Ask 100 different people what work/life balance means and you’ll get 100 different answers, ranging from working less, to more holidays, to not working at all.
And they’re all correct, because the definition of work/life balance is like the definition of success – it’s up to the individual. And it changes over time. What you consider balanced today may not be the case 20 years from now.
You might be the founder of a growing start-up, with no children, working 80+ hours per week. And if growing your start-up is your main priority, then that’s fine. That’s work/life balance for you.
On the other hand, you might be a family man who isn’t looking to grow a business or climb the ladder any further, and spending time with your kids is more important to you. So you choose to work only 30 hours per week, and that’s work/life balance for you.
I decided back in 2007 that I wanted to work to live, not the other way around. My kids were 7 and 9 and I wanted to experience them growing up as much as possible, so I became a freelance consultant. That has allowed me to work on my terms and spend more time with my kids than most working parents get to.
And that’s the beauty of freelance consulting. You’re in control, and you can decide how much you want to work based on what your definition of work/life balance is. Sound good but not sure you could do it? Find out here.
Cheers
Dino