This is Bulls**t: Work/Life Balance
This is Bulls**t: Work/Life Balance is an original piece from Seiden Leadership.
With all due respect to the very sharp Josh Bersin and fellow bloggers Laurie Ruettimann, Lance Haun, Sharlyn Lauby, and Kris Dunn, this is ridiculous.
First of all, the term “weisure” is a joke. We’re blending work and leisure? No, we’re not. These two things don’t mix. Ever see those billboards in airports showing smiling people sitting on the beach with their laptops? That’s weisure, and it’s pure fiction. In real life, if I’m on the beach with a laptop:
- I’m grumpy because my computer is getting sand in it.
- I’m annoyed that I can’t relax and enjoy my vacation.
- My head hurts from squinting on account of the glare from the screen.
- My family is upset that I’m not mentally present for them.
- My coworkers are wondering what the hell is wrong with me that I can’t step away from my laptop even when I’m at the beach.
So no, there’s no such thing as “weisure.”
Secondly, all the other terms to describe the same concept, including:
- Work/life balance
- Work/life choices
- Work/life integration
are equally as pathetic.
The problem here is the use of the term LIFE. See, the opposite of LIFE is DEATH; creating a second “opposite” of LIFE and calling it WORK creates a subliminal connection between WORK and DEATH. It’s subtle, it’s profound, and dooms the entire conversation into a bad set of choices.
(Work/life choice? I’ll choose LIFE, thank you.)
The work/life conversation also implies an external source of your problem: if your LIFE’s out of whack, then clearly the root problem is your a-hole boss, who is obviously loading you up on WORK and failing to realize this is your LIFE we’re talking about.
Bring in the integrity
If you like being moderately miserable, then by all means, continue this bullshit conversation. Go ahead. Keep trying to find a balance between LIFE and SOMETHING THAT IS NOT LIFE.
But, if you truly want to succeed, find your balance, and smile that easy, carefree smile you used to have as a child, then let’s start having a more honest conversation.
Repeat after me:
- There is no such thing as work life balance.
- There is no meanie boss harshing on your personal life.
- There is only you and your courage.
The only reason you are “out of balance” is that you are being a puss-ball about something in your life. Ask yourself: are you…
- Failing to dedicate yourself to a single goal, aka, “keeping your options open”?
- Setting backassward priorities, aka putting off that one big decision?
- Holding yourself back, aka out of fear of… something?
- Allowing others’ priorities (read: your obligations) to crowd out your passions?
You can complain you’re out of balance, but that’s bullshit. The problem is you. You’re not doing what you need to do to succeed. Instead, you’re pussy-footing through life, which is basically the same as asking others to push you around.
Take control of your time. It’s not a question of balance, it’s a question of courage.
Get some.
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2 Comments on “ This is Bulls**t: Work/Life Balance ”
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I made a decree a couple of years ago. When I take a vacation, I do not check work email or voice mails. Both of these have forwarding messages so that if someone is in need, they can contact my boss or colleagues.
I discovered a long time ago that there will always be work. Work will be there when you go away on vacation and it will be there when you get back.
If I took work with me on vacation. It was no longer a vacation. It’s actually now work, but at a pretty or cool place that I just spent a lot of money to be at, that I’m now not enjoying.
I swear I will never say the word “weis…” (and I won’t write it either)
Posted on 17. November 2009 at 18:32
One question..why do you have to go on holiday to escape your job? Shouldn’t this be more about ensuring your
passionate about whatever you are doing in life, whether that be work or not?
I feel a little sad for people who feel they need 2 weeks to “get away from the laptop”
or “not respond to emails”. Perhaps..you need a new job?
Second question…why is it a balance? it is LIFE…why not live and ensure that what you’re doing every day,
every minute is what inspires you..not detracts from you.
I love working whilst I’m away from my office, whether that be at home or in another country, I love what I do. It’s how I
choose to live it that makes it all worth while.
Posted on 17. November 2009 at 21:49