later!).
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