Business and Family Balance

Many times I have found myself hiding in business “concerns” that take me far away from my wife and daughters.  It’s not a physical removal but worse a mental removal.  I am around in the physical sense but as far as things are concerned I am so far removed that I mine as well be our of state…!  Ever found yourself in that position? 

When I was in my corporate days, about 8 years ago, I was confronted with this challenge for the first time.  I got married right before I turned 35 so prior to that time family challenges were no existent.  Once I got married my wife was in the process of completing her master’s degree so we were two ships passing in the night our first hear of marriage.  Once she completed her degree we switched gears and began the process of creating a “family”.  Within a few months were pregnant……..family was on the way.  Once my daughter was born juggling of time and family began.  I was on corporate business travel about 10 of the 20 business working days a month.  When I got home I wanted to have “cave time”, my wife wanted to hand over our daughter and have her time.  This was very difficult for me at first.  Once daughter one was 11 months daughter 2 was on the way.  20 months apart seemed like twins.  My current business partner just had real twins 7 weeks ago and he is now in the process of understanding the challenges of this balancing act. 

7 years ago we both walked away from the corporate world to work together to build our own business.  At that time I did not have a business mentor or anyone in my life to help me understand the balance with the stress of now being the owner, everyone else gets paid first and then if there is anything left over you get the crumbs.  The first two years was very difficult because my daughters were not yet in full time school and we were working out of the house.   Then the gift happened they both got into full time school 3 years ago. 

I still struggle with Family Balance to this day.  Market conditions have changed, real estate has really changed and I have a new set of things that can make me loose myself in what I call “Business Self Pity”. 

Here is what I have concluded about all of this………….no matter what, it does not matter my priorities MUST be Faith, Family/friends, work/ business/career.  When I can, and I always do not, remember this then all is well.

I have a great person in my life that tells me that God has not taken me this far along to leave me on the beach to dry in the sun.  There are times that I need to put on much sun tan lotion………………….have a great weekend.