We are a family owned intense business. Prior to starting my own business I had high positions with several major corporations. One rule we both agreed upon starting our business was that we would have reasonable business hours.
Sometimes we start work a little early because we want to do so, but we always close business at 5:OO PM. Our employees work from 9:00 to 5:00PM.
The reason we do this is that we want ourselves and employees to go home and spend time with their family and friends, just as we do. Our business atmosphere is intense and we feel this process has significantly contributed to our success and employee retention.
Actually, we are doing both. Since the glue of community is melting we have had to find and invent something to believe in. Unfortunately, we don't spend time asking ourselves what the purpose of this is. What values are we serving and how much of this is defined by social media?
Looking good is not necessary feeling good and feeling good may not necessarily "look amazing in pictures". So some of us go on feeling alone telling ourselves that if we were only more "successful", it will all go away. So we work harder..You know the rest. It's so important, not necessary to know the answer to these questions, but to start the dialogue.
As a member of the “baby boomer” generation, it is easy to look back at the glaring changes that have taken place in the State of California over the last 50-60 years. While housing in Paso Robles could be acquired for a price in the range of $60-70K in 1980, a comparable tract home today would be $400,000-$450,000K. So too, have the prices for food, fuel, utilities, & transportation all increased in double-digit fashion in the same timeframe. Suffice to say, wages have definitely not kept pace with costs over the last 30-40 years, and this paradigm has led to longer work hours, multiple jobs, and less “quality” time in which to enjoy the fruits of this labor. Until we realize that all the “must have” possessions that we believe we need for personal satisfaction, ego, & keeping up with our peers, is only just “stuff”, and not worth compromising our time spent with family, friends, & the nurturing of our personal values. It has been said that “The most important things in life are not actually things”. With this thought in mind, and, with the realization that by excelling awhat we choose to do with our most precious commodity (i. E,'time), we can be proactive in the determination of what, how, and, with whom we spend our both our waking and our working hours. A religion is defined as a set of firmly held beliefs. We decide though our dedication, performance, and efficiency how to define the religion in our lives. By setting personal priorities and establishing personal boundaries, we can choose who we are, what we stand for, and where we chose to spend the time that is so dear. No job is so important that we lose our independence to the workplace. Do you best, and forget the rest!
When you do what you love, it’s not work. When I produce my films, and music it’s always a collaboration.
When I produce an E.P.K, or a corporate video, I must get inspired, and be able to gain knowledge from the content, then I’ll produce a video that is what the client, and myself are looking for.
I would say most people are working to live. I'm very fortunate that I love what I do. Knowing I can help people reconnect over the dinner table or at a special gathering of friends and family brings me great joy. Enjoying the special time and tastes of global cuisine I prepare brings comfort to my clients while they're making new memories. Bon Appetite!
It depends on your placement in life. Some time it can get over whelming and you will feel like there is no way out. Take it easy and regroup. remember why you started your career and all should be fine. I feel like I work to live. I love my job. No greater joy then bringing a customers vision to life.
Great question Stan! I always thought I would work less as time went on but in retrospect, I seem to be working longer hours now than I did 20 years ago. I truly believe the work climate has changed such that competitiveness and work fatigue are seen as a good quality. You are rewarded for being a workaholic while your health, mental state and relationships suffer. It is a decision we must all address personally as the corporate world will not do it for us.
I think that this all comes from companies down or right sizing. People stay and work well beyond what is needed even giving up vacations,weekends and other personal time. Just to keep their job. Now that I have gotten out of that working environment I enjoy building my business and it feels less like work. Making sure that I make time to enjoy a work life balance. Don't get me wrong there are late nights and some weekends. But it is on my terms.
Join Your Local
Business Network
Connect & get quality referrals
from Small Business Owners
Answers (1-10)
The old proverb is sounding more and more true - "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". An interesting read from The Atlantic.
Workism Is Making Americans Miserable
For the college-educated elite, work has morphed into a religious identity—promising transcendence and community, but failing to deliver.
https://www.theatlantic.com/id...
We are a family owned intense business. Prior to starting my own business I had high positions with several major corporations. One rule we both agreed upon starting our business was that we would have reasonable business hours.
Sometimes we start work a little early because we want to do so, but we always close business at 5:OO PM. Our employees work from 9:00 to 5:00PM.
The reason we do this is that we want ourselves and employees to go home and spend time with their family and friends, just as we do. Our business atmosphere is intense and we feel this process has significantly contributed to our success and employee retention.
Bill Frazier
Actually, we are doing both. Since the glue of community is melting we have had to find and invent something to believe in. Unfortunately, we don't spend time asking ourselves what the purpose of this is. What values are we serving and how much of this is defined by social media?
Looking good is not necessary feeling good and feeling good may not necessarily "look amazing in pictures". So some of us go on feeling alone telling ourselves that if we were only more "successful", it will all go away. So we work harder..You know the rest. It's so important, not necessary to know the answer to these questions, but to start the dialogue.
As a member of the “baby boomer” generation, it is easy to look back at the glaring changes that have taken place in the State of California over the last 50-60 years. While housing in Paso Robles could be acquired for a price in the range of $60-70K in 1980, a comparable tract home today would be $400,000-$450,000K. So too, have the prices for food, fuel, utilities, & transportation all increased in double-digit fashion in the same timeframe. Suffice to say, wages have definitely not kept pace with costs over the last 30-40 years, and this paradigm has led to longer work hours, multiple jobs, and less “quality” time in which to enjoy the fruits of this labor. Until we realize that all the “must have” possessions that we believe we need for personal satisfaction, ego, & keeping up with our peers, is only just “stuff”, and not worth compromising our time spent with family, friends, & the nurturing of our personal values.
It has been said that “The most important things in life are not actually things”. With this thought in mind, and, with the realization that by excelling awhat we choose to do with our most precious commodity (i. E,'time), we can be proactive in the determination of what, how, and, with whom we spend our both our waking and our working hours. A religion is defined as a set of firmly held beliefs. We decide though our dedication, performance, and efficiency how to define the religion in our lives. By setting personal priorities and establishing personal boundaries, we can choose who we are, what we stand for, and where we chose to spend the time that is so dear. No job is so important that we lose our independence to the workplace. Do you best, and forget the rest!
When you do what you love, it’s not work. When I produce my films, and music it’s always a collaboration.
When I produce an E.P.K, or a corporate video, I must get inspired, and be able to gain knowledge from the content, then I’ll produce a video that is what the client, and myself are looking for.
I would say most people are working to live. I'm very fortunate that I love what I do. Knowing I can help people reconnect over the dinner table or at a special gathering of friends and family brings me great joy. Enjoying the special time and tastes of global cuisine I prepare brings comfort to my clients while they're making new memories. Bon Appetite!
It depends on your placement in life. Some time it can get over whelming and you will feel like there is no way out. Take it easy and regroup. remember why you started your career and all should be fine. I feel like I work to live. I love my job. No greater joy then bringing a customers vision to life.
Great question Stan! I always thought I would work less as time went on but in retrospect, I seem to be working longer hours now than I did 20 years ago. I truly believe the work climate has changed such that competitiveness and work fatigue are seen as a good quality. You are rewarded for being a workaholic while your health, mental state and relationships suffer. It is a decision we must all address personally as the corporate world will not do it for us.
If you love what you are doing, is it work?
I love my job and the freedom it gives me. I meet new people by the truck loads (virtually) daily and I get to call it my job!
I also love my time away from my “job” to spend it with family and friends or just quiet alone time catching up on a good book.
So...I guess for me the answer is a happy & healthy dose of both!
I think that this all comes from companies down or right sizing. People stay and work well beyond what is needed even giving up vacations,weekends and other personal time. Just to keep their job. Now that I have gotten out of that working environment I enjoy building my business and it feels less like work. Making sure that I make time to enjoy a work life balance. Don't get me wrong there are late nights and some weekends. But it is on my terms.