Finding the right balance in work and life can often be quite difficult, especially in this day and age.
With social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook giving us a glimpse into the lives of celebrities that live in complete leisure, or family and friends that are constantly embraced in fun and having a good time, it’s easy to hit the brakes on responsibility and accelerate towards trying to live like royalty.
During a podcast with KungFu Digital’s Chief Excitement Officer, Matt Brown, we briefly touched on the topic of work-life balance and my beliefs on the subject and while I don’t necessarily agree with the approach, or scope of a day-to-day view on the matter, I certainly believe in looking towards the future and the balance you’ll find in your later years if you can manage to put in the energy, focus and hard work during the first half of your life so that you can achieve an easier and far more comfortable life in the future.
Like a See-Saw, There’s a Point of Balance
In my early 20’s, I was honestly making far more money than I actually needed. I felt invincible and like the immortal jellyfish – as if I would live forever.
Working 6.5 days a week for 6 years straight, I had my candle burning at both ends. I pushed through every Christmas and drilled through every New Year’s Day. Working early mornings and late nights, barely seeing the light of day, I worked my hardest and the best that I could. I was pretty much unstoppable.
By the time I was 22, I had paid for a house in the upper suburbs of Parkhurst, possessed 2 German cars and owned a motorbike. While my friends were either at home or still studying, I was hosting extravagant parties to blow the excess cash that I had. I felt rich.
Looking back, I wasted a lot of my hard-earned cash on some pretty ridiculous things and I would have definitely put away some for the future.
However, this did teach me a valuable life-lesson: through focus, hard-work and dedication on my career earlier-on in life, I’ve come to find the right balance in the present.
If You Want to be in the Top 1% – Give-up on the Work-Life Balance Myth
If you imagine a see-saw and put on one side your work and career, and on the other side everything else in life, you can determine the balance. By focusing and pushing down on your career and working hard for the first half of your work-life, you will achieve balance in the 2nd half; if you focus on all the comfort and relaxation on the first half, the 2nd half will leave you with the burden of working your arse off playing catch-up.
Even though you pay the price of the present, you bring forward all of the future pain in order to have more balance and less pain in your later-life. You take on all of the extra responsibility with the promise of a better future.
Successful people (the 1%) have a tendency to carry far more responsibility than others and seek to carry a heavier load on their shoulders, as they instinctively understand the long-term benefits. They tend to become career-obsessed in order to achieve far greater results down the road and go on to enjoy the final chapters of their lives far more.
Comparing my Early 20’s to my 40’s
If I compare my life back then to the life that I have now, there is definitely a noticeable difference in my lifestyle. Yes, I’m older with a lot less hair on my head (okay, not much hair at all) and far more all over my body, but I am more relaxed now and am able to explore new passions, interests and frontiers with the peace-of-mind that I am wealthier than I have ever been.
At 45, I only own one car, one awesome property and plenty of cash in the bank that sustains all of my daily living expenses.
I am far richer now than I was at 22 – even though I have less net assets than I had back then.
In order to have a better understanding of a healthy work-life balance, one needs to understand wealth, as being wealthy is what ultimately gives you true balance in life.
Rocket Science? I think Not.
So, if you haven’t already done so, figure out where your priorities lie and give that see-saw a solid ride, decide where to put your time and energy so that you have a far better balance in the future. Push down hard on your work and career, making it your priority.
The harder you work in the present will determine your comfort and ease in the future.
All the comfort, relaxation and wealth awaits you. Just so long as you are willing to take on the responsibility of working hard and to your best ability.
Remember that successful people shoulder more responsibility than others and seek more to shoulder as they instinctively understand the long-term benefits that come with it.
Seriously, it’s not rocket science.
If you’re in need of some direction, just a few pointers on navigating that see-saw: Then do yourself a solid and get together with me for a one-on-one and let’s make some magic!
You can always reach me on 083 253 3999
