Balance

Something that I am and have been struggling with for a while now.  2015 was a busy year—but not all by choice.  From a professional perspective, my team was executing what for most, is a once in a career project (moving a major data center).  This was in the middle of an already incredibly busy year—we broke all kinds of sales and profit records.  Delivered 2x the amount of projects we have every done in our history. 

I have prided myself over the years for having been able to maintain a good work/life balance.  Knowing when to say no, making sure that I have put the proper systems/staff in place so that the work side of the equation did not overwhelm the life side of the equation.  Well, the onslaught of 2015 tipped that balance too far over to the work side.  I don’t feel like I have recovered from it—and some of the early 2016 indications are that this is on the way to becoming the new ‘normal’  Which means I am going to have to figure some new things out to regain that balance-I don’t particularly like where I am at now.

I am in the process of changing some things at work that hopefully will help the equation a little bit—but I fear that I will not see the balance I had before—part of what can keep me going is that at the most I have a little more than 2 years before it all goes away and I can pursue my passions.  Part of what makes me successful in business –is the life part —so I cannot lose that and still succeed.

I’ve had to make some tough choices:  how much/how do I continue to pursue my passion (triathlon/cycling), how much can I give back to the community I love to foster, how large of a circle of friends can I realistically support? 

Obviously this past year I have blogged almost not at all, I have been very sparse on social media - -this is one decision I had to make-which is hard with friends scattered all over the continent.  I have started working with a coach again (Chris Bagg)—that has taken a huge planning burden off me and I hope this will be part of the solution to bring the balance back (and help me go faster). I will not be taking on Ironman this year, instead will be focusing on XTerra—which is a ton of fun and does not take the time commitment of IM.  I have one sponsor, Evolution Healthcare and Fitness, that is giving me great support to keep my body healthy and I find it super easy spread the word when all that they do is top notch.

Of course through all this, Don is always there and always super supportive of whatever is driving me.  He is the one constant that I can always count on.