Can you be a successful entrepreneur and still have time to build balance in your life for you and your family? Richard Branson thinks so. This is a great article in Entrepreneur.com about how he built his successful and dynamic empire yet always had time for his family.
The people I admire most are the ones who have been successful in their endeavors and have always kept their family and those relationships the main thing. I have seen a number of people chase after success only to leave a total train wreck of relationships in their wake. I must admit, I am a workaholic and it is easy for me to fall prey to this type of hard-driving lifestyle so I have a couple of key friends and mentors that hold me accountable and make sure I build balance in my life. My wife Brandi has always been a partner in everything I do and helps me keep on track as a husband, father, and with all the other important relationships in my life and I am blessed to have her in my life.
A few years back my life became so out of balance I asked a close friend to hold me accountable for my personal fitness. He literally came to my front door every morning at 0530 to wake me up for a morning run and he did this for over a year. To this day he calls on me to make sure I am keeping fitness a priority in my life and keeping balanced with the family. That is what true friends do and Gary Brimmer is one of the best friends I have.
As you head into the weekend I hope this article is inspiration for everyone to build balance into your life as you work hard towards your goals. I'd also like to recommend the book The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz. This is an incredible book for all you hard charging and driven entrepreneurs and successful business people. It radically changed the way I work and operate.
Have a great weekend with the family!
Hey Bob great article , I am amazed on how many parent miss this point. I see so many dads run for so called success and have no relationship with there kids. There nothing more important than balance and if I error it will be on family side.
Posted by: chris olds | March 26, 2011 at 08:30 PM
Jody, it is great hearing from you! I think you will love the book. It made an impact in my life and I am sure you will enjoy it. Make sure to connect with Brandi on Facebook and if you guys are ever heading up I-75 to visit friends in the north make sure to stop in and see us! All the best, Bob
Posted by: Robert Dickie | March 25, 2011 at 06:17 PM
I think I will be searching the book shelf to find this great read. This has always been a challenge for our family. Although I am VERY thankful for marrying a "workaholic", it can be challenging at times to rain him in. Thanks for the post. I enjoy reading your most "personal" stories. Please tell your LOVELY wife I said hello!
God Bless-
Jody
Posted by: Jody | March 25, 2011 at 08:42 AM