Not many people truly know how to balance work and family. “Perspective – don’t let work overtake your life. Make sure you don’t sacrifice too much or you’ll burn out and wish you didn’t have to work at all.” This is all too true. Find out expert advice on how to balance work and family in this snippet from an interview between Dale Beaumont and Michelle Bowden.
At 28, with a baby and a huge mortgage, Michelle opened her training business, with AMP as her first client. She is an accredited NLP practitioner and master trainer in presentation and influencing skills. She works with CEOs and their teams to help prepare them for presentations at company meetings, conferences and sales pitches.
What advice can you offer other women about balancing family and professional life?
On a serious note, I find that life is an ongoing balancing act. There is a constant need to re-adjust my priorities so as to not neglect my business, my husband, my children, my family, my friends and myself. As a business owner I am totally in charge of my time, and time management skills are essential.
I recommend outsourcing everything that you don’t want to do – get a housekeeper who can iron, cook and tidy your home for reasonable rates; a dog washer; a lawn mower man; and get your groceries delivered.
Wellbeing – stay healthy, exercise and see health practitioners regularly. I consult a great naturopath, acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist and chiropractor regularly to maintain good health and prevent health issues.
Plan and play – it is very important to work out how much business activity your relationship and the family can bear. It will be different for everyone. To some degree, business and work decisions should be made from the perspective of what’s right for the family, not just what’s right for the business or the clients.
I have a production meeting with my husband at the start of every week to work out who is in charge of which activities for the week. I also take regular breaks and work in regular ten to 12-week blocks with at least a week’s break in between to provide time for rejuvenating my relationships and myself. Don’t let your business pursuits prevent you from staying connected with your loved ones.
Perspective – don’t let work overtake your life. Make sure you don’t sacrifice too much or you’ll burn out and wish you didn’t have to work at all.
For more of this hot interview between Dale Beaumont and Michelle Bowden, click on “Secrets of Great Public Speakers Exposed!“
